The Soma Pulsar-23 (Pink) revolutionises the analogue drum machine with its innovative design. This semi-modular instrument is ready for immediate use without any patching, yet its extensive interconnectivity offers endless possibilities for sonic and rhythmic experimentation.

Innovative Connectivity

The Pulsar-23 uses alligator clips and binding posts instead of the typical ⅛” and ¼” cables, allowing for flexible and tactile interactions. This system permits multiple cables to connect to the same post and allows you to connect using your fingers.

Many binding posts serve as inputs and outputs, facilitating automatic signal blending. This setup enables complex clock and modulation signal interactions, creating intricate, interconnected relationships aptly termed "Organismic" by the designer.

Powerful Sound Options

The Pulsar-23 features four unique voices, each tailored for specific sounds:

• BD (Bass Drum): Designed for analogue bass drums, this section includes Pitch and Tune controls and a Drive unit for waveform shaping, offering a spectrum of sounds from subtle to industrial tones.
• BASS: This voice offers a comprehensive subtractive mono synth section with waveform selection and a low-pass filter. It can also switch to function as a percussion instrument.
• SD (Snare Drum): This section is optimised for snare drums and claps and includes a band-pass filter, clap control, and traditional snare adjustments.
• HHT (High Hat): Uses white noise as its primary sound source, with a high-pass filter for tonal control.

Each voice has dedicated Attack and Decay parameters and independent binding posts for modulation between voices. FX controls allow assignment to the DSP Reverb and Delay section.

The master section includes a distortion module with Drive intensity control and a Mix knob for blending dry signals. The DSP Delay and Reverb section adds depth and space, offering various delay options and a hall reverb. These effects can be used independently or in series, with numerous modulation controls via the binding posts.

Innovative Sequencer

The Pulsar-23 features a unique sequencing method inspired by tape loops. This method allows easy recording of sound events with attention to start time and length. These high-resolution "loops" add a human touch to compositions. Each voice has its rhythmic quantizer to align with a chosen grid, and the internal memory stores four banks of four sequences for quick recall.

Robust MIDI integration enables assigning MIDI messages to drum parameters through the Learn function or the four MIDI to CV binding posts. The Bass voice can be controlled entirely via MIDI, allowing precise pitch tracking across five octaves for external keyboard playability.

External clocking is possible via MIDI and an analogue clock, ensuring seamless synchronization with external devices. Internal and external clocks can be divided into seven unique clock divisions, providing versatile triggers for inputs, LFO synchronization, and more. Patching clock divisions together create unique swing patterns, and modulation of clock sync can be achieved by controlling the LFO frequency with an external CV.

SHAOS Module:

The SHAOS module adds an element of unpredictability with a pseudo-random voltage generator powered by shift registers and a sample and hold circuit. It produces sequences of stepped voltages with three modes: 1-bit (two states), 2-bit (four states), and 3-bit (eight states). Users can choose the length of the pseudo-random sequencer from 63, 16, or 217 modes.

Utility Features

The Pulsar-23 includes several utilities typically found in modular systems, such as four attenuators for parameter fine-tuning and a VCA that accepts audio and CV signals for dynamic variation. Eight 1/8” to binding post adapters and six 1/4” to binding posts ensure seamless bidirectional communication with modular systems.

Additional features include CV-controllable inverters, gate-controlled electronic switches, triggered impulse generators, and more, providing a wealth of options within this extraordinary machine.