A system for controlling vibrations of a tip of an ultrasonic instrument, the system comprising: an ultrasonic instrument comprising a tip, a handpiece including a driver configured to vibrate the tip responsive to receiving an AC drive signal, and a sleeve disposed around the tip and coupled to the handpiece, the sleeve defining a first pathway for supplying irrigating fluid to a distal region of the tip, and the tip defining a second pathway for providing suction at the distal region of the tip; and a control console for generating the AC drive signal supplied to the driver of the ultrasonic instrument, the control console being configured to: determine a maximum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument; receive a user-selection of a first pulse control level and a second pulse control level, the first pulse control level for ablating firmer tissue than the second pulse control level; responsive to receiving the user-selection of the first pulse control level, set a minimum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument to a first value based on the maximum ultrasonic energy level and corresponding to the first pulse control level; responsive to receiving the user-selection of the second pulse control level, set the minimum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument to a second value based on the maximum ultrasonic energy level and corresponding to the second pulse control level, wherein the second value is less than the first value and corresponds to vibrations in the tip having a magnitude insufficient to ablate patient tissue and sufficient for the control console to track a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument; and generate an AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument that is configured to induce ultrasonic energy in the tip of the ultrasonic instrument that comprises a plurality of ultrasonic energy pulses interspaced by periods in which the ultrasonic energy is maintained at the set minimum ultrasonic energy level, each of the ultrasonic energy pulses being defined by a hann wave and peaking at the maximum ultrasonic energy level. an ultrasonic instrument comprising a tip, a handpiece including a driver configured to vibrate the tip responsive to receiving an AC drive signal, and a sleeve disposed around the tip and coupled to the handpiece, the sleeve defining a first pathway for supplying irrigating fluid to a distal region of the tip, and the tip defining a second pathway for providing suction at the distal region of the tip; and a control console for generating the AC drive signal supplied to the driver of the ultrasonic instrument, the control console being configured to: determine a maximum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument; receive a user-selection of a first pulse control level and a second pulse control level, the first pulse control level for ablating firmer tissue than the second pulse control level; responsive to receiving the user-selection of the first pulse control level, set a minimum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument to a first value based on the maximum ultrasonic energy level and corresponding to the first pulse control level; responsive to receiving the user-selection of the second pulse control level, set the minimum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument to a second value based on the maximum ultrasonic energy level and corresponding to the second pulse control level, wherein the second value is less than the first value and corresponds to vibrations in the tip having a magnitude insufficient to ablate patient tissue and sufficient for the control console to track a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument; and generate an AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument that is configured to induce ultrasonic energy in the tip of the ultrasonic instrument that comprises a plurality of ultrasonic energy pulses interspaced by periods in which the ultrasonic energy is maintained at the set minimum ultrasonic energy level, each of the ultrasonic energy pulses being defined by a hann wave and peaking at the maximum ultrasonic energy level. determine a maximum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument; receive a user-selection of a first pulse control level and a second pulse control level, the first pulse control level for ablating firmer tissue than the second pulse control level; responsive to receiving the user-selection of the first pulse control level, set a minimum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument to a first value based on the maximum ultrasonic energy level and corresponding to the first pulse control level; responsive to receiving the user-selection of the second pulse control level, set the minimum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument to a second value based on the maximum ultrasonic energy level and corresponding to the second pulse control level, wherein the second value is less than the first value and corresponds to vibrations in the tip having a magnitude insufficient to ablate patient tissue and sufficient for the control console to track a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument; and generate an AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument that is configured to induce ultrasonic energy in the tip of the ultrasonic instrument that comprises a plurality of ultrasonic energy pulses interspaced by periods in which the ultrasonic energy is maintained at the set minimum ultrasonic energy level, each of the ultrasonic energy pulses being defined by a hann wave and peaking at the maximum ultrasonic energy level.