PULSAR

User Manual

Version 1.0

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Contents

1. Welcome to PULSAR ...................................................................................................................................... 2

2. System Requirements .................................................................................................................................... 3

3. Getting started............................................................................................................................................... 3

3.1 Info Hints ................................................................................................................................................. 3

4. The PULSAR interface .................................................................................................................................... 4

4.1 SLICER L/R ................................................................................................................................................ 5

4.1.1 GATE Monitor ................................................................................................................................... 5

4.1.2 CV Monitor ....................................................................................................................................... 5

4.2 CV OUT Routing ....................................................................................................................................... 6

4.3 VCF Section .............................................................................................................................................. 6

4.4 FX Section ................................................................................................................................................ 7

4.4.1 Tape Echo ......................................................................................................................................... 7

4.4.2 Pitch Shifter ...................................................................................................................................... 8

4.4.3 Modulator ......................................................................................................................................... 8

4.4.4 Lo-Fi .................................................................................................................................................. 9

4.5 VCA Section.............................................................................................................................................. 9

4.6 Mixer Section ......................................................................................................................................... 10

5. Appendix – MIDI and Host Automation ...................................................................................................... 11

6. Credits .......................................................................................................................................................... 12

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1. Welcome to PULSAR

We are glad to present you our new release.

This guide will show you how to use PULSAR and all of its features.

PULSAR is an effect processor that enables you to apply complex rhythmic and FX/Lo-fi textures to any kind

of audio source.

Combining two "Slicers" (independent Step-Sequencers - one per audio channel - with variable gate repeats

per step), you can "slice up" your sound and modulate the parameters of the main FX and VCF/VCA sections.

� Create your "sliced" signal with the variable number of gate triggers per step

� Adjust the sync factor to the host clock, sequence length, step On/Off state and gate width for both

sequencers

� Shape the overall sound with the analog sounding multimode filter in the VCF section

� Insert an effect in the FX section choosing from four different algorithms (Tape Echo, Pitch Shifter,

Modulator and Lo-Fi)

� Make the final adjustment in the VCA section with controls over stereo widening and distortion level

� Modulate the main parameters with the CV control from the two step sequencers

� Use the CV smooth to glide between values

� Mix the dry/wet signals of either the two "slicers" and the main FX

� See how parameters are being modulated by the sequencer with the LED blinking inside each main

knob

The PULSAR interface was built with focus on instant usability, easy access to all parameters and with a

creative approach in making new sounds.

Transform any source into a complex pulsating sound, from simple tremolo-like effects to completely

distorted/lo-fi sounds with adjustable rhythmic mask. All at the tweak of a knob.

We’d like to thank you for choosing our products and we hope you will enjoy PULSAR.

The Reaktion Team.

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2. System Requirements

• PC/MAC running the full version of REAKTOR 6.0.1 or higher.

Reaktor Player is not supported.

For more information about Reaktor please visit the Native Instruments website:

http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/synths/reaktor-6/

3. Getting started

You can run this Ensemble either in Reaktor standalone mode or in your Host/Daw.

If you want to run it in standalone mode, load the PULSAR Ensemble and connect any other Reaktor

Instrument capable of generating audio signal into the L and R inputs of PULSAR.

In order to use PULSAR in a Host/Daw, load the FX version of Reaktor since it can accept audio input.

� NOTE: to run the two Step-Sequencers of PULSAR, start the Reaktor's own clock by clicking the play

button in Reaktor or by pressing the space bar on your computer keyboard.

When using Reaktor in a host, its clock will be slaved to the host clock, so the sequencer will run

when the host project is playing back.

3.1 Info Hints

Activate the Info Hints feature in Reaktor (click on "i" symbol or use the keyboard shortcut "Alt+i") to show

under the mouse cursor a text with useful information regarding the purpose or function of each panel

control.

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4. The PULSAR interface

PULSAR has two interfaces that you can choose from by switching the A/B Panel view of the Reaktor

Instrument’s Header.

The Panel View A is the main PULSAR interface (In this manual we will always refer to this interface).

The Panel View B comprises a short version of the same interface with only the slicers and sequencers

controls and mixer section to make quick adjustments.

Panel view A - The main PULSAR interface

Panel view B - The short PULSAR interface

� NOTE: the LED inside each panel knob that can be modulated will follow the actual position of that

knob and it will blink showing the modulation signal when a modulation is applied to that parameter.

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4.1 SLICER L/R

The Slicer Section

The control section of PULSAR is made up of two Slicers controlled by the Step Sequencers.

The controls related to both Sequencers are:

• SYNC - drag up and down inside the Sync box to select from different Clock sync factor (1/2, 1/4,

1/8, 1/8T, 1/16)

• LENGTH - choose the length of the sequence from 1 to 8 steps by clicking on the corresponding box

• STEP ON - turn each step on/off (with a step in Off position, there will be no Gate/Cv modulation)

4.1.1 GATE Monitor

Click the GATE vertical button to show the Gate monitor and all of its related controls.

• Gate repeats - select how many gates will be triggered for each step (from 1 to 4 gates)

� NOTE: this feature resembles the "Ratcheting" style of old sequencing techniques and is

capable of creating interesting rhythmic patterns

• WIDTH - change the gate width from narrow pulses to "legato" effect

4.1.2 CV Monitor

Click the CV vertical button to show the CV monitor and all of its related controls.

• CV modulation - draw the control signal that will be sent to the modulation destination (view the

"CV Out routing" section for details)

� NOTE: the modulation signal has a bipolar range (from negative to positive modulation)

• SMOOTH - the control signal jumps between each step can be smoothed out with this control (you

can glide between steps)

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4.2 CV OUT Routing

The CV OUT module

This "patch bay module" is used to route the CV Out signal from each sequencer to the selected destination.

