Sonic LAB SOMA Pulsar-23 Drum Synthesizer Review

Another unusual instrument from the brilliant mind of Vlad Kreimer of Soma Laboratory, the Pulsar-23 is an organismic drum machine. With four voices, extensive internal patching and interfacing, plus CV recorders and plenty of clock. We take a look.
00:00 Intro
2:10 voices/elements
5:20 CV recorders and Demo 1
9:40 overview of usage
10:20 more functions and using external MIDI
17:15 Summary 2
18:48 LFO and CV controlled Gate
22:00 Price and conclusions
24:55 end jam and outro
#soniclab
#pulsar23 #drummachine
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[@cl1xor]

This video alone adds like one year to the waiting list :/

[@ModularLanding]

Ha! This is so true!

[@djbigben54]

​@* AnimalHeadSpirit * Oh man, over a year and your number isn't up? I assumed all those early birds went out already. I only got on the list about 4 months ago and just hope I live long enough to receive and enjoy the thing (and I'm not about to die or anything lol).

[@citizenkoen1]

I got on the list May 15, 2019 and recently inquired about the wait and learned that there’s still 1121 people ahead of me. Another 3-6 months wait by their estimate.

[@cl1xor]

Chris Koenig so they are producing like 200 - 400 units a month, that’s actually quite impressive if it’s all handmade.

[@djbigben54]

Chris Koenig Thanks for the info! Not exactly what I wanted to hear but good to know at least. Assuming final assembly is done by hand, a few hundred units a month would be impressive by a small team.

[@peterldelong]

South of the equator, crocodile clips. North of the equator, alligator clips.

[@EBMZEQUENZER]

In Arizona lizard clips

[@varial303]

the music in this video is proof that this thing is a future classic

[@DanielDavissynthman]

Eh....I think that's overstating it a bit. We'll see. For something to be a future classic, it needs to hit a critical mass, and be featured in many well-known tunes. Time will tell.

[@scottsweatshirt9753]

Cardi B already used this for WAP.

[@McEnroe911]

Cant wait to get mine and then never learn how to use it.

[@LochNessAnthony]

I’ll buy yours if you want

[@McEnroe911]

Lockness Anthony I’m still waiting to get it. Been on the wait list for almost a year now....

[@LochNessAnthony]

* AnimalHeadSpirit * whaaa for real? Are you buying yours or are you passing?

[@LochNessAnthony]

* AnimalHeadSpirit * well if it’s any consolation, if you DO end up forking over the cash and you decide against it later I could buy it from you.

[@LochNessAnthony]

* AnimalHeadSpirit * Or, if you decide not to I would totally straight up take your spot

[@bwest6275]

Always fun watching your reviews Nick!

[@ntm3-hq]

Such an industrial dream machine ❤️

[@online-person]

I keep coming back to this review. I gotta give props to Nick for capturing the spirit of this machine so well.

[@ShawnStack1]

Buddy!! That was fantastic !! Thanks so much for sharing this, man!

[@camlong89]

This perfectly captures the sounds I've always wanted to make.

[@gregkeen4907]

OMG Batt!! I've never wanted a drum machine so badly in my life! Well done sir, well done!

[@dep1001]

Great review as always, Nick! Very interesting machine! Thanks

[@ScottWozniak]

I'm damn happy to be seeing companies like this taking chances on cool new ideas. I'm hoping there's enough of an audience for them to continue doing what they do. And I can't resist orange hardware. Brilliant. ❤️

[@nolasousaphone]

there's a HUGE wait-list for this. I think SOMA is doing very well

[@josecortez5213]

I dont mind $300 dollar clone machines by you know who but this machine makes new sounds.

[@liquidair1153]

The Lyra-8 is already quite amazing and has a superb build quality. I simply had to place an order for this one as well.

[@jdaddyaz]

This is the first time I've ever heard Nick say "Ah my Gawd" in a pleasantly surprised and ecstatic way.

