ukdf has released GrainCharlie, available as a FREE download. Donations are welcomed.
GrainCharlie is a simple and free granular synthesizer. It includes the essential features of granular synthesis while keeping the workflow straightforward and easy to understand.
GrainCharlie has three operating modes:
- Melody is the standard granular synthesis mode. The sample is processed into grains, with the pitch following the MIDI notes you play.
- Slice allows you to divide a sample into individual slices and play them separately, similar to a traditional sampler. You can still use the granular synthesis controls while working with the slices, giving you additional control over their playback and texture.
- Slice Melody combines the Slice and Melody modes. You can divide a sample into individual slices, while the pitch of the slices changes according to the MIDI notes being played. This makes it possible to turn a single sample into melodies while retaining control over its individual slices.
Unison works as a traditional synthesizer unison mode, allowing multiple voices to be played together. It also includes Glide for creating smooth transitions between notes.
Polyphonic allows up to eight notes to be played simultaneously.
GrainCharlie provides controls for shaping both the individual grains and the overall sound:
- Length — controls grain length in milliseconds. It can also be synchronized to the project tempo using Sync.
- Grains — controls the number of grains and can also be synchronized to the project tempo using Sync.
- Position — controls the initial position within the sample from which grains are generated.
- Jitter — adds randomness by allowing the parameters to deviate from their set values. Higher values introduce more variation and unpredictability into the sound.
- Spray — controls how far grains can be generated from the initial Position within the sample.
- Pitch — transposes the entire output signal from -36 to +36 semitones.
- Pan — controls the stereo position.
- Pan Spread — randomly distributes individual grains across the stereo field.
- Attack — controls the attack when a note is played.
- Release — controls the release when a note is released.
- Reverse — randomly plays some grains in reverse.
- Glide — controls the transition between notes in Unison mode.
- Density — controls the density of the granular texture.
The goal was to keep the synthesizer flexible enough for sound design while avoiding unnecessary complexity. It can be used for traditional granular synthesis, but the Slice and Slice Melody modes also make it suitable for creating melodic material, unusual textures and experimental sounds.
GrainCharlie is available to PC and Mac users (VST3).
For more information and to download GrainCharlie, click here:
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