Waldorf Pulse 2--Sounds from Beta Tester

[namnibor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnV3xD4JvdI
These are VCO's by the way, not DCO's...been a long wait but the sound speaks for itself:D
Published on Sep 12, 2013
This is the new star of analog monophonic synthesizers...the brandnew WALDORF PULSE 2.
An amazing sounding mashine with tons of good features. More than 16 modulationslots are available, 3 real analog oscillators for a rich sound, an analog multimodefilter and a very easy userinterface and 500! presets. It allows you to syncronize an older synthesizer like the Roland SH 101 or older Moog Synthesizer with its built in CV/Gate Interface via Midi. Very nice feature. And you can play with paraphonic modes up to eight voice chords.
The Waldorf Pulse is built like a tank, it´s Made in Germany.
Enough words now...just listen to the raw sound without any effects on it. Have fun and if you like it...buy one.

[oscillator]

Hi, i was looking for some Pulse 2 videos but -ouch- it tells me the video is private. What can i do to see it? Do you know another link?
Thanks

[namnibor]

Hi, i was looking for some Pulse 2 videos but -ouch- it tells me the video is private. What can i do to see it? Do you know another link?
Thanks

Yeah, noticed this by reading on another forum yesterday as it seems the Beta-Tester was not supposed to post that before official Waldorf Demos, *BUT* here's an audio link to the "best of" sounds only from that very You Tube video that someone was able to salvage:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/362740d1379076532-waldorf-pulse-2-take-first-look-pulse-two-waldorf-best-first-soundcheck.mp3

Enjoy!

[oscillator]

great, thanks!

[namnibor]

great, thanks!


FYI--the very last couple minutes is showing the multimode filter's characteristics ...you probably got that but just in case, since the video had caption to which was going on at any given time. Sweet sounds and am really glad I resisted the MS20 and Bass Station 2. The Pulse 2, like the Classic Pulse+ has connectivity via cv/gate/midi and by end of year in "Waldorf Time", a keyboard version is definitely coming out and no rumor, as this came directly from Stefan Stenzel (sp?), one of the main Waldorfians.
Oh, these three Oscillators are NOT DCO's, they are indeed VCO's.:cool:

[TweakHead]

It's about time this shows up!

I honestly can't say much as of now, based solely on this sound demo! Just that it's really cool to see a multi-mode analogue filter! A keyboard version of it would be cool, specially if they used the extra space for a proper interface with more knobs on it. Sort like the difference from the desktop Evolver to the MEK kind of thing! Otherwise the rack version would be fine as it's very cool looking (like the color scheme much more then Blofeld!) as there's a limit to the number of keyboards one needs requiring all the extra space and all.

Overall, I think the MS-20 still offers something that's very unique with the patching system! Even for external processing that you don't get on others! Bass Station sounds very cool to me and honestly like it's SH-101ish interface much more then the Pulse 2's one! Never tried it's keys though, so you never know eheh!

[namnibor]

I guess like anything, one either 'clicks' with the matrix programming or doesn't. Historically, Waldorf *first* used their matrix programming schema on the very first Pulse from mid to late 90's.
The reason I actually found it intuitive upon receiving my Blofeld Keyboard Black Shadow Edition, is on certain military equipment that dealt with coded communications in particular in 'Cold War Days', it was actually very much like that grid and coming from Germany, literally built like a military spec'd synth, found it amusing, intuitive, but yes--the Blofeld would literally be a monster synth moreso if it had say, 38 more encoders!:D
Yes, the MS20 definitely has tons of advantages with it's patch bay and as far as Bass Station 2 goes...call me odd, but I really got "oversaturated' musically, in hearing that SH101 acid bass sound in 90's and quite possibly that sound had contribution to my not-so-much liking the 'dance scene', going full compass to the dark side--Goth, in that era.
But now call me a hypocrite, as I can listen these days from the brand new Nine Inch Nails to new Lady GaGa's "Applause"....and *anything but crap rap between*....I digress...
So on the Bass Station 2, I like just the *new filter* and especially after spending a lot of time now with the Waldorf Q and her wonderful multi-mode filters that can be parallel/series, etcetera, and highly configurable in mod matrix, I am confounded WHY multimode filters are not used more often in hardware and for that matter, 8 stage envelopes that are loop able even within themselves at different stages...I still think the Q, Virus, and Evolver have set the bar high for hardware synths and reason interested on what Access has on their slabs in the lab in their castle in Germany!

