I would like to get a definition of the term "virtual analog" from an insider.

In my view, the Roland D50 had virtual analog operation, as it had digitally generated waveforms (modelled after analog forefathers), and the signal path had timbre/amplitude shapers controlled by envelopes, just like analog synths.

When one designs a digital filter, one use the same basic math as for analog ones, only the implementation really differs. Given that, every sample-playback-synth is "virtual analog" except for the oscillator.

Also, given that the samplerate/transposition is "good enough", playing back a sampled squarewave should give the exact same resulats as generating that wave in realtime. Except certain functions that are impossible/difficult with samples, such as sync, pwm, etc.

With the exception of the osc-level possibilities mentioned above, I have a feeling that virtual analog synths provide nothing really new in theory. They try to ride the "modelling" wave, while using more resources to solve old problems with old solutions.

Any opinions?

best regards
Knut Inge Hvidsten