Digital vs Analog Sound

Analog usually sounds better (bass music is the big exception), while digital gives you more sound design options and a more organized studio. Overall it’s a close race. The part most people miss: analog gear only ever sounds as good as the converter that turns it into a digital file.

Quick picks

There are endless tools to help you make electronic music. Hundreds of companies make high quality plugins tailored towards any type of sound. You would think that as the technology behind VSTs continues to develop, analog gear would simply fall by the wayside.

But, this just hasn’t happened. Look at the studios of today’s top-level producers: in many (or even most) cases, you’ll find some kind of analog gear. Maybe it’s a classic synth, hardware compressors and EQs, or some guitars and drums. Truth is, analog sound is all over electronic music today, and it likely will be for the foreseeable future.

Today’s top-level producers clearly think there is still a difference between digital and analog sound. But what is that difference? And more importantly, can you tell the difference?

That’s what this article is all about. I’m breaking down the difference between analog and digital sound, with a focus on synthesizers. Plus, I’m going to make sure you walk away from this article knowing the differences between and the benefits of both types of audio.

The Secret Key to Analog Audio

I need to start by highlighting what I think is the single most important concept in analog audio. It’s something that is essential to understanding the analog vs digital conversation. And it’s a concept that simply isn’t talked about enough.

I’m talking about Analog-Digital/Digital-Analog (AD/DA) conversion. AD/DA conversion is the process by which 1) an electrical signal is converted into a digital file (Analog to Digital), or 2) a digital file is converted into an electronic signal (Digital to Analog).

There is one reason why AD/DA conversion is so important: analog sound will only ever sound as good as the quality of the AD/DA conversion that turns it into a digital file.

Let’s break this down further: electrical audio signals run through audio cables, like the cables connecting a microphone or synthesizer to an audio interface, or the cables connecting your computer to your studio monitors.

As producers who work with DAWs, we work with digital files. To take the electrical signal from a hardware synthesizer or microphone and turn it into an audio file in our DAW, a computer algorithm converts the voltage of the electrical signal to a bunch of 1s and 0s, and ultimately creates a WAV or AIFF file. This is AD (Analog to Digital) conversion.

In other words, analog audio will only ever sound as good as the quality of AD/DA conversion that is performed on it to turn it into a digital audio file. Because of this, the same synthesizer or microphone will sound drastically different when passed through different AD/DA converters.

Most producers today use audio interfaces for AD/DA conversion. Universal Audio has taken over much of this market by offering affordable, high-quality AD/DA conversion with their Apollo interface line.

Pro Tip: Analog synths can sound fantastic, but only if they are passed through high quality converters. If you’re investing in hardware, invest equally in a solid interface.

The Great Debate: Is Analog or Digital Audio Better?

Some people swear by analog gear, while others think software tools are just as good. Which is the better option?

I think there are 6 parts of this debate. In the end, it’s a very close race between analog and digital synths.

1) Sound Design Possibilities Winner: Digital

Simply put, there are greater sound design possibilities when using digital synths. Between extensive preset libraries and sound engines that step beyond the limitations of hardware synths, the palette of possible sounds you have at your fingertips is greater with digital than analog.

2) Access to Timeless Sounds Winner: Analog

If you tried to produce a mainstage EDM record with the sound design from a decade ago, you’d be laughed out of town. But the sounds of pioneers like Jean Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream and the soundtracks of Bladerunner and Twin Peaks are still sought after today. Digital sounds have a shelf life, whereas classic analog synths are timeless.

3) Workflow Winner: Tie

Digital and analog offer two entirely different workflows. For some people, the ability to quickly cycle through hundreds of presets in a digital setting is a massive value-add. For analog users, physically touching an instrument is the source of all creativity and happy accidents. It’s a toss-up between digital and analog here, depending on the producer’s workflow preference.

4) Organization Winner: Digital

From maintaining organized presets and channel strip settings to having your whole studio on your laptop, you’ll certainly be more organized when working with digital synths. Analog audio is messy, between the difficulties in saving sounds, having loads of cables and adapters to deal with. And the physical maintenance they need once in a while.

5) Sound Quality Winner: Analog (usually, depending on genre)

I’m getting into this more below, but in general, I think analog sounds better. Only rarely do we feel the need to layer analog sounds because of the depth and richness they offer. That said, digital audio is better for certain genres, such as many styles of bass music.

6) Price Winner: Tie

The conventional wisdom on this question is that digital synths are less expensive than analog ones. While it is true that VST synths almost always cost less than their analog counterparts, there is almost no resale value for VSTs. Analog synths. However, usually hold their value or even appreciate over time. If you spent $3,000 on VSTs five years ago, you would struggle to get much of your money back today. If you spent that much on analog synths five years ago, you’d easily get your money back, if not make a profit.

Pro Tip: Think of analog gear as an investment, not just a tool. Vintage synths that sounded fantastic 30 years ago still sound fantastic today, and they’re worth more now than when they were made.

The Best Analog Emulation Synths

When it comes to the analog vs digital debate, the good news is that there is a middle ground. There are plenty of “Analog Emulation” VSTs on the market that are designed to package analog flavor into user-friendly digital synths. These are my three personal favorite analog emulation VSTs and libraries:

1. U-HE Diva

Diva is the best analog emulation VST on the market. Period. It sounds fantastic and is extremely versatile. It perfectly allows you to not only recreate classic synths, like the Roland Juno 60 or the Korg MS-20, but it also allows you to create your own synths by combining the oscillators and filters of different hardware emulations. If you are shopping for an analog emulation VST, Diva is the best choice.

2. Arturia V Collection

Next is the Arturia V Collection, a bundle of over 20 VSTs that each model a classic piece of analog gear. Arturia created these synths, like the Yamaha CS-80 and the Moog Minimoog, to be as close to the original hardware synths as possible. Looking for faithful recreations of hardware synths? The V Collection is your answer.

3. Knif Audio Knifonium

The Knifonium is a mystical synth. When it was first created and released a few years ago, Knif Audio only made 12 units. Literally. There were only 12 of these synthesizers in the world. And they garnered a legendary reputation for being the warmest and juiciest synth ever created. Knif Audio more recently created a plugin version of the Knifonium. While the palette of sounds isn’t as diverse as Diva or the V Collection, I think the Knifonium behaves more like a real hardware synthesizer than any other VST.

If you want to hear what the difference between analog emulation and native digital actually sounds like, this breakdown is worth watching before we get to the quiz below.

It’s a useful frame before you test your ears in the next section.

Head-To-Head Quiz: Can You Tell the Difference?

Time to test your ears. 15 sounds below, three each from basses, leads, pads, FX, and drums. For every one, you’ll hear two clips, A and B. Same patch design, same volume. One came from an analog synth, the other from a digital one. Your job is to spot the analog.

You’ll get the answer revealed after each guess, plus a final score at the end.

Try It Both Ways

Between the different workflows, sound design possibilities. And price points, I encourage you to test out whether analog or digital better suits your production style. If you’ve never tried using analog synths before, head over to your local music store to try out some demo gear. I know many producers who have found entirely new creative directions by switching from one to the other. And I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened for you too.

Related tool: Start to Finish with Anden: Produce a dancefloor-ready melodic techno track from blank session to master.

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