You did a lot of organizing since the last time you posted a picutre. It looked like a pre-interior decorator version.

 

that's A LOT of $$

 

i bet this guy LIVES for the music

 

Sorry, but it's really DELULU to think hardware VA Synths do sound better than 100% correct emulations like the usual subjects stuff. Kate, you are just biased and you just prefer to work with hardware, and thats really cool, I love hardware, too but I don't think that I can hear the differences between an ostirus and a hardware virus ...... If you can hear any differences, please explain them well

 

plugins sound plastic.. well some of them.. hardware sounds bigger. wider. more present. plus some hardware have top effects inbuilt

 

I will only buy hardware synths with unique sound and that I can't find in vst's... but to each their own.

 

Last edited: Jun 27, 2026 at 8:11 AM

Hello @Kate Middleton, you are generalizing; there are plenty of shades of gray—please make some finer distinctions.

 

Ultimately whatever keeps you going, if piece of gear unlocks your attention, dedication and desire to make better music, then go for it, even if it's ultimately just placebo or bias, it worked in your favor and am all for it. Every day we wake up and try to figure out why we are even trying, same with music, if piece of hardware can do this, get that box and have a blast.

 

Lusted after DX7 but it was £1100 second hand, so had to buy new Juno2 instead as it was £800 new, I remember a more knowledgable musician stated disparagingly at the time, 'But it's not digital', as if digital was better.

Still using my Juno, did eventually get a used TX81Z, but sold it.

Juno2 was also the first digitally controlled synth, I think.

Anyhoo, it's not just the sound that does it for me, equally as important is the working method, the satisfying speedy immediacy of hands on, will always win hands down for me, digital or analogue, just don't happen to own any digital synths, i wouldn't rule anything out though.


I wonder where the VSL player fits into all this?

Like the Juno2 perhaps, digitally controlled analogue???

 

ITS VERY SIMPLE
you have alot of cash then its OK to get hardware synths .and even collect ONLY the best ones from 80s/90s/200/2010/2020s

but if you are tight on cash then ..get one of these companies like arturia /roland and korg ..or if you are a beginner you can use
free plugins out there that emulate the old synths like dexed and start get you hands dirty in old syx files loading in to dexed

i remember i started with e-jay softwares using samples then i found good ol nexus 1 and 2 and then start collecting everything from download site and became a collector and official plugins tester and never completed any project just enjoying the sounds of 2000s on midikeyboard lol

basically im not hardware guy heheheh
so good luck in finding YOUR hardware synths

 

If you can, forgo hardware; doing so saves space, raw materials, and hard cash. The advantages of software—also known as virtual software synthesizers—include portability, unlimited preset storage, and the absence of repair costs. The analog is becoming digital. If the sound seems a bit too thin, use a compressor—such as the Brainworx Vertigo VS-2 or SSL Native Bus Compressor—to make the sound "fatter" (i.e., louder); simply use the mix knob and turn it to the right!

 

Nothing sounds like my Arturia Polybrute in hardware or software, the filters or what pops out of the oscillators after fucking around with all the twiddly knobs...and that's what I so very much like.

 

Let me explain the difference the way I perceive it... Many—almost most—software synths sound like "plastic," whereas hardware synths sound like "metal." Xfer Serum, in particular, has that "plastic" sound... It sounds artificial—something that becomes especially noticeable the more "unison" layers you add.

 

Yes. that is exactly my point.
The virus is a DSP based synth.
There is no analog magic in there. Yet people here tell me that there is a lot of magic in the outputs (so in the DACs, I guess?).
And that because there is soooo much magic in that hardware output you would need the real thing.
And I say, no, I say there is no magic in those outputs, the magic is in owning the hardware, touching it, playing around with it's controls (and taking it to the vet, pardon, having it serviced by highly paid specialists).
I don't buy legacy hardware because to me it seems to be more hassle than benefit.
But I very much get the appeal of owning these synths.

 

Thanks, @Plendix, for speaking the truth and dispelling the myths.

I’m a sound designer https://ohlenbostelhelge.wixsite.com/sonic-sirius-sound-d and I’ve slogged through creating soundsets on the following hardware synths: Access Virus TI Snow, Novation MiniNova, Waldorf Blofeld, Yamaha MX49, Roland SH-01, and Korg R3. The truth is, dealing with all those sub-menus—because knobs cost money—is an absolute nightmare.

