CreamWare Pulsar

I have been using the latest "Project" version of the platform for about two months now. I am not terribly well qualified to comment on ease of use because I've been doing this since the Synclavier... For me, there was exactly zero learning curve *after spending several days interacting with their broken web-site to get my products authorized*. More on that later...

I have used many, many dataflow environments before, and also currently use bidule (which is arguably better from a UI perspective, as well utility as it performs automatic summing, for example, allowing you to connect multiple sources to a single destination - scope doesn't allow this). But the list includes things like Lab View, and other, simmilarly complex envrions... So take it from me that this is a very functional, well thought out, and elegant environment with a relatively simple set of rules that almost anyone should be able to grasp IF you already are an audio engineer.

Typically when people complain about the usability of Scope, it's because they don't know much about audio engineering to begin with. This is a complex audio engineering envrionment with more in common with a Neve or SSL room than your typical home studio; the average novice engineer will definitely be in over their head in this environment, but not because the software is difficult to use.

Certainly the person complaining about XP drivers is off their rocker... I'm monitoring very nice audio as I type on my XP machine right now... and the thing *hardly ever* crashes ... not never... but very rarely.. as in for days and weeks on end. As in any complex computing environment, your results will vary, and be tied to your existing compute configuration... If your box is unstable (and I'm talking about your computer here), than certainly Scope will likely be unstable too. All I can say is that on my Athlon 64 box, with one gig of ram, the thing is pretty rock like.

There are plenty of places explaining that Creamware synths tend to trade off quality over polyphony, so I won't get into that aspect. I will say that this architecture is *currently* crippled by an ancient DSP chip when compared, say, to the UAE product.

Many people I have encountered use Scope in a similar way, which is less about raw compute resource, and more about the ultimate in low-latency mixing and routing with terrific sounding effects. The Masterverb Pro, for example, sounds fantastic. Scope really does provide the level of flexibility and FIDELITY one expects to find from a professional grade studio environment. This is how I use Scope, basically as the backbone of my environment. Then I can interface via ASIO and ReWire to Bidule and any other CPU based audio envrionments (Nuendo, Live, Tassman, Samplitude). Many people actually do their level mixing and panning in those environments (because of the superior automation) and just use Scope for routing and effects.

The greatest thing in my experience is the great stability I get, impervious to software glitches in what I think of as Client apps, like Nuendo. Using it via the Z-link option to the A16 Ultra interface, I get stable well behaved digital IO. I have yet to have a noise event emerge from the A16, even when I have managed to bring the machine down altogether (midi feedback loop...lol). I really appreciate this aspect of the platform as I monitor using both very fine monitors, and also sensaphonic's canal phones.

Finally, Scope allows me to run live mixes with the lowest possible latency via the interface, and latency that doesn't cascade internally. In a PA environment, I track in some external software, via ASIO, and mix the live show on the Scope mixers. Creating customized monitor mixes for each player is easy, and multiple control surfaces can interact with the platform via MIDI, although with significant caveats regarding the problematic MIDI implementations of the supplied mixers, which can only look at one MIDI channel at a time and so limit the number of control channels to 127. If one wants to hook this thing up to a control surface, that really doesn't cut it. The big mixer has ~2000 automatable paramaters. Certainly this is number one on my list of revisions for the Creamy Crew.

As to expansion, currently up to three cards (max 14 dsp chips and 16 ZLink IO channels appiece) connected via a dedicated TDM buss. I have heard from others that there is a lot of interaction with system RAM over the PCI buss when using the supplied samplers... I'd recommend using a CPU based sampler... There are a bunch of other IP options, btw...

I haven't used any of the synths yet, so I'll hold off on commenting on that. I use Tassman, and that will be hard to beat.

See above, although if I were using it on more than my own band's gigs, lol, and getting paid much, I'd be creating a fully redundant system anyway - which I would with any PC based model. I use Scope in conjunction with a Mackie Onyx 1640, so I do run a back up mix on the Mackie I can always dump over to (I run Scope returns on one pair of busses, and the local mix on the other).

