Analog vs Digital Polysynth - is there really a difference?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มิ.ย. 2024
- I'm comparing my trusty old Nordlead 2x with the latest addition to my synth collection - a Sequential Prophet Rev2.
This is not a scientific test or an in-depth review of either synths. It's just me trying to come up with similar sounds on the two synths and having a good time.
Chapters:
0:00 ntroduction
2:00 Why I'm making this video
3:00 Differences
5:21 Creating a pluck sound
8:41 Making a pad
15:00 The wobbly vibraphone
19:28 Classic synth brass
20:57 Conclusion
22:31 End jam
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I'd never trade my Nord Lead 2x keyboard for a Rev2. The ability to stack four voices on the fly and morph it beyond recognition is an irreplaceable feature.
Red synths have a warmer sound 😅
But nothing adds warmth, like wooden end-cheeks. 🔥
Setting sound aside, just look at your Dave Smith... No, Johnny, STARE at it and let it sink in. "This beautiful piece of sonic generation is mine... It's MY Prophet."
Digital has seriously caught up to analog. But, that doesn't change the beauty of a lot of these machines. You have to REALLY want one of these machines to choose one over even any of the amazing plugins available today. You have to want the MACHINE itself.
I have a room full of machines I hardly know how to use, and I just love each and every one of them. :D
Anyway, thanks for the presentation, brotherman! I'm subscribing.
I'm so underslept, I'm basically dozing off while watching. Which is great, because the dreams I'm having while you play are fantastic! Just 5 minute "shows" that I'm a part of before I wake up again for a minute, then doze back into another one.
Super fun, thank you for the adventures!
From 10 minutes on, the pads you're creating are just so lush and gorgeous. And the chords you play, beautiful. Man oh man, you're awesome!
@@CaidicusProductions Thanks so much for your comments. Super happy to hear that you enjoyed the video and my music!
the thing is that even if the rev2 was digital it would still have so much going for it that makes it a great instrument in terms of the keyboard, knob per function control surface, modulation routings, the tonewood side panels, etc
“Tonewood side panels” lmfao
@@APMTenants warms it right up
Loved the video, and the performance track. For me, this is the main take away: You love music. I love that you love music. Thanks for sharing!
thank you 🙏 That's more than I could ask for....sharing my love for music.
If you have the 16 voice Rev2, you can split the patch (into 2 x 8 voice patches), hard pan each patch left and right, detune, and voila -- same stereo effect as on the Nord Lead :)
I only have the 8 voice version, but I guess this should still work. Of course I’ll only have 4 voices then. Will give it a try!
You can do this with the 8 voice version as well. You dont use split, but stack. In the mod section us DC as mod source and pan both either direction. In global settings > pan fixed. Huge binaural sound.
Just got the Rev2 module. It was love at first knob tweak
Dude... you're such a sympathic guy. Love your style of presentation. And the piece you played at the end sent me back to the school's library at the age of 8 or 9 when I was listening to Pink Floyd and Jarre over headphones, Great stuff, thanks!
Thanks 🙏
Great video!!! Ending song is so relaxing...
Wow, that outro jam was absolute perfection! Synth god indeed!
great video discussion. I've tried to go for gear that compliments each other but can be distinct in tone and function too. My pairing of the Arturia Polybrute and ASM Hydrasynth deluxe is perfect for me...
I have a similar partnership of PolyBrute and Prophet 12 (hybrid) ... they complement each other so well!
Actually, there is no discussion...There is a place and a time for each instrument and each has its own pro's and con's....And if you want it (and can afford it) GO GET IT.
I have a Hydrasynth and an OB6. I also pair my JD-XA with the OB6.
I have no idea what you're doing, but at some moments the prophet just touches my heart. Well, good for you I can buy myself a vacation 😉❤
You touch my heart. Please take me with you....😍
Daamn... that little clip of the old people checking out presetsounds got me laughing lout while my little son is lying next to me and my wife gave me that bad look... and i had to watch it again and laugh again!! So nice!!!
😅
The effect the unison creates on the Nord Lead could probably be fairly closely matched on the Prophet by adding a bit of stereo chorus. The Rev2 does have it's own sound, which is a bit different from the Nord, but as you've shown some sounds can be made to sound fairly similar. In terms of 'digital vs analog' it needs to be taken into consideration that the Rev2 is a DCO synthesizer, meaning it uses a digital clock for precise tuning. As such it doesn't sound as 'analog' as VCO synths like the Prophet 5/10 or OB-X8 for instance.
While I don't totally disagree, I'm not entirely sure the 'dco' vs 'vco' argument fully holds up when so many classic analogue synths actually did have DCO's. The WASP, the Juno 6, 106, and 60's, the JX-8P kind of suggest to me that "THE" 'analogue sound' is more than just the oscillator. I personally believe it comes down to a multitude of differences, not least the recording technology, methods and mixing and production techniques of of the late 70's through to the 80's prior to digital recording being mainstreamed. I think the difference is felt through the entire signal chain and in more ways than just listening to pair of dry synths into a solid state, digital audio interface. I think if you recorded a moden, digital synth through the same valve driven amps, optical compressors and recorded on to tape, mastered for mainstream radio airplay and vinyl playback, you'd find it impossible to tell the two apart in a blind test. It's far more holistic and nuanced than I think most people give it credit for - not least that old, analogue tech was really noisy... especially analogue effects... so much so that when modelling the juno chorus ACB for the boutique range, Roland actually offer 3 volume levels just for the 'chorus noise'. It's this kind of thing we lost, now that we have clean, low signal to noise ratio, 192 khz/24 bit recordings, lack of tape warble, the fact that streaming services need different final mastering compared to vinyl pressing, the fact that everything is mastered in stereo or ATMOS or 5.1 surround while comparing music that was made to be listened to on mono car speakers, pocket transsistor radios and portable turntables.
