Finally tried to really use nPulse but....

okay... Today was the first time I actually spent more than half an hour farting with the nPulse analog drum synth. I couldn't get it to sound phat if my life depended on it. Limp is the best description. What gives?
Not only is it completely useless to me, but its extremely quiet in comparison to the other synths like Velocity. Now I understand all about Compression and Limiting, but why is this necessary when Velocity does the same thing with basically one click!?
And why are we limited to just one stupid bass drum sample ( I say one, because Subsonics and RoomBoom are essentially useless to me too!)
Someone shed some light or, better yet, upload a p5p file where nPulse is bringin' da house down so I can have a look under the hood!

Greg, the nPulse isn't sample-based; it's an analog synthesizer that's set up to emulate a drum machine. As such, you have to get your hands dirty and program it to taste. The included presets do kinda suck, so get in there and twiddle the knobs a bit. You'll see that each module has different features than the one next to it, and the sounds that you can get from those modules don't necessarily have to reflect the 'drum' name that it carries.

As a drum machine, I think that the value of nPulse often lies in doubling a sample-based plugin with another layer. You can get two complimentary drum sounds from each plugin to trigger on the same input note, and add some depth to the final sound. A while back you were looking to add some 'kick to your kick'. This would be one way to do it, as (for example) you could add a 'low sine' sound to an existing kick sample.

nPulse exposes a lot of parameters to MIDI Remote Control. Try controlling some of the 'Tune' parameters with velocity from your KB, or FM/Ring some of the toms together and modulate one or both of the tunings. You have to treat this more like a synth, and you can get some very unique FX sounds out of it.

I use it mostly for doubling and as an analog synth like I would PSYN, rather than as a go-to plug that carries a percussion line on its own. But then again, I use Velocity for guitars & bass samples and the Trigger Finger for melodic lines, so what do I know? <g>

FWIW, while I agree with B-R that it can be used for layering, I, too, was never impressed with NPulse.

I still like npules...i used to use it in all of my tracks...but now i use drumatic2...it booms alot more. maybe i will dive back into it...I know that you do have to use a compressor on it...but you can get some great sounds out of it....it just takes time to tweak it...

I've tried all manner of tweaking and layering...and I have to put it through a compressor AND a limiter just to get any volume out of this thing. I hate to dis' a P5 component but I'm just not diggin' it for drums. It is soooo limp. No punch at all, it certainly couldn't have helped me achieve a beefer drum kick! I had to add another sample to my kick and build on the harmonics of the sample to trick the ear into hearing more bass than what was really there. But as you say, nPulse can't get more sounds...and so the bass kick is very limited.

I listened to the song that Ben made and while I can appreciate it in some IDM I just can't find a use for it in my material. The plugin sounds like a hip hop kick maker with poor self-esteem!

Sorry but it will always be noPulse to me!

Fair enough concerning the nPulse, DA. I think that you can get some booming kicks from it, but boom + a hard transient? Not from one pad alone. I find it a fun thing to play with, but it's probably an acquired taste.

I'd follow :10:'s recommendation of drumatic 2 (and version 3 is pretty nice too, with some fun envelope twiddling to be had). I've looked at microtonic and it's on the long list of things I'd like to have when the ratio of disposable income to guilty conscience reaches a more acceptable level.

MDK: When I'm back at my DAW I'll package up the .p5p for that snippet. I should have guess that the forum's foremost proponent of
monstruousubergeekyhardcorefunkytrancepolka would have seen something in that peculiar-sounding example.

Edit: MDK: right-click here and 'save as...' a .p5p file. You'll need the blockfish VST compressor - if you don't have it, it's available for free as part of the 'fish fillets' package from www.digitalfishphones.com.

Got it, Love it!!! More!!!
You are now the Grandpa Mojo of nPulse as far as I'm Concerned
Thanx Bob!!!
The File also Has Classic Master Limiter From KJÆRHUS AUDIO for those intrested in downloading the file.

I think the CM-505 from Computer Music\Linplug sounds much better, its free with an issue of CM.

I've said the same thing.

Other than for some of the bass sounds and various oddities, nPulse, IMHO, as a pure drum machine, is and always has been crap. Not to minimize what others have managed to finagle out of it, or anything. You could probably make a VW Beetle go 200 mph, too, if you spent enough time & money on it ... But it'd be easier to start off with a Porsche or Corvette ... that's all I'm saying ... If you wanted to produce some interesting drum-esque sounds, nPulse might have something to offer, but if you actually wanted to replicate genuine drum sounds ... horrible, horrible ... My 2¢.