Well... Here I can only complain, unfortunately, although when I have interacted with people there, I can say they are genuine and doing their best. To many users, not enough support. Something is a little funky in marketing land, if you ask me... This product needs a core hardware update, but has a very robust platform and user base to grown on... It is hard to imagine why they are, frankly, not more successful.

To be explicit, though, I have not had a technical difficulty that needed resolution, only a REGISTRATION one... yes ladies and gentlmen, Creamware insists that you register your products online to get your authorization keys for all the software modules. I have never witnessed the web registration work, and to date, after finally rousting them to manually register me on their end, I have never been able to download the much vaunted "key file" so I don't have to enter fifteen 20+ digit keys manually (ok.. cut and paste) when I rebuild my machine... I hate to be mean, but I wonder just who developed this site. Someone should really take pitty and spend a day making one that works for them.

Until something better comes along, I will be using a Scope centered environment. I will be expanding my existing system substantially to be able to handle more channels of live mixing and processing.

My only fear is their stability as a company; I've seen great products go down that way before. Recently they came out with a bunch of hardware units that left a lot of us perplexed, but they seem to conclude that there is a bigger market there, and for all I know, they may be right. They have made noise about updating the Scope hardware platform, and I'm really hoping that happens. I may add, until then, a UAE card to boost the DSP side of things a bit...

The Scope Platform is, perhaps, a wee bit over the heads of most consumer musicians, but if you are a professional engineer looking to get into a non-standard (pro-chunks) environment - get a good look at Scope.

I am commenting on the reviews I have been reading and my past experience with creamware.
I bought a Pulsar when they recieved rave reviews from Keyboard and Electronic musician(US) and Computer Music(UK) magazines. I added the additional synth and sampler programs for it.
I loved the sound and power but when the drivers for more stable operating systems never came and I got tired of having to choose between an unstable windows operating system to run pulsar and waiting for drivers to use it on a stable windows (2000/XP) i took the loss for my pulsar and sold it for under $200.
I wanted to see if the software driver issues had been fixed and see they are asbad as they have always been.
Guess i don't miss my Pulsar as much as I thought I did...as I told them then...other more responsive and stable companies want my money too, i will buy SUPPORTED products instead!

I'm currently using Scope software version 3.1c. Absolutely stable! No complains till today. I've already downloaded the SCOPE 4.0 and used it but it only gave me problems. Back 2 old again! :) Presets are nice although I don't use them. Patches sucks! No big difference. The only thing that I don't know is why does the STS's series samplers are for! Never used it 'cause it only supports .sts samples. I've worked once with a simple program wich made me the conversion but the samples were not stable. Anyway... look at this, creamware guys! We need to work!
There's a manual, yes! Very complete, in fact. Worked for me when I'd problems with Pulsar... It's simple...

Never tested but no complains. (Don't know exactly... enough for me, and people I use and abuse of MIDI in that board!) Take care about those sequencer keyboards. My machine went crazy when I connected it! Allways crashing! Effects?! Don't know... I simple don't use!
About the sensitivity its hard to tell... if you plug the MIDI monitor you'll see almost the values, from 0 to 127. So I guess it's ok. Anyway it brings tons of plug-ins to use with the MIDI, everything simple and efficient!

Instruments... Those plugs can make really a difference! Simple to use and they can fit almost everywhere. Mostly in Dance and Techno styles.
The DSP of this card is amazing. I think that the card would be more balanced if it had a different support for working with ASIO. Has I use Steinberg's soft., sometimes I've no more machine to use (using a P-IV 3.063Ghz - 1.5 GB Ram - 120GB HD.
Very responsive board and the plugs help. It sometimes make you feel inside the computer, very away from the real world

Indeed. Great construction, reliable and stable.

I used it live once for record but I took my old DA-88 just in case... Anyway, I'd bought this card a few days after that. Used it live again and I forgot the oldies Hi8 mm tape at the studio... Not only a single problem!