@@PostingCringeOnMain But when it came to the Juno 6, Juno 106 and the JX-8P they had that fantastic Chorus-unit that more than made up for the lack of drifting VCO:s.
Same also with the Elka Synthex, a fantastic Chrous in it making up for the DCO.
In older Analog Synths there is a clear difference between having DCO:S vs VCO:s IF they didn't have that Chorus unit.
It was really obvious if you turned unison on for the Juno. It just sounded terrible for that!
But as you said recordings were made (And still is made) with a myriad of fx-units.
And, yes, with modern virtual analogs which do have all kinds of emulation of drifting VCO:s they actually sound better than the "real" DCO-based analogs of the 80:s!
Especially if you pair them with analog chorus, phasers etc...
Perfect! There are only few people on YT who can demonstrate NL 2 in proper way. For example Jexus. I'm never gonna sell my NL2X .
I love this video!!!!!
I own multiple Nord synths and I did this same dinamic but more than 15 years ago with jupiters, moog or digital synths from that era.… the NordLead2x was a revolution 15 years ago… imagine having that in your hands in those days.
I keep 3 NL2x because I love to create big massive multitimbral sequences live directly from the hardware. Also the NL2x have an amazing drum section that can sound like a Elektron machine drum but dry without fxs… also the Nord merge amazing with analog sounds in the mix… the Nord it’s not a replica of analog it has it’s own soul.
I own many more synths to compare but the NordLead keeps it’s place in the studio… Many modern synths are amazing too but keep in mind that this old digital nord was created so long ago. This video inspire me today to go play the nords more.
I had a nl4R and sold it. Miss it quite much. Great synth but to me the fx were weird. Looking an the nl2x now, wonder if I can get those sweet sounds from the nl4
I've owned a Rev2, and currently own a Prophet10. I also own (and love) a Virus TI, which I've had for 16 years. I sold the Rev2. The Virus TI and Prophet 10 will never leave my studio. In my opinion the Rev2 does nothing that the Virus TI can't do better, while still maintaining (mostly) the tone of a digital synth. It's less flexible than the TI as well. The Prophet 10 was a revelation when I got it. At that point I had owned, and subsequently sold, multiple modern analogs and was still wondering what the big deal was. The Prophet 10 answered the question, validated a lot of what the older guys said about "the good old days of synthesis" (warmth and character over bells and whistles). It instantly became indispensable.
Is the Prophet 10 drastically different from a Prophet 6? Would a P6 have the same characteristics?
@@johnnygorillas I played a Prophet 6 a while ago, and though I did love the sound, it didn't immediately grab me in the way that the Prophet 10 did. It certainly is more flexible, and there's an argument to be made for being able to save effects to patches.... but at the end of the day I really don't like the effects on any DSI instrument. I say all this with the caveat that you may well have an entirely different experience.
1. People that sell the Rev 2, haven’t learnt how to program it/don’t want to. The more flexible the synth, the more work you need to do to make it shine. It’s not that hard, but you need to use the sequencer in an unconventional way …
2. Yes, the P10 has more heft than the P6. It’s a real and appreciable difference.
3. DSI/Sequential effects have never been great/a focus. They’re serviceable, and it’s good to have them to work into patches - but I almost always use external FX. The more modern the DSI/Sequential synth, the better the FX (my PRO 3 has the best of their FX so far; still not the best FX around, but yeah).
What i found out there are digital oscillators that sound warm drifting and analog and there are analog oscillators that sound cold stable and digital.
Most comes down to the Filter and saturation character.
I like your findings. There is no such thing as warm and or cold sound. That is because both expressions (warm / cold sound) are subject to personal interpretation.
@@sK3LeTvM1no
Nope. It comes down to whether you have control over variances in oscillator tuning. The REV 2 (and some other synths) give you this, but most people don’t figure out how to use it well, so they just flip it …
I love both digital and analog. They both can achieve timbres that the other cannot do. Digital sounding synths work well in 90s breakbeat stuff. Doing a sweet hollow reese bass on a nord, and crazy resonating wavetable stuff on a waldorf really sells the 90s dnb feel, full of attitude. sometimes you don't want lush, you want harsh, you want the aliasing overtones. you can even mix the two and create a dichotomy; lush deep house chords, with screaming digital arpeggios and stabs, and a dx7 bass. anyone who thinks one is better or worse, needs to make more music.
also, plugins can be just as good as hardware. even some of the oldest, simplest synth plugins from 1999/2000 can be revitalized with EQ, chorus and delay/reverb, external filters, transient shapers, and the list goes on. and newer synth plugins just get better and better.
love your thoughts on this topic. I can't wait for old plugins to become the next big vintage thing :) All the countless hours I jammed with the old NI Pro52
@@johnnygorillas I still got Pro52 in rotation, works like a dream! You know, Pro52 is as old today as Prophet-5 was when Pro52 was released in 2000?