The Korg R3 and Yamaha MX49 could only really be operated and programmed via external PC editors: After years, I sold all my hardware synths; now I only own the ASM Hydrasynth (keyboard version) and a Boss Dr. Rhythm drum machine.

The Korg Electribe EMX-1 SD, with its real knobs, is a technical marvel—but it’s no longer in production; the successor is smaller and full of sub-menus...!

Spoiler: Sonic Sirius - Synthesizer Soundsets

Waldorf - Blofeld (3x)
The Holography Soundset by CHE for the Waldorf - Blofeld
https://mega.nz/file/rjhSAajY#-TEiX1p83VRtM2NVVGVZFVgdo_OhEcZECw8D205qvVk
The Panta - Rhei Soundset by CHE for Waldorf - Blofeld
https://mega.nz/file/Gn5gBK5R#mjJE9ZMHjisYQiNj1nf3pfuuijV7vwC8kOanoQaSMOo
The Sounds of the Digital World by CHE for the Waldorf - Blofeld
https://mega.nz/file/235kBIqD#qpK57pGMphefq1UNkBf2McwYOLJp5OPeygbwbIVrs2U

Novation - Mininova (3x)
The E-lec-tro Soundset by CHE for the Novation - MiniNova Synth
https://mega.nz/file/SqwkCIQJ#XwMy3cmhU7TrlNo8cxew_Li8Fz6Wg77z_1D3IsDjfdM
The ReAction Soundset by CHE for the Novation - MiniNova Synth
https://mega.nz/file/e2piWCxb#fPDWYcPlOFUYAl4kg6vU1dIuTkqyAv8Hi4Y_tjYkQK0
The Sonic Sirius Soundset by CHE for the Novation - MiniNova Synth
https://mega.nz/file/Tj4iUIRS#1EkUjpkiCSXF0uBXlVOkUkr4lTZAuOl7lTBZTHpNKPg

Yamaha - MX49 & MX61 (1X)
The Sonic Sirius Mix 01 Soundbank for the Yamaha - MX 49 & MX61 Synth
https://mega.nz/file/quxUDSBS#phuyCaECm7Ju-msEEMZ9Vrb45RAGjVGHaQvZYHd3wf0

Korg - R3 (6x)
The Black Box Soundset by Sonic Sirius Soundset for the Korg - R3
https://mega.nz/file/P25WEA4R#C7dtJ4-GQM-wy3xhWwgJEypJL7yavFbAIWCuzfLfUjU
The Flowing Tones Soundset by Sonic Sirius for the Korg - R3
https://mega.nz/file/O2hWDIAA#yiiIJcb5L1pbZopTDvjWVlqbpWQYCfcmNcSRGhbxlYM
The High-Energy Soundset by Sonic Sirius for the Korg - R3
https://mega.nz/file/HzpggYQA#BP41JNFbUQpl4y-2VMTGOGi-6coO1e_zBGXvIrAaH_o
The Sonic Sirius Soundset by sonic Sirius for theKorg - R3
https://mega.nz/file/TipiSAJJ#ZHHvSSxDvhEJsmPRoY0sGBvxiIuxZaCnJWN7aKydAvs
The Sonic Wave Soundset by Sonic Sirius for the Korg - R3
https://mega.nz/file/26oAzChT#YC9T4SF9AIwSQg9dOPGUE4SvgbsWw4GKBCHWFLvFIrQ
The Starlight Soundset by Sonic Sirius for the Korg - R3
https://mega.nz/file/zz5AGIKb#za2rOE3bmXpEtjYVAabKqbOrRTDpu4HkfmftjcHnl8Y

Roland - SH-01 (3x)
The Phase Soundset by CHE for the Roland - GAIA SH-01
https://mega.nz/file/W2xk2aKC#dEAC6_NUzYOaCAW8Eg8p6E3txukASyOo8-t2hSD9iL4
The Sonic Sirius Soundset for the Roland - GAIA - SH-01
https://mega.nz/file/HrwgCYJQ#nZCnmn9jYTcSgM-sUGyLtDWaNAfqTDRet4giU_P-qwk
The Wave Activity Soundset by CHE for the Roland - GAIA - SH-01
https://mega.nz/file/PygmRaSK#EKpHh_mgBBB_xZXre14TxE2PA-9oBjWT51DI1m1RZV0