I only worked with the Portuguese reseller. Never had contact with Creamware itself. No complains. Always happy, the reseller! :)
No repairs. Simple the best choice for my work

Its to expensive but if you compare to a simmilar system, for instance, from MOTU, it would be less funcional and more expensive to get the same stuff! If stolen, yes, I would buy another one.. maybe a powerpulsar! :)
I'm a musician since I was 12. I'm 22, studio owner, lost of work, stage, bla bla bla...
I play Bass but I've a great knowing in other instruments: Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Acoustic String stuff (like bandoleon, banjo, "Cavaquinho" (aka UKELEL or something like that)) and much other.
Gear: Also bought the A16Ultra from Creamware and I'm really statisfied! Nothing to say. Anything else is studio material... mixers, amps, eq.s,q
No crashes! Simply stable. No need to restart my computer 20003948239746329748293764 times per day :PP
Hate? Don't have a extra DSP card or a Pulsar II
All of them, mostly... MOTU, RME, etc. Bought this one 'cause I saw it working with the same "no complains"!
A better power ASIO support would be just great. It could use its DSP power to help me in Nuendo or in SX!
HELP HELP HELP! I can't stop making music! Extremely productive!

Sorry 'bout my howfull english... You know.. A portuguese guy :P

This fucking thing is impossible. the software carshes all the time. 3.x, 4, nevermind. I have one pulsar and one power pulsar. crashes!
why can't they hire reasable programmer to write the drivers?!?!?! are good programmers so rare in germany?!?!?!?

the best 4 hardware. but you can't work it with no software!!!!

altough the machien get BSOD when I play sometimes, it's very nice to play when the driver do work.

NEVER EVER use this thing on a gig... even if you have back up. it will ALLWAYS fail you.
and even 1 is to much for that.

try to contact creamware for support, I dare you... you will have better luck calling Usama bin laden hot line.

I got 2 cards as mentioned.
the hardware and consept: best.
the software: terrible. never ever buy this thing. no one wants to buy it from me. hardware without a software, without support and knowledge is nothing. and this is what you will get for your $. nothing

I am using a 15dsp power pulsar running 3.1c software. I have the synth pack and the mix/master pack. I haven't used a single synth yet other than the vocoder just to mess around with it. I use this thing strictly for mixing/mastering in a semi-pro environment. The card is a very standard full length pci card. Assuming you are not using a cheap crappy motherboard or processor you will probably be okay on your installation. I hear so many people while about this, but these same people don't spend any time researching what kind of cards to use. Go the www.creamware.de and read what they recommend. You'll probably find that if you have ever invested any time into knowing what is actually in your pc case you'll probably be fine.

Your'e going to want to have at least a Gb or Ram with this card. As far as ease of operation it is almost exactly like using an analog board only you don't have to run cable and keep audio cables away from power cables etc. If you have experience using analog gear then it is a piece of cake and will make a lot of sense immediately. Instead of mixers and ins and outs, you have blue boxes representing mixers with ins and outs. Instead of plugging cables in you click the output and then the input where you want it to go and it conencts it. If you want to use the mixer, double click the blue box. It's a piece of cake and if you have problems with it, www.planetz.com will help you. I've never called support so I can't speak for them, but the company just came out of insolvency so I imagine any experience that hasn't happened since Feb '04 is no longer valid.

If all you have ever done as far as mixing is concerned is plug things into a sound card and use pluggins in your software of choice to modify the sounds, this software has a bit more of a learning curve. You can use the XTC mode of the card and use the pluggins like normal vst plugins, but you are totally castrating the hardware if you do. This card's strengths are in it's very low latency and flexible routing. If you use it in XTC mode you disable almost all of this funcitonality. If you plan to do this, you're better off with a UAD-1 or a powercord card. If you want true zero-latency operation and flexible realtime effects, then this is your boy.

The pulsar/SCOPE series card's strengths are the low latency realtime routing. I am currently using it with a presonus digimax and a behringer ada8000. This setup coupled with a cheap headphone amplifier is giving me 18 inputs, 16 of which are phantom powered mic pres, monitoring in the studio, and 4 completely individual stereo headphone mixes that go out via the ada8000.

