SOMA Pulsar-23, Manual

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11 The Pulsar-23 Notebook : Reference & Guide
Overview
1
MIDI: MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital
Interface and is a standard protocol used for
communicating between audio equipment. MIDI
Input is applied using 5 Pin MIDI DIN connection.
Pulsar-23 also has a LRN - Learn function to map
incoming MIDI CC to it’s controls and functions.
Modulation: Modulation is the ability to control and
manipulate one parameter from another. This
provides creative soundscapes. This is applied by
patching across functions and especially MOD -
Modulation points.
OMG!: A unique Pulsar-23 creative modulation
feature operating on the BD VCO that really needs
hands on experimentation to make it what you
want it to be.
Parameter: The individual value of a specific
function or control element. A parameter can be
adjusted for example setting an AMT - Amount to
affect a sound or to control a function or VOL -
Volume to adjust level.
Patch: A term used to refer to the connection
between two or more elements in a circuit or in a
configuration. Pulsar-23 uses fixed patch pins and
removable alligator clip cables to patch between on
board as well as external modules.
Percussion: Percussion refers to instruments
played by striking with an object or by hand such
as drums or chimes. Pulsar-23 is a drum machine
and can be played by hand or by controls as a
PRC - percussion instrument but also can offer
bass and drone sounds too.
Power: Pulsar-23 is supplied with PWR - Power
using the dedicated power supply. On board points
for GND - Ground and +10V - DC 10V are used for
patching.
Pulsar-23: Pulsar-23 is an organismic drum
machine. This brings analog drum synthesis
together with experimental and organic modulation
and control.
SHAOS: This is a cyclic pattern generator building
on classic S/H - Sample and Hold and RNG -
Random Note Generator shift registers.
Sound Generators: Pulsar-23 has 4 dedicated
sound generators; BD - Bass Drum, BASS, SD -
Drum and HHT - Hi Hat. Sound can also be
generated by other Pulsar-23 functions.
Switch: A function that fully opens / turns on or
closes / turns off the signal flow between
elements.
Synchronisation: This is the alignment of functions,
generally through timing of various elements. For
example to manage multiple clock signals or to
synch the looper recorder or LFO.
Trigger: Similar to a gate but a shorter decaying
pulse that initiates an event. For example a
manual TRIG - Trigger can initiate a drum synth to
play or record a beat. Trigger can be manually
initiated for recording by tapping ADD - Add. To
remove the recorded beat press DEL - Delete.
Velocity: Velocity is a feature which allows a
response based on how hard a trigger is activated.
This would be typically how hard a keyboard key is
pressed or drum pad is hit. Pulsar-23 records a full
velocity range from an external MIDI controller.
Internal controls can only be triggered at three
velocity levels; L - Low, M Medium / Middle and H -
High (L+M).
Voice: In synthesis language, a voice is an audio
channel with dedicated features that control and
manage an independent audio pathway. For
example a mono synth has one voice allowing only
one note at a time. Poly synths will allow chords by
using multiple voices. Pulsar-23 has 4 voices, one
for each sound generator.
WTF?: A unique Pulsar-23 creative modulation
feature operating on the BD Pitch envelope that
really needs hands on experimentation to make it
what you want it to be.