@@zxbryc wow that's crazy. and makes me feel very old. Does Pro52 doesn't work on modern computers though or is there a workaround?
Have you tried u-he's Diva compared to Model-D?
So, what I've learned over the last few years dabbling in hardware, they're almost the same if well made. Analog behaves differently than a digital does, and in some cases it even sounds different. You can basically recreate that sound if you have a very good digital, but it just simply won't behave exactly the same as an analog, even if it sounds exact. But... digital can simply do way more than analog can. Like worlds more. Analog is good at one thing, and you can get a lot out of that one thing, but digital is good at many other things, depending on the type of digital synth you buy. Currently, the only Analog synth I own is a td-3 because it's cheap and nothing really seems to invoke that exact feeling from me (software, other cheap hardware in the same price range). I own a digital FM polysynth, a Hydrasynth (which does a few different types of synthesis), and a digital granular polysynth (i also own loads of VSTs). Not that I don't like analog, in fact I love it and want one, but my style of sound design and music production lends itself better to digital sounds, specifically FM and Wavetable I've noticed (I am drawn to sounds most easily or sometimes only achieved by those types of synthesis). I used to own many different analog synths cause I fell for the whole "analog is better" ruse.
So in short, neither one is better, they're actually extremely comparable if we'll made, but how you will use them is what matters because in that regard they're wildly different.
Totally agree
There's the whole thing of eventually cliched analog sounds making you cringe. Starts to sound like some kind of cheesy circus music with the same exact sounds, same exact "licks".
Your combo is fantastic. Nice video! However, would be nice to see Nord's Wave 2 (instead of the Lead 2) compared with any of Sequential's synths.
good point. Would love to compare them if I had one :) But there are definitely great digital synths that can do completely different things that analogs cannot - e.g. wavetables or FM synthesis in the Nord Wave. I don't know how we could compare them at all...the Nordlead though is basically "just" a copy of an analog subtractive synth
Hi, used to own every NL, starting from MK1 up to MK4. Agree completely, if you wish PolySynth, Nord gives you. Will never depart with my NL4. Otherwise, enjoyned your video! Appreciate! p.s. Clavia themselves (no links to proove now, unfortunately) stated, that NL series was (is) based on Prophet5.
Look at the voice component modeling website and video. He uses the gated sequencer to add per voice variance to various parameters. This adds more VCO style characteristics to the rev2
sounds interesting. Have to check that out
@@johnnygorillas really changed how I program. I end up always doing two patches stacked with per voice variance. Adds way more heft and depth. Basically my init patch at this point 😝
I can't stop looking at that Casio VL-1 on that shelf behind you 😁
An old answer to the old question: the DSI stuff and the Korg go through dacs because effects. Am I right? You must compare the nord to a prophet 5 or an 70s OBX.
Can you lend me a Prophet 5 or OBX? :)
I have the DSI Mopho X4. There are no internal effects. But it doesn't have VCOs.
The ending…so funny because it’s so real
Hey, you can do dual unisono on Rev2 too! Moreover, "binuaral" sound. Both layers must be used. The difference would then be very audible
gonna give that a try!
the difference in analog shines mostly when you push to the more extreme settings, with resonance full on s.o
I think the Prophet just sounds fantastic! Wish I had bought one few years ago, but chose the Korg Prologue instead, which I already sold again.
I have both analog and digital synths and to tell the truth, I never could hear the difference between one or the other. I can easily get fat warm sounds out of any of them. I can also get cold hard sounds. I think every synth has it's won thing going and it's up to the user to get the best out of each and every one.
I have owned total 30 something synths analog, digital, hybrids - the NL2X is far and above my favorite. You touched on it early on in the video, it doesn't have a ton of features, it is relatively simple architecture but it's not limited. You can get bread and butter subtractive sounds but also outlandish digital weirdness and it's so easy to program. The filter/envelopes have just the right amount of pluck. If you push resonance past 12 o clock it can sound very early 2000's VA synth lol but occasionally that's fine. if you want that unstable analog pad sound you can potentially do this with the 3rd party vst that allows you to automate parameters like fine tune etc.
Tldr the NL2X is fantastic and I'm glad you see it as valuable as a modern analog with more features 👍 great video
P.S. I'm tempted to get the Nord Lead 4 but might be more of the same with some minor improvements
Oh i see,
I wonder why you want to have NL4. I have that and I like the fm function🥹
@@user-zd4qy5zl7i the impluse morph looks like fun. Also better midi clock capabilities.
What's your favorite feature of the NL4?
I think it can depend on the synth ... for a poly, try the Polybrute, no virtual synth can sound even close in terms of analogue warmth (and I have analogue, hybrid, digital and software synths).
I would check novation summit, Udo 6 or Waldorf Quantum.
I have the Quantum Mk2 and its fantastic. So much fun to experiment with.
@@Sardonicuss All great synths, but back to back them with a Polybrute and see which is warmer ... but they are all great synths and they all give something different, that's why we love them.
The best synthesizer is the one you know inside and out. How many times have you heard a soundset for a synth you're tired of, only to be reinvigorated by clever programming?
