Hardware vs. Plugins in the realm of music production and engineering. As a musician, producer, or engineer, choosing between these two approaches can significantly impact your creative process and the final sound you achieve. So, let’s explore the pros and cons of each:
Hardware: The Analog Charm
1. Tactile Experience and Magic:
Working with analog hardware is like stepping into a time machine. The tactile feeling of pots, faders, and switches provide an intimate connection to your music. There’s a certain magic in twisting a physical knob and hearing the immediate impact on your sound. It’s an experience that digital plugins can’t fully replicate because of the less unique tactile interface. Even when using controllers it's a bit different because of how the hardware reacts Unpredictably.
Yummy warm analog sounds and lots of tactile goodness
2. Artefacts and Noise:
In the past, studio technicians meticulously maintained analog gear to ensure its optimal performance. Often older hardware can introduce noise or artefacts which some feel is unwanted, however it is something that can add a romantic edge to your sound because of imperfect results. A poorly maintained piece of analog equipment might compromise your recordings or add to them, depending on what you are looking for..
Plugins on the other hand offer consistency and a more assured result, however some plugins offer the option to add in those attractive errors and warmth that's only found on hardware that isn't well maintained.
Back in the days of analog it was all about finding ways to repress noise and provide clarity and now we have that clarity we often spend time adding back in that noise and dirt because it's attractive to the ear.
3. Dreadful Total Recall:
Recalling a mix on an older analog consoles (like API) was a painstaking process,
I recall spending over 2 days recalling complex mixes due to the patchbay sheets featuring super complex routing. We literally had printed generic sheets that featured the positioning for every single fader and Pot plus the settings of all the outboard gear. Resetting every fader and knob just to tweak a background vocal the producer wasn't happy with, was an enormous job.
Taking meticulous notes becomes crucial. Even then, recreating the exact settings is nearly impossible due to analog nuances and needed to be adjusted by ear in the end.
API Mixing console
4. Less Intuitive:
Beside a hardware console, you’ll find a labyrinth of cables. Patch bays, routing, and signal flow can be overwhelming. The learning curve is steep, especially for beginners. It’s like navigating a complex maze compared to the straightforward digital interface of plugins.
Plugins: The Digital Efficiency is really a gamechanger and I for one dont want to look back at those days in the late 80s doing Total Recalls !!
5. Quick Workflow:
Plugins offer lightning-fast adjustments. No need to physically patch cables or recalibrate knobs. You can instantly tweak parameters, automate changes, and experiment without leaving your DAW. The digital workflow is efficient and conducive to creativity. Creativity can certainly be dulled by the waiting times that hardware requires, however sometimes to have a minute to stop also has an upside, these days everything is so fast, it can be detrimental as well positive when in the flow.
Personally I do feel that working with technology has brought us into a much better flow for creativity.
6. Limitless Possibilities:
Plugins provide an expansive palette of sounds and multilevel experimentation. From emulating vintage compressors to futuristic reverbs, it’s safe to say you’re spoiled for choice, which can be a complex challenge if overwhelmed by choice. Software is far cheaper than hardware and updates continuously enhance functionality.
7. Portability and Space-Saving:
Carry your entire studio in a laptop. Plugins don’t occupy physical space like racks of hardware. Whether you’re in a cosy home studio or touring, your tools are always with you.
The Verdict: It Depends!
Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Hybrid setups—combining the best of both worlds—are increasingly popular. Use analog gear for warmth and character, and plugins for flexibility and convenience. Remember, your music’s soul matters more than the tools you use. So, embrace what inspires you, whether it’s vintage tubes or digital algorithms. It really is not what you have but what you do with it.
8. Is it better to have a few pieces of hardware compared to an overwhelming amount of Plugins?
The truth there is no better or worse, it's what helps you become what you are and accomplish the results you desire. For myself I miss the hardware days in some respects and often feel nostalgic when given the opportunity to dive back into the hardware realm, but the emulation is so good I feel that the need for that tactile feeling of a pot or fader is becoming less of want.
My Trackpad has become that for me, it still provides an intimate connection between myself and my music, plusI also hear the immediate impact on my sound..
9. Is hardware emulation any good?
Some argue that there’s no comparison, but I have actually sat down with a lot of classic Hardware and compared it to its Plugin versions with pretty much zero sonic difference when the hardware is in perfect working order. The thing is that hardwear isn't always maintained well and as a result the defects sometimes add a unique sonic flavour which isn't often an option to dial up on an emulated plugins. Saying that, Plugin companies have truly nailed the emulation process and I am all for having more choice at my fingertips within my own flexible space. When in a creative space the option to progress quickly sometimes outweighs need for the broken old Eq that sounds fantastic. Especially when you think most people on the planet will listen to your music on a phone or Bluetooth speaker and will never hear the difference. To the trained ear or audiophile head it's of course more apparent but in general it's going to be an Mp3 played on something that's not going to represent a huge difference to the consumer down the line.