Granular 2 Mux (New Update Ver 1e)

[pekbro]

So I made this ridiculous granular synth, and I would like to make
a drone mode for it, so it can play continuously on its own (like granite).

The step sequencer and the sequence player require midi input to start.
I'm not even sure the player is working actually, I'm assuming it does, but I cant really tell
because it wont play without input for me, certainly not continuously.
(A latch mode would be great btw)

Anyway, I need to send a single midi note internally and have it function independently
of the transport.

Is this possible, if so any ideas? Sry if there is an obvious solution, I am a beginner
with Mulab

-Cheers

Here is a pic of the synth, I will share it before long if anyone is interested.
It will require some explanation so I would need to write all that up first.
Also its still experimental and I need to make some more presets.

[pljones]

Just wondering if putting a sequence player module in would do the trick? You'd need to start it off but it might then carry on until the sequence stopped -- and if you can loop the sequence that might do? I've not actually looked into it, though.

Oh - and "Wow!"

[MuTools]

There is no such specific module (yet) to generate a specific event upon patch start.

Good looking front panel!

[pekbro]

Excellent that is encouraging. The synth does actually work, but it seems there may be some limitations.
Currently grain density is low, I still need to find the limits. So far it seems I have only been able to
cycle through about 200 (10 ms) grains per sec before Mulab crashes. Of course this wasn't done with much
precision so hopefully that will improve.


It still makes cool sounds at low density and therefore is fun to play with.

-Cheers

*Anyway, I need to think about it some more as well, there might be a better way
to go about things than what I have done so far.

[AndreasD]

I had a similar problem when cloning a Trigger Riot.

It's a bit convoluted, but it's working reliably.

Note on Start.jpg

It's an LFO, not connected to Event In. It's output converted to audio, into an Envelope Follower that generate notes.
Just setup your part to ignore the repeat notes.

A patch is attached as well.
- i want your patch in return -

[AndreasD]

I just realized that you can replace the previous LFO with a multi point envelope.
Those start at initialization if not connected to the event in.

If you set it up as follow, you get only 1 note on start.

Seq Starter.jpg

[pekbro]

Thanks, Ill have a look at that. For now its just a matter of finding the right
time vs density playback cycle for me, then Ill figure out how to share it.

Either Mulab isn't designed for highspeed cycling through the wave table
or I need to find a better method.

Just a matter of trial and error then Ill provide the patch.

-Cheers

PS: Im talking highspeed here, for sounds with quality similar to granite or
padshop were going to need Mulab to playback several hundred slices per/sec.
Pretty sure Mulab is up to the task but there are a lot of variables I need to
take into account.

[pekbro]

Some more oscilloscope shots:

Quasi synchronous granular synthesis:



Pitch synchronous:



I think so anyway...

500 steps, 1000 grain samples...

[pekbro]

Ok here is version 1:


The main thing you have to do is slice up your sample correctly. Mux requires
2x the number of steps the oscillator is set up for in grain samples. So if you
want 300 steps you will need to make 600 slices.

Slices should be between 10 and 50 milliseconds for granular synthesis apparently.
So the best way to do it is to add recurring markers. Make sure to set the time for
milliseconds, then pick your first time in ms. Delta time is the interval (grain length).
Remember to make twice as many as the number of wave table steps.

Under the Osc source select "Add multiple samples" from your first to last marker.
You probably need to run a Normalize transform on it, then hit render.

See pic:



That's about it. Mux limits you to 1024 steps so 2048 grain samples.
The trick to the synth is in the envelope that controls movement through
the wave table. Experiment with these for different sounds.

The pitch Mod LFO's are linked to each other and the playback envelopes,
not really necessary but I thought it cool sounding.

The filters are for sound sculpting... The grain envelope is mostly for
performing but if you mess with it too much you'll break the drone which is
dependent on fast attack and release. Cutting the sustain will also break
the drone.

The idea for the compressor is to duck incoming audio, it does that but doesn't seem
to do it in relation to the incoming audio. Maybe someone can fix that, I haven't
looked into it as yet.

Obviously the rack is for your effects, at a minimum you will likely want your favorite
reverb which is a big part of the granular sound we are all used to.

The synth is really very simple, but interesting. You can play it like an instrument
but its really meant to be used as a drone. Send it a single note and let it loop,
the characteristic granular sound kinda needs to build up as the grains overlap and
flow into each other. Play with all the knobs they will change the sound in various ways.

Have fun and cheers.

BTW: the thing is huge, those with small monitors might have trouble. It fills a good
portion of my screen at 1920 x 1080

**Granular 2 Mux Ver 1c**

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9g5q2 ... sp=sharing

[VariKusBrainZ]

Awesome, can't wait to try.

Makes an excellent change from the countless synth clones others are making

[pekbro]

Thanks! Hope you have fun with it.

I recommend a lot of grains. If its not fast enough you can shorten the length of
the envelope quite a bit, I got it to loop at 1 sec actually, but it wasn't happy
about it. *Once I started messing with the multipliers anyway.

*Actually, slowing the loop down gave the most interesting sounds.

Envelopes should be mostly linear, but a shallow saw works well too, that's kind of
how granite does it.

-Cheers

[Michael L]

This is a cool invention pekbro, with a quite useful choice of parameters to shape the sound. I followed your recommendations and made a nice melodic drone!

[pekbro]

Thanks Michael,

And thanks for pointing me to the multi oscillator in the first place.
This was the direct result.

-Cheers

*If you play around with it, you'll find you can make some nice
keys, synth or percussion sounds as well. Also armies marching.
I found them quite lush sounding actually.

The key to the playable sounds is the Grain Envelope, although
I'm not sure its quite correct it call it that.

[VariKusBrainZ]

It's normal for a synth or the machine it's on to be under strain when using long grains in a granular synth, all those voices!!!

[AndreasD]

Thanks for the patch!!

With heavily transposed down and a straight or bent line i get all the weird and wonderfull pitch changes without a change in length.

I used it by using one long sample cut in equally long slices, which obviously will click because the samples are not ending at zero.

For your drone mode, just take away the event in from the playback envelope and the oscillator and the modulation from the ADSR to the amplifier. It will start to run after loading and never stop.
Thanks for inserting a rack that provides a mute button

About Mulab's speed with wavetables, you should modulate osc1 index with osc2 output. I get terriffic results with regular single cycle waveforms. Haven't tried with sample grains. But I can now!

Cool idea for drones. thanks!!