Hi O Anonymous Ones:
It is quite true - _any_ product can be said to be appropriate as individula needs dictate or
demand. That's motherhood - pretty hard to disagree with.
In large part, you can look historically and see many products designed fundamentally around a
sole aspect or purpose - and that is not necessarily a bad thing given what technology has had to
offer thus far. But, it is not only a matter of tehnology's advances, but of advances in approach and
thinking. Even as technology affords us new methods and tools, it is more often than not to find
products designed to address a "single function".
"MIDI Workstations" are even this to an extent - though their manufacturers would suggest
otherwise. Sound source, sequencer, perhaps some signal processing - the package has not
fundamentally changed in quite a few years. Computer interfaces are another facet of this thought
pattern.
Initially, MIDI interfaces. SImple, 1 in/out hardware to accommodate the then limited software
options. Technology progresses and multi-port MIDI I/O to provide for greater software sequencer
track counts and multi-timbral sound sources. Then, professional quality audio interfaces. Stereo
at first followed by greater channel quantity options and more recently including dedicated
processors to offer even more performance options.
However, even in these recent products with additional "DSP" resources to take advantage of,
the thread remains essentially the same: minimal diversity and pre-defined functionality. The
closest to an "open" architecture has been with comparatively expensive systems utilizing
card-based multi-processor "farms" that can have a variety of popular signal processing "plug-ins"
operate on them. This whole premise though is still focused tightly around the concpet of studio
use and almost exclusively for "recording" purposes. This was the long way to get to what was said
just above.
If all you want to do is record, yup: there's a bunch of stuff available and it pretty much works - to
varying degrees. Interestingly, Pulsar does NOT include any application for the explicit purpose of
recording. Pulsar is, at this time, about everything _except_ recording - in and of itself. Like most
audio interfaces available. Face it - are you ready to consider switching to yet another recording
application environment after spending HOW LONG learning the one you currently use? Most
people aren't.
Pulsar is diverse enough that regardless of what you need to interface and why, it can probably
be employed in your system in some fashion. The most conspicuous aspect of Pulsar is the
hardware itself. Pulsar has a 20 in/20 out audio channel capability and also includes a standard
MIDI I/O/T interface as well. This PCI card has a couple of additional unique facets as well.
Four Analog Devices SHARC processors to supply resources for the included software and an
S/TDM bus connector that will permit processor and I/O expansion. Again, this is a situation
wherein the hardware is necessary for the operation of the software, but it is really the software that
offers the increased functionality and purpose of the product.
Synthesis and sample playback are, however, but a couple of the tools included with Pulsar.
Yes, they do quite a good job of it, but there are also the mixing (signal routing) and signal
processing portions of the software. Whether you are mixing and routing internal, Pulsar generated
sounds and effects or introducing external "live" signals or effects processing or bringing in disk-
based pre-recorded tracks, Pulsar can serve as a hub for the entire netweork of your studio.
And this is simply the start. Today, you use the recording application that you are most
comfortable with or suits your needs and purpose. Tomorrow, it is quite possible that Creamware
will change your expectations of what a recording environment is as well. One over-riding premise
with Pulsar and SCOPE is the ability to share ones working environment, not simply the
composition itself. In this fashion you are able to share with a collaborator, for instance, not only
the MIDI and audio "tracks" youhave created but the entire "studio" as well so that you are truly
working with exactly the same palette. There is nothing else out there offering this kind of
potential. Period. And, especially starting at the price of a Pulsar.
You can certainly get into "recording" for remarkably little today. A couple hundred bucks for a pro-quality sequencer, (or maybe even try some shareware,) and a few hundred dollars for some audio interface and you're good to go. RIght? It might be all you need - today. Pulsar is thinking a little bit farther down the road than just today.
Best of Luck!!
Jeff White
White Noise Marketing
http://www.whitenoisemarketing.com