FXpansion Geist – an in-the-box solution to help people break free from in-the-box-cabin fever
> There’s no better or worse in this: just what’s most suited to your needs and workflow preferences. The lines are increasingly becoming blurred, as some synths are available in desktop modules, without a keyboard but they retain the feature set of the standalone versions and software can be operated with MIDI controllers and keyboards. The real benefits of hardware are that there’s a certain mojo you get from a tactile interface. If the controls feel good and fall under your reach in the right way, then you’ll be more inspired to use them. There’s also the added benefit of being able to switch on and jam when the thought arises. No waiting for computers to boot up and your DAW to start, which can take a while with lots of plugins installed. That alone could kill the musical creativity and mean hardware is a more appropriate option. On the other hand, software is spacesaving or could allow you to choose which controller keyboard you prefer, not make do with a built-in keyboard that you’re less fond of. You also get to choose from a multitude of options, all living in the box, which is great, as while racks of hardware can seem like a goal, for most that just isn’t practical.