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Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer

$476.62 Price Tier: Budget

4.5 (29)

7 Reviews

Newer option

Waldorf Pulse 2 Synthesizer

$299.00 - $450.00

4.5 (28)

Find out who is using Waldorf Pulse

3 community setups

8 wishlisted

49 saved

Page last updated Jul 01, 2026

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5.0 (3)

$476.62 6 available Used

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Average Price: $477

Budget/Beginner

$500

$1501+

Price Tier

In the Synthesizers category, Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

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Description

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Unleash the power of sound with the Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer, a modern classic in the world of analog synthesis. Crafted for musicians who crave a rich, immersive tone, this synthesizer delivers an authentic analog experience with a touch of contemporary flair. It features three powerful oscillators, each capable of generating a wide array of waveshapes, allowing you to sculpt your sound with precision. The Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer's versatile design is ideal for both studio environments and live performances, providing musicians with a robust tool to explore and express their creativity.

With its intuitive interface, the Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer is user-friendly for both beginners and seasoned professionals. The synth offers a variety of modulation options, including a flexible LFO and an ADSR envelope with adjustable parameters. These features enable dynamic control over your sound, making it suitable for a wide range of musical styles, from classic electronic to cutting-edge experimental genres. Its MIDI connectivity ensures seamless integration with other equipment, expanding your creative possibilities.

The Waldorf Pulse stands out not only for its sound but also for its reliability and build quality. Whether you're crafting ambient soundscapes or driving bass lines, this synthesizer is designed to meet the demands of today's musicians, offering a fusion of vintage charm and modern innovation.

Key Features:

Three analog oscillators with various waveshapes
Intuitive interface with easy-to-navigate controls
Flexible LFO and ADSR envelope for dynamic modulation
MIDI connectivity for integration with other gear
Suitable for studio and live performance settings

Product specs

Brand	Waldorf
Model	Pulse Rackmount Synthesizer
Year	1995
Categories	Analog Synths, Rackmount Synths
Analog / Digital	Analog
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Polyphony	1 Voice

FAQs

Is the Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer monophonic or polyphonic?: The Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer is monophonic, meaning it can play one note at a time, which is ideal for bass lines and lead sounds.
What type of synthesis does the Waldorf Pulse use?: The Waldorf Pulse uses analog synthesis, providing warm and rich sound textures typical of analog gear.
Does the Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer support MIDI connectivity?: Yes, the Waldorf Pulse features MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and MIDI Through, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with other MIDI-compatible equipment.
What are the standout features of the Waldorf Pulse's sound engine?: The Waldorf Pulse offers three oscillators and a classic analog filter, allowing for powerful and versatile sound shaping capabilities.
Is the Waldorf Pulse suitable for live performances?: Yes, the Waldorf Pulse's rackmount design and robust MIDI connectivity make it a practical choice for live performance setups.

Videos

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musictrackjp

Waldorf PULSE Demo&Review [English Captions]

musictrackjp

Waldorf Pulse Overview With Ross Kelly

gearwire

WALDORF PULSE 1 quick demo

Rob World

Reviews

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PROS

Phat Analog Bass provides unique sound quality
Modulation flexibility likened to a modular synthesizer
Features a great filter for diverse sound sculpting
Fast envelopes support solid basses
Sound ranges from screaming to emotionally deep
Good for basslines with impactful presence
Arp and portamento features for creative expression

CONS

Sparse controls limit immediate accessibility
Interface complexity hinders full utilization of features
Difficult to program due to limited knob functionality
Hard to understand patches, affecting user experience
Not a precise Minimoog clone as expected by some

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Waldorf Pulse Synthesizer.

Comparisons

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When paired with an external filter like the Korg Monotron, the Pulse 1's sound is notably smoother compared to its native filter.
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Unlike Nord Lead's smooth and balanced filters, the Pulse 2's filter is reported to lose gain quickly with resonance, making it peaky and inconsistent.
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The Pulse 2's filter is described as moogier and beefier compared to the more subdued filter of the Evolver, favoring deep, subby bass over evolving textures.
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While the Pulse 2 has more features, it can replicate the Pulse 1's sound when fed its patches, highlighting their tonal similarities.
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The Pulse 2 is noted for its analog sound character, contrasting with the Blofeld's digital versatility, which includes multiple voices and wavetables.
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Features and functionality

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The Pulse 2 employs divide-down circuitry for its 8-note paraphony using only 3 oscillators, similar to old 70s string machines.
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The Pulse 2's MIDI implementation with 128 steps can cause filter stepping, particularly noticeable at high resonance settings.
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The Pulse 2's knobs adjust their response speed based on how quickly they are turned, facilitating more precise editing in performance mode.
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The Pulse 2 features a modulation matrix with 8 slots, offering 24 sources and 26 targets, which is unique for its price range.
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The Pulse 1 suffers from filter stepping, leading to a quantized, sparkly sound during manual sweeps, which some users find undesirable.
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The Pulse 1 has 99 memory slots, with only 40 user-editable, making it less suited for those seeking extensive presets.
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Use cases and applications

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Users frequently use the Pulse 2 for its ability to create varied square waves, intermodulation, and PWM, appreciating its stability layered with organic analog tones.
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Known for its ability to produce unique ring modulation effects, the Pulse 1 is favored for creating strange sound effects in creative projects.
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Known for its thick, screamy analog tones, the Pulse 2 is best suited for those seeking rich, modulated sound textures rather than digital pads or wavetables.
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User experience

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Despite a convoluted matrix interface, programming the Pulse 1 is found to be pleasing due to its unique, fat, and dirty sound character.
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Owners appreciate the "Random" sound feature for generating creative ideas, though the screen lacks detailed parameter value visibility unless actively adjusted.
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Software and compatibility

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The Blofeld’s sound capabilities are available in software form as Largo and Nave, whereas the Pulse 2's analog sound isn't replicated in software.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 7 Reviews and 29 Ratings

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reanimator

116

over 10 years ago

very flexible modulation

This is so flexible in terms of modulation. Poor man's modular synthesizer. Shame that the interface makes it so hard to take advantage of that which is why I sold this to buy a Dreadbox Erebus instead.

okyeron

over 4 years ago

Top analog monosynth

Phat Analog Bass! What more needs be said.

Controls are somewhat sparse, but editors are available. The magic is in the mod-matrix.

Roles:

DJ Audio Engineer

Genres:

Electronic

michael_pohl

almost 11 years ago

Actually a Minimoog clone...

The Pulse is actually meant to be a Minimoog clone with extended features. In fact it has too few in common with the Minimoog to be that. On the other hand it's a great synth with a great filter and a fair amount of features. It isn't too percussive although the envelopes are fast enough to support solid basses. All in all it could make a good Roland with CC control and some memory. Its sound is between screaming , supersoft and emotionally deep, far away from being precise or super vintage while the filter is amazingly singing at high resonance.

modernsoulrec

over 10 years ago

Awful to use. Sounds good though

The 1 knob per million functions makes it a pain to program, impossible to understand the patches, and something which put me off outboard synths for 10 years. Sounds good though