# Pulsar-ES: Drum Machine — Vintage Groovebox & Sequencer

> Virtual drum machine with rhythm presets, effects, and MIDI/Ableton Link integration. (iPhone/iPad app by Dmytro Kiro.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-es-drum-machine/id1661825756 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Dmytro Kiro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621893756)
- Category: Music, Entertainment
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 61 MB
- Released: 2023-04-04
- Data updated: 2026-08-19
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-es-drum-machine/id1661825756/reviews.md

## What is Pulsar?

Make beats anywhere with Pulsar-ES, an authentic preset drum machine expanded into a mobile groovebox for iPhone and iPad.

Inspired by the rare Soviet/Ukrainian PULSAR hardware, Pulsar-ES keeps the original industrial rhythm-box character while adding the missing modern features producers expect: MIDI editing, deeper FX, Ableton Link sync, AUv3 workflow, and mobile project control.

Play ideas fast on the 4x2 drum pad grid, then turn them into full patterns with the MIDI Clip Editor. Draw, move, and resize notes directly on the grid so your rhythm stays editable after the first take.

Shape your sound with a hands-on FX rack built for quick decisions:

- Filter with low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, and notch modes
- Reverb with room, hall, and plate spaces
- Overdrive with overdrive, distortion, fuzz, and tube modes
- Delay with digital, tape, and ping-pong modes
- Chorus and compressor for extra movement and control

Pulsar-ES also supports Ableton Link sync, project save/load, rhythm presets, and a portrait layout designed for making music on the go.

Start a beat, edit every note, shape it with FX, and keep your ideas moving.

## Key features

- 8-pad drum machine
- Built-in rhythm presets
- Real-time rhythm switching
- Tempo and accent control
- Drive, reverb, and filter effects
- Ableton Link synchronization
- MIDI In/Out support
- AUv3 compatibility

## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-es-drum-machine/id1661825756/reviews.md

### 1/5 — not worth the time or money

*2024-09-10*

poor sounds, limited uses

### 5/5 — Retro beats

*2023-08-04, version 1.0.3*

The Pulsar-ES does has its flaws but so does vintage electronic music gear. With this in mind it adds to the experience with its simplistic interface. 
Not a lot to tweak but the real gem is the sound… it is very analog and retro low fi sounding.
I did find that using it in AUM the temp was a fraction lagging. Not bad, just slightly behind a 4/4 bass drum supplied from GR16.
5 star for authenticity

### 5/5 — Great responsive developer!

*2023-04-29*

I’m still working on editing my initial review, it’s not letting me do so per the instructions, so as a stop-gap I wanted to and another to say this is a great app, it sounds distinctive, and as a replication of an esoteric piece of vintage hardware is a lot of fun to use. As a preset drum machine, effects like delay and replicant 3 can really open up the possibilities of the sounds. I really like it. Definitely worth the money. Things like this should be understood for what they are, not what they aren’t. They are great places to start a process as it puts you somewhere you wouldn’t usually be. Thanks again and I’ll try to get my old review off the store. I shouldn’t have been as critical as I was, given that people are sometimes not as understanding as they should be as to what they’re getting for the money. But hanks so much for being so responsive!

**Developer response:** Thank you for your review. We have fixed all the bugs that you mentioned. Please check the latest update of the app. We are dedicated to addressing any issues and are open to hearing any feature requests.

### 5/5 — Fun app

*2023-04-13*

Great little app to get started with. Love the authentic beats, pretty much like ones I looked up on original device recordings. Lots of potential.

### 4/5 — Decent

*2023-04-12*

It’s definitely a decent app. Not amazing but, maybe with some updates and whatnot it’ll be more usable.

### 3/5 — Like the idea, needs some work

*2023-04-11, version 1.0*

Something like Pulsar I find useful to just get a beat going and jam along.

So, Pulsar should be good for this.

However, just playing with it for a few minutes discloses some issues.

1. You can have sound, or have MIDI out . Not both. Correction; not on an iPhone or as an AUv3 in AUM, but it does as a stand-alone on an iPad.

2. The AUv3 extension doesn’t display properly on an iPhone in AUM. You can’t see the controls and the GUI doesn’t resize to show the whole front panel. The parameters aren’t exposed for external control, so I can’t see it currently working in AUM.
Switching to IAA on an iPhone does result in being able to access the controls, but we’re passed IAA aren’t we?

