Why Hardware is Better Than Software | St. Vincent

[@elephantisland-audioproduk6020]

"Creative people will use whatever tools they have to, at their disposal, to make cool shit." - St. Vincent ❤ “All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now.” - Rick Rubin

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

totally! i have slowly built up a really nice studio in my house. recently moved into my mates tiny spare room cuz im refurbing the whole house and ive been enjoying writing on an unplugged electric guitar into voicenotes just as much as i did in the fancy studio with my chandler channel strip and whatever else. years back, i wrote the whole Ephemerals Egg Tooth record on a £30 spanish guitar on a canal boat. got some cool inversions cuz the guitar couldnt sound a note past the seventh fret. looking fwd to having my studio back tho hahahaa

[@MrBrownstone98]

Feels like a lot of people are missing the point, this is all her personal preference, at no point is she saying that hardware is the way to go, ultimately it’s a persons creativity and use of whatever is in front of them that makes great art

[@Cyberpunk9000]

Think about this this way - she has been in bands her entire life, playing physical instruments and has worked her ass off to master her craft playing physical instruments, made a career out of it, has played all over the world on stage, and is used to playing with pro musicians in studios with consoles, not lap tops, and mouse’s. imagine if you were sat here trolling a guitarist for saying they have a preference for using a real guitar and not virtual sampled guitar, because they prefer to play a real guitar. That’s literally how ridiculous and bitter your comments sound 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@robbiep742]

Even simpler - she's got dozens of award nominations/wins and has been a successful touring artist for over a decade. The trolls most definitely do not. I'll pay attention to her, not them

[@VVVY777]

@@robbiep742 So, your whole mentality is basically the appeal to authority fallacy? You'll listen to whoever has the most awards? Well kid, there are producers, mixing and mastering engineers with 10x the awards this woman has that use plugins. Some of them even work completely in the box. But by all means, keep thinking like a lemming and labeling plugin users "trolls".

[@robbiep742]

@@VVVY777 so you're whole mentality is to overreact and make a fuss about an artistic decision someone makes. Cool guy

[@GrootsieTheDog]

Um thanks for the logic fallacy. Ifrst of all "real" is a term you and St. Vinny use. I call a computer with plugins a real instrument too. OK so that's the only time I have to just scratch the surfice of this comment's assumptions.

[@Cyberpunk9000]

@@GrootsieTheDog what does the “V” stand for in VST?

[@TrueFallacy]

Nice one, this is a lesson I learned early on, which I sometimes don’t follow very well admittedly, but the ethos is correct in my view, I agree with the principle. Commit the sounds, because all music is an amalgamation of choices compiled together, in a way which represents the creators taste. Ultimately committing the sound sources makes sure that now, or 50 years from now, that sound, which represents that choice, which represents that taste, will sound the same and not be lost behind software that may no longer work…

[@valdir7426]

you do understand that even in a software you end up bouncing your audio to a file so people listen to it right? really don't get where you're going with that

[@leonardocaminati6432]

Guys I appreciate the video but 2x 30 sec spots of your tape notes app in a 5 min videos seems a bit too much to me.

[@KennethTakanami]

Let John get his bag

[@smokez75]

@@KennethTakanami yer

[@zechs5079]

They need to make money on this video they posted for free.

[@Mrpsblobsoflowendmung]

Totally agree Once is more than enough And it may be a great app but the fact that it’s started with it then breaks off mid conversation into a full advert for it makes me unequivocally refuse to ever want to know anything about it All these videos do it . Highly annoying . Play the full add at the beginning and then show your video

[@spaced4ace]

I pay for Premium, what’s the point if your just going to stick your own ads in it. Not cool. Shame cause these are really interesting interview clips.

[@lylaznboi01]

She's more familiar using hardware stuff than software. Nothing wrong with that. But now there's a small margin of producers and audio engineers who purely do hardware. There are engineers who do a hybrid or purely software. None of the approaches are wrong, but it's more about what you are trying to achieve in your head to make it come out of the speakers. Not everyone has the luxury or space to own all of these great hardware gear, so people have to use plugin versions instead and it does the job.

[@robertnatiello3814]

The creative process is different for everyone. You can use whatever tools you personally like to be creative. Yes, there are many people who can use plugins to do amazing things, but they shouldn't expect the recording artists to turn their process over to them if they want to be involved and are more comfortable and creative with the engineers showing them how they are using the hardware or doing it with them on spot as opposed to plugins which they might not trust entirely for their process.

[@lisabethlawrence]

For me, the take away of this video is committing to sounds early on in the process. I know for me personally making a few key decisions with reverbs and delays and very specific sounds will effect the choices I make throughout the production. Of course that is something you are forced to do when you are using hardware. However, I don't have hardware so I will print a midi track so it is committed.

