Questions from a possible future Pulsar user

Gnabgib · Post by **Gnabgib** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 8:54 am

First of all, i have to excuse me for my bad english skills. Anyway, heres the questions.

1. Does the effects sound good? Epinions? Can you achive strange effects with the
effects that come with the card?

2. Can the effect controls be automated like rate and feedback? If they can, how
do you do it?

3. Can the synth parameteres be automated? And how? By CC#`s ?

4. Can the rates of the phaser/flanger go from very slow to extremley fast?
(i mean really extrem!!!

5. Would this be possible to run at the same time on the Pulsar 2 card?

5 synths, 4 of them only using one voice (for mono leads, basses)
and one of them using like 2-3 in polyphony (pads)
each one with one inivudal insert effect and also a global delay effect that affects
every synth? (In other words, 5 insert effects and 1 send effect)

6. Is it possible to change saved patches on the Pulsar synths via a sequenser?
(Like midi programchange?)

7. Does synths constantly use dsp power even if your not using them for the moment?
Like, can you have 15 synths loaded at the same time with different patches(sounds)
but only having 3-4 to play at a time without any problems?

I plan to use Pulsar 2 with Cubase VST 5.0 (using some vst`s in the cubase at the same
time) with a Oxygen 8 midi keyboard. My computer is a:

AMD Athlon XP1800+
256 Mb DDR Ram
Asus A7V333 Motherboard
Asus Tnt2-Ultra
Seagate Barracuda 60 gb 7200rpm

To buy the pulsar 2 card i have to sell my virus and mixer so
it better be a damn good all-in-one solution. The question is if the dsp
will be enough for me. I create drum n bass, goa, psytrance and ambient.

Leo - Sweden

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 9:03 am

Welcome to the best Creamware forum you can find!

I believe that if you use the search on the top right of the page, you should be able to find answers to all of your questions. pulsar does take a lot of reading and studying but don't let that stop you.

You won't be sorry!

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 9:18 am

1) I like the effects (ProPack) and they can definitely do *strange*. But that's just my opinion.
2 & 3) I go 95% straight to audio so can't answer about automation...

4) Yes
5) Hmmm, maybe. Depends on the devices, using simple synths yes, using the top quality synths definitely no.
6) Yes
7) Yes, so your 15 synth idea won't work. But some synths can drop their DSP load if certain functions aren't used, in that way it's possible to have heavy and light patches.

There's many good devices on Pulsar for what you're doing, but I think a single Pulsar is hard pressed to provide 100% synth power, drums and effects for a song without dropping some to audio - the DSPs run out fast - of course it depends on how complex/polyphonic your pieces are...

Other opinions ?

borg · Post by **borg** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 10:25 am

there's enough for pulsar to do really weird stuff, especially 3rd party stuff (lots of free killer devices!!!). i have a pulsar II for about a year now, and it's practically the only thing i use (ok, i must admit: it's all i have, apart from cubase). and yes, i definitely need more DSP! somehow i manage to keep it all within limits, but that's only because i know i can't get too freaky with 6 sharcs.
i must say that some VST plug in fx are way cooler and intuitive than pulsar stuff, but it's about quality, and not much of the things i do in cubase are really essential.
i found this platform to fit my needs, and can't wait to expand it.
sorry, didn't want to make it sound like an add

oh, and yes, pulsar can be automated, not every knob or function you come across, but probably more than you need.

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 10:44 am

Without effects, you can aim for some sort of a simple drum machine, 2 mid load synths, and maybe 2 light load synths. With some synths going polyphonic. So it's not impossible to do a performance in one shot.. but you are very limited without effects. Usually, you'd bounce synths lines to audio, and then apply effects during the post process. (just so you get the general flow of things)

On a Pulsar II that is.

[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2002-04-26 11:45 ]

King of Snake · Post by **King of Snake** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 5:18 am

About your question nr. 7: Yes you actually can remove the synths from DSP by setting the amount of voices to zero. You can still have the synth in your project but it won't use any power.
(at least I think this is so, someone tell me if I'm wrong..)

King of Snake · Post by **King of Snake** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 5:23 am

btw if the Virus is your only soudsource at the moment, I wouldn't trade it in for the Pulsar as using a Pulsar as you only source will get you into trouble regarding polyphony/multitimbrality. As said you can of course bounce your synths to audio and free up DSP but if you're like me and like to keep all your options open all the time, this method is hardly ideal. So I would stronlgy advice to have at least one other synth besides the Pulsar, so either keep the Virus and sell your parents instead, or get some cheaper synth to go along with the Pulsar. (or maybe a good VSTi?)

borg · Post by **borg** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 5:38 am

On 2002-04-27 06:23, King of Snake wrote:
btw if the Virus is your only soudsource at the moment, I wouldn't trade it in for the Pulsar as using a Pulsar as you only source will get you into trouble regarding polyphony/multitimbrality.

definitely!!! i'm very happy having not sold my hardware synth. instead i ditched a drum machine and some guitar pedals, and did some extra hours at work...

about the DSP trick the King gave us for question #7: there's only one way to find out... too bad i'm not on my DAW at the moment.

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 5:53 am

GnabGib, what is it exactly that you need ? You've asked some specific questions, but it'll also help if you described the way you want to work... For example, you talk about selling the Virus - so there must be some functions or features then you're craving (unless you just don't like the Virus) that you don't have now.

King of Snake: Great idea - and it works! I tried it Celmo's Supreme and it definitely dropped its DSP load.

[ This Message was edited by: Spirit on 2002-04-27 07:04 ]

Gnabgib · Post by **Gnabgib** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 6:53 am

Hi again and thanks for all the replys!

