Skip to content

Features

Mark Lentczner edited this page Feb 19, 2020 · 1 revision

Features

Meters

Can generate any meter, n/m where n is between 1 and 16, and m is 4, 8, or 16. The M trigger is generated "on the one" of each measure.

Number of measures can be set between 1 and 9. The S trigger is generated at the start of a set of measures.

Common use on the Pulsar-23 is to connec the S trigger to the LRST input, which will cause the Pulsar-23's Looper/Recorder to be the length you've set on the Buddy. Remember that the Pulsar-23 Looper/Recorder is at most 128 steps (which are nominally 32nd notes). The buddy will let you set sequence lengths longer than that, which will result in some odd behavior from the LR.

Tuplets

Can generated any tuplet structure m:n b - where m is 1 ~ 9, n is ~ 9, and b is 1/4, 1/8th, or 1/16th notes.

There are two outputs for the tuplet generator: Trigger B is generated once per b. Trigger T is generate once per the tuplet.

Example: set to 3:4 ♪ - Output B will trigger every 1/8th note, and T will trigger three times for every four 1/8th notes.

Note: Current software has only one tuplet generator. I'm planning to add an optional second generator.

Clocking

The main clock can come from an eternal pulse. Buddy supports 1/4 note, 1/8th note, 1/16th note, and 1/32nd note clocks. The Pulsar-23's CLK output is nominally a 1/32nd note.

External clocks can also be 24ppqn or 48ppqn, supporting the common DIN Sync rates. A simple cable can be made to break out the signal from a DIN connector.

Buddy syncs within 2 beats, and tracks the incoming clock very closely, within the range 30 to 240 bpm. There is an extended range option that goes from 10 to 300 bpm.

Note: Like all clock following systems, there is a trade off between how quickly the system can follow changes, and smooth the clock generation is. Pulsar Buddy has been tuned to follow changes quickly, and assumes a solid pulse source for the main clock. This makes sense for systems clock triggers.

Note: Pulsar Buddy displays the computed BPM of the clock. This is for reference, and derived from the internal clock system which works in periods, not BPM. It is less accurate that the clock triggers, so, use your ears, and don't worry too much about the displayed number.

Future: There will be the option to sync to MIDI clock over the USB port. Also, possibly the option to generate it.

Other

Memory: meter and rhythm settings can stored in four different memories, and easily recalled during performance. All changes are queued to happen on measure boundries, so everything stays in beat.

Memory, settings and current state are stored in flash, so if you power cycle the unit, it comes right back to where it was. Helpful during live performance accidents!

The screen is OLED, and to preven burn in, it both dims after a few seconds of no UI activity, and goes into a "screen saver" mode after 15 minutes.

LEDs can be disabled by jumper if you don't like blinking lights.

Clone this wiki locally