It just looks wayyyyyy too effing big.
1 Like
Yeah I like it for the same reason, itās like a piece of lab equipment, utilitarian, simple, like something from an aeroplane or a battleship.
2 Likes
Bugsā¦ The designer squashed them over breakfastā¦
Updates have been steady and often including amazing featuresā¦ If someone reports a a new bug after an update a fixed is provided shortly afterā¦
As far so the unit being confusing or it taking a long time to gaspā¦ I would say it depends on the user and his/herās synth experience and know how, as from what I can tell itās a very simple UI once you get used to the terminology and structureā¦
Itās more about do you know how to use these tools/features rather than the know how to operationā¦
If you are coming from eurorack itās going to be āblissfulā if your coming from a volca itās going to be full of āā why is it doing that moments "
3 Likes
i honestly think this device is beautiful. ive secretly wanted one for a long time, but Iāve come to realize that it would probably just stop me from making music as i would have to spend all my free time learning it.
7 Likes
Iām in the same boat. As much as I love all these crazy complex devices that are being released nowadays, itās important for me to stay focused on one or two machines if I want to achieve anything. With all the incredible machines available these days, I feel overwhelmed by a āfeature overloadā, you might say.
A lot of the fun to have with electronic gear comes from exploring all the features, and try to get something interesting from them. But from a production point of view, it can be detrimental. The time you spend exploring doesnāt necessarily translate into actual music making (although it can sometimes).
This being said, the Polypulse seems to offer a very compeling production approach. For me it would make sense to buy one only if I chose to get rid of everything else and concentrate all my efforts on this one. As it looks like a pretty self-contained device, I guess I wouldnāt need more to make full tracks.
good point, but yeah, thatās pretty darn ugly too ā¦
But at least it doesnāt look like an electronic cash register or the control section of an industrial CNC machine
1 Like
Well you are entitled to your opinion of what constitutes ugly, itās certainly basic looking. There are much uglier synths out there.
2 Likes
For me itās not so much a question of ugly or beautiful, when it comes to musical instruments, Iām more interested in what they can bring to my music. And it definitely seems that this thing packs a lot of good ideas.
I guess they might have brought in a designer for a more polished look, after all they apparently took great care in the design and style of their website.
What I am not sure about is usability, after having spent a bit of time with the videos and manual I think there might be quite a few quirks and oddities.
I could live with the master volume on the back of the unit (although I think that when traveling this is a disaster waiting to happen), but what absolutely makes this thing impractical for me is the tiny and cramped display. Iām afraid that would get in the way of picking up fast how things work, and what each knob does in a give mode.
I also feel itās less than ideal that the mixer is limited to a single send effect, and the controls are spread out over the full width of the device, and that there are some sockets in between the 10 controls that I would probably touch the most.
That being said, the features and sound are awesome, and I wish I could go somewhere and spend a couple of hours with it to see what itās like.
For what itās worth, at least in Germany the Polypulse is 10% off at Thomann, and there is B-Stock available for 1650.-
2 Likes
I relate to this big time. Iāve been fascinated by this thing since it first debuted, would love to dive all the way in and learn the workflow, the quirks, see what I can do with it. But it just feels like a very demanding project to do so, not sure I have that in me right now.
But Iām excited to see anything that anybody else does with it.
2 Likes
Iām so tempted to get thisāI just sold a ton of gear and love the sound and look of this thing. I also have very little free time to learn a brand new instrumentā¦
As always, I should lean into the stuff I already have. But holy moly does the PolyPulse sound great. And I love the aesthetic, I want to have a Sputnik themed groovebox.
2 Likes
Just going to pick up the pom poms again and echo what I said beforeā¦
From my understanding the unit seams very simple, the UI is straightforward and surfacedā¦
##Sequencer
1:1 knobs per function (on the left side)
You push an encoder (over set function to patch in modualtion/pop up window
Thatās it
ā¦ You now know most sequence related edits
(sans tracks options: cueās/ patterns/ motion)
Itās the same on the right side
##Synth
The 16 encoders edit the synth engines they only have 1 page for its core synthesis and then another for all the envelopes adsr x 4 (or depending on engineā¦
Again You push an encoder to patch in modulationā¦
Thatās itā¦ You now know how to edit the synthā¦
Modes (popups) that relate to the 24 keyboard keys are set around the keypad These can be patterns, pad motions, cueās, samples, etcā¦
Itās very surfaced: the ratio is not exactly 1:1 knob/button per function but it seams close to it, like 1 : 1.5
Although take that with some grains of salt as I am not a user, setting up pitch tables and recording & chopping samples may be more fiddly than basic operations
I donāt see where complexity strives from?? many knobs? Itās big? It looks like it can enriches uranium?
The sonic possibilities which hold modular ethos and thus can do complex far out sounds is the only complexity hereā¦
Now how you veiw or use these options is a matter of oneās artā¦ One manās endless experiment without musical applicability may be another manās way to hack the sonic matrix.
I said this before and Iāll repeat it here, itās rare to see instruments come along that can invent new genders but the may be the forte of the Polypulseā¦
The send is to the track FX chain (up to 4 FX) a FX block may also be a send to another FX chain if I understand it correctly (like a octa through machine)ā¦ And the LCD is xtreamly informativeā¦even shows animation of pad motionā¦
6 Likes
Tax refund hit today, picking up the PolyPulse from Perfect Circuit in a few hours. Let the games begin!
7 Likes
I had an hour last night to start wrapping my head around this command station. I will need a lot more time to get a grasp on the sequencer and honestly everything (itās not intuitive to me, def need to have the manual at the ready).
That said, what I was able to sequence sounds so good. Not my sequencing itself, but the pure sound of the machine. I havenāt used any samples yet, but the synth engines just sound delish. Eager to keep learning, this is a keeper, and truly unlike any other piece of gear I own.
5 Likes
Iām eating up all the reactions/commentary about PolyPulse so please feel free to keep sharing your notes here as you keep learning and exploring it. Congrats on getting your hands on one!
2 Likes
I too have been devouring content on the PolyPulse. Iāll definitely share my progress here!
4 Likes
Iām also enjoying the commentary. Hope you continue to enjoy exploring!
1 Like
This is pretty much my exact experience with my new PolyPulse too. Itās awesome but a lot to learn.
3 Likes
Do you know how to create a new sample list?
1 Like
Not yet! I have been focused on the seq, note lists and synth algos at this point
2 Likes