[@riffraffrichard]

I went back to a tascam digital 8 track for the same reasons. Whatever helps you keep making stuff, in a weird way it takes me a little longer transfer files for mixing down with this tech but I save time as I’m not distracted by a screen and there’s a simplicity to the interface.

[@Music_Head]

Hardware is better and more fun. It’s more of a tangible toy for you to play with. Only potential problem is hardware takes up more physical space.

[@L.Scott_Music]

There is something to be said for creating your own sounds that no one else has a copy of. Many plug-ins do have parameters to adjust so there is some customization but really it's a sound anyone can get. Your piano in your room is uniquely yours. Other may get close but they can't get YOUR sound. There is art in that.

[@northbot]

I agree. Programmable boards let you test shit but when needing the tactile reaction time required for a performance piece specialized boards are the better bet. The electric signals travel through the maze and through the speaker way faster.

[@tapeexperiments]

While the Hardware vs Software debate will continue in the comments and beyond...remember you can capture the tactile vibe she is referring to with a cheap board/gear. And guess what? No one listening with know the difference! 😆

[@Allious131]

They won't even with plugins, no one ever cared what I used my artist always gets mad views like comments and share and we get paid.

[@JAMStudiosIE]

Agree that making decisions and moving on is the very best way to work as opposed to delaying committing. But - the ability to modify and alter your earlier decision later if it needs changing in the grand scheme of towards the end of the process is a luxury of using VST, plugin or re-amping.

[@AgustinDavidF]

When you don't make decisions rarely you end up being satisfied

[@dosfloris]

Interesting reading the comments on the commit/ plug in choice. I think anyone should do whatever they like. Not sure one way is better than other. With commitment you’ll spend time until fx/sound is perfect and with plugins you’ll spend loads of time tweaking and changing your mind Both= the same thing

[@alanGaMeRhorror]

Yeah it all comes to personal preference of the creator cuz 99% of the listeners couldn't care less if you made the song using a 30k console or a damn free daw with free plugins

[@veerchasm1]

Yeah, I would burn my plug ins to own a Neve console

[@tryingtotryistrying]

i mean shit if i had a neve console and hardware synths its not like i wouldn't be using them. sounds dope.

[@jaibhimadevi5805]

*Laughs in freeware*💰🛌💰

[@jxxbe4309]

death by keep it real

[@G.GordonMidi]

You can achieve the same result by printing your effects as you go. You’re “committing to tape” plugins you’re using instead of hardware, sure, but you’re removing the temptation of endless tweaking of parameters.

[@Dane_Riazer]

Thank you for sharing, I would definitely say this should have been a short.

[@Lightner445555555555]

How old is Annie Clark?

[@JamesWestMusicMan]

(Google is a thing, by the way) She's 41.

[@Lightner445555555555]

@JamesWestMusicMan I've learned that the information on there isn't always accurate.

[@JamesWestMusicMan]

@Lightner445555555555 and so you'd rather ask random people on the internet? Or better yet: on an app, owned by Google? You good bro??

[@GrootsieTheDog]

I call a computer with plugins a real instrument too. Thats where this argument falls flat. The whole question is simply to get engagement. Its a classic social media brain melting non starter made to seem important because the silly question is asked in the first place.

[@kelvynification]

The admission that you listen with your eyes and not your ears says everything about a persons inability to use that information to change their process. Once you are in a position to know your own truth then you are in a position to change what needs to be changed or to accept what you feel you don’t want to change. So many choices… all that’s left are decisions:) She seems like a very fair minded person. Nice!

[@bugmanuk]

Is it really just how work or is it more about that you can afford a neve console and unlimited outboard? 99 percent of us are eating a shit sandwich out here with pirated plugins and still making incredible stuff. Don't pretend it's not a function of success or wealth that you happen to have the luxury of hiring out Electrical Audio.

[@VEGAN-X]

HARDWARE DIGITAL - NOISELESS

[@dingbatjack1234]

That is a HUGE advantage. As an analog guy

[@anantamadhava6826]

"I bought a Neve console..."

[@shawnbreeze]

Hysterical!

[@kosmo_komputer]

Misleading title!! Cool video

[@Stubby23]

I was going to try tape it, but they made it clear the basic version was sh***er quality... Uh no..

[@zambot3325]

Theres nobody home

[@zaidyusoff126]

If you are after new sound, you stand better chance with using hardware… If you want to make new song, I guess for most of us AI’s will do.. Plugs remind me of porn..Eyes on the screen hands on the stick, sure it’ll get better, think VR and Neural link, but it is total disregard to human touch, feel and emotion…

[@SeanBartleyMusic]

She spends half of the video trying to makes us think she is not being "that person" when in-fact, she is being that person.

