Granular Synthesis

[Roy Howell]

In another topic (Electronic Music/ by yajak), we've been discussing Granular Synthesis. She posted a site about it, which included a Freeware download for PC's from Granulab. I got it, and it looks very interesting. This is it.

http://hem.passagen.se/rasmuse/Granny.htm

Can someone help me figure out whether or not this is even usable with ProTools?

Thanks, Roy

[yajak]

Hello
This program does not have patches. You load in whichever wav file you want. Go to File> Load Sound wav... I suggest starting with a drum loop. Once you've done that press "play" in the top right corner. From there mess around with the grain density, pitch and envelope. You can save, bank, etc. It works with the PT card- but you have to save it and then import it into a session. it is stand-alone software. There are some other great programs like Thonk, Cloud Generator, Reaktor, CSound..... From my knowledge only Reaktor works with PC. Dynamo also has a granular synthesis feature- but it adds too much non-granular stuff making it always sound "good." For the people who don't have much time(or patience) playing and previewing sounds this may be the way to go. A lot of these programs are not real time and it can take quite a while finding something you like. Enjoy

[Roy Howell]

yajak,
Thanks, it's interesting, I must say... images/icons/cool.gif

[greenroom]

Originally posted by Roy Howell:
yajak,
Thanks, it's interesting, I must say... images/icons/cool.gif <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">So Roy, does it sound like a hundred monkeys grinding glass with their teeth? images/icons/grin.gif

[Roy Howell]

images/icons/grin.gif

[Roy Howell]

Boy, this was a popular topic, wasn't it? I've never seen the whole DUC pounce on something so fast... images/icons/grin.gif I guess that's why I haven't heard too much about 'granular synthesis'. Actually, it sounds like a new process for making breakfast cereal... images/icons/smile.gif

[Roy Howell]

Before this topic sinks and dies (it was gasping when I found it on p.2), can anybody possibly point me to some actual music using Granular Sythesis? It would be cool to hear it instead of just hear about it. The GS Controller above is interesting, but just sounds like a lab experiment to me, with nothing usable I could find. But, I'm still curious...

Thanks, Roy

[Mark_Knecht]

Roy,
I wouldn't say that this is usable, but it is interesting:

http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~nando/clm/grani/

Look at #10 on this page:

http://www.keyboardmag.com/demos/kyma/kyma.shtml

On this page the Cloud Bank example was sort of nice:

http://www.symbolicsound.com/press-aggregateSynthesis.html

But, pop music it ain't! images/icons/wink.gif

Mark

[Mark_Knecht]

Google is your friend. I did a search on granular synthesis and mp3. Lots of entries like the ones above.

[Mark_Knecht]

This is not granular synthesis, but is certainly pretty interesting. Watch out near the end. It get's pretty loug. (Original samples from Zooma by John Paul Jones on Dicipline Global.

http://www.symbolicsound.com/mp3/sterezooma.mp3 (http://www.symbolicsound.com/mp3/sterezooma.mp3)

There is some granular stuff on the page where I found this.

http://www.symbolicsound.com/hearkyma.html

Kyma appears to be a pretty popular program for doing this stuff. Mac only I think.

Cheers,
Mark

[Mark_Knecht]

This one is actually pretty cool. Check the entry on the right for 'Granular'. I liked these sounds.

http://www.boldersounds.com/mp3.asp

[Roy Howell]

Thanks Mark...I finally get to hear something..

[Roy Howell]

Mark,
You're right, the last one was the coolest. The rest are just too 'spooookie'. And not good spooky.....weird spooky. But, I know they're just examples. If I could figure out a good starting point from which to vary, it might turn into something. The other day I tried just a crystal clear triangle note, and it would've lasted all day, but I got hungry... images/icons/grin.gif

Thanks, rh

[saavadra]

Check out the group Matmos. I think a lot of there material uses this type of sound. They are also featured on the latest Bjork album "Vespertine".

[Roy Howell]

saavadra....thanks, I'll check em out if I can find some of their stuff... I'm certainly an admirer of Bjork music... ~rh

[Cossist]

Matmos are fantastic. A Chance to Cut is a Chance to Cure is an album of theirs almost completely composed of samples from surguries. There are a few other electronic artists of this nature I call Organica. Kid606 is pretty damn amazing and I would say his stuff is a bit more representitive of granular synthesis. He uses Reaktor which has a "granulator" module. You can build synths or loopers with this as a function and it's quite a lot of fun. Check out Marumari, he's a bit more ambient like Eno.