Love the J3PO patches on the rev2 and maybe I should look into Nordlead sound sets as well…
If iam not wrong the Rev2 has DCO'S which are digitally controlled oscillators, the nord lead emulates analogue synthesizers with the old 😮virtual analogue technology, i can say that there are some noticeable notes between real to virtual analogue synths, they are the reason why people still buy true analogue synths today, the digital synths which sound the closest to true analogue synths today for me are the Zen core synths. The regular VA Synths today are just lacking some important notes vs the new Zen core synths for me
I almost bought a Rev2 but last minute opted for the Summit instead. No regrets!
They’re both really great synths.
Fun video! I’ve followed a similar path where I was fine with in-the-box, then became convinced analog sounded better, and am now less sure that it really does. Heh. In the end I’ve decided that I really like having hardware synths for their hands-on, physical controls…and I am less concerned whether they’re analog or digital. I do still feel like there’s *something* about analog. But I think it’s mostly noticed when the two are played side by side, individually. In the mix of a track, I doubt the difference matters much in most cases. 😁
There’s analog, and there’s analog. There’s also users who know how to get the most out of more capable DCO analog synths (like the Rev 2), and those who don’t.
@@kierenmoore3236 I think user has a lot to do with it. I have a Hydrasynth that I love for many things, but I for the life of me can not get it to sound as good (to my ears) on virtual analog patches as my Behringer Pro-800. However, I have presets for the Hydrasynth created by others where I don’t think I could tell it’s not analog. I know the Hydrasynth of capable of doing a great VA, but I’m not sure I am capable of programming it to do so. 😁 (I’m know many other digital synths have more VA goodness out of the box, as well.) So yeah, happy to accept that some of the reason I feel there *something* about analog is simply that I know how to get the sounds I want very quickly on an analog synth, and not as much with the digital hardware synths I own.
@@bodhibeats8257 Programming can make a HUGE difference … but obviously the synth has to be capable of the tricks that can get the patch there, otherwise the best patch-programmer in the world can’t do much (other than drown it in reverb maybe, lol).
You can get the same unison effect on the Rev2 by setting up the same patch in A & B, and then modding them
The beauty of Analog you can feel is in instability. Either analog hardware or sorftware or even hardware that emulate that. Polybrute voice spread is the best feature I like, on top of full analog. ‘Beating’ is the coolest knob on Subsequent 37, voices kicking each other butts. Maybe DSO on Rev2 invites to have sound clean at first, unless you design it sloppy.
From my 4 analog synths Buchla 208c and ARP 2600m I would call “analogue”. Because there is no way you want/can make sterile sound on those. It’s difficult to make those sterile and I never want to :)
Just chatting. There is no difference, there is only phunn making it analog (own) or not with either soft/hardware. Enjoyed the vid and dialog!
Cool jammin’!
As Jack Duxbury says, it's the sound of the oscillators beating each other off ;)
Loved the video! I also own a Rev2, and something I thought might be an interesting point here re: analog vs. Digital: The Rev2 utilizes DCOs rather than VCOs (digital controlled vs voltage controlled) so it’s a lot more of a “digital” sounding analog than other offerings from Sequential. You called out using the spread and osc slop as a way to get that more analog feel, which is a great tip!
I have a Rev2 along with a Take 5, and this week I was actually creating similar patches between the two to compare. The Sequential Take 5 was noticeably “thicker” and more analog sounding, largely due to the VCOs. If you have a chance, it might be worth trying one out, because it may be a better compliment to your Nord Lead! I love having both, but if I had to only keep one of my Sequential synths it would be the Take 5.
you're totally right about the DCO/VCO thing. That's one of the big(?) differences between Rev2 and Prophet 6. And I guess the Take 5 too....I honestly didn't really check that one out. Somehow the more modern/less vintage style didn't really click with me yet. But I'm sure that you can get great sounds out of it!
Why is the Take 5 half the price of a Prophet 6 and also cheaper than a Rev2? What's the catch? :)
@@johnnygorillas The catch is that it’s 44 keys rather than a larger key bed, no wood panels, and it’s using their more “modern” knobs. But it’s the same filter from the Prophet 5! Honestly, I know folks online hype things too much, but I love the Take 5. Jorb has a good video on the Take 5 called “Why aren’t these everywhere? That’s worth a watch. I do think it’s a very underrated and under the radar synth that a lot of people pass up because of the 44 keys, and because there’s no wood panels.
In a quick nutshell, here’s some things about the Take 5 that I love: Two effects channels, with one of them being dedicated Reverb. I like that you don’t have to choose between chorus OR reverb, or delay OR reverb. You can have both! It has a “vintage” knob that allows you to crank up the wobbly, janky analog vibes. You have access to a sine wave in the oscillators, which makes it great for bass patches too. The keyboard has an octave split feature, which allows you to choose the point on the keyboard where the lower half can be 1 or 2 octaves lower, which makes you feel like you’re playing on a 61 key synth! And the overall panel and layout flows really fast, so it is really quick to make patches.
@@BenKrogh thanks for the explanation. Sounds like I‘lol have to check it out some day. 2 FX really sounds great.
For now I’m happy with the rev2 though!
@@johnnygorillas Totally! I love the Rev2, it’s a classic.