[@georgevelvet4272]

"i'm not stroking my neck beard" sounds a bit misandric. LOVE her by the way

[@jayandrews3509]

It’s normally an attitude that men have so

[@BadBoy-cp9lp]

That ain’t true softwares are getting better and better 😊

[@Lantertronics]

She's not saying that the hardware inherently sounds better, just that it has a workflow that's different than software that helps with her creative process.

[@leonardocaminati6432]

@@Lantertronics Hardware sounds inherently better though. She is not saying it but clearly she knows it. 🤣 Of course softwares has advantages too, but for certain sounds hardware is definitely better still.

[@Allious131]

@@leonardocaminati6432 Says the guy playing a guitar with a copy of protools in the background 😂😂😂🤣🤣 ya'll believe anything and everyone.

[@leonardocaminati6432]

@@Allious131 thanks for making me feel like if I was talking to a brick!

[@Allious131]

@@leonardocaminati6432 And thank you for playing terrible and allowing me to watch low count views along with terrible music. I was getting my ears unclouged Wednesday but you helped the process with your horrible playing.

[@handyc77]

Sorry. But if I have an M1 Mac and a model of every amp i prefer, I am an unashamed to be a bedroom guitarist. No more lugging heavy tubes. and If i notice that the tone is not up to par... I don't care because it doesn't matter. I care because this one gift of mine, THe one talent I truly have. is regardless of how it sounds, a good player can play through it.

[@seanjohnson7367]

What makes zero sense about her opinion is the notion that digital producers and music makers are recording everything dry and making no decisions before they apply a plugin. Not only do most effects allow you to listen to plugin as you record, people also have the ability to imagine and know how something will sound with an effect on. It's as if a cinematographer said "the world looks so tiny through this viewfinder -- I have no idea how this will look on the bigscreen"

[@VVVY777]

Wow, does she know you can render down tracks/sounds created with plugins? But sure, keep humble-snobbing.

[@artprojectsnz]

OMG _ the hardware Vs software discussion again….yawn. It’s the song - dummy…and no amount of tech gear will change a bad song into a good one….but a poor musician with a laptop can make magic and a rich musician with a big studio can make shite….and vice versa….doh…..she is however very very cool…. My 5c worth…. ;-]. JPMusic

[@elvishell5526]

Too much advertising. Dislike.

[@FM-cs1rn]

Over the years she sinks deeper into her ego. She has this New York self-importance persona that works against her but for her in terms of capitalistic fan stroking. She wrote an album in GarageBand… that’s when she “made it” she got recognized for her work when her pedalboard wasn’t neatly arranged with midi triggers, when she didn’t have a Pro-Tools subscription and without expensive hardware that has been modelled and closely analyzed to replicate with algorithms at a much affordable cost for musicians. The fans love the boss b* persona she has but don’t understand that she’s a brand now and one that has bought into her own product. She lacks humility and I won’t be surprised if she drops all the gear and hardware later on just to strip it back with guitar again after realizing her boss b* arc isn’t it. If it’s coming out of your speakers it’s moving electricity through the air. Throbbing Gristle, Chris & Cosey did this with plugins and laptops on stage and no one bugged out about it. Except Gen which Annie can learn a bit from by looking at what an inflated ego does to you.

[@saber5401]

Sounds like she's unsure of what she really likes... it's just a purists way of looking at tools..

[@RJ1J]

Says she's not a snob. Continues to be a massive snob about plug-ins basically saying they're fake. Also wasn't a fan of her first world problems of having to use a laptop to produce. Millions of people do that. They don't complain. In fact, it's led to so much new music from artists that cannot afford a 500k load of vintage gear and fancy Neve board. She is likely talking about the Neve Genesys G64 at $100k or similar. My heart bleeds. It's funny, her big ego comes across in her music, so I shouldn't be surprised. Rough interview. Edit: Please Google "Definition Diva" before reading the comment thread. Some people don't know what the word means! Edit 2: I've been told this is just an excerpt from a longer interview. I didn't realise. I guess they chose a controversial section to get people to watch/listen. Well, it worked. Definitely checking it out. I want to know what Neve desk she's got.

[@dingbatjack1234]

Someone’s jelly

[@RJ1J]

@@dingbatjack1234 Not at all. I have some great kit. Once had a 25 grand studio in the 90s. But I don't humble brag about what I have now. St. Vincent is well known for being a diva. I just wish she had been more technical and talked about what she actually uses, instead of just putting digital production methods down, when she uses them herself. Total hypocrite.

[@jolijnboland3333]

@@RJ1J I get what you are saying, but she is not a diva. She just moved on from solely using a laptop to make music, and find that the analog approach better suits her. There are tons of people who are producing music 'dawless'. Either way is fine to make music, that is also the point that she is making in this clip. Also you do know that she produced her album Actor in GarageBand by clicking in midi-notes in the piano-roll for all the instruments, because that is all she had back then.