This next part is boring; however, it outlines how sweet this card is. I have 2 mics on the kick, 2 on the snare, one on each tom (of which there are 3), one on the hi-hat, 2 overheads, a room mic, 2 on a guitar cab, a direct bass as well as a mic on the cab, and 2 vocal tracks. I use the left over input for control room. The kick drum mics have compression and eq, snare tracks have compression, gate, reverb, and eq, all the toms have eq and gate, overheads are clean, the room mice is clean, the hi-hat has eq. All of the drums are bussed and run through a final compression and a reverb. Both the guitar tracks have eq, Both bass tracks have compression and eq. The vocals have compression and reverb and a little eq. All the compression is the vinco compression and all the reverb is the masterverb pro. Here is the kicker, this all happens realtime with no lag whatsoever and I submix it all out to 4 separate headphone mixes and a control room mix. For a hobby user, you might not need this, but recording bands live demands this kind of functionality.

I can send the ouputs to a PA and use this live with all the effects and routing and it is exactly like using a hardware board. When you use XTC mode you lose all of this capability; but it is so easy to just set up asio outputs for each channel in your mix, send each channel back to the virtual sound board running on the pulsar and just run the playback tracks through the exact same tracks that you were just monitoring realtime through. You basically eliminate any need for vst. That being said, the automation sucks. It's all midi and a bit of a pain in the ass to use. I primarily use automation for panning and volume, which I still do in Cubase before it is send back to the SCOPE/pulsar for processing. It's the equivalent of pre-fader volume and panning, but it works. You could realistically switch to XTC mode for mixing once everything is tracked and I could see that working reasonably well.

I think you could do any type of recording with this card. It is all 32 bit processing so assuming you are using a 32 bit program to capture the audio, you don't get any of the per effect dithering you get in protools. This basically lends itself to fuller sounding mixes. This is not to say that you can't get great mixes in protools, I just prefer the scope/cubase sound to protools TDM. Plus it is a lot cheaper ;). The fact is that if you are a good engineer, you'll get a good sound out of anything. SCOPE/Pulsar is definately more difficult to use than a protools TDM system; however, it is much cheaper and it lets you use whatever software you want. It's also a lot more like using analog gear so if you like that kind of feel and logic, it's the card for you. The effects that come with it are very good. The masterverb sounds great. The room simulations for drums are not as good as the Dreamverb on the UAD-1, but for lush vocal reverbs it is unbeatable. It works well for drums too and I will take the fact that I can use those reverbs realtime any day. This unit sounds great.

Never had a problem. If I had a rack mounted pc, I would use it to submix live. It has never failed me. That beign said, it get's a little pissy when you max it out. Prefer to be deafened by it's screams of pain if you max out the dsps.

I've never had to deal with them, but the guys on www.planetz.com are really good and that makes up for any shortcomings creamware has. The company just got out of insolvency (which is basically the german equivalent of chapter 11 bankruptcy I believe) and are a completely different company. My suspicion would be that any experiences with support prior to Feb, 2004 is no longer valid.

I would buy it again if it were stolen. I will probably buy another one because it kicks so much ass. At first glance they seem overpriced, but when you put a little thought into it and realize that if you get it you won't need to buy any mixers, fuller headphone mixers, outboard effects, etc, they start to get pretty cheap. It is completely worth it if you record full bands with big drum kits and want to monitor through effects. I know the lower versions of the pulsar cards don't have as many dsps which would limit how much data you can throw at the card before it chokes. I highly recommend the 14 or 15 dsp card for this reason. The smaller cards can do the same things, just not as much. The large cards have the power to handle just about anything you throw at them.

You should be experienced with PC based audio to venture here. This is not a beginners tool. I've been using Creamware's TripleDat system since in came out ten years ago, and stepped up to Pulsar four months ago. I'd say that I'm looking at a long learning curve on the Pulsar, even with my familiarity with Creamware products.

