The Pulsar is a mostly forgotten preset drum machine from the Elektrovimiruvach military plant in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Now, this unique device gets a second life on iOS.
That manufacturer is still based outside Kiev. It’s apparently not technically a Soviet-era creation, but produced in variants from the early 90s. (It’s a parallel to seeing places like Riga, Latvia, also emerge from the Union’s former shadow, and build on that legacy to build new instruments.) I was vaguely aware of Pulsar, but it not that it was produced in the early 90’s – specifically this seem Like a late 80s creation. But this would actually make it the first major drum machine hardware to be manufactured in independent Ukraine. (It is sometimes labeled Estradine, a better known synthesis from the same plant. And please,
Developers Tripletek, now working between USA and Ukraine, write to tell us about this new release. The iOS app is mostly based on the original design and sound, with a few modern niceties (such as Ableton Link support):
Click through for a closer look, including those presets. (Okay, lots of disco. Obviously.)
More than 30 years ago, the “Pulsar” – preset drum machine was produced at the Elektrovimiruvach military plant in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, which was famous for its electronic musical instruments such as synthesizers, electric organs, electric accordions, drum machines, signal processors . , guitar effects pedals, and other musical instruments (Altair-231, Estradin-230, Solaris-314). The release of the Pulsar was an exciting and incredible event for the segment as nothing like it had been built before (various models of the Pulsar were built in the early ’90s).
In 2023, a team of audio developers and sound enthusiasts from TripleTech paid tribute to Ukraine’s cultural heritage in music technology by creating an iOS replica of this remarkable hardware. This iOS version (iOS Drum Machine) gives the “Pulsar” preset drum machine a new pulse in the digital world.
The Pulsar ES app’s features are pretty standard compared to modern instruments and pioneers of Japanese music technology. However, the Pulsar can still serve as an excellent vintage rhythm base for a variety of setups and music production styles.
As a result, the Pulsar ES is a new iOS drum machine that emulates the Estradin Pulsar model, the first preset drum machine of Ukrainian production. TripleTech replicates the original hardware instrument “as is” with some added features such as FX, MIDI out and Ableton Link, along with its pros and cons.
This is a playable instrument – make no mistake. You have 8 pads to jam with, plus:
- bass, snare, hat, clap, 3 tom, crash
- rhythm selector with presets
- Level, Speed and Accent Controls
- FX: Drive, Reverb, Filter
- ableton link
- midi in/out
- 64 Preset Patterns – “A mix of original patterns and new creations, including Rock, Reggae, House and Techno, but also authentic styles like Hopak, Polka, Kazachok, Rasputin, Bossanova, Jumbo and Lezginka.”
So it’s a different instrument sound-wise and one with some unique rhythms to explore – and some Ukrainian patterns in the mix, even drum machine patterns that often come from Japan.
There is also some discussion on the Audiobus forums.
It’s available on the App Store, benefits 20% Ukraine – US$5.99, designed for iPad (though also runs on iPhone, if a bit tight there):
Pulsar-es / Dmytro Kiro
Official App Site:
Some brief sounds in the demo video, at least until I make a new one:
It’s a quirk, sure. The sound is unlike anything I’ve heard – like a fuller but more lo-fi 66 – with actions that sound straight out of the 1970s, not the 1990s. I’ll try to learn more about the history here.
They also have a sound pack to download:
And this image suggests that a few more projects may be on the way:
Here are some low-quality vids of the original hardware, labeled Estradyn:
