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

[faun2500]

I listened to the demo BEFORE I read about it and I actually thought that the 2nd version (pulse 1) sounds thicker and more (dare I say it) vintage analogue.

I thought the same, but then i realized it's probably just louder.

It is a bit louder but theres more than that I think.

[faun2500]

It's really fun to watch this with auto captions turned on with English translation.

Seems like it has a bit of a DSI sound... no?

Quite possibly and the dsi sound is bright and brassy and not very vintage sounding. I think I am moving towards a more softer vintage sound for my next synth but don't really want any old ones.

[faun2500]

It's all a matter of taste and preference what sounds "best" I think. I like them both machines a lot, but if I had to chooe one, and could not have them both, I'd take the Pulse 2, mainly because of the added flexibility and features. There is (in my opinion) not enough difference between the two's sound to go for the Pulse 1.

There is not best is there. Just different.

I think loudness matching the 2 with a vu meter instead of normalising might be better to bring the perceived loudness of the pulse 2 up.


Or something like that!


Could you upload a wav file of your recording?

[namnibor]

Razmo, what an excellent demo comparison! I too have the Pulse+ (Classic Pulse Plus 1) and can say I want BOTH of them in my set-up because think they both shall simply sound wonderful when linked-up to each other.

Razmo, any chance of connecting the Pulse 2 cv/gate out to your Pulse+ and get a report back on how the set-up was sorted and even an audio demo, if possible?

Lastly, I will need to find the raw file but Till Kopper from the Waldorfian List posted a Pulse 2 Editor Template specifically for iPad iOS App "TB MIDI STUFF" and perhaps you can find that sysex/midi info from "reverse engineering" that??
I bought the iPad 2 *just* for Waldorf Nave App as it's that awesome....so I am still learning about these periphery Apps and heck, even still have to learn how to place that Pulse 2 Editor Template INTO TB MIDI STUFF from my newly created Drop Box Account. The editor is sitting in Drop Box and tried, could not copy it from there.

I like a "variety" of osc/filter sounds in my music, even if it's just one track of each using both Pulse+ and Pulse 2 as well as DSI Evolver's all analog side...I think this really contributes to making one's "signature sound" or unpredictability overall.

I am no longer worried about midi resolution because thanks to Razmo's really great comparison, I am pretty certain my Christmas present to myself will be a Pulse 2. Although, rather than avid interest in effects board, am more interested in the forthcoming keyboard version of pulse 2 that Stefan Stenzil mentioned in an interview a few months ago...am hoping for BOTH cv/gate IN and OUTs on the Pulse 2 Keyboard and making a duo phonic (or tri) Pulse that controls them ALL!!!! (evil laugh)

[Razmo]

It's all a matter of taste and preference what sounds "best" I think. I like them both machines a lot, but if I had to chooe one, and could not have them both, I'd take the Pulse 2, mainly because of the added flexibility and features. There is (in my opinion) not enough difference between the two's sound to go for the Pulse 1.

There is not best is there. Just different.

I think loudness matching the 2 with a vu meter instead of normalising might be better to bring the perceived loudness of the pulse 2 up.


Or something like that!


Could you upload a wav file of your recording?

I don't have the original wav file anymore, but I might put up a more detailed comparison later, as my curriosity has been inspired to do more research on this... I even decided to keep my Pulse 1 because of it, until I'm more sure of the differences.

[Razmo]

Razmo, what an excellent demo comparison! I too have the Pulse+ (Classic Pulse Plus 1) and can say I want BOTH of them in my set-up because think they both shall simply sound wonderful when linked-up to each other.

Razmo, any chance of connecting the Pulse 2 cv/gate out to your Pulse+ and get a report back on how the set-up was sorted and even an audio demo, if possible?

Lastly, I will need to find the raw file but Till Kopper from the Waldorfian List posted a Pulse 2 Editor Template specifically for iPad iOS App "TB MIDI STUFF" and perhaps you can find that sysex/midi info from "reverse engineering" that??
I bought the iPad 2 *just* for Waldorf Nave App as it's that awesome....so I am still learning about these periphery Apps and heck, even still have to learn how to place that Pulse 2 Editor Template INTO TB MIDI STUFF from my newly created Drop Box Account. The editor is sitting in Drop Box and tried, could not copy it from there.

I like a "variety" of osc/filter sounds in my music, even if it's just one track of each using both Pulse+ and Pulse 2 as well as DSI Evolver's all analog side...I think this really contributes to making one's "signature sound" or unpredictability overall.

I am no longer worried about midi resolution because thanks to Razmo's really great comparison, I am pretty certain my Christmas present to myself will be a Pulse 2. Although, rather than avid interest in effects board, am more interested in the forthcoming keyboard version of pulse 2 that Stefan Stenzil mentioned in an interview a few months ago...am hoping for BOTH cv/gate IN and OUTs on the Pulse 2 Keyboard and making a duo phonic (or tri) Pulse that controls them ALL!!!! (evil laugh)

I only have the standard Pulse 1, so I'm unable to do any CV/Gate tests unfortunately

But you can calmly buy yourself a Pulse 2 for Christmas... it's a really nice synth and yes it will probably fit nicely with the older version... one thing I use my Pulse 1 for is both bass and leads, but of course I never could do both at the same time as it's monotimbral.... having two pulse'es now give me that option.

Only thing that irritates me a bit about the new Pulse 2 is, that it's not in a rack format... I'd really have liked to see this in the same format as the Pulse 1. But at least they gave it a MIDI Out, and not like the Blofeld that only have MIDI In... that was a REAL BUMMER considering that Waldorf is STILL using the MS USB drivers that are byggy as soon as SysEx data gets over 256 bytes in length.