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

The funny thing is, that wasn't a reaction... those patch pins on the panel are actually labeled "OMG" and "WTF". xD

[@RonCavagnaro]

Waiting for mine! Thanks Nick for your wonderful reviews always so classic! I like how you program, it's similar to what I plan on doing with it:)

[@regplasma7906]

Nick and Vlad are both at the top of their game.I ordered my Pulsar 23 yesterday.This organic, beautiful Soma 'Tank baby' will be ideal for my Industrial music.Thanks guys.Love.Reg Plasma .

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

It looks like a DS-1 that fell into a pool of toxic waste and gained super powers. I love it.

[@ModularLanding]

Awesome comment!

[@vprice509]

This DS-1? - starwars.fandom.com/wiki/DS-1_Orbital_Battle_Station

[@danielelston7457]

Great comment. It’s got definite superpowers.

[@jazzjeffjazzjeff]

Nick! I've never seen you so smitten with a machine! And I can see why. This thing i a beast, and I can tell, a really really deep instrument. Thanks so much for the demo. I can't wait to hear more!

[@Psychlist1972]

Hi Nick. The component symbols up at the top left are: - triangle with line: diode. This is directional. You can probably use it to turn an AC signal into a straight pulse, but no idea what's implemented in there. - two plates: capacitors. These are not directional (based on the symbol used). Again, not sure how it's implemented, but it will likely add a slew or maybe decay. The amount/rate would depend upon the value of the cap used. This sounds a whole lot better than I had thought it would.

[@toumbas]

best demo of the machine ever, finally kinda understanding what this is all about!

[@blankspace0000]

Wow! Sounds incredible!

[@madsynthscientists]

Finally a demo that shows the great potential of this wonderful instrument. Thank you !

[@andrelucassen9229]

There must be 2 hour Friday Fun session on the horizon..

[@temporoboto]

DEEP! Thanks for that demo.

[@cinderfields6334]

Sounds great, good job, thanks!

[@AmyKnoles]

Getting one for myself and my students at CalArts, so excited thanks to you!!!

[@Ian-gw2vx]

I have trawled reviews of gear for days and this is the only thing that really stunned me. The most organic, exciting creative sound tool in a long time. The price is high but very tempting.

[@amillionorangedolphins9663]

Absolutely love this machine ...

[@jbowmanmusic]

You make it sound really, really... really good

[@robtronik]

Its really an amazing machine. Vlad is a legit iconoclast in the music HW space. Maybe a legit genius.

[@krismenn29]

Very instructive review and very groovy dance move at 12:57. Thanks!

[@MichaelRohaly]

I think I'm gonna be watching this over and over.

[@rodrigolaporte274]

WOW.... but WOWWWWWW... this is just amazing. BTW that jam/test you start at around 14.00 is awesome

[@MinPlanck]

Awesome! Gassing hard for this. I love the Lyra8! Cheers! Edit, I made this comment at the start of the review, just WOW!

[@Ian-gw2vx]

Love the little dance at 12:57 brilliant demo!

[@vr4ever645]

@7:55 what a banger sound! Amazing stuff, really.

[@robertmarshall72]

That's bonkers, crazy, mad, brilliant 😎👍

[@asundayfireofficial2774]

I didn't want one of these until I saw you hook it up to the KeyStep Pro. It really transforms this to something else entirely.

[@Ratskank]

Great video, should finally have my Pulsar in next couple of weeks! Very excited to get lost in ut for a while and hopefully come out the other side making awesome sounds like Nick gets out of it here!

[@LouisSerieusement]

Nick, you are such an analog god ; thank you so much for demonstrating the MUSICAL capabilities of this thing ; thank you so much !

[@ModularLanding]

I love many synth designers (Dreadbox, 4ms, etc) but Vlad Kreimer is surely the mad genius of the synth world at the moment.

[@CO5MA]

Love it. UPO (unkonwn percussive object)

[@Jimantronic]

Great review, thanks. It's such an inspirational and fun box of tricks. For reference, you can quantise the CV loops to 16ths, but it's a separate mode of operation for the looper operation that stops all of the loops playing while it's doing its business. "If press-holding BANK+L+M and pressing ADD or DEL on one of the channels will perform quantisation of this channels by 16”."

