On one hand, many of us yearn for the aesthetics<\/a> or simplicity of older forms of technology, while our daily habits are unmistakably shaped by the digital. We’ve already discussed this choice for guitar effects<\/a> and drum design<\/a>, but what about analog vs. digital synthesizers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n When choosing between these two, we’re weighing the sonic characteristics and collector\u2019s value of vintage hardware units against their modern counterparts (ex. software plugins), which provide easier access and portability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other important factors can include your physical space, budget limitations, and the type of music you\u2019re producing. But, before those even come into play, what really separates an analog vs. digital synthesizer? In this guide, we unpack the differences between the two to help you better understand how and when you might opt for each one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feel free to use the table of contents below to quickly navigate to a specific section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New subscribers can try all of Splice\u2014including 200 monthly sample download credits, full access to all premium INSTRUMENT presets, and more\u2014for $4.99\/mo.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n An analog synthesizer<\/strong> is a physical electronic instrument that makes sound using analog circuits and voltage-controlled components rather than digital processors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The life of an analog synthesizer comes from its hardware components. By flowing oscillated signals through physical circuits, it presents the user with various basic sound shapes\u2014sine, triangle, square, saw, etc.\u2014as well as asymmetrical patterns. Using these as a foundation, musicians can shape their sound with various methods like filters and envelopes.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat you’ll learn:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nWhat are analog synthesizers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How analog synthesizers work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n