Am I the only one using just software?

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Venom

Venom

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I see all these producers, HR members, everyone with all this equipment. Monitors, soundboards, equalizers... all kindsa shit. Me, I got a computer and a reasonable sound system. But im still makin beats (in my opinion) as good as some of these cats. Im not tryin ta be conceeded but I jus dont understand the actual meaning of all this expensive hardware. Almost everything can be done just as good digitally, i think, if you have the right software. I could be misunderstanding everything though? I dunno... any thoughts or comments???
 
BillyBo = software only.

although i have used a keyboard for midi, but just once or twice. i don't consider that too much of a "special" thing, but it makes 'penciling' in your notes WAY faster, lol.
 
Venom said:
I see all these producers, HR members, everyone with all this equipment. Monitors, soundboards, equalizers... all kindsa shit. Me, I got a computer and a reasonable sound system. But im still makin beats (in my opinion) as good as some of these cats. Im not tryin ta be conceeded but I jus dont understand the actual meaning of all this expensive hardware. Almost everything can be done just as good digitally, i think, if you have the right software. I could be misunderstanding everything though? I dunno... any thoughts or comments???
Click to expand...

Well whatever works works right?
I'll like to say for myself, I need the hardware vs software... You really do need at least some type of good hardware. Especially when it comes down to monitors. When your mixing down your beat, you won't be able to hear it in it's actual true form. You'll be adding more highs because your system sounds muddy, or end up putting some lows in because your speakers can't accurately produce the sounds. For EQ's, you'll need one that you can control every frequency that you want. There's softwares that do that now, but some hardware has a special sound to them, that you can try to imitate with plug-ins but won't be better than the original. Same goes with mixers etc... but the application of those tend to vary. I use mine to track vocals, instruments etc... I need the I/O's for the interface. I need great ad/da converters. When I have a chance, I'll send you a beat that was created on high end gear, and one that's created on lower end gear... of course if your only comparing the track without anything done to it, with another without anything done to it, they would sound damn near exact, which is what I think your perceiving it as. Which is somewhat true, but I'll like to be able to drive a guitar in when a good part is being played, and it's the lead guitar for that point in the beat. Or I'll like to be able to add reverb, compress it, polish it with great sounding gear.
 
All software, except for my MIDI controller, thats kind of a bad thing though, cuz Mindset was right about the monitors, my mixing sucks, I dont have the right equipment
 
Well, we have tons of gear cause the studio is open to the public and we have to accommodate them. For example, if someone wants to use a MPC, Reason, Pro Tools, or hardware, we try to have it.

We have a sound board cause we sometimes record more then one mic at one time. Plus, we do multimedia... It's all about preference. I never use most of the hardware. Just software.
 
I'll just put it to you like this. I used the software version of a SSL 4000 right next to the real thing. The real SSL kicked my computer softwares ass.

Did the same thing with the 1176, la2a, pultec...

Everytime the hardware beat the emulated software version. Software may capture the tone. But sonically software compared to the real deal doesn't compare period.
 
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I think many people can agree with this, especially those with experience with hardware and software. Hardware is what it is..........PERIOD!
When software kicked in, it made it easier to do alot of other time consuming things you did on your hardware (i.e. copying, pasting, dragging, penciling in notes, everything at the click of a mouse.) It might be pyschological but hardware helps me understand what is going on, and what is doing what, because I can feel and see it doing what it does. (I know it may sound dumb!)
But there are also many things that software gives me control over alot better. So, with that being said, I LOVE THE COMBINATION OF BOTH, they both serve their purpose in my world.........
 
I'm mostly software for beats. The output comes out good for me.
Hardware is better with recording vocals (especially mixed with software for the ultimate analog and digital mix).
 
Yeh i get what everyone is sayin here... but still i think if you have the stereo to output the audio truly (with quality speakers, wires, amps) you can get damn near the same sound you all are gettin with all the hardware...
 
I think it's all about preference and what you are comfortable with. a lot of people sleep on software cuz they know the basics and it stops there. i know a lot of people that say fl is the worst place to record and track out vocals and when they hear a song i did and ask wut i used to track the vocals i tell em fl and they think i'm lieing. IMO if your gonna stick with software make 1 program your main program and learn everything the program can do i mean everything. and then you can get some midi controllers and things like that to use so you can ease up on the mouse clicking for turnin knobs and movin faders . right now in the mail i got the tascam fw-1082 and the axiom 61 comin and i'll be good for a while till i get the mpc1k.......but it's all about being comfortable and enjoying wut you do
 
Venom said:
Yeh i get what everyone is sayin here... but still i think if you have the stereo to output the audio truly (with quality speakers, wires, amps) you can get damn near the same sound you all are gettin with all the hardware...
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Dude if my apogee converters won't give me the sonic sound of hardware nothing will.

Trust me man I'm a true gearslut and the software is nice. In fact I own a lot of it. The fact is when placed up against the real deal it doesn't compare sonically in sound quality.

Theres a reason why the pros use hybrid systems. You get the ease of editing in digital while retaining the sonic quality of hardware.

Do you really think that they would be spending all there money on hardware if they could get the EXACT same sound from software?
 
bigwillz24 said:
I'll just put it to you like this. I used the software version of a SSL 4000 right next to the real thing. The real SSL kicked my computer softwares ass.

Did the same thing with the 1176, la2a, pultec...

Everytime the hardware beat the emulated software version. Software may capture the tone. But sonically software compared to the real deal doesn't compare period.
Click to expand...


Ya, you right. That's why a lot of big producers record on Pro Tools but then mix right out of pro tools into a big SSL mixer. They use Pro Tools as a multitrack and not so much to process. That's why you still see big studios with a big SSL and Pro Tools...

I think it's all about using your tools. Use software to create and get your vision down in pre-production. Then use the Big SSL board or what ever for the final product.

The new Waves SSL plugin is pretty good. But, nothing beats the real thing. At least for now.
 
there's nothing REALLY special about the SSL console... Everyone loved it back then because of the Fairy Dust button. Then it caught on as a 'tight ass console' and now if your a studio that doesn't have one, some big name artists won't record there... It's sort of idiotic.

The software will never be as good as hard ware, no matter how the algorithm is for the plug-in. Hardware is what it is, hardware, hard wired everything. It gives a unique sound to it. Only reason Pro Tools is so successful is the ease of use. But yet also so powerful. It's just like say guitars... you can actually play the instrument, or you can use a vst to play it... but the natural sound of the guitar will always be better than the VST. It's not like drastic changes or anything. But why settle for less? I myself use mostly hardware, and the only softwares I use is some of the things I got in the Waves Diamond Bundle. Which I believe I wasted my money on :confused: I've used the SSL plug-in, and it's almost damn near similar with the real thing, but there's a tiny noticable difference in using the eq plug in or the eq onboard. Although, plug-in counterparts save you a lot of $$. However if money is no object, or you want the best of the best, than hardware is the way to go. Software is pretty cheap compared to the hardware.... Some people rather pay $2,000 for a plug-in than go out and buy the whole damn console for $300,000-$1,000,000 dollars.

Sure there are some great plug-ins out there, and you can compare each other, but on an even field, the hardware is better.
 
yeha im all software..i dont even have a midi, would love to use an mpc tho but no cash
 
MIDI controllers are not that expensive. I bought an M-Audio keystation49 or whatever for like $99 & got a korg padkontrol for $199. I'm still learning how to use MIDI though. Software is different than my synths
 
i have no money, tryna get a job but i dunno, 100 is alot for me
 
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