Blah Blah Cafe, the Jean-Michel Jarre forum

[Jon]

Just wondering what your preferred choice are - digital or analogue.

I am not a musician, I cannot read or write music, but once I hear a tune I can knock it out on a keyboard in now time. Since learning of my health issues, I have more time on my hands and so Im turning to my keyboards more, which is a good thing.

I have 2 synths, 2 KORGS, O1/W and the MicroKorg. But this last week I have been playing the MK more than the O1/W and what a fantastic little machine it is. I have never played on a keyboard as much as I have with this thing. Now Im looking to part with my O1/W, I am finding it 'limited' and lacking compared to the sounds Im getting from the MK. I have never owned a proper analogue synth, and if the little MK can offer me these VA sounds that I am (for the better word) falling in love with, what can a proper analogue do?. All of a sudden I have the analogue buzz, I REALLY want to get my hands on a full blown analogue synth.

In short, I have been turned, from digital to analogue - and so the quest is on, to save up for a analogue synth, create a small home studio and get music making. . . . And I feel really excited about this.

[Mogwai]

I have tried many VA:s and I have tried some digital stuff. But my influences - the few I have - in EM comes from a time where analog was the only thing to use. The soundscapes of early Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Ashra and Vangelis can not be done without analog. Of course it "can" be done - but a DX-7 don't sound like a Minimoog and a D50 don't sound like a MS20. So it will never be the same thing.
VA:a are not that inspiring to work with IMO. Alesis Ion is one of the few...so is Nordlead 3 and Clavia G2X. But they're just as expensive as any good analog synth...
Software is great soundwise... But I don't really want to use my computer for anything more than recording. Editing synths with a midicontroller and mouseclicking is not something that works for me. Besides I want to be able to use my synths without have to turn on my computer.

I like digital synths too. But for the sounds I want and need I use analog.

[Jon]

Sounds a bit daft, I know, but I have been messing around with this MK the past 5 days and earlier I switched the O1 on and reached for something that was not there - a knob (excuse the term). But I know what you mean. I like the 'hands on' approach. That slight tweak, knowing you can control the sound just by the small movement of a knob.

[Jakob BC]

I never really liked digital synths. DX-7 and D-50 are quite cool though. I like the traditional FM basses and all that 80's "not trying to sound like acoustic instruments" stuff. The D-50 mainly catched me due to all those cool sounds JMJ used.
I have never played any analog synths except the minimoog voyager in a store, so I can't compare real analog with VA.
I prefer analog synthesis inclusing VA for being so experimental.
I like VA softsynths because the sound concept is the same as hardware but I never get used to use the computer mouse or the same MIDI-controller for everything. It just don't give any inspiration, as I like to be able to touch and turn the knobs and not always on the same unit.

Damn did that sound like the wife wasn't good enough?

[Jarp2600]

I like Analogues and VA's the most, but to have also some digital synths is the best for getting a complete sound. And indeed, nothing wrong with D50's and M1's!

[jeremy]

I love to mix both ! I have some digital and some analog synths, and even for pure synthetic sounds, I like to layer both of them in my arrangements. But I need drum and bass samples for my music so I need digital synths anyway.

[GeeJee]

Both have their advantages and drawbacks... I like my JD800 a lot, but I can't imagine shaping sounds without my MS20. So I'm with Jeremy here: I like to mix both...

[jarrekid]

Both, I love my Soundlab's basses and I'm looking forward a LOT to building my modular. I think modular synths are definitely great. If polyphony was easier in them, they'd pwn everything else synth-wise.

[Equinoxe]

I've had a multitude of different synths,both Analog and digital over the years,but it has gotten to the stage where I have almost sold off everything that was analog and replaced or upgraded other non digital equipment,99%of my setup is now digital,the only analog instrument i have left is the E310,which really doesnt fit into the synth category as such but it still has a place within the studio and is frequently used from time to time,but mainly on the Odd Jarre cover and I've kept hold of it purely for nostalgic reasons mainly and because nothing else comes close to those swirly strings........


To me they all complete the same task analog or digital,albeit in different ways,I like the no fuss approach on the analog interface like with the JP8K or my Novation KS5 or MS2K, i love the ability to shape and change anything or create something from new,which although is still digital in representation,it gives the analog sensuality,and individuality with your Instrument.

But for me I'm a digital purist thru and thru,i have most of the Korg workstations (Late 80s to present)M1/Thru to Wavestation/Trinity/Triton prophecy/Z1 etc and eveyrthing in between but these are maybe not as hands on or as immediate as the Analog instruments gone by,but they are my tools and I know them inside out and am as comfortable using those scrolling thru menus as i am with the hands on JP or KS synths....

I would have said a few years ago i intergrate both AN/DI,but now its almost pure digital setup and given the flexibility and intergration within a totally digital setup and interchangability,I dont think i would ever change that. the only Analog device i had left to replace was the Behringer Mixing desk ,but now thats been replaced by a Digital Yamaha 02R because i need the Digital approach with Automation etc,but it still gives me the Hands on approach of a Conventional Analog desk,so i can still be at one with the faders or Pots of a Mixing board as it very much a part of the Music making process as is playing the songs themselves but in a different way..Using a Desk to shape sounds is the same approach to using an Analog synth to eveolve something,except within the digital domain you can store that change and have recall


Using both is fine,but i no longer have a desire to chase after that Analog versus Digital studio,I'm creative with both its just i chose to follow the digital domain...

[radek tymecki]

ANALOG + a little bit of digit

[BnM]

I can understand why an instrument can generate feelings:
Menuhin & Violin, Horowitz & Piano, Shankar & Sitar.

Thus the feeling for analogue synths.

However true inspiration comes direct into the heart and is idependant of any object,
even if that object has been created by inspiration.

It is only when this isnpiraton seeks a mode of outward expression that
we need an"object" to express it with, and the "right" object
depending on each of our own natural dispositions.

[PHASEREFFECT]

Meanwhile i say it doesn´t matter. If the recording itself or the knowledge about it lacks, then nothing sounds "real analog". Ok, VA & Co -tries- to invent the wheel a 2nd time and digital Processors -are- 0/1 (even their "random" numbers to apply "random effects" are generated by using internal program code, so they´re -not- really "random"), but, as i´ve sayed: If it -should- sound analog, then it -must- be also recorded on analogue equipment. "Analog" means for me "not perfect", the same, on which "level".

Stef