OT: The original Pulse still kicks some serious a@@ and having the Pulse+, with the multiple cv/gate ins/outs, and external audio processing to filter...just as the new Pulse 2 is to have....makes it just as viable option as MS20. (have read on more than one occasion build quality issues with new MS20):shock:

[TweakHead]

OT: The original Pulse still kicks some serious a@@ and having the Pulse+, with the multiple cv/gate ins/outs, and external audio processing to filter...just as the new Pulse 2 is to have....makes it just as viable option as MS20. (have read on more than one occasion build quality issues with new MS20):shock:

yeah, I think it's probably even a much more capable (and modern) synthesizer! I just think the MS-20 can be used for processing external audio as much as for the synthesizer itself and it's signature sounds - those it's famous for - with the resonance turned into screaming territory is unique. Pretty much like the SH-101 was famous for those acid arps you talk about, along with the infamous TB, but the filter on it sounds very warm and juicy also with big amounts of resonance to put it asside just for the soudns it's most famous for. Like the Roland's JP's that are also known for their supersaw leads, used to oblivion in cheap Euro Trance tracks and never failed to make it sound like some Carnival Fair or some kind, but it's also capable of very surprising sounds and with the uniqueness of Roland sound - that I always find has some sort of round contour to it (even the oscillators with filter fully open). Like said on other recent thread: if you want to blame fatigue for most obvious sounds on the Dance Scene on some brand, you have to pick Roland: we've all heard the TR drum sounds about a milion times - and still plenty of emulations or sample packs and this and that on that topic; same thing with the TB, the SH range (most specially 101) - and new software synthesizers with the latest DSP technology for recreating analogue filters (zero feedback delay filter that is) like the Lush 101 (actually a polly/multi synth with 4 101s and mixable incorporated fx, I think with sends to!), Tal Audio's Bassline 101; the JP (blabla, there's a good emulator Timo mentioned once for iOS - be sure to check it out on you new gift ;)), so forth and so on... After Roland and Yamaha's big hit on FM synthesis with DX7, you can probably ear ad nauseum the Virus and Nord Lead pretty much everywhere.

The music scene and the synthesizer developers mindset oscillates (cute word) between nostalgia for the past, imitating the classic synthesizers of the past for a vast public of synthesis enthusiasts born in the computer age that somehow got interested in the history of this machines and eager to get their hands on some old circuitry with its exquisite sound (myself included!); and a venture towards new territory, taking advantage of the new technology (mostly digital these days) for new approaches to sound synthesis - and there I'd probably put the finger on Native Instruments and some other companies, and Waldorf to! Waldorf, long before Massive made wavetable synthesis very popular among aspiring producers (possibly inspired by Skrillex-like music), was putting synthesizers on the market with this very peculiar type of synthesis, along with wave shaping, so forth and so on and (I think, not exactly sure here) popularized the comb filter on hardware machines capable of that very odd and grittier wall of sound with a metalic ear piercing attitude to it - that I immediately associate with the brand!

Not so familiarized with the Pulse, have listened to some sound demos online and think it sounds like a powerful analogue mono synthesizer, not so different to Novation's Bass Station to my ears, to be honest, capable of that acid bass sound and anything in between, but not with the silky sound of a Moog, much more edgier (again, like Rolandish sounds). This new one comes packed with features and modulation options that are rare to see on a true analogue and is probably going to make it into my "wish list". Multi-mode filters are also something I value a lot in analogue synthesizers, and is something that can (and has) make me choose one instead of another. I don't have enough gear here to go with a 1k synthesizer just for loving it's sound character or the raw sound of it's oscillators, I need modulation options, routing choices (if and when possible), sequencer and/or arp doesn't hurt either or, at least, cv and (!!) midi connections on the back to allow for rather cool communication between devices!

Last but not least, heard the Minitaur can recycle it's waveform on each note you press - like the "phaseinit" function on the Virus. So the Pulse2 is actually one of the few that meets my criteria. Also heard rumors of this bad quality build on the MS 20 (what a shame...) with fidly knobs, so not really excited about the majority of the analogue returns hype thing and still find the older models more attractive imo. :twisted:

the make noise dpo, on the other hand... :rolleyes:

[TweakHead]

SPAM:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

what do you mean?

anyways, heard the Pulse 2 is due to arrive next month and that the manual's being written right now.

also, read this will be a para-poly synthesizer. not exactly sure what that means, to be honest, but my guess is that some voices can share the same filter and envelope, instead of using dedicated ones per voice.

was honestly thinking this was just another mono analogue synthesizer, so that's why I ranted so much about other offerings, both classic and new ones... :-)

think it would be amazing to see them go hybrid now that they've put two very interesting instruments on the market, something like the Evolver, with the wave tables you see on the Blofeld and the analogue oscillators and filters PLUS an interface with knobs instead of encoders and tons more of them with a nice keyboard to go with it!

