Universal audio plugins vs analog hardware

#Universal audio plugins vs analog hardware update
#Universal audio plugins vs analog hardware full
#Universal audio plugins vs analog hardware software

And nothingРІР‚в„ўs worse than a wonky transformer messing with your gearРІР‚в„ўs mojo. That means you need to replace them with their РІР‚Сљmodern equivalents,РІР‚Сњ which may or may not sound the same as the vintage parts. And when your gearРІР‚в„ўs transistors blow, resistors fry, and capacitors dry out (and they inevitably will), the components may no longer be available. Electronic components and moving parts wear out thatРІР‚в„ўs a fact. And the more time that passes, the more challenging it will be to maintain your prized analog gear. Analog gear may avoid compatibility issues, but it still needs maintenance.

#Universal audio plugins vs analog hardware full

If you plug an XLR cable into your Shelford Channel, it does the same thing today that it will do 20 years from now.Р”В«ut before you buy an entire rack full of future-proof LA-2As, listen up. Analog hardware, on the other hand, doesnРІР‚в„ўt lose its compatibility.

In a software-driven studio, you might have to dump your old plugs and move on (spending more money) if you want to keep up with the times. Lots of folks spent thousands of dollars on them, then ended up stuck in an old DAW on an ancient computer.

Remember DX and RTAS plug-ins? They used to be hot stuff. Then you have to buy upgrades, or worse yet, the manufacturer leaves you in a lurch by halting development altogether.

#Universal audio plugins vs analog hardware update

Update your computerРІР‚в„ўs operating system, and your plug-ins may stop working.

#Universal audio plugins vs analog hardware software

LetРІР‚в„ўs talk about obsolescence - the bane of every software userРІР‚в„ўs existence. So then plug-ins are better, right? Not so fast. Beyond that, plug-ins fit into your laptop, allow dozens of instantiations, and are instantly recallable. The power of the latest plug-ins, their ability to perform functions that we couldnРІР‚в„ўt even imagine 10 or 20 years ago, is undeniable. Want to stack iZotope RX up against vintage noise reduction hardware and see who comes out on top? ThatРІР‚в„ўs a rhetorical question, no need to answer. Melodyne offers polyphonic pitch correction, Slate DigitalРІР‚в„ўs VMS faithfully mimics a massive array of high-end microphones, and Waves Nx creates a virtual listening room with perfect acoustics. Truth be told, digital processors can accomplish feats that engineers never dreamed possible a couple of decades ago. We can sing the praises of analog gear all day - itРІР‚в„ўs undeniably awesome. On top of that, engineers love the visceral feeling of pushing real buttons and turning real knobs. ItРІР‚в„ўs instant sonic euphoria, even if you leave all the controls at zero. Run your mix through a couple of hardware Pultec EQM-1S3 equalizers and a Manley Variable Mu compressor, and youРІР‚в„ўll get the idea. There are no transistors, photocells, capacitors, or transformers inside of a plug-in. Digital can get you frighteningly close to the real thing, but at the end of the day, itРІР‚в„ўs still an emulation. So whatРІР‚в„ўs the right answer? Read on.Р”Р„nalog hardware has a magical warmth thatРІР‚в„ўs difficult to achieve with digital processing. After all, a massive diversity of opinions is what you get when you ask a group of passionate individuals a loaded question, even more so when knowledgeable people stand on both sides of the issue. The anarchy that follows is guaranteed to be entertaining. Then ask them which is better: plug-ins or hardware. Want to have some fun? Get a handful of recording enthusiasts and put them in a room.