First – I use a TON of analog outboard gear in my Ableton Live performance. The digital and analog blend is far superior because I extrace strengths from both.

Next – Chaos! Digital is ruled (100%) by math. The only random variables are those entered into the programming by choice. Analog, by nature, introduces chaos.

Items in the circuit such as shielding, capacitor age / condition, wire (and board connection) gauge, bad timing (poor crystals or sync methods), power conditioning, type of amp (opt, pre, etc, also class of amp). The list goes on. The point is chaos.

This is why no 2 tape multi-tracks are the same. Now the same IS true for digital, but the variance is much less in the digital domain.

The chaos created is one of the most important and overlooked areas in the analog realm. The slight de-tuning, noise introduced, EM system failures, and so on, create the lush sound scape that makes analog sound better. The “better” is actually worse because it is not perfect. The brain (of a human) digs on the imperfection. If this was not true we would have computers write “perfect” music for us and all us musician would quit what we are doing.

Just because you are able to use 32, 64, or even 128 bit floating (or preferably NOT floating) point precision does not make the sound better. It only makes it more exact.

In our modern world exact and better come from a blend through the understanding of digital and analog. Neither will be able dominate the sound market, ever. (I can defend this ad nauseum from a pragmatic view)

Thanks for the fodder for a GREAT article on our Ableton site. I will get it up very soon.

Your article is right on, but ultimately is the tip of the iceberg on the (never ending) topic.