I remember when virtual analog synths were introduced. We all thought they sounded great, and we had real analog synths already. I think the current scarcity of vintage analog synths has made people look at them through rose colored glasses. I had a Juno 60 and 106 and found them quite limited and cheesy sounding. I am a guitarist so maybe we see this differently.
You have to listen to very specific things when comparing analog to digital.
Note for note they can sound pretty similar but when the signal path comes together, there a level of detail to the oscillators, the filter and the envelope shapes that digital just doesn’t have. It’s not a better or worse overall thing. It’s a what is best for the song. Sometimes you don’t want something popping out and grabbing all the attention.
totally agree. I found both synths guiding me into a specific direction at some point. And neither hast to be better or worse...just different
@@johnnygorillas I should also be clear I’m talking digital hardware. The vst realm is still lightyears behind in detail.
The Nord Lead 1 and 2 are very similar in architecture to a prophet 5. In fact are almost digital clones in a sense. The 2x even have a Prophet bank. So the comparison is good, but the real deal would be a Prophet 6 as actually have analog oscillators. The resonant filters of the Nord Lead is it’s weak point, but is an amazing synth. I love mine and is a keeper for me.
Yes, I always liked the prophet bank on the 2x. Not really close to the original but still nice. Also agree on the filter resonance….not great.
I use a 08 since some years and the 2X since over 10. There is for sure an overlap and the reso on the Nord goes to 45 minutes max. which is a shame. I agree with both of you. Althought I think the arp on the Nord is great, the only missing thing is it doesn't store the sync setting with the program and modulation over the range would be huge. But it's my fav arp.
But in the end they don't sound identical when I work them both by intention steered by my gut.
The real difference is between vintage analog and modern synths analog or digital, There the difference is huge especially when you start inserting them into your mixes where they will naturally find their space. Modern analog components are so clean and perfect that they sound just like digital. I have a vintage prophet 600 and it sounds very very different to your rev 2. Grungier, dirtier, fatter, smoother, more unpredictable...etccc...there is no comparison.
The real difference is between you and me. I guess you are just an unexpirienced synthesist. I can imagine anything else.
First sentence is true but very incomplete. New analog synth sound analog because they are. And you can here it like on a polybrute. You can hear the difference but its something else then on the vintage stuff. And it has nothing to do with the technology if a synth falls good into the mix or not and where. That is why i know you are not know what you talking about. Seems to be very proud of your p600. Good for you. But your opinion is absolutely useless for every other person. You just riding a trend and convinced yourself to be very wise. There was a time you coukd find junos in the trash. Analog was dead and noone wanted analog stuff anymore. And now its back again and of course NOW we know the final truth. This lovely lively warm vintage sound is all there you ever want. Its a hype and a trap for people like you. I can tell you for example a polybrute has lots of character, a Q has, evolver has, alesis ion has. All these synth you can't ever mimic with any vintage synth. Who is the luckier person? Whos favorite synth is a ms2000 for 600 or someone who likes the jupiter 8 and has to pay 20000? There is nothing objective about sound taste. Yes to the nature of old electronics the vintage stuff are kind of self modulating. If that is something good, everyone has to answer for themselves. No compariison....
I played a lot of synth till 6000 dollar and my favorite synth are from all kind of years. Modern and old. So who are you to write: no comparison? I would choos the p08 over the p600 always. So you see, there is no comparison towards p600😉😄
It seems to be very importand if its analog or digital these days. There is also more than sound to an instrument. Most important maybe but nit all. Concept, ui, features, look and feel are all together important. Just let people alone with your poppy trendy superior vintage opinion. Don't answer and think about you bias. Why should any synth be the best?
My experience exactly.
Nope. The real difference there is VCOs versus DCOs. But also, in the case of more capable DCO synths (including the REV 2), whether the user knows how to program the synth to sound like a VCO synth or not.
@@kierenmoore3236 Nope.
@@tonewreck1 Nope alone isn’t a position/argument. Or was this an April 1 reply?
Nice vid, I like your presentation style. I can hear a difference tho - and on my phone 😅
(I’ve had synths since the 80s and Nords for 25 years)
I’ve found digital is perfect for live - lightweight, feature packed and reliable.
Analogue is always more inspiring when writing - thick, hairy, bouncy and irregular.
(That said, some sounds always sound better on digital and simply can’t be recreated on an analogue synth due to their limitations)
Yup they’re just music tools, I agree you don’t need to spend too much money on your paintbrush!
to be fair.. I dont have an analog synth myself, but I saw some people play around with it.
I think the magic with analog (With today's technology) is in modulating signals with eachothers. since digital needs to work within its limited resolution you just literally cannot create certain sounds like dialing up the LFO thats modulating the pitch swing to such a high degree it makes a new full sound. not the choppiness you get with digital.
sure you can find some kind of use for the choppy like sound but the result is just completely different between the 2 if you attempt to tweak these same settings.
this is the biggest difference in my opinion.
Subscriber now. Im a synth collector in Sweden.
😍🙏
Great video. My wife thinks spending ANY amount of $$ on my studio is a fortune. But, I do know that my wife wants a vacation and I need to keep things in perspective. It seems to me, that the difference between analog and digital is very small, so small that most people cannot perceive the difference. Different instruments are different, so there will be some differences between them. That said, I like knowing that I don't have to spend a fortune.
Well said. I have similar a opinion and similar balancing acts😅.
