Please show me why digital synths are fine

[Seten]

NEVERMIND I FIGURED IT OUT

[Seten]

By the way, this is a sort of continuation of my other thread, "someone please explain synths to me". Since the thread pretty much became me trying to accept digital synths and other people telling me why I should, and not what the thread was originally about, I just made a new thread.

[rfurtkamp]

They're true instruments in that your computer's next hardware/software update won't make them unusable.

You can do almost anything in softsynths, but you can't be sure of using them a month from now consistently.

The rest is mostly in your head.

If you play an adjustable digital synth with a good input source, it does everything you're describing. It provides inspirational outlet to the sounds in your head, *if* you let it.

Pressure/velocity sensitive keys don't exist on your laptop's keyboard is a huge, huge one.

[PetZounds]

My analog bias I think comes down to is that if it's a digital synth, how is it any different from me just going on to my computer, downloading some program someone else made, and pressing some keys on my computer keyboard which plays some notes that the person who designed the program already preset to sound like.

...

An analog synth, to me, seems more like an instrument, like a piano or something, where the keys hit something which makes a sound, except the keys send electricity through wires and metal and shit which makes a sound, whereas digital just seems... I don't know. different.

I really don't see your point.
Why does it matter if you use presets?
Your guitar is preset at the factory to have a certain tone and frequency response.
Your guitar pedals are designed to sound a certain way.
Everything you use is a tool that was designed to help you create music.
The fact that someone else designed it takes absolutely nothing away from it being "real" at all.
The music doesn't come from the instrument, whether the instrument is the most complex synth ever created or a tin can.
The music comes from the musician, who uses the instrument as a tool to create that music.
The only thing that makes music "real" or "fake" is you.

[kbit]

Can tweak 7 knobs in 3 second on a computer screen? Not easily. And hardware is way more stable, mostly. The interfacing of hardware vs a computer is so vastly different and, I feal, fairly unappreciated. So just using your computer isn't a good way to measure this argument.

Also digital synths can offer complex wave forms and routing and effects at at a fraction of the cost of equivalent analog gear. For $200 bucks you can score some digital synths (eg microkorg) that can do much more funtionally than analog gear that costs the same.*

Of course there's menu diving but its just a pros and cons situation. How much do you need for how much money? If its not a sound thing then this is a very valid point.

*but there are sweet cheap analogsynths out there. Volca Keys is a personal favortie.

[Bellyheart]

Exactly. Making music via computer is no issue to me and shouldn't be. If you're making sounds then cool. If you're making new sounds even better. How you do that is your choice. Digital allows for things not possible with analog, some being amazing and far out.

I don't think people need to convince you why digital is okay. Maybe you'll figure it out on your own. Maybe you won't and will always hate it. Either way, keep it to one thread.

[Seten]

My analog bias I think comes down to is that if it's a digital synth, how is it any different from me just going on to my computer, downloading some program someone else made, and pressing some keys on my computer keyboard which plays some notes that the person who designed the program already preset to sound like.

...

An analog synth, to me, seems more like an instrument, like a piano or something, where the keys hit something which makes a sound, except the keys send electricity through wires and metal and shit which makes a sound, whereas digital just seems... I don't know. different.

I really don't see your point.
Why does it matter if you use presets?
Your guitar is preset at the factory to have a certain tone and frequency response.
Your guitar pedals are designed to sound a certain way.
Everything you use is a tool that was designed to help you create music.
The fact that someone else designed it takes absolutely nothing away from it being "real" at all.
The music doesn't come from the instrument, whether the instrument is the most complex synth ever created or a tin can.
The music comes from the musician, who uses the instrument as a tool to create that music.
The only thing that makes music "real" or "fake" is you.

Shit, I think you just blew my portal to the digital synth world almost completely open. Thank you very, very much. I literally never thought about it that way. I mean I thought about MIDI stuff that way, but I was always like "well, guitar and other things are real, and they take 'skill' to play. MIDI is similar, but it's just the creative part without the physical part. Sure, you have to know how to operate a DAW, but that's negligible."
But shit, that's not true at all. Everything is the creative part, and the physical part is just how easily it takes you to record the creative part. Whether that's playing some chords on a guitar or working your way around a DAW, it's all the same, just doing it in a different way. And live is all about the show you put on along with the music you already wrote. If you're really good at guitar, that's impressive, and fun to watch. And if you're really good at piano, the audience doesn't give a shit whether it's a concert piano or a casio. It's fun to watch. Any sort of effect/different amps/guitars just changes the sound your music has, it's still the same music... effects just make you/listeners enjoy it more or less.

I don't even know why I typed that out, I think it was so I could solidify my newfound beliefs. Thank you again. Pocket piano, here I come

[PetZounds]

Fuck yeah, shred hard

[Seten]

By the way, I just realized that could sound sarcastic, I really was being genuine. Thank you, and thanks to everyone else who commented. I think I am now a fully fledged synth egalitarian.

[Seten]

And now, looking back at my original post, my logic did not make any sense. Damn, I was stupid fifteen minutes ago.

[kbit]

^truth el Cap rules.

[The_Active_Conundrum]

Analog is rad. But don't limit yourself senselessly. Your budget will do that for you plenty.

[Hyphen Nation]

bell tonz and wave tables...

[DarkAxel]

By the way, I just realized that could sound sarcastic, I really was being genuine. Thank you, and thanks to everyone else who commented. I think I am now a fully fledged synth egalitarian.

it makes me so happy to see this. I know that I also have trouble grasping some things and it only needs to be discussed properly so the other person says the right thing that blows my mind and everything starts to make sense

[Derelict78]