Size 16 MB / 17.3 MB PolyGAS (Polyphonic Granular Advanced Synthesizer) is based on a granular method of sound synthesis. 32-part polyphony. Support of files of samples in the WAV and AIFF formats, digit capacity of 8,16,24 and 32-bits / sample, mono / stereo.

The Hadron plugin is your ultimate granular synthesis tool. In fact it is such a complete implementation of granular synthesis we’ve renamed the technique to particle synthesis. The plugin is of course free and open source. For your convenience, we’ve made a preset system allowing you to quickly get started making music with it. Ribs Is A FREE Granular Effect VST Plugin By Eugene Yakshin By Tomislav Zlatic on June 8, 2020 News Eugene Yakshin has released Ribs, a freeware granular effect in VST plugin format for 32-bit and 64-bit digital audio workstations on Windows (UPDATE: also available for macOS since v1.1 and as a standalone app since v1.2). Over 90 parameters which may be modulated multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors extensive tempo sync of envelopes/lforates/delay times, built-in size 23.4 MB / 23.4 MB / 45.8 MB Crystal is a semi-modular software synthesizer featuring both subtractive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis.

What Is Granulation In Music?

In granulation, audio is broken down into small pieces called “grains” that are in the range of 1 to 100 ms in length. Several grains played in order to give us back the original sample. In music production, individual grains can be edited in many ways.

Think of it like an animation movie, which is made by taking many frames of action and playing them back to back at a specific speed to result in a “moving picture”. Grains can be layered, removed, looped, have their playing order changed, and so on. After manipulating and arranging the grains according to requirements, the next step is to blend the grains together. This is done through a process known as “smoothing”, whereby volume cross-fades are applied to help blend the grains. The resulting tone and sound highly depend on the shape and length of those crossfades.

17 Best Free EQ Plugins
The 15 Best Delay Plugins For Mixing (VST, AU, AAX)
10 Best Noise Gate Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
10 Best Opto Compressor Plugins (VST,AU,AAX) For Transparent Sound

How Granular Synthesis Works?

Granular Synthesis allows users to edit the formant characteristics, pitch, and speed of samples individually and in real-time. It’s a primary technology used in modern-day pitch-shifting and time-warping techniques. However, its usage extends beyond that to create various unique soundscapes.

Granular synthesis is a tremendously powerful system for audio manipulation and sound design. Additionally, granular synthesis can also be used to create new shifting sounds by a very simple approach.

What is a Granulizer Plugin?

Granulizer plugin is a plugin that uses granular synthesis. The source material for a granulizer plugin is an audio wave sample that the user loads into the plugin. This audio sample is then chopped up into several grains and is then edited independently.

To attain different tonal effects, the length and spacing of the grains are adjusted.

The second alternative how to use the granulizer plugin is to open your favorite instrument in your DAW and put the granulizer effect to it, and then simply adjust the parameters in your granular plugin. This method doesn’t require audio samples.

1. Output PORTAL Review

More Info & Price (100% Risk-Free)

Performing as exciting as it looks, Portal by Output is a remarkable granular synthesis plugin and is arguably the best on this list.

Portal is a multi-effect granular synthesis plugin with a focus on in-depth grain manipulation and modulation. Much like the rest of Output plugins, Portal comes equipped with a stunning looking user interface which makes its usage much more enjoyable. Its effects section which is the main section is made up of 2 processors in series located between the granulator and the master bus. The processors are used to affect both the dry/original signal and the granulated signal.

Key Features:

2 processors for control over both the dry and granulated signals
Portal packs a massive number of presets (over 250 presets), each with a different sound design to help users understand the plugin’s capabilities
Granular parameters are linked to a circular visualizer which enable the user to visualize the effect
Portal has a grain delay which is capable of being tempo-synced to match the project BPM
Pitch modulation that is based on the musical scale which is pretty unique for this plugin
Portal provides the user with 7 built-in FX and an extra master compressor and filter
A readout panel which allows the users to understand the controls in more detail easily

Compatibility:

This plugin requires Windows 7 or higher for PC and OS X 10.9 or higher for Mac. It comes in VST/VST3/AU/AAX formats and supports both 32 and 64-bit devices.Check Output PORTAL on Pluginboutique.

Overall, the Portal plugin by Output is a highly powerful plugin and is one of the most successful demonstrations of granular synthesis, and we highly recommend it as a long term use plugin. It’s pretty expensive that is a major setback for many users, but it’s worth it when you realize how this plugin sounds and looks.

2. Audio Damage Quanta Review

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Audio Damage is well known for their range of colorful and unruly effects. Quanta is their fourth virtual instrument and hybrid plugin, offering granular synthesis with an analog feel.

Quanta has a unique workflow that aims to simplify the notoriously complex concept of granular synthesis. However, it does not compromise on its synth controls and versatility for advanced sound designers who specialize in pads, ambiences, drones, and other sounds that are related to granular synthesis.

Key Features:

Quanta supports a wide range of sample formats, rates, channel configuration, and bit depth. Sample formats supported include MP3, AIFF, WAV, FLAC, and some more
Quanta is equipped with a powerful grain engine that can generate up to 100 grains per voice, with a duration of up to 1 second. Additionally, it has control over grain pitch, panning, direction, rate, length, level, sound position, and shape
Multimode filters in this plugin allow the user to use the filters in both series and parallel modes
Sample and hold feature allows users to sample noise and process it at a user-defined rate or a different musical division
Highly efficient factory presets with some designed by well-known producers and engineers like Joseph Fraioli, Richard Devine, and more
The resizable interface which maintains its high resolution, making it highly versatile for use over different display sizes

Compatibility:

This plugin requires Windows 8.1 or higher for PC and OS X 10.9 or higher for Mac. It comes in VST/VST3/AU/AAX formats with support for both 32 and 64 bits for Windows but only 64 bits for Mac devices. Get more info on Pluginboutique – check details here.

Overall, Quanta by Audio Damage is a magnificent granular synthesis plugin that is packed with features. It serves as an alternative to the Portal by Output plugin due to its cheaper price and a similar sound. You would have to try it out for yourself through their free trial and compare them.

3. Inertia Sound Systems Granulizer 2 Review

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Following the previous Granulizer plugin, Inertia Sound Systems has decided to do major refining and reshaping of one of their iconic plugins, and come up with the fresh and “icy” Granulizer 2.

On top of everything that the previous plugin had to offer, Granulizer 2 now allows users to have control over the grain size, speed, pitch, envelo

Granular Delay Vst Free