More of a purist 20 years ago but honestly some digital "analog engines" sound fantastic and in a final mix with other instruments, you won't notice the difference. And then, as reality check I am no Chick Corea.
"honey, when I die, don't sell the synths for what I told you they cost"
You don’t have to spend a fortune. You only need a good analog poly synth, a good analog mono, and good digital, and maybe one vintage piece among those (which will appreciate in value btw).
People spend more money in a year in streaming services than the price of most synths, which will last the rest of your life, if you want. The same thing could also be said about yearly spending on restaurant bills; or … take your pick of other stupid ish.
Most synths are reasonably priced for what you get.
13:02 ... you should make something out of it! Or is it a song already? Sounds so sweet!!
Thanks…have to go back to this pad patch for sure.
Get a prologue such good value - yeah one lfo but you get a huge sound and digital osc too
If you can play and you really know how to program, things start to become somewhat negligible and what becomes important is layout, keybed, knob per function, matrix routing, extended capabilities, inspirational quality, workflow, software editor, aftertouch, etc. I am going to be buying the Summit and one of the factors is being able to draw your own wavetable, binaural output, knob per function, and routing capabilities., stunning internal effects quality, and of course that sound!
Without having to watch, NL wrecks the Rev2 😛
But on nord lead 2 u have 4 synth. So u can set one settings of PWM on A synth and some others on B synth. For me it’s the biggest power of nord synths.. 4 synths with 2 osc at each of them. So u can use saw on 1st, square on second, noise on 3rd etc… So maybe then u cold do similar sound, or even better)
Same with me. I think I'll buy a new synth and then I'll sell one. But then I'll keep both. 😉
exactly 😅
Well obviously it depends. A VA subtractive synth will probably sound pretty analogue. But a purely digital synth like the NonLinear C15 sounds very very different from an analogue poly, although it can do analogue sounds too.
absolutely! I'm definitely talking about VA synths ie digital synths trying to sound analog
btw played the C15 for a couple of minutes once and it's an amazing synth...I wouldn't have a clue how to program it though :)
I dunno, well made digital oscillators don’t go out of tune unless you want it. Modulation is easier to implement seems like. Already has most of the analog mud removed. You can throw an analog filter at the end and have the best of both worlds. Analog “warmth” doesn’t matter to me but aliasing free knobs are pretty sweet.
An interesting video, but flawed as you are not comparing like for like feature sets. Great to see how you try to push the Nord to do things that are easy on the Prophet because of it’s higher specs.
The Rev2 has digital controlled OSCs. This makes it very precise which is an advantage over the "normal" VCO analogs. But without the slop it is always "dead" and has no movement in the raw OSC sound. Adding slop is useful, but not the same as wandering filters and envelopes all over the place. The Rev 2 is a very capable analog, and it is far ahead of the sound shaping options that you have in the NLead (also newer models), but you need to use some tricks to make it more "typical" analog. Turning up slop is not enough. There are videos about this and some tricks known to experienced REV2 users. Look out for "vintage voice modeling", that´s one trick. The keybed in the NLead(s) is ridiculous cheap and bad for an instrument in that pricerange. The FX section in the REV2 is ridiculously bad for an instrument in that pricerange. That counts for all Sequentials and Nords.
I’ll have to look that up. Sounds interesting
Yep, VCM (voice component modeling) is very rewarding on the Rev2, albeit tedious. Once you have a template, you‘ll use it again and again. Creative Spiral also provides free basic templates.
The problem is that modeling all components (OSCs, VCF, ENVs, LFOs) eats up your mod slots. Having only 8 freely assignable slots is the greatest drawback of the Rev2.
There will always be differences, even between polys using the same sound generation method. Analog and Digital simply give the musician more scope to fill a certain audio requirement whether that be in tone, mood or any other specific aspect relevant to the song. Whichever approach fits best. In that context there's really no 'better' between one or the other. P.S. love the Casio VL-1 on the shelf. :)
One of the reasons the Rev 2 sounds like the Nord Lead is the digitally controlled analog oscillators. Very different from a real Prophet VCO,VCF,VCA.
Yes. But how big is the difference really? I think, a DCO analog is probably still closer to a VCO than to a completely digital synth. Don’t you think?
Basically oscillator drift on a dco - or slop is a vco - not much more@@johnnygorillas
FYI: Modern analogues (from Andromeda->) rarely sound like vintage analog. Compare that nord to an MKS80, a Polyix, Monopoly etc.. then you hear it.
The end user, the listener, isn't using an oscilloscope to analyze the wave shapes they're hearing from the keyboard players synth. If a band plays live, and they're using a digital synth, programmed with sounds similar to the analogue sounds played on the album, nobody's going to be complaining or asking for their money back. The singer might be 20/30 years older than when the recorded version got released. Singers voice change would have far greater significance than a swap from analogue to digital synth.
that's true of course. Not only for live shows. 99% of the time a great musical idea will make a song great and not the type of instrument it was played on.
‘Where’s the treble?!!! … Oh, wrong octave …’ 😅 You remind me of me. 😏
Rev2 has DCOs and sounds digital to my ears. Prophet 5/6 has VCOs and sounds analog to my ears.
I certainly think it can sound analog when compared to the Nord or VSTs...but honestly haven't compared it to a Prophet.
