Waldorf Pulse 2: officially released (OS updated to v1.18)

[acidfever]

One of the things that has started to bug me with the Pulse 2 is the lack of feedback you get while there is a big and shiny display right there on the panel.

For instance....why don't we get a filter curve on the screen when adjusting filter parameters? Same for the envelopes. I couldn't care less about the actual patch number I'm working with when adjusting parameters but that thing is shown in ARIAL 96 on the display all the time......

And to continue: Ok we have only 6 physical controls....you know that when yo buy the synth. But when I select the VCF row in the matrix for instance, would it be too much to ask for the display to show the current parameter values? Right now you have to start turning a knob to see what value is currently set.
This isn't even that big of an issue with the VCF but with the oscillators I really like to know what waveform and detune settings are selected at the moment for instance......

Hopefully OS updates will make this available! Besides that.....very potent little synthesizer!!

[Gadget Fiend]

I'm currently working on an editor which is almost finished.

Patch management system is on the todo list.

With 500 patches onboard the Pulse 2, a patch librarian is almost a necessity. It would make organizing and selecting patches SO much easier.

I look forward to checking out your editor/librarian!

[Gadget Fiend]

One of the things that has started to bug me with the Pulse 2 is the lack of feedback you get while there is a big and shiny display right there on the panel.

For instance....why don't we get a filter curve on the screen when adjusting filter parameters? Same for the envelopes. I couldn't care less about the actual patch number I'm working with when adjusting parameters but that thing is shown in ARIAL 96 on the display all the time......

And to continue: Ok we have only 6 physical controls....you know that when yo buy the synth. But when I select the VCF row in the matrix for instance, would it be too much to ask for the display to show the current parameter values? Right now you have to start turning a knob to see what value is currently set.
This isn't even that big of an issue with the VCF but with the oscillators I really like to know what waveform and detune settings are selected at the moment for instance......

Hopefully OS updates will make this available! Besides that.....very potent little synthesizer!!

+1. I totally agree. It seems like such a waste of a nice big display to show a giant patch number most of the time. Your suggestions are all spot on.

[Ingonator]

And to continue: Ok we have only 6 physical controls....you know that when yo buy the synth. But when I select the VCF row in the matrix for instance, would it be too much to ask for the display to show the current parameter values? Right now you have to start turning a knob to see what value is currently set.

First like i already mentioned the whole interface of the Pulse 2 is VERY simple to use IMO. I dare to see even more simple than some fuly knobed synths...

Second about seeing current values i already mentioned that you could get those if you use the SHIFT button pressed and then move the knob for the parameter you wanzt to see. That way you get the value without changing it.


Ingo

[EvilDragon]

That's neat - but still lacks the immediacy factor - when you switch the matrix row you should be able to see the current values of all 6 parameters there (as a global option), so you don't need to do anything extra to just see the values...

It's a very valid feature request. There's plenty of room (as far as I can count the number of characters available in one row from the videos) below the big program number line to write out the values of all 6 parameters of the matrix row as soon as you press a button to switch to it, for example (filter row):

Code: Select all

127  064  +20  LP24  +63  +32
CUT  RES  ENV  TYPE  KEY  VEL

In fact, there should definitely be an option for visual feedback INSTEAD of program number being shown as you edit the parameters, with delay time to switch back to program number view (just like Blofeld has it, IIRC)...

[faun2500]

Agree with that.

[Oden]

Hi,

just found a very nice and deep Bass sound in the factory sounds. It's called "Chorus Bss JD" and is done by Jürgen Driessen (who also made the first official Waldorf YouTube video):

Pulse 2 - Chorus Bass JD

Like always no external FXs added.


This patch uses no Drive. Osc 3 is routed to the Drive amount but the Drive is deactivated so it has no effect.
Osc 1 in this uses the APW ("alternating pulsewidth") waveform while Osc 2 uses a Triangle waveform. A small amount of Noise is added too. The filter used is the 12 dB LPF (not the 24 dB). Some velocity control for the Cutoff is added too.
When switching to the 24 dB LPF this sounds quite different which means most of the high frequencies disappear.


Ingo

That is some Boss Bass right there...

[Uncle E]

I loved Waldorf synths since before i had used any softsynhs and this has not changed until now. I admit that i am what some people call a "fanboy".
If currently i had to choose 2 synths to keep from my current gear (soft- and hardware) it would be the Blofeld and the Pulse 2.

I'm a fanboy, too. I even owned the rare AFB16 at one point. The Microwave XT is actually my favorite of them all, I love how gnarly and not analog it sounds.

[Ingonator]

I loved Waldorf synths since before i had used any softsynhs and this has not changed until now. I admit that i am what some people call a "fanboy".
If currently i had to choose 2 synths to keep from my current gear (soft- and hardware) it would be the Blofeld and the Pulse 2.

I'm a fanboy, too. I even owned the rare AFB16 at one point. The Microwave XT is actually my favorite of them all, I love how gnarly and not analog it sounds.

Hi,

had the XT too but sold around 2007. Already thought about purchasing again. Also had the blue Q keyboard with 32-voices expansion.
Currently besides the pulse 2, Blofeld and the Waldorf softsynths I got the "Orange" Kontakt library from PinkNoiseStudios which includes tons of XT patches with great quality.

