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Hi all...

Was just wondering your opinions on the differences between software and hardware compressors...

Can you physically hear a difference in sound quality between the hardware and the software emulated compressor nowadays?
Out of the two, which do you think is easier to use? Obviously software is all in the box right there, so for me, the software is better in terms of "ease of use" but hardware is obviously more "hands on" so ive heard people find that easier and also more rewarding too.

Just fancied getting a little debate going.

all software comps and all hardware comps aren't the same; regardless if it's in the box or out the box, you're still choosing the right tool for the job.

doesn't really make a difference if it's software or hardware in my mind. when tracking, i'd rather use hardware if avail; when mixing, i may reach for hardware but more often than not, i'm on a deadline and am looking for the fastest trick in the book-- which is usually software. If I'm mixing for a client and the program material needs a lot of love, hardware does quite often enter into the mix.

yea in spite of having a hardware tube compressor/limiting i don't reach for it every time, or all that often as you would think
but yea what sharma said

I like to be 100% software, so i can produce on my laptop and headphones when i travel. Don't really see a need for hardware in my life. Plus you'd need to use it as an external effect and then compensate for the delay, very inconvenient.

As for any differences, i'd imagine that a software modelled on a hardware compressor would get pretty close, especially if circuit modelling software is used as they can be very accurate. Does anyone here know of any circuit modelled compressor vst's?

VirtualMark wrote:I like to be 100% software, so i can produce on my laptop and headphones when i travel. Don't really see a need for hardware in my life. Plus you'd need to use it as an external effect and then compensate for the delay, very inconvenient.

As for any differences, i'd imagine that a software modelled on a hardware compressor would get pretty close, especially if circuit modelling software is used as they can be very accurate. Does anyone here know of any circuit modelled compressor vst's?

Waves have a lot, like the API bundle.

UAD and URS have some of the better plugs to emulate hardware

I find that I use hardware for recording, software for mixdown mostly out of convenience.

pesky wrote:
Just fancied getting a little debate going.

I don't think there is anything to really debate. People use what they have and what works best. When I'm out of the box I use out of the box compressor, when in the box I use in the box. I don't know that I've ever left the box solely for a compressor, but that's just me. Software is so good nowadays... It's all good.