Excellent video! Subscribed😄
🙏🙏
The REV2 is a DCO based synth. It's missing the tonal variations and randomness of a VCO based one. Not a good contender for a comparison. I've got the REV2 and it fails when comparing it with my OB6 (both analog synths).
For me, they go hand in hand. One can't replace the other. Digital does things analog can't, and analog does things digital can't. Sorry, but it's true. If you think otherwise, you probably haven't heard the right synths.
So I have p6 and nl4, but I can't sell both
Hey people, something for synthuser, especially if you are new to this instruments: A lot of great music was made with vintage synth. You know why? At some point they were state of the art and then when nobody wanted analog synth anymore they where extremely cheap. What history should tell you is, there is nothing objective about sound taste. If anybody will tell you that one synth is superior to any other in sound or even overall never listen to him. They are just trend hoppers seeking seeking for attention through being an expert. Who is the luckier guy? One that loves a jupiter 8 and has to spend 20000 nowadays or someone who loves an alesis ion and has his dream sound for 400?
Analog is hyped. Vintage is hyped. But there is nothing true about it. So if you like a synth you like it. Fuck other people, even if not many think this way. You have your own taste and you have not to convince yourself otherwise because of anyone. Yes vintage synth have a specific sound. So have 90's-00 va synth or new analog, hybrid and digital synth. In these group there are synth with huge character to love. The waldorf q is full if very unique sweetspots with a special character. There is a lot of flavours to choose besides vintage analog and nothing is good or bad. Don't fall into this trap of these growing count of synthtubers who do all the same for the most part. I am experienced enough to tell you that near all of these people also the biggest ones are just normal synthuser or even less. Don't let these people fool you. They seem to be experts or very skilled but for the most part they just talk and talk and talk. With good cameras, audio it seems to be something with substance. Endless comparisons and talking about new synth. They don't have the time to show you an instrument deeply. Because the next video has to be made. The best videos are little unknown user who explored there instrument very deeply. It seems that your hobby is all abour new gear. New gear. Othe gear. Something else every week. They are all trapped by themselves. Look at this comparison video, he never touches the resonance knob. What does this video tell you? That they sound similar. I promise you, if you connect with a synth and spend a lot of time with it yiu will be surprised what unique sweetspots you find and what is possible. Especially if they are complex. You will need time. Do you play this way your synth. Comparing basic tones? It is important what you get out of a synth. Basic tone isn't all.
Fuck all these youtuber and just sit down, stop theorizing abiut synth and make patches and play. If you want to buy a synth you can watch demos. Drive to a store or friend or seller and try it out. If you buy a synth then buy something that excites you really. The next synth will come.
Just do what you like. Also if you looking for new character or new sounds chances are way higher to find them in more modern synth. Vintage analog is not bad. But it also isn't the last word in sound. You decide and no one else. If your favorite artists use this or that you should know that this doesn't relates to you.
Have fun.
Short answer, yes
Compare vco vs dco you will hear big differenc. compare 2 type of filter you will hear big difference.
I'd ditch that REV2 and grab a Virus TI keyboard. With all of the extra wavetables and synthesis options and effects it's another league. Or if you want analogue, Prophet 5 is nice. But REV2, just never gave me that instant wow factor, coincidently neither to me not most of the folks I know.
Would love to compare it to a prophet 5…but don’t have the budget :) for me, I really like the sound and think it can sound pretty „analog“
O som analógico soa mais natural, mais orgânico.
I would argue that the Rev2 is not a good example of analog sound, and therefore not the right instrument to use in a shootout between analog and digital. The Prophet Rev2 sounds very controlled and sterile to my ears, sort of the opposite of what I think of when I think “analog”. They really went overboard trying to make something that behaves and doesn’t drift out of tune during a performance, and in doing this they omitted everything that is wonderful about analog. To me, it sounds like a virtual analog synth like the Nord. Also, the Nord lead series is meant to closely emulate analog subtractive synthesis, which I would say they do quite well. It does not wear its digital nature on its sleeve, rather it tries to behave the way analog instruments behave. It wears a disguise. So that’s not a great pick either. A good comparison might be a Prophet 5 vs DX7. The classic analog poly which all others are based on, at least in design, and the classic digital FM synth which many others have followed. Both are unabashedly themselves, and neither one tries to do what the other does. And guess what? They each do things that the other cannot, and therefore are each valuable in their own way! Analog and digital each have their place, and neither are better than the other.
Totally agree with you. I was just trying to show differences between 2 synths I own and which seem to be quite similar at first sight. Obviously there a "more analog" synths and digital synths which have loads of features you won't find in the analog world
Hm... ok, If you play single sounds analog and digital, at the same wavelenght, maybe you can here some sparkles :) I own a Access Virus TI and a loooooot of VST Synths. And every single one sounds a little different. I own also an analog monopoly and tb303... yes, they sound nice, but in the mix nobody can hear any differens, no way. It's a myth, it's a great marketing move and a little bit of love to synth history :) I love to play around with my hardware, but to produce music in my DAW, 99% using VST's because it's so easy and efficient.
Oder so, mein Englisch ist nicht wirklich gut hoffe es kommt rüber was ich sagen wollte 😅
a little love to synth history comes a long way....nothing wrong with that :) But I agree with doing most my work inside the DAW because of convenience.