Honestly, I don't work much with synths and samplers. I moved up to Pulsar for the mixing, multi-track recording and processing capabilities. I am very pleased with the F/X and mixing features. I work almost exclusively with classical musicians and my processors MUST be natural, discrete and transparent. I plan to soon add the PSY-Q and mastering software. I would also like to eventually add the TripleDat plugin to my Pulsar system to enable its powerful editing features to that package; however, I do still have my TriplDat card running in another PC that is interfaced with the Pulsar PC system. The VDAT software (which operates multiple virtual ADATs within your PC, AND works as a BRC with outbooard ADATs) is also on my purchase list.

As most of my clients are classical musicians and/or conductors, sound quality is paramount to my gear. The Pulsar mixing and F/X have inspired AWE in all who I have exposed it. The vast majority of classical musicians shun the use of artificial reverb---they just don't like the thought of any signal processing; however, I have been able to create several converts with my Pulsar. This has opened up MANY new opportunities to produce projects that otherwise would have to have been recorded in an ambient enviroment...and quiet good sounding recording enviroments are hard to come by.

Have installed the Pulsar in two different PCs and haven't had a bit of trouble, yet. I must caution, however, that I was VERY particular about the PCs that I actually built for the Pulsar to reside in. I know how quirky they can be about the hardware enviroment that they are installed in; so, I built my own PCs to Creamware's specs (actually, above Creamware specs).

Absolutely the worst technical support known to human kind. YOU MUST LEARN PRECISELY WHAT YOUR SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ARE BEFORE TRYING TO INSTALL ANY CREAMWARE PRODUCT...cuz you aint getting no help from these people after the sale! Don't just try slapping Creamware products in any PC/Mac and then try to work out the bugs. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, FIRST! Make sure you have the propper harware, use Windows 98se, and make sure all Win 98 and bios settings are CORRECT before installing any Creamware product.

If they had ANY technical support, I would have to give Pulsar a 10. A great value, POWERFUL and comprehensive features. CLEAN sound and great F/X.

The unit has excellent documentation and online suppor through planetz.com. With the help of the two of these the otherwise daunting task of learning an pseudo-operating system feature-laden platform like Pulsar and Scope Fusion Platform would have been impossible.

This system is not for the typical plug-n-play person. Although you can do that with this system in some respects its depths take a while to master. Practice, Practice, Practice like you would any instrument.

Although Creamware's functionality is there and the design is very very ergonomic the learning curve does keep this unit from being easy.

This is the most feature laden system on planet earth out of the box. It competes with Pro Tools and has a depth in functionality that is second to none.

Drag-N-Drop virtual synths that are excellent in sound quality make the sound module and design of this a great piece to use.

Virtual mixers, f/x and all kinds of sound processing devices including a great 3rd party support community make this unit a great sounding piece and something that can do a little bit of everything for the digital studio

The sound quality is excellent. With the ULLI drivers you can get almost no latency in your monitoring and at 96Khz its comparible with the best that's out there. A full blow system can have three cards with 24 channels of ADAT on each giving the user a slew of I/O Options!

Furthermore the sounds are excellent. Waldorf, Zargmusic and a whole bunch of other people have teamed up to make some excellent synths for this unit. They are extremely thick soudning and rich in their texture and nature. Although sound is definately a matter of personal taste these units scream with sound quality and versitility being able to use multiple types of synthesis.

The F/X processing is pristing including the new Masterverb! You'll have to hear it but its as good as any plug-in and as good as some high-end reverbs that cost thosands.

Some excellent third party plugs and synths can be found here:

http://www.dspdev.com
http://www.earlyfirst.com
http://www.celmo.com
http://www.zargmusic.com

The system is extremely picky about PCI bandwidth. If you're using a VIA chipset in your PC get a new PC and get this card. You will have to mold your PC's system to this unit. There are a host of optimization tips on the planetz website and you should be able to make things happen with your system there. The newest version 3.1 Fusion platform has worked out numerous bugs and has brough the development platform to a new level in stablitiy and reliability.

