Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Rainger FX reboots and super-sizes its 2017 Mini Deep Space Pulsar, now the killer interactive and enhanced Binary Pulsar Stereo Sidechainer / Panner / Tremolo with Warm Analog Preamp
Key Points
Rainger FX’s Binary Pulsar reboots the 2017 mini Deep Space Pulsar into a stereo interactive modulator/sidechainer/panner/tremolo that accepts two instrument inputs plus an XLR/¼" mic, enabling side‑chaining, ping‑pong panning and kinda sorta vocoder fashion. David led development; Cohen Hartman demos it.
Controls: Volume, Hold, Release, Wide, Resonance, Flangey Distortion, Waveform Invert/½ Invert, Distortion On; TAP divisions 8s, 16s, 8s+16s=12s, Off=4s; Igor Pad for tap/hold. Ports: XLR/¼" Mic, CV Sync, L/R ¼" In/Out, Warm Preamp, 9V DC 165mA. Dimensions 127×134×66mm.
Works especially with Snare Trap and Break Box; prototypes shipped via MAS Distro. As of 2026-07-13, the price was £279.
David has massively evolved his 2017 mini Deep Space Pulsar (DSP) into a monster interactive performance modulator which can absorb 2 separate instrument inputs, and/or a Mic - side-chaining one input against the other, and outputting in a variety of fashions including panning ping-pong stereo. It works brilliantly with just a single input too - but much of the magic happens when you double up on your inputs.
I was particularly enamoured with the interplay between the Rainger FX Snare Trap and the Binary Pulsar - we also tried the Minidrone which sounded pretty cool too - but the Snare Trap in particular was magical. The Deep Space Pulsar was initially developed significantly for placing the included microphone inside or adjacent to a band’s kick drum - and using the bass beat to side-chain and duck the band’s output so that the rhythm section could ring out loud and true - and you wouldn’t get any convoluted mushy flub from the otherwise interaction of the other instruments.
For all who own the mini DSP - you can use that included microphone with the Binary Pulsar as another input device - where you can use it in a kinda sorta vocoder fashion - but for a slightly different electronic side-chained phenomena. Cohen Hartman demos it well in the second demo below!
I spent a very productive rainy Monday afternoon at Rainger FX HQ in Willesden Junction - where David, Prav and Baptiste took me through the Binary Pulsar’s paces and highlights. We watched David’s reference video, as well as the excellent demo by mutual good friend Cohen Hartman / SpiralCaster. And we tested every ounce of David’s one remaining personal Binary Pulsar!
The only tiny niggle for me - was that there was no unit for me to take away! The whole Iran / Strait of Hormuz kerfuffle is causing major supply chain challenges and holdups - with massive increases to shipping prices, insurance etc. and delays obviously! So much so that it’s now more cost-effective to source many of those components from local suppliers in the UK - or else 3D-print and assemble some of your own parts - as Rainger FX have done for their internally lit function push-buttons - the core switch + LED unit is bought in - but the casing is 3D-printed in-house - and a further perspex LED Pipe goes down the middle to conduct the light source to the surface! Every time I visit Rainger’s Willesden Junction HQ I come away with new deeper knowledge of just how tricky the pedal sector can be!
Controls - Volume (Master Level), Hold : Waveform Dip / Trough Duration, Release : Waveform Rise Duration, Wide : Right Output Signal Delay, Resonance (Squelch), Flangey Distortion Level, Function Buttons : Waveform Invert (Full Pulse), ½ Invert (½ Waveform Pulse), Distortion On Button; TAP Divisions : 8s, 16s, 8s + 16s = 12s, Off = 4s, Igor Pad = Tap Tempo / Hold to Reset (when Distortion is Off), With Distortion On - you get Momentary Stabs, or Press-Hold to Latch / Release.
Ports - XLR / 1/4" Mic Input, CV Sync (great for the Snare Trap), Left 1/4" TS In (Mono), Right 1/4" TS In, Warm Preamp Button, 9V DC [-] 165mA, Left 1/4" TS Out, Right 1/4" TS Out.
As the last 1/3rd of my chain is fully stereo - I've been put off buying the Snare Trap up until now - it really needs to be stereo to work properly within the tail section of my rig - which is the natural position for a Drum Machine to go - typically right at the end of the chain! But going into the Binary Pulsar - it gets bounced out in stereo ping pong fashion - and it sounds utterly magical - so now I'm determined to get the Snare Trap too! (And yes I can place it going into the Binary Pulsar - kind of mid-way in the rig - might still need to do some clever cabling!
For those of you who already have a Snare Trap - you're in for a treat with this Binary Pulsar - with that and a microphone connected you can accomplish the most amazing of outputs - at times part Daft Punk or part Kraftwerk with lead guitar or synth on top!