3. Setting the BPM is hit-or-miss. It’s OK having a slider for authenticity, but I find that when I lift my finger after arriving at my preferred BPM, the speed often jumps a few beats in value, and although the BPM is displayed in the top right, it is not possible to enter a value.

4. The BPM doesn’t seem correct to me. A supposed 120 BPM sound more like 60 BPM - I will confirm this later after I’ve captured the MIDI.

5. On an iPad Air 2. The GUI doesn’t display properly at full size in AUM 

6. I’m finding that when I restart AUM the app isn’t loading. Need to reload it each time.

7. More fundamentally, it isn’t working correctly as an AUv3 in AUM. The beat is glitchy and sounds like there are notes randomly repeating. There’s a lag between the transport Play button press and any sound.

I appreciate that AUM is not universal but it’s used by a lot of people. 

8. Tried it in Garage Band. Similar problems with GUI. Didn’t seem to function; no response to Play on host or on app. Also Cubasis 3. Similar issues.

I probably could find more problems if I carry on. But I think the comments I’ve made are an indication it needs more work and is currently not particularly useful.

—————————

I’ve initially given the app three stars. Given the above this might be generous.

I’m not sure I will be keeping the app.

## Frequently asked questions about Pulsar

### What is Pulsar-ES?

Pulsar-ES is a virtual drum machine app that offers 8 pads for creating drum beats and improvising. It comes with a variety of rhythm presets and effects, designed for music production and live performance.

### How much does Pulsar-ES cost?

Pulsar-ES is a paid application, available for $4.99. This one-time purchase grants you access to all its features without any additional costs or subscriptions.

### Does Pulsar-ES have ads?

No, Pulsar-ES does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an uninterrupted user experience focused on music creation.

### What devices does Pulsar-ES support?

Pulsar-ES is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed to work across various iOS devices, allowing for flexible music-making on the go.

### Can Pulsar-ES sync with other music apps?

Yes, Pulsar-ES supports Ableton Link technology, enabling seamless synchronization of its beat and tempo with other compatible applications, hosts, or devices over wired or wireless networks.

### What kind of rhythm presets are included in Pulsar-ES?

Pulsar-ES includes 64x2 presets of non-editable rhythm patterns covering a wide range of modern musical styles. These include genres like rock, reggae, house, techno, and unique styles such as hopak, polka, and kazachok.

### Is Pulsar-ES compatible with DAWs?

Yes, Pulsar-ES is AUv3 compatible, meaning it can be used within popular DAWs and hosts like Logic Pro, AUM, and Cubasis. This allows for integration into professional music production workflows.

### How often is Pulsar-ES updated?

The latest version of Pulsar-ES is 1.0.4, which was last updated on February 8, 2024. This indicates regular maintenance and potential for future feature additions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.0.7 — 2026-08-08

What's New in 1.0.7

General updates and fixes

### 1.0.6 — 2026-07-21

What's New in 1.0.6

MAKE BEATS ANYWHERE
- MIDI Clip Editor — draw, move, and resize notes directly on the grid
- New portrait layout — a 4×2 pad grid built for one-handed play

A BIGGER, SMARTER FX PANEL
- Redesigned 2×3 FX grid — mode selector on every effect, plus a live badge showing how many effects are active
- Filter — Low-pass, Band-pass, High-pass, and a new click-free Notch mode
- Reverb — Room, Hall, and Plate spaces
- Overdrive — Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz, and Tube modes, rebuilt for richer, studio-quality drive
- Delay — Digital, Tape, and Ping-Pong modes for echoes and rhythmic tails

### 1.0.4 — 2024-02-08

* New Skins
* A/B side with new 64 PRESETS
* Various bug fixes

### 1.0.3 — 2023-05-18

* Updated Ableton Link integration with ability to sync Start/Stop
* Bug fixes

### 1.0.2 — 2023-04-26

* Enabled simultaneous Midi and Audio output
* Fixed Auv3 session save & load
* Adjusted UI resizing to fit smaller screen sizes
* Now works with more hosts (ie. GarageBand)
* Other various Auv3 and Standalone fixes

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## More apps by Dmytro Kiro

- [BTS FX](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bts-fx/id6450247370)
- [RadioMama - Radio & Sampler](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radiomama-radio-and-sampler/id6759728445)

All apps by Dmytro Kiro: https://appshunter.io/developer/1621893756

## Related topics

[battlestation groovebox](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/battlestation-groovebox)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-19.*