In the realm of electronic music, the exploration of sound and its manipulation is a never-ending journey. One such tool that has caught our attention recently is "Granular," an experimental grain sampler developed by Orllewin. This innovative application is designed to create ambient textures by playing short samples from a recording, offering a unique approach to sound design.
What is Granular?
Granular is a grain sampler that operates on the principles of granular synthesis, a method that involves dividing a sound into tiny grains and then playing them back superimposed and at different speeds, phases, and frequencies. Inspired by the old Reaktor 'Travelizer' instrument, Granular takes this concept and presents it in an easy-to-use interface that encourages experimentation.
Key features and controls
Granular operates on probabilities. When you select parameters like 'jump', 'rev.' (reverse), or others, you're instructing the underlying engine to allow the possibility of that happening each cycle. This probabilistic approach gives rise to a vast soundscape that is both unpredictable and mesmerizing.
The application interface displays five horizontal bars that show the current subsample position and size within the parent sample/recording. The top of the screen houses four options: Global, Record, Open, and Save. These options control various aspects of the session, allowing you to record new parent samples, open previously recorded samples, and save your recordings for future use.
The first effects screen controls playback parameters of the selected subsample such as Position, Jump, Reverse, Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release, Size, and Drift. The second subsample screen lets you customize the subsample sound with effects like Low Pass Filter, High Pass Filter, Delay, Overdrive, and Bitcrusher.
The sound of Granular
The beauty of Granular lies in its ability to create beautiful, glitchy ambience that can be used on its own or as a background for other instruments. The built-in recordings that come with the application generate pleasing ambient textures, allowing you to start experimenting right away.
Where to get Granular
Granular has been well-received by users, with positive comments highlighting its ability to create amazing sound textures and its ease of use. The application is currently in development and is available for purchase at $8.00 USD or more on itch.io.
Links
https://www.instagram.com/orllewin.uk/
https://orllewin.github.io/playdate/granular/
