Re: [LAU] Hardware synths

On Saturday 01 December 2007, bradley newton haug wrote:
> like most 'gut feelings' related to anything audio the only real
> answer lies in a pair of heaphones,a blondfold and an A/B box.
> Solves all problems of perception.

...but that would require playing the *exact* same sounds on both
systems, which is pretty much where the very problem is here: The
hardware synths tend to use secret, proprietary algorithms.

Now, even if there is a software version of a synth, using the same
algorithm, what's the point in comparing them? Well, you'll find out
if there is a significant difference in the quality of the DACs, but
that's about all...

From a theoretical standpoint, there's no need for an A/B test at all.
The hardware synths most people are talking about here *are*
computers running software synths. Same algorithm ==> same result.
(Assuming "algorithm" includes using or emulating the exact same data
types, obviously.)

And, if you find a softsynth inferior to some hardware synth due to
resolution issues, recompiling it with 'double' sample and control
values would allow it to beat most hardware synths flat to the ground
in that department, I'd think. Or why not 'long double' while you're
at it. ;-)

//David Olofson - Programmer, Composer, Open Source Advocate

.------- http://olofson.net - Games, SDL examples -------.
| http://zeespace.net - 2.5D rendering engine |
| http://audiality.org - Music/audio engine |
| http://eel.olofson.net - Real time scripting |
'-- http://www.reologica.se - Rheology instrumentation --'
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user@email-addr-hidden
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
Received on Sat, 1 Dec 2007 23:04:22 +0100