SOMA Pulsar 23, User Manual

PULSAR

•

23

USER MANUAL

MAIN MODULES

MASTER 

CLOCK

 GENERATOR

The basic structure of the Pulsar begins with a master clock gener-

ator. When creating a patch, you can make the source of the clock 

something else and even have several sources at the same time.

The clock generator sets the tempo of your rhythmic pattern, as well 

as the looper/recorder's loop length, which is four measures in four 

quarters or 128 ticks of the clock. One tick equals a 32nd note. At 

the same time, you can freely choose what constitutes one quarter 

and the length of your measure, since there is no quantization by 

default in the looper.

TEMP

knob. 

Sets the generator clock frequency, which varies from one to two hundred hertz, 

thus determining the looper's loop length from several minutes to less than one second. 

The green LED flashes once a quarter and makes a bright flash at the beginning of the loop 

(based on the fact that the loop length is four measures in four quarters).

MOD 

pin.

CV input modulating and controlling the clock frequency. The useful voltage 

swing, as with all modulation inputs, is 0 to 10 volts.

AMT 

knob.

 Determines the amount of influence of CV applied to the MOD pin on the clock 

frequency.

INT MIDI 

switch.

 Allows you to select the clock source. In the INT (internal) position, the 

source is the Pulsar clock generator. In the MIDI position, the source is an external MIDI 

clock. With the switch in the middle position, the internal clock is disabled and the array of 

dividers and the looper stop. Now, when voltage pulses with an amplitude of at least 3 volts 

(nominal amplitude 0 to 10 volts) are applied to the CLK pin, they will be perceived as a 

clock signal and the array of dividers together with the looper will be synchronized to it. So 

you can synchronize the Pulsar with a Eurorack system or any device that generates a clock 

in the given voltage range. The frequency of the supplied external analog clock should be 

calculated for 128 ticks per full length of the array of dividers and looper. If the switch is in 

the INT or MIDI position, you can pick up the clock signal from the CLK pin or the outputs 

of the clock divider to synchronize external equipment to the Pulsar.

CLK 

pin.

 The output of the clock generator or the clock input of the frequency dividers and 

looper/recorder.

With the switch set to INT or MID, the pin works as the output. With the switch in the middle 

position, it functions as input. (see "INT MIDI Switch")

16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25 

pins.

 The outputs of the array of binary clock dividers. A very pow-

erful tool for creating rhythms and controlling various Pulsar modules. The number under 

the pins represents the note duration that this output gives. The looper's loop length is 

equal to the length of the array of clock dividers.

RST 

(reset) button.

Resets the array of clock dividers and resets the looper to the beginning 

of the loop. Used to set the start of the loop and to synchronize the dividers and looper. 

It is recommended that you press the RST button before starting loop recording. This will 

guarantee synchronization between the looper and the dividers.