The Snare Trap is a decent point of comparison as from a distance the Binary Pulsar and the Snare Trap side-profiles look to be very similar shapes - and broad brush-strokes they kind of are. But David would not want any of his pedals to look like clones in any way (both of them have their own Igor style control touch-Pad too!). So the Binary Pulse dimension are actually distinctly different (side profile) to make those pedals look like they came from two totally different eras!
- Snare Trap dimensions = 110mm W × 143mm D × 60mm H [£299 - £249 ex VAT]
- Binary Pulsar dimensions = 127mm W x 134mm D x 66mm H [£279 - £233 ex VAT]
- Break Box dimensions = 88mm W x 127mm D x 50mm H [£239 - £199 ex VAT]
So in some ways this Binary Pulsar is a really versatile Tremolo, also a kind of Stuttery / Chopper effect, Sidechainer, Ducking device, Rhythmic discombobulator, Flangey Distortion entangler, and the most amazing squelchy sounding Apocalypse Now Helicopter Noise-Maker!
David often used to perform with the trio of Snare Trap, Drone Rainger and Break Box, while it feels like the Snare Trap, Binary Pulsar and Break Box - were kind of made for each other too - surely that's the new Rainger FX Performance Trifecta!
Each of those sports an Igor touch-pad for on-the-fly stompox interaction - and those devices look really great together - and of course each of them sounds exceptional - and when combined in this manner can provide a suitably potent gig rig - with just those 3 pedals - and so many output variations.
I didn't get the Snare Trap yet, and there was no Binary Pulsar available for me - all those made had been shipped already to MAS Distro - only David's Serial Number #0001 unit remained - and there's no way I could walk away with that, even if only for a day or two. The Monday session was sufficiently deep for me to get a really strong impression of the Binary - of course I would like to run my own unit on my board for several weeks and months to fully acclimatise to its use - while the further PCB's were not due to arrive until a day or two after my visit. It's a fairly complex build - with some significant in-house fabrication required, The light-up push-buttons were designed with the outer casings fabricated in-house at Rainger, as mentioned.
The Binary Pulsar is for sure a mix of adventurous experimentation and spirited live performance dynamics. In David's hands it's a box of wonder - particularly when synced up to the Snare Trap.
I really loved the Pulsating Squelchy sounds in particular that emanated from the device - but it can also easily do classy / classic tremolo - for me it's more fun to deploy squelchy pulses laced with flangey distortion - further chopped up and discombobulated by the incoming beats from the Snare Trap.
You really need to get your hands on the pair of them to fully grasp and appreciate the magic of that pairing. Without the Snare Trap - the Binary Pulsar is still a box of wonders - while with it - it's a whole other next level interactive experience!
Getting your hands on your own Unit!
The distributor so liked the prototypes that they expanded their initial order - which I would guess swallowed up the pedal that was intended for me. It's the first and only occasion from numerous visits to Rainger FX HQ where I've come away wholly empty-handed. I honestly don't know when I will be able to get my hands on my own unit - I'm hoping relatively early next week. While I believe Rainger are a couple of staffers short at the moment - what with holidays etc. and these pedals take a while to build - I would not want to rush them!
I do find it a little odd that despite my many years of involvement, that no unit was allocated to me for the promotional phase. Perhaps it's a sign of the impact of the Hormuz effect! When I make a journey (particularly on a rainy day) I never like to come back entirely empty handed. Oh - I guess I had a copy of the manual with me - that was some small token I suppose! Strange times for sure!
In any case - I feel this one is really going to fly - I was hugely impressed with how it sounded and performed - and I feel it's correctly priced at £279 - or around £233 ex UK VAT - so circa $310 for Americans.
I feel the table-top and synth / euro / modular brigade will particularly enjoy this device - as they are used to constantly twiddling / tweaking Oscillator and Filter knobs - and you're constantly going to be doing much the same with the Binary Star and whichever input devices you prefer.
I sincerely hope to get my hands on one soon. The Snare Trap will have to wait until next month - I hadn't budgeted for that for June - and it's already been a blow-out month!
Presumably we will just have preorders for launch on the Rainger FX Website - while most Rainger FX Dealers should have been shipped pedals by MAS Distro by the time this announcement goes live. This is a genuinely different / unique gamechanging device - and equally importantly - it's a whole lot of fun to play around with!
Here is the Rainger FX Website Reference for the Binary Pulsar! Very highly recommended!
Key Features :
- Digital multi-fx pedal with Warming Analog Preamp
- Stereo version of the Deep Space Pulsar Sidechainer Pedal!
- Amazing Panning Effects, Dips, Pulses, Sweeps and Chops!
- Designed for Desk-top or Floor-mounted deployment
- Has a Resonant Filter, Built-in Flangey Distortion, and 'Wide' Control (for right output)
- Correctible Tap Tempo
- New Custom Shape Rainger FX Enclosure
- Power Supply : 9V DC [-] 165mA
- Dimensions : 127mm W x 134mm D x 66mm H
- RRP : £279, £233 ex VAT (circa $310)
Demos
