Hardware / Software ............. ?

During an interview with a big name DnB producer on the radio during the wkend the subject of production methods came up.

The producer was saying how he and other new generation producers used entirely software to produce there music.

He claimed that the capabilities of software meant that the variations you can produce are endless unlike those made using hardware.

Is this the way of the future, are rooms full of music equipment becoming extinct or is it just a phase ?

What do you prefer ?

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i like hardware, but would never scoff at a full audio setup. i think it just depends on the individual.

Nothing can beat having a hands on instrument in your studio wether that be your desk/sampler/keyboard or whatever.

my personal conclusion states that a combo of both is good.

i use both dude...

i also keep it oldskool with an amiga lurking in the background!

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i also keep it oldskool with an amiga lurking in the background!

:drool coming with some A500+ pressha

nah... the plus versions aint as running as the original

mine clocks at 7.14mhz and still owns both the pc and the mac.

I think the cost of Hardware is the thing that puts some people off, usually you can get copies of Software of mates and save yourself a few hundred squids.

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I think the cost of Hardware is the thing that puts some people off, usually you can get copies of Software of mates and save yourself a few hundred squids.

*Legal Disclaimer* Streetbeats Music Group does not tolerate Piracy on any level.

[subvert]

Software is wicked, but only with the following conditions:

1. You have a kick ass PC thats incredibly powerful
2. You have some kind of hardware control surface, or you will end up killing your mouse.
3. Decent A/Ds and D/As

Also DSP cards can give you access to much higher quality plugins than available on native CPU. Either that or you may want some kind of outboard gear to process things with too......hmmmmmm gimme a MANLEY SLAM or EQ......mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

So.....a bit of both...

no software can touch my kurzweil sampler/synth or my waldorf q. i know a tdm virus is available but it dont have 62 blue leds, aluminium sides or a load of knobs..

software is good and can do amazing things but you will not see any REAL producers giving up their £150,000 neve or otari console for a pc and the same goes for REAL pro studios or mastering suites..

so basically yes software is a MUCH cheaper and efficient way of working but you do give up control, quality and flashing lights!

i went all software for a while and although i loved the streamlined workin process it just dont sound as good as quality hardware.

i would say for most bedroom producers, dance producers and on-the-move musicians, vsti and the like is probably the biggest revolution to come in a long time.

i really appreciated this on holiday in the summer sat in the sun in a garden in vienna making tunes all day on a sun lounger

i'm pretty much a hardware old scholar.........!!

alot of the Sb massive have switched to SX recently with daddy soundcards and that seems fine for them (keep going Scope, ta for the hardware!!! lol!!) but i love seperate modules in a seperate physical space.


the answer tho as like everything in life is BALANCE...........

Us lot all use about 90% software...the Hardware coming in the shape of a JV here and there and a desk.

I use all software with a Roland PC-300 USB keyboard. I'm very happy with it but I'd love to get a big workstation for some of those rich, beautiful string, pads and atmosphere's you can get from them. Though brand new soft synths like the FM7, Absynth and the Pro53 show that software is catching up in that department.

I still think though thata Huge, varied sample library is one of the most important factors in writing DnB.

I still think though thata Huge, varied sample library is one of the most important factors in writing DnB.

Agreed, I think that a few good samples can sometimes make or break a track.

Saying that does anyone know of a good value for money sampler ?? Preferably good for beginners.

I still think though thata Huge, varied sample library is one of the most important factors in writing DnB.

Agreed, I think that a few good samples can sometimes make or break a track.

Saying that does anyone know of a good value for money sampler ?? Preferably good for beginners.

yep, go for an ESI-32 or an ESI-4000............

scaled down E64 but still kicks ass..............

[subvert]

i still think though thata huge, varied sample library is one of the most important factors in writing dnb.

agreed, i think that a few good samples can sometimes make or break a track.

saying that does anyone know of a good value for money sampler ?? preferably good for beginners.

yep, go for an esi-32 or an esi-4000............

scaled down e64 but still kicks ass..............

or if you wanna try our sampling for free, borrow a copy *cough* of a software sampler, like kontakt

I still think though thata Huge, varied sample library is one of the most important factors in writing DnB.

Agreed, I think that a few good samples can sometimes make or break a track.

Saying that does anyone know of a good value for money sampler ?? Preferably good for beginners.

yep, go for an ESI-32 or an ESI-4000............

scaled down E64 but still kicks ass..............

How much we looking at for that then sir ??