Access - Virus TI Snow (4x)
Virus TI Snow - The Sonic Sirius Soundbank Vol.1
https://mega.nz/file/6vw0mSrB#j5TKQGzcemMxAjezyY47FS9DkNjzYLV6XZyL8sUVCMU
Virus TI Snow - The Sonic Sirius Soundbank Vol.2
https://mega.nz/file/zyoUmIIA#hYQBMotk0cAlJgnqqiBKZplZ_6bvwYYSsnbTVembw1U
Virus TI Snow - The Sonic Sirius Soundbank Vol.3
https://mega.nz/file/L75GCQxA#v5CQi_o9LsQ3afXlhcYZbUB_JuEpngHSakfmw8jjVhE
Virus TI Snow - The Sonic Sirius Soundbank Vol.4
https://mega.nz/file/TjgiWa5K#meE2RCMNucYGw_urv6uIGP4tQ02KLM32SbD1vAIaJ20

Sonic Sirius - Synthesizer Soundsets
Freeware Soundsets for Software and Hardware Synthesizer:
http://ohlenbostelhelge.magix.net/public/index.htm

 

Wow that is an impressive portfolio!
Yeah there were really bad interaces out there... Like my Waldorf Microwave never clicked with me.
On the other hand I was really fast on my Kurzweil K2000 and my Akai 2800. The Midiverb III was easy to program too, I really liked the pressure sensitive buttons. When an Interface was well designed I think I was a little faster than I could ever be with a mouse.
But then there were machines like my Korg Wavestation, stupid me bought the cheap 1 unit rack version with the 2 row text display. Absolutely unmanageable without the menu-cheatsheet. Wow.. I really forgot about that, just remembering now.
A map like you would get for Bards Tale 3 just to navigate through menues.
Horrible. The good old times were good because we were drunk!

 

Thank You !

Wow, that’s quite a story!

Truly an interesting insight!

 

Lots of people will say things like that on audio forums that just get glanced over. But re magic: it's representative of things people say because they are just repeating bullshit they have read on the internet. The kinds of things like people telling others about the "classic SSL sound" of a plugin, when they have never much less seen an SSL console in their life, and no-one in their right mind would ever let them touch.

It's the same thing with the Virus. It does sound "very analog" for a VA synth from the era it was produced. Prior to that it was the Clavia Nord Lead. According to Clavia, it was the first fully VA synthesizer, it even says it on the original box. And it's not even close to the Virus, and that doesn't make it a bad synth, which is why we have a nice emulation of it now, and did even before that, from DicksoDSP. The "analog magic" is the audio engine itself, because what they did as engineers and programmers is still work that outshines many modern VA synths. But this in no way should make anyone think that the music you create with a plugin emulation will be the same as the hardware. Hardware inherently causes you to make decisions you wouldn't choose to do via software only. The digital synth + analog cable = more analog of course changes things, but not in some meaningful way. Test it next to a Moog and see if you don't clearly notice the difference. If not, time to head over to a Miracle Ears store.

But people mistake things "sounding analog", for being any different if you pick a 1/4" TRS cable over a SPDIF RCA cable. The Virus TI and later basically has an internal audio interface of its own. Fast forward, these days and we have interfaces like the little SSL and UAD Volt which are supposed to add some non-linearity to the input/output signal, wherever in the signal path they actually do it. And still, you are not going to mistake their doctored outputs for any dedicated outboard hardware. They are just like plugins which add non-linearity and effect/color to them. They depend upon summing many channels of that "color" to become noticeable. Like real hardware. It's why many inexperienced people demo a single UA plugin or Acua plugin or Nebula4 library and "don't hear any big difference". The Virus is the same way, because no product engineer is going to say "lets add 16 channels worth of color and saturation so someone can hear that in the store" to each individual channel. That result would be the similar to slamming a seriously heavy saturation plugin onto your 2-bus and calling it a day. Distorted junk.

This is the same thing as the laughable Neve 1073 "debacle" right now. It is the June 2026 version of the "my free DAW sounds like Protools" threads of the past.