Commodore Remix

I've noticed over the last year or so the amount of Hardware synths currently making a comeback. We've even got classic analogue synths being reissued like the Prophet, MS 20 and now Arp Odyssey. Roland have released hybrid soft/hardware synths in the 101 and 303/808 emulation. So is this it, the evidence that we need in the great VST v Hardware debate - softsynths are useful for Daws which are essential in today's studio recordings but ultimately for the pro gigging musicians choice it's still hardware that does the business. I remember about 10 years ago I went to my local Dawson Music shop and all they had were software and controllers, now the opposite is the case - it's all hardware synths again. Next hardware samplers will be in vogue I guess!

Then Pianos, then Lutes

Oud!! oud!

I see Roland are joining the vintage hardware reboot and releasing some of their classic synths in slightly different guises via their Roland Boutique Series. The prices are quite shocking really when compared to the original releases of the synths. That being - Very Cheap!

People have big complaints about the MIDI implementation though.

Really in what way. I know the MS-20 mini for example has really basic midi just note on and off and only on channel 1 which for a modern reissue is poor really.

It's about the polyphonic synths, and I'm not sure of the details...

It's hard to say what the cause for these shifts are... I guess that some hype is involved, and the trend just seems to favor hardware these days... maybe people are just getting bored with sitting in front of a computer monitor, tweaking virtual knobs and buttons, programing music.... maybe they want some hands on control, where they can physicaly interact with the sound and music... maybe they just like the constraints of hardware, vs. the softsynth market where the options these days are so vast, that it more or less become outright boring ...

The old debate on what's best I don't want to touch even with a firepole... it's personal, and what works to get some music done, is the right choise.

Personaly I like the restraints... I like the physical interaction, and being able to actualy PLAY an instrument... I was the programer type earlier, but I'm becoming the opposite more and more over the years... I'm actualy REALLY fed up with programing music... I hate sitting there copying and pasting stuff, noodling MIDI notes up and down, drawing controller data etc... it's BORING!!! ... I want to play the instruments... bend the wheels, press the f*** out of the aftertouch... wiggle some knobs while a simple sequence is running... create things at random... se where things bring me... and then... the sound of real analog... just can't beat it still with software... I like that sound... not that software is bad, not at all, it does so many things analog cannot, but I will not work without my analog gear, which can also be a reason why more and more go for the hardware.... analogue has it's renaisance these days...

I would assume "best" is entirely subjective. For me, exclusively using Hardware synths would be more hassle than it's worth at the moment. Productivity would hit an all-time low for sure. Would be fun, though. I will probably get a hardware synth or electric piano at some point.

I still dont think hardware synth are "the best". Depends so much on the hardware and what you want to get from it.

for retro-synth sound, yeah, it could be good to use a true retro hardware synth. But in the mix i dont think it really counts. 99% of the people listening to music won't even recognize it. And there are some really good software synth out there.

But! The biggest plus to a hardware synth is often its useablility. It just makes fun to turn some knobs

It's horses for courses. When you're inspired, you want something to grab and go, just work and be reliable, sound great and be adaptable.

It's more studios than performing where computers come in. People learned their lessons after too many crashes onstage, I suppose.