On 2002-04-27 06:53, Spirit wrote:
GnabGib, what is it exactly that you need ? You've asked some specific questions, but it'll also help if you described the way you want to work... For example, you talk about selling the Virus - so there must be some functions or features then you're craving (unless you just don't like the Virus) that you don't have now.

Well its mainly because i want to go 100% software. I have started using my VSTi synths so much now and i just really like to work with software. First i did not but now i see the advantages of it. And im very happy about my discovery

On 2002-04-27 06:23, King of Snake wrote:
btw if the Virus is your only soudsource at the moment, I wouldn't trade it in for the Pulsar as using a Pulsar as you only source will get you into trouble regarding polyphony/multitimbrality. As said you can of course bounce your synths to audio and free up DSP but if you're like me and like to keep all your options open all the time, this method is hardly ideal. So I would stronlgy advice to have at least one other synth besides the Pulsar, so either keep the Virus and sell your parents instead, or get some cheaper synth to go along with the Pulsar. (or maybe a good VSTi?)

Yes i have understood that if i want to use the pulsar much i have to go partly audio. I think i can live with this really. Its just that i have to work with one part at a time of a song. When im happy with it i simply record it to audio. I can also apply Cubase Vst fx to the audio files from pulsar wich is good

And i have planned to use Pulsar with my VST`s synths. So they will fill up the gap with the Pulsar 2. I have vst synths that can do basses and leads and you name it.
But from the mp3 demos i heard of the softsynths with pulsar 2 i think it sounds like they are of much higher quality then many VSTi synths. And thats why im probably gonna buy this card, i want to go 100% software but it needs to be sounding almost as good as hardware synths. And its gotta be controllable!

So can anyone answer my question if the synth & effect parameters are controllable from a sequenser? And if, then how?

Btw i wont use Pulsar 2 much for drums. I have N.I. Battery for that.

Gnabgib · Post by **Gnabgib** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 7:19 am

Another question. I read in a review that the Pulsar 2 card has double the amount of dsp power then the pulsar 1 card. Is this true?

I dont get it, beacause the first card has 4 dsP`s and the pulsar2 6, right? How can it be doubled?

caleb · Post by **caleb** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 7:58 am

I just had to break into this conversation to say Thankyou very much for the DSP trick.

I can't believe I'd never thought about doing that - minus 10 points for not thinking laterally.

By the way - keep the Virus - you can use it as a midi controller. Hahahahaha!

Sorry - couldn't help myself.

Seriously though, I'd keep the Virus. You may want to go all software, but many people refer to the Virus as some sort of benchmark by which software synths are measured. VSTi users dream with futility of an Access VSTi that will never happen. The thing is destined to be a classic. I'm only interpreting hype here as I've never used the thing, but I'm sure I'd never give away that synth if I owned it.

I have a set up with Pulsar II and VSTi and I liked it. I have since ordered a Scope to add to the set up which I'm getting in 3 days. Woohoo!

But I managed to do quite well with VSTi and Pulsar II.

Gnabgib · Post by **Gnabgib** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 8:12 am

On 2002-04-27 08:58, caleb wrote:

I just had to break into this conversation to say Thankyou very much for the DSP trick.

I can't believe I'd never thought about doing that - minus 10 points for not thinking laterally.

By the way - keep the Virus - you can use it as a midi controller. Hahahahaha!

Sorry - couldn't help myself.

Seriously though, I'd keep the Virus. You may want to go all software, but many people refer to the Virus as some sort of benchmark by which software synths are measured. VSTi users dream with futility of an Access VSTi that will never happen. The thing is destined to be a classic. I'm only interpreting hype here as I've never used the thing, but I'm sure I'd never give away that synth if I owned it.

I have a set up with Pulsar II and VSTi and I liked it. I have since ordered a Scope to add to the set up which I'm getting in 3 days. Woohoo!

But I managed to do quite well with VSTi and Pulsar II.

Yeah i manage to do well with the VSTi`s only. Suddenly the virus just felt like a pain in the ass to use and i got more and more loved with the VSTi`s. The latest songs i have done has been 100% vsti and cubase. So i felt that i could sell the virus, i woulnt care anyway, only i would get some money to spend. And what could be better then to buy a Pulsar 2 card to use with the vsti`s?

More good sounding software! Yum yum!
And, i also own a Virus sample cd that i can use in softwaresamplers if i would miss the virus

But honestly, im kind of sick of the virus character type of sound.

Im gonna order a Oxygen 8 midi keyboard wich has 8 knobs on it.. So that will be used as a controller to the softsynths.

Gnabgib · Post by **Gnabgib** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 8:14 am

Have i changed your epinion about not selling the virus yet??

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 8:41 am

I played with a Virus for a few weeks on loan from a friend. I loved the sound but it didn't give me a PC inferiority complex, in fact I think the Pulsar synths give it a good contest ! I found also it was a bit counter-intuitive and slow to program - maybe I just needed longer to get acquainted. It is always nice to get your hands on some real hardware knobs again - but with a contoller what's there to miss ?

caleb · Post by **caleb** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 8:47 am

Hehehehehe.

You don't have to change my opinion about not selling the Virus.

As I said, I've never actually used one. I've just seen so many people launch into a frothy frenzy every time the topic comes up so I'm assuming it's the bees knees of synthesisers.

And mistah Spirit - you finding a synth counter-intuitive? I don't believe it!

Surely there were enough parameters there to keep you interested and challenged though.

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 8:57 am

They are all my sweet children