[@sonicstate]

Yep, I figured that it was kind of not very useful to be honest so didnt make much of that feature

[@jordantheuser]

Vlad has given us a great gift, undoubtedly will inspire a new generation of instruments

[@ModularLanding]

This is a classic synth. It’s its own thing. This is a synth to go down in history and most that appear nowadays are not. A fascinating machine. An incredible instrument for truly creative minds.

[@NOLNV1]

Outstanding thumbnail, not to mention the machine!

[@danielelston7457]

I want one. Amazing.

[@worblyhead996]

I got on the waiting list last month after stumbling across this and was really taken by the sound. By the looks of it, I may be lucky to see the unit next year sometime. Anyway, the Pulsar 23 and the Erica Synth Syntrx sound like they would make beautiful music together.

[@shreepadgandhi6739]

I will never try anything shown in this video...But thoroughly enjoyed watching it...Kudos dadaji... From Pune city, India

[@StephenMcLeod]

This just sounds so incredible.

[@ZenMountain]

You’re here too! Cheers! Hilarious!!

[@scottsweatshirt9753]

This is going to fit amazingly with my latest side project under the moniker Kent Reznor, in which I assume the persona of the untalented older brother of Trent Reznor. Kent is a failed industrial rocker turned insurance salesman in a nearby suburb of Cleveland. Keep an eye out for upcoming online performances that will amass dozens, if not several dozens, of views on KZbin and related platforms.

[@Decoy303]

Subscribing because I can't wait.

[@fadplastic]

I wanted to hear that jam at the end go on for an entire performance! 😉👍

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

15:10 I just realized his "oh my god, WTF" wasn't a reaction... those two pins on the Pulsar are actually labeled OMG and WTF.

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

Hahaha. Love it!

[@DayflightTrok]

Great performance

[@Makebelieve123]

OH MY GOD !! LIKE seriously WTH ! LOOOVE

[@ZenMountain]

What??? Are you drunk??

[@peglapegla]

Great machine, great review.

[@danielelston7457]

You could make a whole tune on this. Amazing.

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

Very refreshing and unique to see something like this hit the table. Hats off to the engineers for sure.

[@HazeAnderson]

Are you not familiar with Vlad? :) He is quite accessible.

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

@@HazeAnderson No I'm not . I've vaguely heard of his name in the past.

[@HazeAnderson]

@@AdamTheAd-vanc3d kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3jZd6CamNF-mNk 😏🐋🐳

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

@@HazeAnderson Thanks Haze

[@DanielDavissynthman]

Really nice review. Well done. I still hate the sound of this thing, and all the cables give me nightmares, but you made it sound the best I've heard, and you seem to enjoy it.

[@someone_else303]

This thing is next level madness, in a positive way! So different an innovative.

[@zipnone1996]

such a cool device 👌

[@annother3350]

Nicks Loving this!!

[@annother3350]

And I'm loving the thumbnail

[@ajsmith4181]

You know it’s a winner when it sounds incredible on an iphone speaker.

[@sunilsolanki]

What a fantastic machine and great review. Loved the outro music so much. Could you please share it with the world Nick? Really got into it!

[@sonicstate]

its gone. ....

[@beyondthegong]

9:00 in and already sounding bonkers

[@M0nsieurX]

at 15:x you had an awesome tune going!!!! Bring it back!

[@joeyalgorithm5082]

Soma stuff is so dope!

[@danieljones-tg9oe]

This looks like the fun machine of the century.

[@Djpuzzle]

19:50 love this bit!

[@northerntao]

There is a quantization function - a bit esoteric but it’s in the manual. I’ve mostly sequenced mine from MIDI and used the pins for modulation, but I need to give the CV looper another crack. “BANK + L + M + one of the sensors (ADD or DEL) of the desired LR channel - will quantize the content of the channel to 16 notes. The LR will stop when this operation is performed. To start it again, use the start function. For the quantize function to work cor-rectly, please make sure that the LR is aligned with the clock dividers!! To do this, press the RST button on the CLOCK module before recording, and\or connect the LRST pin to the 0.25 output of the clock divider, and use a metronome during the recording! “

[@Barefoot_Joe]

I was going to say this, but you said it better ;)

[@sonicstate]

Yeah I guess it sorta works but only if you stop the sequence. And only to 16ths.

