Analog Synthesizers

[bigblondeafro87]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RdPftsBrLU

Isn't that beautiful? I've been really into anaolg effects lately, they sound very warm and organic compared to the super clean digital effects of today. Some complain that they sound dirty, glitchy, and generate noise, but all those imperfections help make the sound unique, not just a series of numbers. Why have many companies stopped producing analog effects?

There's so much to know about the different modules and how they work, its fantastic stuff. Anybody else have strong feelings for analog effects and their capabilities over digital effects?

[Jezz8me]

As far as i am concerned analouge synths are the only ones worth anything.

They sound like real instruments as opposed to digitaly generated sounds. Modern digital music onlty wishes it could sound as good as these.

[elros]

I like the idea of analog processing. Ideally that's what I'd go for in every situation. It's the best IMO.

But digital is often more practical in a live performance situation. Mostly because of total recall programmability.
So I use the Roland V-Bass.

Originally Posted by bigblondeafro87

Why have many companies stopped producing analog effects?

I think it all boils down to economics.
An analog circuit is usually more complex and requires more fine tuning to be as good as it can be, which in turn costs more money to produce. Also an analog circuit is often a one-trick-pony, but many digital processors can do a horse-load of stuff within the same physical package.

[bassteban]

Analog synthesizer: LOVE LOVE LOVE them to the point of dangerous obsession(kinda like bass ). I had a Yamaha CS-5 in the early 80s; strictly monophonic, but what tone.
I snagged a Kawai K-3 off CL for $50 awhile back but the memory backup battery is dead & I haven't figured out how to replace it(it's soldered in). I would absolutely trade a bass or two for the right synth. Check out www.vintagesynth.com.

Analog effects: LOVE(most of)them, particularly delay & chorus. I think some effect types are better suite to digital execution(octave, IME)but for the most part, tonally I much prefer analog.

[TL5]

Originally Posted by bassteban

Analog synthesizer: LOVE LOVE LOVE them to the point of dangerous obsession(kinda like bass ). I had a Yamaha CS-5 in the early 80s...

I still have my old Yamaha CS 15,
, along with a Korg Poly 800, my Roland D-50..

[bigblondeafro87]

I think if a company started manufacturing an analog modular system nowadays, they would do a decent amount of business!

Just say you start producing a basic keyboard with slots for upgrading, and year by year, like modern effects companies, come up with more modules.

Sure companies like Moog have done this modular idea in the past, but couldn't it be done cheaper in the modern age?

Its kind of hard to describe the sound of analog effects, I guess they sound pillowy and as if the music is playing underwater. Some say digital effects can sound just as good, but all my life, without knowing the difference between digital and analog, I preferred the analog sound.

[keb]

Originally Posted by bigblondeafro87

I think if a company started manufacturing an analog modular system nowadays, they would do a decent amount of business!

There are some, including http://synthesizers.com/

I've thought about them now and then, maybe the entry system setup they offer.

[brianrost]

Originally Posted by bigblondeafro87

Why have many companies stopped producing analog effects?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, the same reason digital everything is slowly replacing analog.

When you can sell a digital multieffect unit with user memory locations for less than a fuzz box, it's hard to sell analog sound to some players.

BTW you should know that all the parts you need (minus the enclosure) for a pedal like a Fuzz Face, Big Muff, etc. can be bought for about $25, so those $$$$$ boutique pedals have a lot of profit margin built in.

bigblondeafro87, you win the medal for using the word organic in describing electronics. I really hate it when people use that term to describe a pile of metal, silicon and carbon. It's not organic in the sense of say wood.

[brianrost]

I've owned five analog modular systems. All of them were of 21st century manufacture.

There are an amazing number of makers right now...synthesizers.com, Synthesis Technologies, Analogue Solutions, Analogue Systems, Cjweman, PAiA, Doepfer, Mattson, Modcan, Buchla, Blacet, MFB, Macbeth, Future Retro...I'm sure I've forgotten someone. You just won't find them at Guitar Center, you buy them direct from the mfr for the most part.

Prices are an all time low. A basic PAiA system (kit only, you build it) is under $600, MFB has a system for $900, Future Retro has one for $1200 and synthesizers.com has one for $1440. In inflated 2008 dollars these are bargains comapred to what Moogs and ARPs cost in the early 70s.

[bigblondeafro87]

Yeah I understand the economics of it, but I guess I find it hard to accept that so many kinds of modern music are played on instruments with the highest profit margin instead of the best sound. People take advertisement as if they are holy scriptures

bigblondeafro87, you win the medal for using the word organic in describing electronics. I really hate it when people use that term to describe a pile of metal, silicon and carbon. It's not organic in the sense of say wood.

I understand where you're coming from, but I was talking about the sound produced. The unlimited variations and physical quirks present in analog electronics give the sound a natural quality, even though it is electronically produced. A lot of the notes sound like voices in a way, which is a characteristic shared by instruments like the bass or violin, for example. Digital electronics sound very unnatural when compared to analog with my ears.

There are an amazing number of makers right now...synthesizers.com, Synthesis Technologies, Analogue Solutions, Analogue Systems, Cjweman, PAiA, Doepfer, Mattson, Modcan, Buchla, Blacet, MFB, Macbeth, Future Retro...I'm sure I've forgotten someone. You just won't find them at Guitar Center, you buy them direct from the mfr for the most part.

Prices are an all time low. A basic PAiA system (kit only, you build it) is under $600, MFB has a system for $900, Future Retro has one for $1200 and synthesizers.com has one for $1440. In inflated 2008 dollars these are bargains comapred to what Moogs and ARPs cost in the early 70s.

Yeah, I've been doing more digging on this topic and have started to see how cheap analog synths have become. I can make the cabinet myself and will skip the 'beginner kits' and just start assembling the parts myself.

I like modular systems, they're like the legos of the music world


Another thing, suppose I build a modular analog synth and put in an instrument interface, the unit is now basically a customizable stompbox for any instrument? Why do I not see more people using these instead of huge amounts of non customized pedals?

[mambo4]

I can think of 2 reasons to go digital:

1.) MIDI clock sync

2.) SAVE your patches.

that said, I'm sure there are plenty of synths whose signal paths are analog, but have digital implementations of 1&2 above.

[brianrost]

Originally Posted by bigblondeafro87

suppose I build a modular analog synth and put in an instrument interface, the unit is now basically a customizable stompbox for any instrument? Why do I not see more people using these instead of huge amounts of non customized pedals?

If you tried it you'd find out...just way too complicated to switch different FX in and out compared to a forest of stompboxes never mind a multieffect with presets.

The closest thing to what you're suggesting would be using the Moogerfooger pedals. You'll notice that there aren't really any competitors for those....