Creamware Germany's customer support sucks. It's as bad as Cubase. I've never dealt with a company that so poorly supports their products like Creamware Germany.
Creamware America on the otherhand bent over backwards to assist me with the occasional customer service issue, upgrading questions and what not. In fact most of the American guys hang out on planetz and a bunch of users there by the names of Subhuman, AtOmic, kensuguro and others are also extremely helpful.

Planetz is the place for information regarding Pulsar/Scope. Creamware Germamy is not and their online documentation needs a lot of work. Furhtermore, they should post a FAQ section on their web site to assist users with common bugs or work arounds. They've not come close to definine 'the' system that they really know is stable.

I really enjoy this technology. It's the best piece of gear I've ever purchased. It blows away racks of gear in my studio and replaces mixers and other processors that I now NEVER use anymore. This unit is great. Save your money and buy three. A big system is necessary to accomplish the DSP that you really need.

First of all, Pulsar is not an outboard synth; it is an audio DSP PCI card. I'm using Pulsar 1 version 2.04. It is the most incredible card. It can run effects and software synthesizers that are designed for the Scope system. The software interface is not a big, ugly mixer with some insert effects. The Pulsar interface is a beautiful window with a bunch of modules that you can plug in and out of each other with virtual "cables." The modules can be synthesizers, effects, mixers, I/O ports, anything you want. You can plug anything into anything (well, you can't plug Sequencer MIDI In into a reverb!). It does come with a big mixer that you can use if you want the traditional way of aux effects and insert effects, but you still would have to plug the ASIO/Wave and analog ins and outs into the big mixer. The software is very easy to use; you just start grabbing modules and away you go.

Pulsar 1 (which is the card I have) comes with 4 Sharc DSP chips by Analog devices. Pulsar 2, which is the version available now, has 6, so you'd be able to run more synths and effects. It comes with several software synthesizers -- two MiniMoog clones; a 6-operator FM synth; a full-featured Modular synth with analog oscillators, LFOs, filters, effects, and FM operators; and several other virtual analog synths. The Low-Pass filter in the MiniScope MKII (one of the MiniMoog clones) sounded pretty similar to my outboard MoogerFooger analog LP filter. Pulsar also comes with delays, flangers, choruses, and other effects. You can also get the Sonic Timeworks plugin bundle that features a programmable reverb comparable to high-end Lexicon reverbs. Not to mention that Pulsar has a GSIF driver for GigaSampler!

I do have a couple of complaints, though. The first is that you can only have a few voices in the synths before you run out of DSP power. However, Pulsar 2 now has 6 DSP chips (as opposed to 4 with Pulsar 1), so you'd be able to get better polyphony with the new card than with my card. My other complaint is that the big mixer (there are two mixers; one is small and is only for taking several audio channels and mixing them to two, and other is big and fancy and can house insert effects and native EQ and other things) only has mono channels, so that if you want to put in insert effects you'd have to put in mono effects for each channel. Therefore, if you want to edit effect settings, you'd have to change both the left and right channels. Also, if you have effects outside of the big mixer, you can't automate them via MIDI. There is a 3rd party "MIDIizer" plugin that lets you automate insert effects, but it won't work with AUX effects. And you can't put AUX effects into the big mixer, so you can't automate AUX effects at all. You can find the MIDIizer plugin at: http://www.planetz.com/Pulsar/Devices.html

Look at Features for a description of the synths. They all sound great and are fun to program. Also check out http://www.zargmusic.com for some other Pulsar synths.

Well, in earlier versions there were some bugs, but with the latest version (2.04) most of the bugs have been worked out. Occasionally some of the synths don't respond to a Note Off MIDI message (I don't know why) so I have to restart Pulsar to get it working again. Most of the time, though, it works wonderfully. I use Cakewalk Pro Audio, and everything is fine, but I've heard some people have had some problems using Cubase. I'm not really sure on that point.

