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

[faun2500]

I suggest doing a comparison with Uncle E's Pulse 1. That way you can both use the same patches and the exact same midi files. That's about as close a comparison as is possible without having both units directly to hand.

I guess the easiest way would be using the free Rob Papen Pulse 1 bank that is available at the Waldorf website:
http://www.waldorf-music.info/en/archiv ... papen.html

If Uncle E would provide other Sysex files it would be OK too.





UPDATE:
1.) Here is a demo from one patch of the free Rob Papen Pulse 1 bank (patch P006 - PLOK BASS):

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/532 ... 20BASS.wav

The patch was used "as is" (like imported from the Pulse 1 bank) without modifications.

2.) Another patch of that bank called P016 - MOOGTIQUE (name from the text file provided with the bank):

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/532 ... GTIQUE.wav

In the second part of the demo the Modwheel was used to add a sub-osc (that modulation option was provided with the patch).

3.) Same patch with the volume of all 3 Oscs set to 110:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/532 ... ed%201.wav

4.) The modifed patch from 3.) (all Oscs at 110) plus the built-in tube Drive (amount: 32 = around 25%):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/532 ... ve%201.wav

The Pulse 2 was directly connected to the line inpput of my Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP audio interface for those (and also the other demos).



Ingo

Thanks for all the demos Ingo! That is a lot of effort you have put into pleasing us.

[faun2500]

Okay, let's not derail the thread any further.

faun2500 is sure that he can tell the difference between real analogue and a softsynth. I think he's as easily fooled as the rest of us. But that's for another day.

Back to the Pulse 2.

lol, I wont bite. Give up.

[Aural Chaos]

Gotta say, just a few weeks ago I was pretty sure I'd be buying a Pulse 2 sometime in the next couple of months.
That was when it was going to be $599. $800 bucks is really a stretch though.

I was also stoked when the Bassstation 2 was announced, and on paper it looks great, but I haven't really heard any demos that grabbed me. Might take another look at the Minibrute I guess.

Thing is, I really wanted the Pulse- I already have plenty of keyboards, and I liked the form factor. One knob per function ( or nearly) is great and all, but I have a Blofeld and it's easy peasy to use, and the Pulse has even more knobs. I don't want to try and find a spot for a 2 octave monosynth.

My plan B, before the world seemed to be flooded with almost affordable analogs, was to build a Shruthi or Ambika- maybe I should go with that....

[stikygum]

I agree to an extent. Basic tones I think software can do a pretty good job. But to the same degree, I also think people feel Diva sounds 'better' than other softsynths because other people say they think it does. I actually find Zebra sounds better than Diva, so each his own and it might actualy be because I enjoy working with Zebra more and that I find the sounds that can be created very hifi. It sounds hifi and does sound better than Diva to me.

But I think bias can play a role also. And I think people's idea that softsynths sound like analog can be psychological. A lot of people want to be able to justify something whether it's spending money on an analog or going with a softsynth. It's human nature, but this is all a valid point people should be aware of. That's why we need to use our ears.

So you can say whatever you want about the 'placebo effect' taking place, but analog is still analog and digital is still digital. I will say digital can sound nice and get pretty close, but I have enough analogs to know that some digital/softsynths can sound like analog synth, but there are many analog synths that softsynths just don't have the same ring as. Either way, I rather buy a modern analog most of the time than a vintage analog that is triple or more in price.

With all that said, I feel it can be the safe bet if you buy analog as it's not going to sound like a softsynth usually, whereas a softsynth will sound digital unless you work at making it sound analog, but it's more risky. Learning synthesis is the best way to go, which can make up for lack of sound quality in some situations, but not all.

I like softsynths a lot, but I must have analogs as well.

[faun2500]

Gotta say, just a few weeks ago I was pretty sure I'd be buying a Pulse 2 sometime in the next couple of months.
That was when it was going to be $599. $800 bucks is really a stretch though.

I was also stoked when the Bassstation 2 was announced, and on paper it looks great, but I haven't really heard any demos that grabbed me. Might take another look at the Minibrute I guess.

Thing is, I really wanted the Pulse- I already have plenty of keyboards, and I liked the form factor. One knob per function ( or nearly) is great and all, but I have a Blofeld and it's easy peasy to use, and the Pulse has even more knobs. I don't want to try and find a spot for a 2 octave monosynth.