[namnibor]

It has since been deleted, but there **was** rather lengthy spam post that appeared not only here but in several other subject/threads by same new user.

Just wanted to be clear, was not projected towards you, Tweakhead, at all!

The user manual is already available for pulse 2 on Waldorf's website as well as more sample sounds.

[TweakHead]

It has since been deleted, but there **was** rather lengthy spam post that appeared not only here but in several other subject/threads by same new user.

Just wanted to be clear, was not projected towards you, Tweakhead, at all!

The user manual is already available for pulse 2 on Waldorf's website as well as more sample sounds.

will take a look at it! I'm willing to bet, judging by the looks of it, it's got the same type of encoders that went with the Blofeld - not exactly my cup of tea - so really expecting to see if they're going to make something different, this time, with the keyboard version. an extended interface with more knobs, sort like the Virus and Nord Lead, which have in common very instant access to most common parameters (granted the Virus still has a lot of menu diving, not so much with the Nord, but you feel like you're using analogue gear with both). No better example then Evolver vs Mono Evolver Keyboard. With the kind of features included, if they release this extended model with more knobs on it, it may become one of the most interesting monsters of current times!

Rob, don't worry about it! Thought you had posted in the wrong thread, never thought that would be on me :twisted:

hope everything goes well for Waldorf, would really like to see them make the kind of synthesizers they did in the 90's, this new team. the color scheme on this one reminds me of those times, I particularly enjoy it. also liked the special black edition of the Blofeld more so then the standard one (same thing with the Virus Polar and Snow, I may have a thing for dark instruments :-)). wouldn't mind to get a yellow or orange hybrid from them in the future. strangely enough, I think their wave tables are still very unique and sound much better then Massive and very different from those on the Virus ti (based on Largo and Blofeld, never got to play with the older ones, even though the Blofeld has a lot of wave shapes from them included), and also really enjoy the kind of modulation options you usually have with them: lfos going into audio rate speed is awsome, being able to use them for FM is also very cool. lfo>osc pitch, envelope>lfo rate with huge amount and also controlling filter cuttoff, then first highpass filter into a comb filter modulated with another lfo and we're talking Waldorf signature sound here, total metalic sharp wierdness eheh (I mean it the good way!)

^^
don't know if this kind of sound I associate with Waldorf is still true with their analogue machines.

[namnibor]

Well, the original Pulse was their really *only* pure analog machine. The Wave, and Microwave I, both had analog filters to compliment the digital wavetable synthesis. They also had made something that was truly too ahead of it's time that some people on Waldorfian List have often alluded it was what financially broke their back called the AFB, which was like a 4 space rack unit for computer with USB with 16 analog low pass filters, intended to be used with early VST's. Shortly before bankruptcy, they produced a higher tier Q Keyboard only, called the Q+ which simply incorporated that 16 analog filter bank within the exact sound engine of Q Synth, but made it prohibitively expensive and now if you can find the "Ruby Red Q+", it commands easily closer to $4000. USD.
They also produced around same time as the all analog Pulse and Pulse+, a couple standalone analog filter banks, one of which I own called the Mini Works 4-Pole, which has basically everything the Pulse has except the 3 oscillators, having envelopes, LFO's in audio range, and full midi specs with mono input, gate/trigger input of any source with stereo outputs--of which, I have run my Microwave XT through it to add extra warmth because it's essentially same filter type used in Microwave I. Then lastly, the X-Filter, which was dual channel analog filter bank with stereo input and output.
Given the above, Waldorf Analog mono synth does have signature sound--not Moog and not DSI, but can be very warm and nice resonance and very quick envelopes or long with a very easily overdriven filter and can be aggressive as you wish.
I am with you as far as wishing to have a more knobby keyboard version and I happen to like endless encoders but that's very subjective. Also, from newer sound examples posted other day by one of the Sound Programmers on Elektronauts Forum, make me really love the unique analog High Pass Filter on Pulse 2 as well: https://soundcloud.com/gryke


And here, a demo song made with Pulse 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HIUkU4UbJc&feature=youtu.be

[TweakHead]

That's one hell of a post Rob!

I knew all about their synthesizers, as any enthusiast would! But was surprised to see they went the extra mile with the standalone filter designs. Wonder why some of this products didn't made it into Vintage Synth! Anyways, being a company much ahead of its time they've also embraced software instruments early on.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/dpole.php

This is one of those gems that not everyone knows and most people don't take seriously enough, but by running white noise into it I make some leads and sounds I can't reproduce anywhere else...

This is part of their "legacy collection" (think that's the name) that easily gets dismissed because this plug-ins look rather old and not much appealing to the eyes, but they sound (still today) absolutely amazing - if you take the time to explore them!

