Reply To: The new PULSAR-23 Bass Drum module

Sorry about that mess. Trying again:

The setting in question doesn’t alter the fundamental character of the Bass Drum (BD) sound. Instead, it affects the consistency of the BD, but only under specific conditions:

Very fast Attack (ATT)
Relatively short Release (REL)
High Velocity

Classic Mode vs. New Mode

Classic Mode
In this mode, one kick in a pattern may sound different from another because the oscillator is free-running. When the kick is triggered, the oscillator might be in a different phase, potentially resulting in:

A more blurred transient
A duller kick sound
or other differences in character from the previous kick

New Mode

In this mode, the oscillator resets for each trigger, ensuring consistency from kick to kick.

Making Your Choice

The decision comes down to a simple question: Do you prefer each bass drum hit to sound identical (new mode), or do you enjoy the slight variations that occur in the classic mode?

Advantages of New Mode

Consistency: Every hit sounds the same, which can be ideal for precise, punchy beats. This is often preferred in genres like Techno.

Advantages of Classic Mode

Subtle Variations: The slight differences between hits can add a more “organic” feel to your rhythm.
Potential for Happy Accidents: The phase differences might occasionally produce interesting textures or grooves you didn’t anticipate.

Listen for yourself

Even with the new mode enabled, you’ll get classic mode behavior under certain conditions:

Slow attacks
Longer releases
Lower velocities