I've never had to contact them. That says something in itself.

Pulsar changed my life. Before I got it I barely even knew what analog synthesizers were. I fell in love with it immediately and have been using it for a little over a year. During that space of time my composition abilities have expanded rapidly, and learning about LFOs and filters through the modular synth let me know how to make sounds with my outboard synthesizers. I also own an Ensoniq KT-76, a Yamaha CS6x, and a Korg N1R, and I must say that I've learned how to make sounds on them because of using Pulsar. I would get it again in an instant, and Pulsar 2 has more DSP chips on it. My only complaint, as I said in the Features category, is that the automation of effects is a big funky. But generally, it's a fantastic card!

This is a minor update to my review of Pulsar I now that Version 2.01 of the software is out. All of my comments basically still apply. The software is a bit smoother and quicker loading but it still isn't the cure for cancer yet. There are still a few minor bugs to be worked out as far as MIDI implementation in the Big Mixer and editing in the STS4000 Sampler plugin. However, everything being said, if you're a technogeek this is still the board to get.

I got lucky with my purchase of the Pulsar I card. Guitar Center was having a sale at about 1/2 price. I guess Creamware was using them as a clearing house because Creamware knew they were going to
be coming out with the new Pulsar II at MusikMesse 2000. I've depended on about half of my music gear purchases for used and closeout items.

Installing the Pulsar card in the computer is just as easy as any other PCI card. It's what happens after you install the card that drives you into rages of either ecstasy or howling pain.

Using any Pulsar software is an exercise in patience with Creamware support and your computer. Currently on the Mac the most stable release is 1.32 which is adequate for my tasks (since I am strictly a hobbyist). I have downloaded the newly release V 2.0 software for Mac (which should run on the Pulsar I card as well as the forthcoming Pulsar II card) but it will not load on my computer yet. Hopefully time and further updates will remedy that. So the comments here refer to V. 1.32.

As you know, Creamware Pulsar are a series of software emulations of synthesizers carried out on the Pulsar card's onboard DSP chips. The Pulsar I card has 4 DSP chips (the Pulsar II will have 6 DSP chips). In general, the sounds are excellent extending from the EZSynth all the way up to the Modular synth. Each synth has a number of preprogrammed patches built in and the user can design their own and save those as presets. Polyphony in each synth is a key issue since there's only so much processing power with 4 DSP's (or even 6). For instance on the EZSynth you can select up to 8 or 9 voices of polyphony without running out of processing juice. On the FM Synths though you will run out with 2 or 3 voices. MIDI patch change messages are not available in V. 1.32 but are (theoretically) possible in the V 2.0 software.

The really difficult beast is the Modular synth. This is my first experience with the modular concept so I am on a steep learning curve. I'm sure someone used to the hardware kind of modular will have no problem with this but for a novice to come up with good usable sounds is going to be a "college" experience. As in a hardware modular there are lots of individual pieces. Pulsar provides software counterparts of oscillators, effects, VCOs, VCFs, etc. The task is up to you to connect them all with virtual patch cords to come up with the sound. The Modular will even allow external sounds to be routed into it. I've mangled my voice a number of times through the filters.

Fortunately the chapters in the manuals for each synthesizer are pretty good, though at times a little cryptic.

The Akai program sample players are pretty good as well. I've loaded as many as 8 of these little players before running out of DSP power. They will load Akai format program samples only (no single samples). The load time is very quick.

One problem on the synths is the tendency of some notes to stick and then you have to hit the stop all notes button on your MIDI interface. There are no keystrokes in the Creamware software to remedy this. In the upcoming V 2.0 the documentation says there are a number of keystrokes incorporated to help out in the Pulsar environment. We will wait and see.

There's also deep mixing capabilities with a Virtual 32 track mixer but I mainly use Pulsar for the Synths and sample players (and, one day, the STS-4000 Virtual Sampler which has been promised to Mac users for about 6 months now) so I have no real opinion on the Mixer.

The Pulsar can accept what are called SRB boards that add some more DSP chips to the mix. I have no experience of these.

