grains
project name: grains
project url: https://github.com/danielrigler/grains
author: dddstudio
description: A six-voice granular sample player
discussion url: https://llllllll.co/t/grains/75194
tags: granulator audio_fx

grains

A six-voice granular sample player for monome norns.

Point it at a folder of samples and it loads up to six voices, each running several playback heads that drift and collide inside the boundaries you set. So a patch keeps moving on its own without ever repeating exactly - somewhere between a drone, a tape loop, and a chord that never quite settles. Tweak every parameter manually, or just use randomization. Really quick and fun way to explore soundscapes.

Included effects: reverb, delay, shimmer, chorus, tape, glitch, wavefolder, bitcrusher, resonator, and more. You can morph between two states manually or with LFOs and there's a seamless loop recorder. Everything is controllable from the norns keys and encoders, no extra hardware needed.

It is under development, so things might change. :)

Inspired by and based on Graintopia.

requires

install

From maiden:

;install https://github.com/danielrigler/grains

Do not forget to restart.

controls

Start here: K1+E1 sets Density - how many layers are spread across the loaded voices. At zero you hear nothing. K1+K2 fills the voices with random files from your audio folder. Or set a specific folder under PARAMS > SOURCE.

Encoders
E1 Master Volume
E2 / E3 Set Boundaries (start / width) on the selected voice
K1+E1 Density
K1+E2 Add/Remove Layers
K1+E3 Add/Remove Voices
K1+K3+E1 Change Energy
K1+K3+E2 Morph LFO Depth
K1+K3+E3 Morph LFO Rate
K2+E1 Shuffle Volumes
K2+E2 / K2+E3 Selected Volume / Other Volumes
K3+E1 Shuffle Pitches
K3+E2 / K3+E3 Selected Pitch / Other Pitches
K1+K2+E1 Tilt EQ
K1+K2+E2 / K1+K2+E3 HPF / LPF
K2+K3+E1/E2/E3 Reverb / Delay / Shimmer Mix

Keys
K2 / K3 Navigate Voices
K1+K2 Load Random Audio
K2+K3 Lock Selected Voice
K1+K2+K3 Reseed Voices
K1 hold Morph Toggle
K1+K2 hold Freeze Voice
K1+K3 hold Freeze All

notes

Voices take fewer layers each as you load more files (14 for one voice, 10 for two voices, 6 for three, 5 for four, 4 for five and six). Long files are sliced: Slice Length under SOURCE decides how much is taken, from a random position in the file. Loop recording saves a seamless loop to dust/audio/grains/.

credits