So I wasn't surprised to see them presenting Largo! Know when people say Access can't possibly make a plug-in based on the Virus code? That's exactly what Waldorf has done with Largo! Sounds amazing (not that I think could replace a Blofeld) and can compliment any synthesizer setup with the convenience of having THAT sound integrated with the host software. I saw this as a sign that the new Waldorf is true to its history in that it seems like they want to present the public with the products they'd want for themselves, even when it means serious risk taking! And indeed, Waldorf Largo shares the same filters and many stuff from Blofeld! Doesn't seem like it's hurt their sales much though.

[namnibor]

That "D-Pole Filter Plug-in" is actually the VST version of my Waldorf Mini-Works 4-Pole standalone filter. (The 'D' being 4th letter in alphabet and think there's even some yet "James Bond" association to the name, like all else Waldorf).
So now that am thinking about it, Waldorf's AFB (Analog Filter Bank) rack of 16 hardware analog low pass filters with USB, intended on used "integrated" into DAW and VST software **could** be viewed as 'one of the first' to implement hardware integration as it makes sense now that when they went bankrupt, straight away went over to Access Music to help with development.

In any case, looking forward to which direction that Access is going to go next and would love to see a hybrid or all-out new Virus with analog oscillators, filters, et al, with a long ribbon controller and 69 knobs:D

Will be visiting my parents and brother around Thanksgiving/November, and Sweetwater is only another 1 1/2 hours North of them in my 'home State', so plan on taking a Pulse 2 for a test drive in their rather cool studios there at Sweetwater and will report back thereafter.

Waldorf Nave App is so freaking awesome, it makes me wonder if it will remain on iOS or if a WIN/MAC VST version be made?

[TweakHead]

Waldorf Nave App is so freaking awesome, it makes me wonder if it will remain on iOS or if a WIN/MAC VST version be made?

certainly hope so! maybe it will happen, this being Waldorf here!

but I see that some manufacturers didn't miss the opportunity to jump at the iOS market without translating those efforts to the plug-in market afterwards: the Animoog is another really interesting product by Moog that would presumably sell a lot if it was made a plug-in, but never made it into that market.

my guess is that they're using this as a chance to promote their other products and to test some ideas. funny thing is: you don't usually see Moog developing software instruments like they did here, and many times I thought that these products are more daring and cool and future-oriented then those presented for pro audio applications!

But it's interesting to see Waldorf reaching out for that market as well and producing one of the most exciting pieces of software for the iOS indeed. Makes me wonder what Access could possibly be doing in secret on their labs... :rolleyes:

http://www.waldorf-music.info/en/lector-overview.html

it's funny how this sort of plug-in gets easily overlooked and presents a good chance to take sound design to new realms and, indeed, produce unique sounds! just saying! this kind of thing doesn't come buy to often on the digital realm!

[namnibor]

So true! I am treating Nave as I would any of my hardware synths by using the Behringer iStudio iS202 Dock, running it's audio output into my audio interface...and the kicker is...you might as well say LECTOR **is part of NAVE** because they have made a rather unique 25 band formant filter and wavetable that lets you: 1) Type-in *any* text and have it turned into advanced wavetables AND SPEECH which can be totally manipulated/mangled, and 2)you can import *any audio/and or file* and create customized wavetables via new spectra wavetable synthesis!!
I like the tactile interface of the iPad but also connect the QuNexus to the iStudio to play even more dynamically...but kicker is, you can DO BOTH and it really opens-up expressiveness and apparently Waldorf's engineers teamed-up with the engineer whom made the "NLog App" or similar name.
I am realistically good on hardware synths and if NAVE App as well as something like the GNome Sequencer App is only thing I use the iPad for, am quite happy...but there's even an editor now available for iOS to program my Microwave XT deeper than 37+ knobs can....these are indeed interesting times because you are even *just starting* to see some of these instrument Apps be ported to Android now, so it's not 'some fad'.

If Access were to come out even with a new hardware synth that had a fully developed App or hell, even made so a tablet can slide into "the landing strip of empty space" for more in-depth editing on top of tons of knobs????:idea:

What I am really impressed with is Waldorf had yet another iOS update for Nave yesterday...the second one since iOS 7 was released in a week!
I also got a mailing on Waldorfian List yesterday of an iOS editor template for the new Pulse 2.
Access should surely be working on *something* that's going to blow everyone's minds with the evolution of musician interfaces, Touch OSC, the Analog Spring, and the DSI Prophet 12 is being sought after as some studio's new 'flagship synth'...would love to know what's on their slab deep down in their lab...and no, that's not rap!:p

[namnibor]

Here's a short but cool demo song done with Pulse 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HIUkU4UbJc