[@AmyKnoles]

Great walkthrough!!! Getting the credit card out NOW!!!!

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

15:10 So we'll take another modulator and go into... OH MY GOD. xD Argh, I must have a Pulsar now. I could sit and jam on that for hours.

[@Decoy303]

Wow! This thing seems to have the ability to take you on long journeys.

[@norenred294]

Very sick sound 🤪

[@justindrakecroft]

The tunes coming out of Nick + this device are awesome!

[@gooneybird808]

Sick that was like a flylo beat...damn nick

[@PLA.net-DANTE]

Thought the same , it's like those brainfeeder drums in a box😁

[@tusk1_]

Drooooooolllllll. Want this so badly.

[@Seekthetruth3000]

Nice color much better than the usual black.

[@Kkidzz]

Those Hi Hats’ are a Mega Bag of Ultra Crispy Salt & Vinegars’ Nick, perfect time to pull out the Dominion-1 and get 'Jiggy'

[@PWMaarten]

That ‘little resistor thing’ is a capacitor. It blocks any DC (a stable voltage) but passes the AC (a moving voltage).

[@neanderthalboneflute6519]

That’s a funky meatball. Very punchy sound. Looks like an electronic circuit kit I had when I was a kid you could wire up to make doorbells and heat sensing alarms and stuff.

[@bjaminbjamin]

Wild.!

[@nolasousaphone]

I cannot wait for my turn on the wait list to come up! #1617 on the US list...waiting patiently!

[@dgp1498]

yesss!

[@illustriouschin]

Great performances very inspiring. I want one but I feel like I would never understand how to use it.

[@Ellende]

Sounds so good from 14:30 onwards.

[@kevinwyers4494]

Wow that sound quality jumps out of the speakers!!

[@annother3350]

It sounded good but do you not think a little woolly?

[@scottsweatshirt9753]

Ann Other - *woody

[@annother3350]

@@scottsweatshirt9753 Woolly - like the speaker is under a woollen jumper. But possibly woody too

[@danielelston7457]

Not woolly at all.

[@LesterH25]

I can't imagine buying this. Then again I said the same about the Lyra 8.......which is sat on my lap right now !!

[@ModularLanding]

That’s exactly how I feel! And I love my Lyra8. It is truly unique.

[@rogiervandermeijden4019]

Holy crap!!

[@jasonmcgary]

That thing is wild.i am guessing in a live setting you could get some crowd participation with connections between posts and people.unfortunately that will be hard today with the no touching and six feet apart.so I guess scrap that idea till life returns to how it was.

[@theinventor838]

Its going to be hard waiting for the Jam.

[@SONICrider]

Pffff - that SOMA gear is great \0/

[@digitaldobbie]

That’s a proper job bit of kit, not so sure about the patching method though, however the sound is top notch and new!

[@roryjineffect]

Those patching method, from what I remember hearing, was cheaper to implement to control cost, plus you can get wacky patching possibilities by multiple clips on one post, plus you can use yourself as a patch cable.

[@Djpuzzle]

25:07 !!! WOW this bit got me like..

[@MrJimbol59]

NICK,COULD YOU TELL,ME HOW YOU PATCHED THE ATTENUATOR,TO GET THAT FORMANT-LIKE FILTER EFFECT ??

[@Oceanwireaudio]

I need another lifetime to get all these wonderful instruments,

[@kaostrip]

the real time recording and no quantisation is the key of the groove ! 😉

[@alternatingbitmusic]

Actually you CAN quantize your manual recordings. Quantizing is accessed via the mode switching pads that you referred to as confusing lol. Quantizing cannot be applied during playback, but otherwise definitely not the strike you had mentioned near the end.

[@janne-seta]

And the Grammy for the best music technology review video goes to

[@sonicstate]

Aw thanks. If only!

[@guitdafunkadelik]

Cosmetic question : the orange color seems to differ from YT videos from a red/orange to pale orange. How is it actually? Or did it change regarding the actual production? Cheers!

[@inthefade]

Another video please. Do a deeper dive and jam a little bit more. Release a sample pack for us ^u^