...and now a word from your anti-sponsor...

If the intended comparison is between recording a live sound and the sound produced by a synthesizer then there can be a huge difference between the two.

The live sound, though recorded, is from the original instrument and therefore the complete sound. A synthesized sound is produced from a recorded clip of sound. Depending on the quality of the recorded sound clip there could be little difference or a significant difference.

The organ in New York that uses Definitive Technology has an incredible database of recorded sounds to produce the notes. I'm sure it sounds pretty close to the organs that it's sound clips were recorded from.

Chadnliz - I believe so. I'd love to hear it and it should be easier to reproduce on recordings, on some level, since it's source is speakers and you can purchase every speaker model that they use.

Ironically, the PA equipment likely wouldn't sound very good in a small space. They are two entirely different ways of experiencing music.

It's more likely that the sound quality at most live venues, from an audiophile perspective, is junk so rather it's from a live or recorded source the sound is about the same.