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Can Digital Emulations (Plugins) Ever Be as Good as Analog Hardware?
The Allure of Digital Emulations in Audio Production In the ever-evolving landscape of audio production, digital plugins — especially digital emulations of analog hardware —have become increasingly popular. These software tools promise to replicate the much sought-after sound of analog hardware without the physical limitations and high costs associated with the real gear.
A 2022 paper by Boche and Pohl examines the fundamental limitations of digital computers, demonstrating that even a simple analog circuit, such as a passive 1-pole low-pass filter, can produce output values where the accuracy of the result cannot be guaranteed [1,2]. While digital processing offers advantages such as greater flexibility, precision in controlling specific frequencies, and the ability to easily replicate and modify settings, it operates within the limits of computational power and sampling rates. These software tools offer an accessible, scalable solution that provides musicians, producers, and engineers with the flexibility to recreate the sought-after characteristics of analog gear without the associated physical and financial constraints.
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