Why audio hardware processors are better then software

This post was first published in April 2014 at projectstudiohandbook.com/PSHforum

We have all benefited from the huge advances in plug-in technologies that emulate hardware or offer features that hardware can't. They are cheaper than hardware alternatives, we can use multiple instances, and of course their settings can be saved with a DAW project for instant recall and shared with other projects and colleagues.



The audio quality of plug-ins is arguably the equal of hardware, and even if emulations don't quite sound the same, there are plenty of unique software only plug-ins that sound great.

So what is the advantage of hardware? After all, it's more expensive, needs maintenance, has to be re-patched and manually re-configured when a mix is recalled, and can only be used for a single mono or stereo signal. We're talking primarily about EQ and compressors.

We think these are the primary advantages ..

1. Usability: Making adjustments to settings with a mouse sucks. Using your hands to swiftly move between controls and perfect settings is organic, tactile, faster and easier. It makes all the difference.

2. Sound: Most hardware devices sound better than their software equivalents. Don't ask us why, we don't know. They just do. (Ed - feel free to disagree!)

3. Longevity: A good hardware device will last a lifetime, can be lent out, hired, sold, and may well increase in value as the years pass.

4. Compatibility: We cannot foresee a future without the current analogue (balanced and unbalanced) and digital (AES3, SPDIF, ADAT etc) connectivity protocols. How long do you think the UAD, AU, or VST protocols will last? How often have updates to host software and OS's rendered our plug-ins unusable in the short or even long terms? In the last few years we have had to literally throw away expensive NI Kore, SSL Duende, TC Electronic Powercore and and UAD hardware.

It can be useful to ask ourselves this question. If we had unlimited funds, would we buy hardware or software?

Don't get us wrong, the convenience of plug-ins is incredibly useful, especially if we are working on many projects and need to switch between them quickly, and there are many we would not wish to be without, but wouldn't we all prefer to have a bank of hardware 1176s sitting in our studios?

What do you think?

Thanks for reading
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