[Hermetech Mastering]

I think loudness matching the 2 with a vu meter instead of normalising might be better to bring the perceived loudness of the pulse 2 up.

indeed, the best way to do it is by perceived volume, which means using your ears to match them. i do this all the time in mastering. peak/normalising, VU, RMS, or even ITU/EBU or LEQ weighted loudness readings can often be miles off of what we actually hear. match them by ear!

[Gadget Fiend]

The Pulse 1 still has it's character, and especialy it's chaotic and unstable resonance gives it that character in my opinion... it makes it sound more "dusty" in it's sound... more "vintage" like to my ears... Pulse 2 is more "firm" and brighter/clearer... but it still has that "In Your Face!" character that the Pulse 1 have.

That's the one thing that I think is really missing from the Pulse 2 - the crazy unstable resonance on the Pulse 1 sounds so rad. So I will definitely be keeping my Pulse 1. But the Pulse 2 is certainly cool and worth having as a complement to the Pulse 1. The huge amount patch storage, WAY better encoders, and extra mod routings on the Pulse 2 make up for its more "clinical" sound.

[namnibor]

One could always run the Pulse 2 through the Classic Pulse Plus's Audio/Filter Input to get best of both worlds.
I also happen to have one of Waldorf's Mini Works 4-Pole Analog Filters, which is essentially a Pulse 1 without the 3 osc's, having the 12 Volt DC version, which has full midi specs, envelopes, trigger or Audio Input...THAT should team up well with the Pulse 2 as well.

I am planning on purchasing it but am still thinking about holding off to see if the Pulse 2 Keyboard actually happens as Stefan Stenzel spoke about in an interview not long ago as it may come with the needed cv/gate ins as well as the spoken about FX Board, who knows.

Razmo's audio demo actually sold me on Pulse 2 over any and all other demos and Waldorf would be wise to utilize Razmo in future as know from DSI forum that he's one intelligent person whom also tells it like it is and I like that in people.

FYI--if anyone owns a Waldorf Q Keyboard, ALL the knobs send midi data and you can actually use it as an editor/controller for Pulse 1 and would imagine same for Pulse 2...and could not ask for a more expressive set of keys and knobby interface.

[Razmo]

The Pulse 1 still has it's character, and especialy it's chaotic and unstable resonance gives it that character in my opinion... it makes it sound more "dusty" in it's sound... more "vintage" like to my ears... Pulse 2 is more "firm" and brighter/clearer... but it still has that "In Your Face!" character that the Pulse 1 have.

That's the one thing that I think is really missing from the Pulse 2 - the crazy unstable resonance on the Pulse 1 sounds so rad. So I will definitely be keeping my Pulse 1. But the Pulse 2 is certainly cool and worth having as a complement to the Pulse 1. The huge amount patch storage, WAY better encoders, and extra mod routings on the Pulse 2 make up for its more "clinical" sound.

About the "extra mod slots"... it's true, but there is a catch that you should notice, thaat Waldorf only tell you if you look closely at the data structure of both Pulse 1 & 2.

On the Pulse 1, you have dedicated mod destinations that are hardwired to Pitch, Cutoff and in the case of Pulse Plus, also CV2 out... these three all have a hardwired dedicated modulation with it's own source and amount... the destinations are of course fixed.

The catch is, that these three mod destinations DO NOT have their own hardwired modulations on the Pulse 2.... Waldorf removed them, and you have to use three of the extra new mod matrix slots for this.

So in general, you only have ONE mod matrix slot more than on the Pulse 1. Of course you rarely use the CV2 modulation, so you could say that you got two extra, but the Pitch and Filter Cutoff modulations of the Pulse 1 is so frequently used, that they should be considdered a deduction in the extra mod matrix slots of the Pulse 2.

You could also turn it around and say that the Pulse 1 has two more slots than per see... semi-like... but to say that the Pulse 2 has double the amount of mod matrix slots is not entirely true in my opinion.

[Razmo]

One could always run the Pulse 2 through the Classic Pulse Plus's Audio/Filter Input to get best of both worlds.
I also happen to have one of Waldorf's Mini Works 4-Pole Analog Filters, which is essentially a Pulse 1 without the 3 osc's, having the 12 Volt DC version, which has full midi specs, envelopes, trigger or Audio Input...THAT should team up well with the Pulse 2 as well.

I am planning on purchasing it but am still thinking about holding off to see if the Pulse 2 Keyboard actually happens as Stefan Stenzel spoke about in an interview not long ago as it may come with the needed cv/gate ins as well as the spoken about FX Board, who knows.

Razmo's audio demo actually sold me on Pulse 2 over any and all other demos and Waldorf would be wise to utilize Razmo in future as know from DSI forum that he's one intelligent person whom also tells it like it is and I like that in people.

FYI--if anyone owns a Waldorf Q Keyboard, ALL the knobs send midi data and you can actually use it as an editor/controller for Pulse 1 and would imagine same for Pulse 2...and could not ask for a more expressive set of keys and knobby interface.

I've had that Waldorf 4-Pole too, but it was not the same filter as the Pulse... it had CEM filters like the ones in my Waldorf Microwave... I Wonder if there is a version of this with the Pulse filter also?

[EvilDragon]

There isn't, AFAIK.

[wald]

There isn't, AFAIK.

There is.

[EvilDragon]

Interesting. Didn't know (hence I said AFAIK).

[wald]

No worries. Hence the ";)"

AFAIK the only visible clue is that the first revision uses 9 instead of 12V.