Simply click on each input to select the destination target - a virtual cable will appear to confirm the correct

connection.

To delete a connection, click on the top CV output - no virtual cable will be showed to confirm that no

modulation signal is sent by the sequencer.

The possible modulation destination labelled 1, 2, 3, 4, A and B corresponding to:

• 1 – FREQ - the cutoff frequency of the multimode filter

• 2 – RES - the resonance of the multimode filter

• 3 – SPREAD - the stereo widening of the amplifier stage

• 4 – DRIVE - the amount of distortion applied to the signal (post FX)

• A – The "A" control of the main FX (the actual control will depend on the selected effect)

• B – The "B" control of the main FX (the actual control will depend on the selected effect)

4.3 VCF Section

The VCF Section

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This section offers a multimode filter with three modes to select from and controls for Cutoff Frequency and

Resonance.

Both controls can be modulated by the two step-sequencers by selecting the inputs 1 and 2 respectively from

the CV Out routing section.

The VCF controls refer to:

• 1-FREQ - the filter cutoff frequency

• 2-RES - the filter resonance

• MODE - the filter mode selector

� LP - Low pass mode

� BP - Band pass mode

� HP - High pass mode

4.4 FX Section

This section offers four different effect algorithms to choose from and two main controls for each effect

labelled "A" and "B" - the function of the two main controls will depend on the selected effect.

The "A" and "B" controls of each FX slot can be modulated by the two step-sequencers by selecting the inputs

A and B respectively from the CV Out routing section.

You can select one of the four available effect algorithms by clicking on the left and right arrows on the top

display. The four FX slots are: Tape Echo, Pitch Shifter, Modulator, Lo-Fi.

4.4.1 Tape Echo

The Tape Echo FX

This effect simulates a vintage tape delay.

The FX controls refer to:

• A-DELAY - the delay time (from 50 to 750 milliseconds)

• B-AGE - the age of the tape (this control can simulate the imperfections of an old tape by increasing

the pitch fluctuations - well known as Wow/Flutter - and tape distortion)

• FB - the feedback level

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4.4.2 Pitch Shifter

The Pitch Shifter FX

This effect comprises a delay with built-in pitch shifter.

The FX controls refer to:

• A-SHIFT - the amount of pitch shifting (from -12 to + 12 semitones)

• B-DELAY - the delay time (from 25 to 1000 milliseconds)

• FB - the feedback level

4.4.3 Modulator

The Modulator FX

This effect can act as a modulation source (modulator signal) applied to the audio signal (carrier signal).

You can choose from three different modulation techniques and control the rate and shape of modulation.

The FX controls refer to:

• A-FREQ - the frequency of the modulator signal

• B-SHAPE - the waveform of the modulator signal

• MODE - select which type of modulation is applied to the audio signal

� FM - Frequency Modulation

� AM - Amplitude Modulation

� RM - Ring Modulation

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4.4.4 Lo-Fi

The Lo-Fi FX

This effect simulates the digital distortion that occurs when the bit depth and sample rate are reduced.

The FX controls refer to:

• A-BIT - the bit depth (from 8 to 1 bit)

• B-RATE - the sampling rate (from half the sample rate to 500 Hertz)

4.5 VCA Section

The VCA Section

This section controls the audio signal at the output stage offering controls over the stereo widening and

distortion amount.

Both controls can be modulated by the two step-sequencers by selecting the inputs 3 and 4 respectively from

the CV Out routing section.

The VCA controls refer to:

• 3-SPREAD - the stereo widening (from mono to super-stereo effect)

• 4-DRIVE - the amount of distortion applied to the signal

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4.6 Mixer Section

The Mixer Section

This section is used to mix the dry/wet signals of either the two slicers and the main FX.

The mixer controls refer to:

• SLICER L MIX - the mix between the dry signal and the signal affected by the Slicer L

• SLICER R MIX - the mix between the dry signal and the signal affected by the Slicer R

• FX MIX - the mix between the dry signal and the signal affected by the FX

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5. Appendix – MIDI and Host Automation

Parameter Name Send/Receive

Host Automation Data

Send/Receive

MIDI Data

SLICER L/R - CV/GATE X X

SLICER L/R - LENGTH X X

SLICER L/R - SYNC X X

SLICER L/R - WIDTH � �

SLICER L/R - SMOOTH � �

SLICER L/R - STEP ON/OFF � �

SLICER L/R - CV OUT Matrix � X

VCF - FREQ � Pre-assigned to MIDI CC 1

VCF - RES � Pre-assigned to MIDI CC 2

VCF - MODE � �

VCA - SPREAD � Pre-assigned to MIDI CC 3

VCA - DRIVE � Pre-assigned to MIDI CC 4

FX Selector � X

FX - A � Pre-assigned to MIDI CC 5

FX - B � Pre-assigned to MIDI CC 6

FX1 - FB � �

FX2 - FB � �

FX3 - MODE � �

SLICER L MIX � �

SLICER R MIX � �

FX MIX � �

����= Yes

X = No

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6. Credits

Instrument Design, programming, GUI, preset and User Manual:

Michele Laneve - Reaktion Sound Founder&Developer

Artwork:

Carlo Romano

Reaktion - Sound Tools

info@reaktion-sound.com

support@reaktion-sound.com

press@reaktion-sound.com

www.reaktion-sound.com

© 2015 Reaktion-Sound Tools