Nl2x is the most analog sounding VA. Prophet 08 is the most digital sounding DCO. Great video ❤
My thoughts exactly, it's like comparing the worst of one thing, with the best of another. Also, it's an analog synth that wants to sound digital compared to a digital synth that wants to sound analog. All kinds of weirdness going on here.
Sorry, but you guys don’t know what you’re talking about. 🙂
I liked NL sound more
yes maybe probably but the digital stuff can sound better sometimes too.
Rev 2 has DCO..
Can you do the same video with a real vintage analog synth ? Like 2600 ? Arp Odyssey ? Oscar ?
Digital synth can’t make this analog sounds.
Modern analog synthesizers don’t sound like vintage analog synth .
I'd love to if I could get my hands on some vintage synths...
The rev 2 has digital oscillators :P
Not really
@@johnnygorillas what do you mean?
They are not digital oscillators, they are digitally controlled oscillators DCOs as opposed to voltage controlled oscillators VCOs. They are still analog though
If you really are looking for a difference, you will find it...
Is it important ?
It's a matter of one's own taste.
Try to compare anything to a Jupiter 8 or an OBX then the difference becomes obvious :)
If I could, I would….🤷🏻♂️
Analog isn't subject to aliasing.
To be fair, the Rev2 uses DCO's, not VCO's.
Dco sounds and vco sounds different when you hear them?im just curious
@@user-zd4qy5zl7i Yes.
try vintage.... new analog dosent compare and digital certainly dosent... ive had a 2X rack since it was new and a bunch of behringers. My vintage synths wipe the floor with the others
The Rev 2 doesn’t have a ton of character for me. I sold mine.
Probably not the best decision to choose a Sequential Prophet Rev2 to represent analog poly synths, it sounds kinda shit.
No, I can't.
Ok, I'll watch the video to make sure... lol
I love analog, but digital has its place. I just don't care for digital "analog simulations". Does that make sense?
Yea, sure. But all the virtual copies of analog synths surely also have their place. But totally fine if it’s not for everybody.
@@johnnygorillas If it inspires, it's good!
Here's hat you've proven:
1. No two synths sound exactly the same (probably even of the same model).
2. If one synth has capabilities in mod routings, etc. than it may not be possible to exactly match on the other
3. For most sounds, if both synths have all of the mod routings and modules, than the differences between analog and digital (virtual analog) are subtle, to the point of trivial.
Point #3 is most obvious when comparing digital versions of analog synths. For example, the Roland plugout Juno-106 and a real Juno-106 are so close that it is virtually impossible to hear any difference. If you do hear differences in a comarisn like this, than it usually means that the particular digital model was poorly done, not that digital couldn't do it, if written correctly.
That doesn't mean that analog doesn't sound good or that you may not love a particular analog model. But, analog snobs who insist that no digital sounds the same are fooling themselves..
I don't know. I compared it directly with real Juno 106 and roland cloud Juno 106, and there was a difference
@@user-zd4qy5zl7i OK, but was if a significant difference? Was it a bigger difference than a different real Juno would have had? Was the difference worth the price and functionality sacrifices? I'm guessing that the answers are probably not really.
friend, fix the cord from your headphones, your neck won’t thank you for the constant load)
Rev2 is not really analog ... is it?
maybe. could be? who knows?
of course it's analog. Are you referring to the DCOs? Maybe VCOs are the "real deal" for some, but it's still analog for sure
I request permission to subscribe!!
Anything with DCO is not fully analog. That was the problem with this Prophets and that's why Prophet series not that popular anymore. Having a DCO on analog synth is like having a chinese label on a Rolex.
Thanks man, sub from me.
Juno106 is also a dco with a huge sound. And dave smith once said it doesn't have to be a vco without question
@@user-zd4qy5zl7itrue that! Roland synths are the best digital synths im ny book, BUT...Juno don't claim to be analog.
Also.
Have nothing against Smith's opinion but it seems like this exact review showed us that digital stuff on analog synth can sway the sound to digital side too much for a lot of people' liking.
haven't 1:1 compared VCO and DCO polysynths against each other. But I think your chinese Rolex comparison is a bit harsh :)
@@johnnygorillasYup! But i was just pointing out the point of view of a purist. Me personally.. i don't give a damn about synth being digital or analog.... whatever sounds good to one's ear is all that matter.
Did you A/B the software to hardware? Were ALL parameters as they should have been? Including the audio interface, and its software. Also, was the DAW setup correctly -from interface connections, track setups (too much/too little output), and good compression/ EQ settings?
I don't buy the whole vst/software to hardware biased OPINIONS -where 99.9% statements are made without a/b testing, and/or poorly setup conditions. Such silly claims, but it will last forever. After all, ufo's (the alien claims) are claimed to be real without a single piece of direct evidence ever obtained...EVER.
You should do more research. People fail A/B testing all the time with soft/hardware testing.
Now, which one you prefer to play, for creativity... or to look cool on stage is another topic.
Man....Them keybeds are noisy.....
My mic was really close to the keys tbh…have to find a better solution next time
Man, the synths you are comparing are both digital... And of course, YES, there is a huge difference between analog and digital
No they are not. The Prophet Rev2 isn't digital.
Well. It's a hybrid. There are digital effects and the oscillators are DCO, but the filters and VCAs are fully analog as far as I am aware.
Way too many memes, my friend.
Waste of time