Hey guys, I am looking for a more clear definiton of analog sound.
We all head for the “analog sound”. But what is that actually? What does “analog” mean? Clearly “warm” and “rich”. But what is it exactly? More bass? More saturation? Irregularities? If so, what are examples? And why is that good?
And what is digital as a negative characteristic (more precise than “harsh”)?
I think of Analog as more of a description of signal path, and depending on the element/s of yr sound system this could have various positive qualities like you mentioned- warm irregularities and saturation.
But, I also think that digital can have it’s own warmth that analog in incapable of through SRR and BRR.
What do you think is better about analog? Why would it not be better to have parts of both in your signal line and ultimately in your composition?
If you hear a sound, it is already analog. 
Your never failing ability to provide meaningful content and links so fast leaves me speachless, thanks for those ! Hell, I’ll dare and ask: are you an android from the future ? That would be nice 
if we are already sharing videos, here is one:
Oscillator drift and diverge are two core elements defining an “analog” sound
I use an Android smarphone from the present, a browser and google. 
But I’m wasting a lot of precious time here !
Better than (bad) news.
I meant: What is analog sound for you? At least in the first video I just hear two tones that Sound slightly different (of course because its like comparing two apples).
I wouldn’t eat a digital apple. There is a psychological difference I guess.
Analog is reality, Digital is calculation. 
Digital needs a “computer” to convert or calculate something with 0 or 1 values.
Analog usually needs a electronical circuit.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogue_electronics
You can reproduce analog sounds with digital, but when you tweak it, usually it doesn’t sound the same, especially with subtractive resonant filters. If you can’t hear it, go digital.
It all depends on what part of a synth is analogue (assuming we’re even talking about synthesisers). Some people like the drift and variation of an analogue oscillator, others like the smooth sweep of an analogue filter. Of course, these preferences are fairly subjective and as technology improves, the difference between analogue and digitally emulated sounds lessens.
Many “classic” analogue sounds are often the result of “defective” parts (the 808’s dodgy transistor) or equipment being used way beyond its designer’s intentions (303s, Mackie mixers), which is more difficult to achieve with digital signals.
So I guess most people talking about analogue are talking about the imperfect and slightly random nature of voltage through components.
Do these imperfections emerge over time or can new gear be assigned these characteristics (elektron stuff for example)?
In relation to reproducing analog sounds in a digital way: Maybe its just because two different systems are still two different and complex systems? They are similar but not the same (what i meant with the apple comparison). But in many ways, it seems to be that analog is “better” and “warmer” and I would like to get closer to the core of that positive property. There are very few people which say “I really prefere digital sound, dont like those devices”.
I prefer digital sounds (lifelong Autechre fan…) But there is room in my music for analogue. As for warmth, the D50 is digital and it can make some of the warmest sounds going. Like is said, a lot of it is subjective.
It wasn’t that long ago that a company bringing out an analogue monosynth would have been laughed out of the building, as digital was “the thing”, now it’s all analogue again, swings and roundabouts…
“You’re going analog today, kids. Turn off the screens and take out some paper and pens,” said the annoyed mother.
(Analog, Urban Dictionary)
It took me a while to really understand what analog is. & even tho I feel I understand it, I don’t fully grasp EVERYTHING about it.
Personally I think a good way to describe it is analog is “real” & digital is “fake”
Of course not a perfect way to describe it, but I think it’s the simplest way to describe it…but feel free to correct me…this has been the best way for me to explain it simply.
There is a lot of hardware that is a combination of analog & digital components. For example, all the demos I’ve heard of the Analog Four had me thinking it was digital… something about it just sounded digital. Even tho it is an ANALOG Four. Found out later all the effects are digital.
But sometimes digital can sound analog & sometimes analog can sound digital.
There is, I will say, a specific sound, which is hard for me to describe, that makes me know almost for a fact when it is an analog synth. (EDIT - I don’t mean I know for a fact when hearing all analog synths I know it’s an analog synth. I mean there is a specific sound characteristic that some analog synths have & this is the only time I know I’m hearing an analog synth. Sometimes I can’t tell & I have been tricked on many occasions
But yea, a lot of people describe analog as being warm & rich, all tho it can be harsh & digital can be warm & rich. Not all analog sounds the same just like all digital doesn’t sound the same.
For me I like a mix of both. I don’t care if it is analog or digital. If it sounds good to me, it sounds good to me 
Another example, MPC’s have analog inputs & outputs yet once it’s sampled, the analog sound gets converted to a digital representation. Then when it goes out of the MPC, the digital representation turns analog again.
To me, that means an MPC is digital. It has analog components, but the sound is still digitally converted.
Not only that, you got to factor in the sound you are sampling.
This is a great description.
I’ve been told ALL sound becomes analog once it hits your ears… I think this means our ears are analog 
I think the term applicable here isn’t “analog” or “digital”. It’s “acoustic”.
Digital can sound analog but analog can’t sound digital
A nice fringe case where „digital“ can sound „analog“ are BBD delays. Or is it the other way around? Hard to tell.
and that old parroting that ”we all only hear analog sound anyways” is actually not entirely correct, as auditory impulses are ”digitized” before hitting the nerves in our brain. So even the natural sounds we are hearing are passed thru an AD converter of sorts between our ears and our brain 
Analog and Digital are like yin and yang IMO. The physical reality relies on both systems. Why choose? Having both is best, always.
Analog is great for adding ”something for nothing” to a signal. Digital is great for precisely retaining what was there. Both working together, used to each others’ strenghts, takes us the farthest.