The question of which type of synthesizer is best for you and your current application has to do with a few factors: money available to purchase synthesizer, time/energy available to devote to learning and practicing, and the specific kind of music that you plan to make.
Hardware synthesizers:
- Tend to be more expensive
- Require learning and practicing similar to any musical instrument
- Are more adaptable to a wider variety of applications from background music to main feature in a live group
whereas…
Software synthesizers:
- Tend to be less expensive
- Are often quick to figure out and come pre-programmed with many useful features
- Are arguably less widely applicable and generally limited to lower quality audio production
All in all, it is prudent to familiarize yourself with as many different synthesizers as possible (both hardware and software). That being said, don’t lose yourself down the road of trying to be a jack of all trades. It can be fun but is always ridiculously expensive.
Research the rigs and setups of your favorite artists to see what they use. Even if you don’t end up purchasing the exact same program or piece of equipment, you’ll learn more about what’s out there in the world of synthesizers.
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