[@RJ1J]

@@jolijnboland3333 Are we talking about the same artist here? I've heard lots of her songs. Her style of music is a mix of genres: hyper pop, alt pop, bur 100% she is a diva singer style and performance in videos. Quite extreme in some. She's got a bit of an ego to her, no big deal, but I think this interview was a wasted opportunity. Not the fault of the interviewer, but she just saw it as an opportunity to brag about her new workflow without going into detail. We learnt nothing. Btw, no label is gonna accept a mix down from GarageBand. They take the stems, and they mix it in Pro Tools. Unless her first album was a self released from GarageBand mix downs and master? I highly doubt it.

[@NewHopeAudio]

Honestly, not a huge fan of her music but I don’t hear the snobbery at all. She says “me personally.. I like _”. She talks about her workflow & creativity. If that’s not yours, it’s really ok. She was interviewed for her experiences not for her advice or one size solutions for every artist/ producer.

[@tramer76]

Plugins or analog, her music is still mediocre.

[@Mono_8080]

Sure, grandpa. Don't forget to take your meds after lunch and please stay inside until I get back, ok? Love ya.

[@Allious131]

@@Mono_8080 It was trash though her music doesn't sound good actually everyone who obsesses over hardware music either sucks or they don't have anything to begin with.

[@Mono_8080]

@@Allious131 what is hardware music?

[@Allious131]

@@Mono_8080 I said anyone who obsess over hardware either has terrible music, or they have no music at all.

[@onteraction8294]

It’s a naive perspective of plugins. Yes hardware sounds better but the process is the same if you want it to be. If anything it’s easier with endless possibilities with plugins.

[@Lantertronics]

She's not even saying that the hardware inherently sounds better, just that it has a workflow that's different than software that helps with her creative process. (And there's some things that you can do with DSP that isn't possible in analog).

[@leonardocaminati6432]

If you only tried once the workflow she is describing you would understand why it makes a difference. Computers are just dumb pieces of metal that are not specifically designed for music production. A mouse and a keyboard would never beat a console with faders and real hardware synths with knobs for each function. Our mind is meant to be in the physical world not in the digital one. We use computers just because we don't have money to afford all of the goodness she is describing, but if money wasn't an issue everyone would burn these crappy pieces of metal and get the real shit.

[@spaced4ace]

Ha! Yeah, she’s the naive one 🙄

[@valdir7426]

@@leonardocaminati6432 omg just use a midi controller I really can't with this whole hardware mystique bs. there's no right way to make music. fantastic pieces of music have been written on a tracker software, which is an actual tool to make music; like ableton; like any DAW. If I had all the money in the world I'd still have ableton on a computer and I'd still use it in the end.

[@leonardocaminati6432]

​@@valdir7426 Well, as you see famous artists have a different opinion. I get why, you seem unable to get her point of view. I'm not saying you can't make great music with a software and a laptop, quite the opposite. I'm just saying the experience is way worse than having a big studio with real hardware gear for each function. If you like to fuck around with a mouse pointer on freaking screen to move some fake faders that's your perversion. I'd like much more to have a real desk with real faders I can touch with 10 fingers instead of having to do it one by one with a mouse. Of course I can't have a desk cause it's damn expensive, so I have to move a fucking mouse like you do. But if money wasn't in the equation I wouldn't think twice. Why is that so hard to understand?

[@jasonharrison5765]

So when you use a hardware synth you do it blindfolded right? Ye gods this is arse and is TOTALLY neckbeard BS. And I love her music 😂

[@robbiep742]

She said something different - that recording hardware meant you are committed, create a "foundation", whereas with plugin stacks you can endlessly tweak.

[@twilightcrush]

@@robbiep742 you can always commit plugins to audio, no different.

[@StuffnSuch]

Software still sounds like shit and I’m tired of hearing otherwise. Get your ears checked.

[@Allious131]

@@StuffnSuch It does well lets put that to a test lets see who's songs are better then, I challenge allot of hardware fanatics that talk this nonsense, I tell you what lets put you hardware songs you mixed or mastered or produced up against my software, with mixes and masters and production I did.

[@StuffnSuch]

@@Allious131 sounds scientific. It’s all subjective. I’m talking about effects and amps compared to their software counterparts. They sound two dimensional. There’s a reason why all these producers are still surrounded by hardware. Yes software is cheaper and easier and opens the door to a lot more people. But in terms of sound, it’s still not there. Period. And I say this as someone who uses majority software. But compared to my amps and preamps, nope.

[@alj3371]

I can tell she has a very narrow mindset about what music and art is. Especially as an artist who spends most of her time replicating what’s already been done like hipster. She’s talented and has amazing creative originality and capability but she boxes herself in by trying to make herself cool by association and no one finds that interesting except sheep fans who don’t create art themselves.