Does anyone know of a plug-in where the hardware it is based on is not any better or perhaps where the plug-in is even better sonically?  Have you reached this point? I assume someday we will.
 
Certainly, the advantage of a plugin in cost versus a hardware unit, and the fact that it can be used on multiple tracks without added cost.

nope.

Maybe not - but many do have additional functionality. I think the more that plugins are developed independently of any hardware modelling it is certainly conceivable that they will become superior.
 
 I think there are already many vsti's  that are better than any hardware.

tenfoot
 I think there are already many vsti's  that are better than any hardware.

i agree, although these are the plugs that aren't trying to "emulate" hardware

pwalpwal

tenfoot
 I think there are already many vsti's  that are better than any hardware.

i agree, although these are the plugs that aren't trying to "emulate" hardware

Very true. This may well be true of fx plugins in the future.

deswind
Does anyone know of a plug-in where the hardware it is based on is not any better or perhaps where the plug-in is even better sonically?  Have you reached this point? I assume someday we will.
 
Certainly, the advantage of a plugin in cost versus a hardware unit, and the fact that it can be used on multiple tracks without added cost.

Since it seems most hardware emulated has a "sound" to it so to speak, (and that's why it is typically emulated) it's hard to say therefore the plug might be sonically superior in that regard. {for instance} Lots of compressor emulations as an example, and although they might not be as "colored" as their hardware counterparts, I don't think it's 'wrong' to say that they might be sonically superior in some regards...especially with noise floors, freq responses and actual parameters on plugs that weren't available on the hardware.  I'm not really aware of any "plain Jane" hardware emulations...  Like old Tapco mixer preamps!! 

Cant beat circuits for sound.

markyzno
Cant beat circuits for sound.

Which is no doubt what someone once said about the phonograph cylinder:)

tenfoot

markyzno
Cant beat circuits for sound.

Which is no doubt what someone once said about the phonograph cylinder:)

 i wanted to report you for abuse :D 

Many claim that Steven Slate is nailing it - I don't have the hardware to compare with, but then again, I also don't have the noise issues, dust, recall issues and the heat in the control room :O)