BTW during the beta testing of the Xils Lab Oxium softsynth i had the idea fr an orange skin which was inspired by the Microwave XT. The orange skin then more or less became the default one for Oxium.

Maybe instead at one point i'll get one of the hybrid" synths like the Microwave 1. The combination of wavetables and an analog filter should be really nice.


Ingo

[Ingonator]

That's neat - but still lacks the immediacy factor - when you switch the matrix row you should be able to see the current values of all 6 parameters there (as a global option), so you don't need to do anything extra to just see the values...

It's a very valid feature request. There's plenty of room (as far as I can count the number of characters available in one row from the videos) below the big program number line to write out the values of all 6 parameters of the matrix row as soon as you press a button to switch to it, for example (filter row):

Code: Select all

127  064  +20  LP24  +63  +32
CUT  RES  ENV  TYPE  KEY  VEL

In fact, there should definitely be an option for visual feedback INSTEAD of program number being shown as you edit the parameters, with delay time to switch back to program number view (just like Blofeld has it, IIRC)...

Hi,

just sent this request to the Pulse 2 Beta forum.


UPDATE:
Based on a first reply this should be possible but the labels should not be bigger than 3 character. This means something like "TYPE" or "LP24" should not be possible. The width of each character would be around 5 pixels (width of the display is 128 pixels).
I just thought about an option to have two rows of parameters with 3 parameters each like this:

Code: Select all

127   064  +20
CUT   RES  ENV  

LP24  +63  +32
TYPE  KEY  VEL

They'll keep this request in mind but trying to check/correct some other stuff first.


Ingo

[Ingonator]

Hi,

Jürgen Driessen, one of the Pulse 2 factory sound designers, just posted this at his own website:

http://www.driessen-music.de/driessen/s ... nthesizer/

He had created the first "official" video for the Pulse 2.

He also created a full bank for the Blofeld that is free with another purchase:
http://www.waldorfmusic-shop.de/epages/ ... ts/wsetb05


Ingo

[EvilDragon]

Hi,

just sent this request to the Pulse 2 Beta forum.


UPDATE:
Based on a first reply this should be possible but the labels should not be bigger than 3 character. This means something like "TYPE" or "LP24" should not be possible. The width of each character would be around 5 pixels (width of the display is 128 pixels).
I just thought about an option to have two rows of parameters with 3 parameters each like this:

Code: Select all

127   064  +20
CUT   RES  ENV  

LP24  +63  +32
TYPE  KEY  VEL

They'll keep this request in mind but trying to check/correct some other stuff first.


Ingo

Thanks, Ingo - this is good to know. Hopefully Waldorf guys will see the benefit


TYPE can be shortened to TYP, and LP24/LP12/BP12/HP12 can be LP4/LP2/BP2/HP2 or L24/L12/B12/H12, etc. It can all fit in one row, methinks - if a character is 5 px wide, that's 90 px without spaces (5 px * 3 chars * 6 words), plenty of room to add spaces there, too. Even if a character is 6 px wide, there's enough room (6 px * 3 chars * 6 words = 108 px, 20 px left for spaces).


EDIT: Reading the manual, seeing the screenshots of display it looks like each character is 4 px wide and 5 px tall. That's plenty of room even if some words have 4 chars!

[acidfever]

Cool!

Last saturday I sent Waldorf a mail with my findings and suggestions so hopefully something like this will be implemented. Everything on one row would be the most ideal but even with 2 rows this is still a huge improvement and it would make the Pulse 2 a lot more hands on to work with! The more they compensate the shortage of physical controls the better.

It's not the end of the world if they don't implement it but I hope they do!

Hi,

just sent this request to the Pulse 2 Beta forum.


UPDATE:
Based on a first reply this should be possible but the labels should not be bigger than 3 character. This means something like "TYPE" or "LP24" should not be possible. The width of each character would be around 5 pixels (width of the display is 128 pixels).
I just thought about an option to have two rows of parameters with 3 parameters each like this:

Code: Select all

127   064  +20
CUT   RES  ENV  

LP24  +63  +32
TYPE  KEY  VEL

They'll keep this request in mind but trying to check/correct some other stuff first.


Ingo

[EvilDragon]

Ingo, send them this screenshot. I've mocked up a pixel-by-pixel mockup of how the bottom row could look for the Filter page. See this:



Everything fits, there's even 2 px of margin from the bottom/edges of the display. Now, perhaps it would be better if there were a way to sort of keep the default look of the main screen (big program number, name of the patch, category, and the inverted line on the bottom), but with a smaller (half-height) program number, and the top half of that big number showing the currently selected row's values. So that gives you all the info you could possibly want, in one neat screen. Something like this:




Neat, no?


BTW - I noticed that they have exactly the same pixel matrix for letter O and number 0. That's a shame. Would be good if there were some differences between them, something like:



One of them would be zero, one of them would be O. IMHO the left one is better to be zero, the right one to be O.

[acidfever]

Neat, no?

This would be superb!!!

Pesonally I could do without the patch number most of the time but I can understand it's important to others. This combined screen would give the best of both worlds.

One idea would be to switch the feedback lines so the labels are on top and invert this line just as the bottom line is inverted. That makes the screen symetrical again which is usually easier on the eyes. Not sure how that would work out in real life though.

Nice job drawing these by the way!