Plugin interface — screenshot pending
Drum Machine

Impulse

Ableton

Where to get itIncluded with Ableton Live. It is part of that DAW, not a separate download.ableton.com

Impulse is a drum sampler with eight sample slots and complex modulation capabilities. Each sample can be time-stretched, filtered, and processed through envelope, saturation, pan, and volume components—nearly all subject to random and velocity-based modulation. Distinctive features include dual stretch algorithms optimized for different frequency ranges, gate and trigger decay modes for hi-hat replication via slot linking, and individual outputs for isolating samples to separate tracks.

Written from the manual and checked against it. How we check

Key Features

01Eight sample slots with drag-and-drop and hot-swap loading
02Start control with up to 100 ms offset
03Transpose range of ±48 semitones with velocity and random modulation
04Stretch control (-100 to +100%) with Mode A for low sounds and Mode B for high sounds
05Multi-mode filter with frequency and resonance controls, velocity and random modulation
06Saturator with Drive control for analog warmth and distortion
07Decay envelope with Trigger and Gate modes up to 10 seconds
08Pan and Volume controls with velocity and random modulation; Slot 8 linking to Slot 7

Things to Try

  • 01Use Mode A stretch algorithm for low sounds like toms or bass, and Mode B for high sounds like cymbals
  • 02Apply Gate Mode decay for variable decay lengths needed with hi-hat cymbal sounds
  • 03Use Slot 8 linking to stop Slot 8 playback when Slot 7 is activated, replicating closed hi-hats silencing open hi-hats
  • 04Apply extreme Drive settings on low-pitched sounds to produce typical overdriven analog synth drum sounds
User Manual↗

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