So, I’ve just sold my Machinedrum (non-UW, so no regrets yet :)) and bought the Pulsar-23. It’s pretty special and I want to use it as a main instrument.
For now I use it standalone or send basic midi messages from the OT, but there are lots of CV inputs on the Pulsar and I want to use them. There are different options:
I can find a used Analog Four MK1 and program the CV outputs only for modulation. I could midi sync with the OT and use the OT as a live-sampler and midi sequencer.
As a more experimental option there is the Ornament-8 but I don’t know if it’s really the best option for me. I don’t have that much information on this thing.
Buying a Midi-to-CV interface for the OT would be another option. But sending CC with the OT has some issues as it sends CC after the NoteOn and I don’t want to use another midi track only for CCs.
I have a frap tools USTA and Erica synths black joystick 2 in a small 48hp pod. It’s been a lot of fun. If I ever decide to get rid of my euro I will definetly keep that skiff for my Pulsar
AND hell yeah, if u really wanna get the most out of this russian outstanding otherworldy sound giant, u defenitly NEED someting to be able to catch ALL the sonic candy moments u’ll come along on ur pulsar journey, that will NEVER return and are gone forever, once they took place…
so what ever u might wanna do with all the single output crossing all over options this crazy russian machinery tank has to offer, make sure that main out is hardwired to something that can listen to and freeze whatever comes along at any given moment…
ot sounds reasonable to me for doing so…
don’t go for that tempting a4 route for now…u got too much to get a grasp on in workflow already…
midi AND midi to cv will do all the trick…u don’t need that dedicated cv track yet…
would be a great loss if u could not harvest ot’s midi lfo capabilties…
u don’t need any keyboard controler…ot’s midi functions will cover this easily…
and keep in mind that pulsar has this little voltage difference thing going on in comparison to euro rack standards…
Yes, this one seems like such a useful little device. But I don’t know yet if I can sequence, parameter lock midi cc’s, use midi lfo’s and the arp etc. all at the same time with it.
I had a nerdseq with the midi expander and CV16 expander and it’s a fantastic module. The problem for me was that it was so rigid, it was great for setting up long sequences that could last almost an infinite amount of bars. But it had no real performance options.
But we are all different.
USTA for me is more confusing then nerdseq but also more interactive…
You are looking for more MIDI-to-CV than the four units already on the Pulsar-23?
I play the Pulsar-23 as a primary instrument in my sets - and I run MIDI to it from several sources: Digitakt, Genki Wave (bluetooth MIDI expression ring), and a MIDI looper that I run on a Raspberry Pi.
The Wave ring outputs three MIDI CCs (ptich, yaw, and roll) - and I feed those to three of the Pulsar-23’s MIDI to CV converters. From there, I can live-patch those controls around the Pulsar-23 - and control it from my hand position.
You can see much of this in action in this clip:
I also have a Pulsar Buddy - which I use for additional rhythmic triggers. I often use the M (measure) pulse, fed via a capacitor on the Pulsar-23, to add per-measure CV into things, which works nicely.
More recently, I’ve been playing a Hydrasynth as well. This has several CV outputs, and I can use those as extra LFOs for the Pulsar-23, or as CV that is related to the melodic/harmonic things the Hydrasynth is playing, and bring that into the Pulsar-23.
Yes, I’m using those inputs as well, but I want to increase the modulation capabilities of the Pulsar by using the cv inputs as well.
I really like how you play the Pulsar, thanks for the video and ideas.
To be honest, I’m searching for a workflow to make the Pulsar my main instrument. I only have OT, Nord Drum 2 and Nord Rack 2. I’m thinking about selling the Nord Rack though. Getting another gear to have the externally sourced CV modulation option on my Pulsar seems a good idea.
The thing about the Ornament is that the Pulsar can trigger stuff on the Ornament, as well as the other way around and it sounds pretty exciting.
I wanted to say that I have an A4 now! It will take time to master it, but for now I use the A4 as a mod source and fx processor. I especially like using the envelopes to do some kind of synthesized transient, sequence them and control it in combination with the fx parameters via performance mode.