One GREAT thing about the Pulsar platform is that you can add software synths from Creamware and other Third party creators. There are demos out on the web and links from the Creamware site pointing you to these extra synths. I bought the EQ's and the Arpeggiator 2 from Creamware. Both are simple to use and are very powerful. I would say the EQ's beat the equivalent of anything in hardware that's on the cheap side.

The Arpeggiator 2 makes great patterns and can be controlled from a MIDI keyboard which makes it almost possible to do live work.

I have tried demos of synths from other companies and have to say most of them are very, very good. Like I said, the Pulsar is for synthheads and when these kind of guys create something it's deep and powerful. I would say that Orbitone.org and Zargmusic.com are the leaders right now in creation of third party synths for Pulsar IMHO. I've tried their demos and they all sound really good.

The sounds are what will hook you. They are useful for dance, trance, electronica, etc. I've read some e-mails about others using the AKAI sample players with Orchestral string programs.

I've loaded some AKAI samples and they all sound quite acceptable. I think what you will really want to do with the Pulsar board is to augment a studio that needs a little something extra. The concept of a complete synth suite, mixer, sampler (with optional STS-4000, 3000, 5000 plugins available from Creamware)is incredible. The actual practice is something I would only recommend to the synthheads among us. I don't think this is a mature product yet.

The effects on the Pulsar are very basic and don't match up to effects found in Sequencer programs but since you can route the synth sounds into Logic, Cubase and Cakewalk through ASIO I expect you really don't need too many effects in Pulsar itself though there are some third party FX packages. I've routed sound from the Pulsar into Logic and have been able to do some very nice things. I've tried Pulsar with Digital Performer but haven't had very much luck on the Audio side.

Using MIDI from any sequencer to Pulsar should work. I've used both Logic and Performer that way and I've found no problem triggering the Pulsar synths.

The physical ins and outs on the Pulsar are very good (another rating of 9). There are analog, ADAT and S/PDIF and MIDI in and out (and AES/EBU on the Pulsar Plus). The analog sound coming out of the analog connection is good. I have used the ADAT outs routed into a MOTU 2408 in standalone mode and this has worked out really well. Using MIDI connections you can treat the Pulsar as another sound module. If you just want to play an endless "Lucky Man" solo from your MIDI keyboard and have Pulsar audio be routed into a Mixer or ADAT conversion interface, boy, you are in luck.

I think this software is strictly something for the studio. It is extremely fun and phat when it works but when it crashes it is inexplicable. You will just lose whole handfuls of hair tearing them out in despair.

As I've read the e-mails and newsgroups on Creamware I've encountered opinions everywhere from "these guys are scoundrels" to "these guys are very helpful". I've basically been able to work things out and Creamware is always posting software updates on their site (Creamware.com or Creamware.de). Personally I feel like Creamware is using its customers as a wide base of beta testers, but like one guy wrote, "Argh, I can't stand these guys. What can I buy next."

For help I've found www.egroups.com/list/pulsar-scope to be very useful. This group is loud and has a lot of smart guys giving their opinions (as well as a few know-nothings clogging up the wires).

I've been playing with MIDI, synths and audio as a hobbyist for about 13 years. I started out with a Mac IIsi and I've built my way up to a Mac G4 400 Mhz. I've gotten into the usual GM MIDI modules and I've worked my way up to the Yamaha EX5 and the new Yamaha A4000 sampler. As far as synthesis "sound" goes I would say Pulsar is the purest product I've come across. You can get the saw/sine/square waves, etc. sound on most any modern MIDI device but Pulsar's implementation of these same sounds are quite special. They remind me of original experiments going back to the 50's and 60's, Walter/Wendy Carlos, etc. I've used the sounds in a couple pieces of music and the sound "cut through" with a very warm feel.

If the advertising from Creamware were true then I'd rate this product a 12; people who buy the Pulsar still have expectations of the product being a 12 (including me) but the actual implementation and performance make it overall about a 7 or 8.