My plan B, before the world seemed to be flooded with almost affordable analogs, was to build a Shruthi or Ambika- maybe I should go with that....

Korg Volcas?

[bobborries]

Things I like about this synth...

• Multi-Mode Filter (Not just Lowpass)
• Ring Modulation
• Tube/Fuzz Modulation by Osc 3 (nobody else has this)
• Filter FM by Osc 3
• Pulse XOR Cross Modulation (Choose from Osc 1 or 3)
• Internal Feedback from filter output built in
• 6 different Unison or Paraphonic modes
• Synced Oscillators
• 8 Modulation patch points (Pulse 1 had 4)
• Midi sync for LFO 1
• Any Mod. such as an ADSR can be routed to CV out
• 500 recallable patches



The Pulse 1 was cold, maybe it was the Curtis chip that most synths were using at the time. The Pulse 2 sounds much better to me. I'm not putting Curtis down, it was the most popular filter used, hence it sounding common. Whoops the post below says the Pulse 1 didn't have it.

[faun2500]

I agree to an extent. Basic tones I think software can do a pretty good job. But to the same degree, I also think people feel Diva sounds 'better' than other softsynths because other people say they think it does. I actually find Zebra sounds better than Diva, so each his own and it might actualy be because I enjoy working with Zebra more and that I find the sounds that can be created very hifi. It sounds hifi and does sound better than Diva to me.

But I think bias can play a role also. And I think people's idea that softsynths sound like analog can be psychological. A lot of people want to be able to justify something whether it's spending money on an analog or going with a softsynth. It's human nature, but this is all a valid point people should be aware of. That's why we need to use our ears.

So you can say whatever you want about the 'placebo effect' taking place, but analog is still analog and digital is still digital. I will say digital can sound nice and get pretty close, but I have enough analogs to know that some digital/softsynths can sound like analog synth, but there are many analog synths that softsynths just don't have the same ring as. Either way, I rather buy a modern analog most of the time than a vintage analog that is triple or more in price.

With all that said, I feel it can be the safe bet if you buy analog as it's not going to sound like a softsynth usually, whereas a softsynth will sound digital unless you work at making it sound analog, but it's more risky. Learning synthesis is the best way to go, which can make up for lack of sound quality in some situations, but not all.

I like softsynths a lot, but I must have analogs as well.

Good post! I also like modern analogs because of preset saving too and stuff like that. There was a demo recently posted "Moog the rouge". That sounds really phatt too. But that's and old one init.

[hakey]

The Pulse 1 was cold, maybe it was the curtis chip that most synths were using at the time.

No CEM's in the Pulse 1. The filter and oscillators were Waldorf's own design.

[faun2500]

The Pulse 1 was cold, maybe it was the curtis chip that most synths were using at the time.

No CEM's in the Pulse 1. The filter and oscillators were Waldorf's own design.

Oh and I forgot to say. I love Sid James! lol

[Acid Mitch]

I have yet to come by the explanation why analogue synths should be superior to VA/softsynths which makes sense to me.

There is stuff in the output of analogue synths that softsynth manufacturers aren't modeling.

[hakey]

I love Sid James!

my passport photo, you cheeky sod!

[Aural Chaos]

Korg Volcas?

Thanks for the suggestion, but, nah....not really interested.

[Uncle E]

Gotta say, just a few weeks ago I was pretty sure I'd be buying a Pulse 2 sometime in the next couple of months.
That was when it was going to be $599. $800 bucks is really a stretch though.

I'll still get you that $599 price if you pre-order with me now. Once we receive them, they'll be $679 after discounts.

I was also stoked when the Bassstation 2 was announced, and on paper it looks great, but I haven't really heard any demos that grabbed me.

You probably wouldn't have liked the original Bass Station 2, either. It's a specific sound.

Might take another look at the Minibrute I guess.

It's better than ever!

[Uncle E]

Korg Volcas?

The Volca Keys makes a lot of not-so-great sounds but the best sounds I've heard from it are better than what I've heard from the Pulse 2. The sounds I've heard from the Volca Bass have been consistently good but none of them are as good as the best sounds I've heard from the Pulse 2. That's all IMHO, of course.

[Uncle E]

Good post! I also like modern analogs because of preset saving too and stuff like that. There was a demo recently posted "Moog the rouge". That sounds really phatt too. But that's and old one init.

An oldie and a not-so-goodie. I'd take a Sub Phatty over my Moog Prodigy.