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

[Tupapupa]

Yes, some FX like the A4 has would be very nice


in this track i also used lots of FX
Drums: LXR, a bit Xoxbox, all the rest Pulse 2

[sqigls]

built in FX would be very exciting!
I was thinking of buying the TC Electronic Nova System to have some external FX especially for the Pulse 2.

[Ingonator]

built in FX would be very exciting!

A FX board is planned but no details and an ETA yet.


Ingo

[Ingonator]

Today Waldorf released the new Pulse 2 OS v1.12:

http://www.waldorf-music.info/en/pulse2downloads.html

some info and changelogs (included with the readme file in the ZIP):


Please play this update file with your Pulse 2 connected to your
computer (via USB or MIDI cable) to get your firmware updated.
You will then benefits from the latest functionalities / bug fixes.

* Windows users :
We strongly advise you to use Windows Media Player to play the MIDI update file.

* MAC users :
We provide on our website an automatic updater :
http://www.waldorfmusic.info/en/pulse2downloads.html

We recommend you to store via Sysex all the presets / user content
you crafted before updating the internal software.

Changes since V1.11
* Better handling of MIDI start / stop / continue events
* No freezing of interface with important MIDI streams
(using CC automation)
* Sending / receiving global parameters via sysex
* Auto-tuning of filter after new update
* Corrected edit of Unisono / paraphonic modes detune parameters
* Faster preset selection with external controller
* Master volume (volume knob) on MIDI CC 7
* Master panning on MIDI CC 10
* Preset volume (VCA volume) CC 57
* Preset panning (VCA panning) CC 59
* MIDI through cannot stuck anymore
* MIDI merger fixed when using USB
* MIDI clock is transmitted via MIDI through
* Bank / Sound CC message is filtered by TX Parameters
* Better handling of TX Arp Notes / TX Arp Clock with MIDI through
* Switching back and forth from Paraphonic / Unison modes preserve the oscillator 3 volume

Changes since V1.10
* Arp / clock troubles when sending clock with MIDI & USB
* MIDI thru can freeze the user interface
* Active sensing works with all clock modes
* Envelope attack time cannot overflow
* Envelope short attack / decay / release time are accurate
* Envelope looping modes fixed
* GUI fixes (redrawing, selection)
* MIDI clock sync / autostart of the arpeggiator
* Spurious behavior when receiving Unimplemented sys. common messages
* New modulation sources / destinations

Changes since V1.05
* Improved hardware / filter tuning
* Corrected VCA curve
* CC remapping with legacy mode working
* New modulation sources
* Sound selection saved on power down
* GUI fixes (parameter selection / editing)
* Corrected drive gain
* Reduction of scanning noise
* Preset / Bank selection fixed



Ingo

[faun2500]

You should get yourself a LXR DrumMachine, then you dont have to do HHs with your synths

lol, buy an analogue synth and do hi hats. Buy a drum kit and make basslines.

[sqigls]

You should get yourself a LXR DrumMachine, then you dont have to do HHs with your synths

lol, buy an analogue synth and do hi hats. Buy a drum kit and make basslines.

dude, i can make a kick drum from the filter section of a delay plugin, but what's so funny about making a hi hat with an analog synth? Each time i buy a new synth, i make a track with nothing but that synth, it shows me what the synth can do. Besides, i like using analog synths to make drum sounds. I'm not a f**king folk singer.

Pity the Pulse 2 has no sine wave actually...

[ZenPunkHippy]

Analogue synth hi-hats (and other percussion) are great + very useful … !

Peace,
Andy.

[Tupapupa]

@sqigls
do not anger, that was not meant evil

built in FX would be very exciting!

A FX board is planned but no details and an ETA yet.


Ingo

....that was i hoped for

i can only wish it will have the same quality like the FX from the Electron A4, that would make an unbeatable synth out of it

[sqigls]

I'm not angry whatsoever
Loving life !

[Hermetech Mastering]

I was hoping the effects board would be a separate box with controls etc., and full of analogue goodness, perhaps something like a modern Ibanez UE405?

[Ingonator]

I was hoping the effects board would be a separate box with controls etc., and full of analogue goodness, perhaps something like a modern Ibanez UE405?

There is an internal connector on the board so i am quite sure this will be internal without an external box.

The unit you mention (Ibanez) seems to be a "normal" external FX unit with audio-in and -out and there are already many of those. Such units can't be closely intergrated into the synthesis engine including e.g. saving the values with a patch.

A fully analog FX unit is also no simple task (includes development of both the circuits and the software like in the Pulse 2 development) and also not cheap so i don't know how far this will be possible in this case (not to mention how big a fully analog multi FX unit would be, even with SMD technology).

I am sure that Waldorf will find a solution to keep the size and also price at a reasonable level while offering as much sound quality and functionality as possible.

At the moment those are mostly speculations anyway...


Ingo

[wald]

Do any of you guys own the first Pulse? Is it worth the "upgrade"?

[Ingonator]

Do any of you guys own the first Pulse? Is it worth the "upgrade"?

New/impproved features in the Pulse 2:

- multimode filter with 12dB LPF, 24dB LPF, 12dB BPF, 12 dB HPF (all resonant up to self-oscillation)
- several additional oscillator modes including Unison and/or Paraphonic modes
- two analog drive circuits (Tube and Fuzz Drive)
- 500 memory locations (all can be overwritten)
- graphical display (also for mod matrix with all 8 slots at one page)
- USB MIDI
- improved editing matrix with endless encoders (oposing to the Pulse 1 with potentiometers)
- more than 400 factory presets (and maybe more in the future)
- you could directly load Pulse 1 sysex bank files (without an additional conversion tool)
- an additional FX expansion board (not included with the synth) is planned
- some more...

There are also lots of informations and audio demos available in this thread (most collected at the first posts at the beginning). Decide yourself...


Ingo

[Tupapupa]

someone has detected another Bug, as it seems.
v1.12

init patch, OSC1 volume to zero, OSC2 x1-pwn, OSC2 volume to max

the result is, that the mod ends suddenly, listen:

http://soundcloud.com/doppelwhipper/pwn-fehler

[wald]

Do any of you guys own the first Pulse? Is it worth the "upgrade"?

New/impproved features in the Pulse 2:

- multimode filter with 12dB LPF, 24dB LPF, 12dB BPF, 12 dB HPF (all resonant up to self-oscillation)
- several additional oscillator modes including Unison and/or Paraphonic modes
- two analog drive circuits (Tube and Fuzz Drive)
- 500 memory locations (all can be overwritten)
- graphical display (also for mod matrix with all 8 slots at one page)
- USB MIDI
- improved editing matrix with endless encoders (oposing to the Pulse 1 with potentiometers)
- more than 400 factory presets (and maybe more in the future)
- you could directly load Pulse 1 sysex bank files (without an additional conversion tool)
- an additional FX expansion board (not included with the synth) is planned
- some more...

There are also lots of informations and audio demos available in this thread (most collected at the first posts at the beginning). Decide yourself...


Ingo

Thanks, Ingo, but I am quite capable of reading the manual myself.
I am more interested in someone's opinion who has actual experience with both units (I still own the first one). Clearly Pulse 2 has more features - but to me it seems the basic sound is the same...

Daniel