what is analog

[jerberson12]

im a newbie, what do you mean when you say analog synthesizer like yamaha cs1x? what is the ooposite of analog? digital ryt? also what is digital synthesizer?

[jake-owa]

Analog=No opamps, no DSP, no ICs, no flash memory, no bits, no data of anykind.
Digital=Opamps, ICs, Hard drives, DSP, flash memory, RAM, PICs, EPROMs, RAM, ROM, 1s and 0s....

A digital synth uses opamps and ICs instead of resistors, transistors and capacitors.

[charger]

Analog=No opamps, no DSP, no ICs, no flash memory, no bits, no data of anykind.

I guess Sequential Circuits doesn't count then... since all the controls are digital, even though the signal path is analog...

[jake-owa]

Originally posted by charger
I guess Sequential Circuits doesn't count then... since all the controls are digital, even though the signal path is analog...

That would be a hybrid. Analog synthesis with digital manipulation....it's a hybrid, both.

[acorec]

Analog Synths use analog oscillators. Digital synths use wave tables and "construct" a reasonable analog output.

[Son of Mixerman]

Originally posted by jake-owa
Analog=No opamps, no DSP, no ICs, no flash memory, no bits, no data of anykind.
Digital=Opamps, ICs, Hard drives, DSP, flash memory, RAM, PICs, EPROMs, RAM, ROM, 1s and 0s....

A digital synth uses opamps and ICs instead of resistors, transistors and capacitors.

Jake, all of your analog preamps use opamps in the phantom power section. Opamps cannot be digital. IC's are also analog. Pop open your ATR-60 and look at the "card" those are IC, and most of the newer "Mackie" desks use IC's.
Digital means that the auio has been converted into some sort of computer data by mean of a converter, PCM is the most common data format. Think electrical stream verses Data stream.


SoMm

[jake-owa]

Originally posted by Son of Mixerman
Jake, all of your analog preamps use opamps in the phantom power section. Opamps cannot be digital. IC's are also analog. Pop open your ATR-60 and look at the "card" those are IC, and most of the newer "Mackie" desks use IC's.
Digital means that the auio has been converted into some sort of computer data by mean of a converter, PCM is the most common data format. Think electrical stream verses Data stream.


SoMm

Oh shit, you're right.

I'm so embarrassed...

How the hell did I mess that?

So it's not digital unless its data? that can't be can it?

ICs are analog??

[Track Rat]

ICs are integrated circuits. Lots of transisters in one package.

[jerberson12]

ok everybody, so wats sounds better? analog or digital? or it depends on the model?? wat has more features? ana or digi?

[Phyl]

Integrated circuits are just that, a lot of circuits integrated into one package. The circuits inside can be analog or digital. You can buy an 14 pin IC with multiple analog amplifiers (op amps) in it just as easily as a 14 IC with a bunch of JK flip flops in it. Both will look identical from the outside, so the shape of the package on your circuit board isn't much of a clue.

An analog synthesizer (IMO) is one in which the signal never leaves the analog realm, i.e., is never converted to digital and processed in the digital realm.

The advantage is that sound is never degraded due to analog to digital conversion (happens at the gozinta) and the subsequent digital to analog conversion (happens at the gozouta). It tends to retain it's "warm" character and doesn't have a sterile, processed sound. I threw that last sentence in for the analog mavens - I myself can't hear the difference.

The disadvantage (sometimes) is that analog circuitry is susceptible to noise, and some effects (especially time based ones) are more easily performed in the digital realm.

$0.02

[TexRoadkill]

The definitions above are correct. For the most part 'analog' synths have that 70's type of sound and are used a lot on techno and dance music. Digital synths usually are more realistic sounding and based off of samples of actual instruments.

There are digital synths that model analog keyboards. The Korg MS2000 is a good example of that. True Analog synths are pretty rare and expensive these days.

[subtractor]

I got a jupiter4 I'll sell!

[jake-owa]

Well, it's not everyday I learn something here.

I'm no electronics expert though I sometimes play one on the BBS!