What are some good options for granular synthesis in software ?
You can compare these to various hardware options ( as an aside ) and also consider various DAWS and apps with granular engines too.
There is a thread for discussing granular hardware in general, so here is the software only equivalent.
This a good question. The GR-MEGA is pretty much the apex for hw granular synths. Other hw options can do other specific granular things, but the GR-MEGA is pretty much the most complete setup.
So what are the top options for software granulars ?
By the way : the GR-MEGA is almost shipping and very active so there is no “in the meantime” really.
I only use a granular playground
If there’s no playground, there’s no play.
…i will never see any further need for granular playgrounds in software, since i’m using bitwig…
it covers ALL sonic ways u could imagine…
last time, i wanted some further options in granaular sound designs anyways, i purchased sugabytes graindad plugin…and what can i say, what a waste of money…
only real other option in sw, might be some touch touch alternatives on ipads…last time i checked, it was 2014…so, i can’t say what’s up there, but from what i remember, touchpads are basically a good way to deal/interact with grains in general…
but in the rare moments i still like to drown into grainclouds, i always get more than happy with nothing but bitwigs sampler and some nested internal fx right there…
Yeah I have bitwig as well, it’s ok, I use it everyday. Granular in general sounds like trash, totally stupid. But its still fun.
…naked grain technology always sounds trashy at first…all granular synthesis approaches need a good chunk of filter/blending/fx makeup to do the magic trick…
iPad: I love iDensity, Borderlands
Desktop/iPad: Quanta, Spacecraft
RIP: Riverrun, The Mangle
Its a darn shame there isn’t a vst of Borderlands Granular
What a fun execution of granular to make some pretty wild stuff.
I just don’t want to pull out and charge up my iPad for that luxury
Slate+Ash Cycles is 50% off (it has been for a few months so maybe just a new price point) and is an interesting, more abstract, granular (and loop) based sample mangler. Not so good if you want total control but for inspiration I love it. Some discussion here: SW DEALS : Software on Sale - #3863 by SouvlakiPlaystation
Arturia EFX Fragments is nice for real time processing. Ableton Granulator III maybe a nice option if you use Live.
Also see Creative Software Mangling Samplers
I have a plan to try and use Cardinal as a VST to build a software modular granular setup, but it’s a long term plan and I have no idea if I can actually do what I want.
If you run MacOs, you don’t have to charge the iPad much, you can just plug it into your computer which provides power, and it’s an input into your DAW. If the battery is super dead you might need to wait a couple minutes.
Bitwig has a limited implementation though… So that’s why I’m monitoring this thread (actually they come and go every couple of years over the internets, some options become unavailable, etc)
Granular FX:
Unfiltered Audio Siło - …the GOAT!!!
https://youtube.com/live/UzuCz0vzqng
Output Portal - filters, great sounding fx and mseg modulation
https://youtube.com/live/kSiYe-j4Lvw
Arturia EFX Fragments - advanced granular multi fx with msegs and envelope follower
https://www.youtube.com/live/MugxCg970n4
Sugar Bytes Graindad - cool rhythmic options, a bit convoluted interface but great sounding fx… https://www.youtube.com/live/YjDzEDWPBG0
Granular Samplers:
Madrona Labs Kaivo - Granular meets physical modelling…yes!!!
https://youtube.com/live/hqNYgHwkEW8
Granulator 2 / 3 - Ableton/Push 3 SA only… bread and butter granular
https://youtube.com/live/PdkpFT53OHA
Glitchmachines Palindrome 2 - so dope…mix four different samples …plenty of mod sources…
https://youtube.com/live/YjDzEDWPBG0
Kilohearts Phaseplant - synth sandbox with options till there are no grains left on earth
https://youtube.com/live/1XB6o_3Hyrw
New Sonic Arts Granite - off the beaten track granular sampler
https://youtube.com/live/IenYDAsFhak
Twisted Tools Dron-e - Reaktor Ensemble perfect for…you guessed it…drones
https://youtube.com/live/Twpc4SC5CjE
Sound Guru The Mangle - another one off the beaten path
https://youtube.com/live/iUaesLz7jDI
N-Labs Granö - Reaktor Ensemble … love everything by NLabs…
https://youtube.com/live/fD3EBUeAf48
Andrej Kobal Granurise - Max - wow…receiving extraterrestrial messages…
https://youtube.com/live/2DcUske_7ow
Arturia Pigments - Crazy Powerful Synth and Sampler…
https://www.youtube.com/live/f3sGEt_Hyng
Dawesome Novum - next level sonic mangler
https://youtube.com/live/G8j0K6D1sEc
I would also mention Arturia’s Pigments, it has very versatile granular engine, which can be combined with other synthesis types (virtual analog, wavetable, additive), there is a lot of modulation options and fx are great too.
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The one I’ve used the most over the years is a Reaktor ensemble called Grain States. It’s pretty old but if you’ve got Reaktor it’s worth checking out
My favorite granular vst fx currently is Beam, super powerful. Both Opal and Battalion instruments have granular options. Borderlands was pretty cool too for iOS.
Hardware- Beads is still my favorite (in modular)… Lemondrop was surprisingly good too.
i used to rock The Mangle
Reaktor is the first place I go to when i need to do granular stuff.
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The soundhack freeware tools have granular possibilities. ++bubbler is a particular favourite of mine.
Grain synth in Reason seems pretty decent but I don’t know enough about what else is out there to really say how it might compare.