PULSAR-23: 1984 Limited Edition Drum Machine Is Available
SOMA Laboratory, in collaboration with The Midium and the SOMA US Division, has introduced the PULSAR-23: 1984, a limited-edition variation on Vlad Kreimer‘s organismic drum machine design.
The PULSAR-23: 1984 features an unpainted steel chassis with black trim and red lights that they say “harken to a dystopian time”. In addition, the bass circuits have been customized with expanded range, a filter inspired by Polivoks synthesizer and more.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
The idea for the “1984” edition, it was decided, would also come with a typewritten certificate of authenticity inspired by a time before computers were affordable… a time when expression is not free… and when analog instruments were beginning to disappear. As it was, the folks at SOMA Laboratory, which include the first US-based engineer to partner with SOMA Laboratory on such a project, Noah Jolly, and leader of the SOMA Laboratory US Division Kevin Flynn, had already been testing experimental circuits for the PULSAR-23 organismic drum machine for some time.
Part of the reasoning for both teams bringing these ideas together had to do with SOMA Laboratory’s experimental circuits. They present new functions while being inspired by the Formanta Polivoks: a classic analog synthesizer renowned for its tone that was in production in 1984. The Polivoks, in fact, was born in 1982 and lived on through the waning years of the Soviet Union, until 1990. So, the SOMA Laboratory PULSAR-23 1984 Edition marries new designs developed by Jolly and Flynn with inspiration from a period in synthesizer history consisting of a range of innovations that defined musical genres that continue to influence music today.
After all testing was completed, SOMA Laboratory began production in earnest. With all units built to serve the art and creativity of those who choose these synthesizers and drum machines for their work, each SOMA Laboratory PULSAR-23 1984 Edition stands as a testament to the craftsmanship, engineering prowess, and spiritual essence that goes into every instrument SOMA Laboratory creates. These are special and unique instruments, and a limited run, so please note that they are final sale. Only 84 of them will ever be made for the US sector.
In addition to its aesthetics, these features are unique to the 1984 Edition:
- The Bass drum uses a different oscillator design that produces an asymmetrically clipped triangle wave the can be overdriven to a square wave with the Drive knob
- The Tune knob range has been expanded, and the OMG pin is now an AC-coupled FM input
- The Bass oscillator’s filter is a new design inspired by the Polivoks synthesizer and uses the same integrated circuits as the Polivoks filter
The 1984 PULSAR-23 Limited Edition is available now to pre-order for $2,599 USD.
