Envelope Following Granulator, anyone?

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I haven't seen a good envelope-following-granulator anywhere, and I have a decent idea for one that could produce some pretty neat results, if anybody is interested in taking it on.

Here's the theory:

1) Code a basic granulating effect, and add a sampler to it.
2) Load a sample in the sampler.
3) The effect then uses the amplitude level of the incoming signal to zip around the audio sample that is loaded in the sampler.

Controls:

-Envelope Following Strength and ADSR
-Sample Offset Controls (have it only play a certain range of the sample in the sampler)
-Grain Length
-Time Between Grains, and a Tempo-Sync Grains option.
-the usual controls (dry/wet, filters, etc)

I made a simple Reaktor Ensemble that illustrates what I'm talking about here. In mine, it only has the grains tempo synced.. but I think it would be cool if there were an option to switch off tempo-syncing, and have it rapidly playing the grains in a fluid manner.

The "Envelope Release" knob doesn't work right either.. I fiddled with it for days... I was trying to get it to increase/decrease the range-of-play in the sample, but couldn't figure it out.

Here it is:

http://s95057110.onlinehome.us/GranuRhythm.ens

Instructions:

1) Stick it as an insert effect on a channel (preferrably one that is playing a rhythm).
2) Load a sample into the sampler (an evolving pad sounds nice)
3) Route a midi channel to Reaktor, and start playing notes.

Fiddle with the tempo-sync knobs to get the right division you want, and play on beat, cause the tempo-syncing starts when you hit the midi note (doesn't snap to the nearest grid).

Anyway, that's the idea.. I've been dreaming about it for years now, and this Reaktor ensemble is as far as I got with it. Maybe someone here (Koen?) is interested in taking it further?

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Nice idea indeed! I don't have much free time at the moment and I'm still working on KTDrumTrigger, so I don't think it's a good idea to start with yet another unfinished thing ;-)
BUT, I can make a suggestion: did you try the following setup:
1. setup an instance of KTGranulator as follows:
- record some live sound
- press "freeze" (so you have a buffer of audio)
- lock the delay sliders
- use the MIDI learn feature in KTGranulator to attach a MIDI CC to the "min delay" parameter (see read me file for how to do this)
2. get an audio-to-MIDI convertor (like Ultram from Jaltoh ?) that converts audio envelope to MIDI CC (feel it coming?) [you could also use Bidule to do the audio-to-MIDI envelope conversion]
3. connect your modulating audio input to the audio-to-MIDI converter and send its MIDI output to KTGranulator
--> audio input envelope changes grain playback position in KTGranulator buffer

Maybe it's not exactly what you had in mind, but it's close I think. Hope this helps...

Koen

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Wow, what a brilliant idea! I will try that immediately and let you know how it works out.

ps: I like how you wrote "feel it coming?" :D

by the way, do you still want some of those audio examples for KTGranulator?

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Hmm... Ultram crashes SX2 immediately upon load. Do you know of any others? I noticed mdsp made one, but it's for OSX only :(

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Made one with Reaktor, and that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the tip, Koen!

I can definitely hang with this until somebody decides to make an all-in-one plug. :D

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Glad it worked out for you with Reaktor!
And there should be other small plugins doing envelope following and sending out MIDI CC's accordingly, I would think...
KiloWatts wrote:by the way, do you still want some of those audio examples for KTGranulator?
Oh yes, I do!
If you can send me a clean and a processed version that'd be great!

Koen

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KoenTanghe wrote:there should be other small plugins doing envelope following and sending out MIDI CC's accordingly,
Check for the Env2MIDI plugin in the MDSP section at smartelectronix.com :P

nF

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Never fear, I've spent the last 6 hours perfecting this, so here it is:

http://s95057110.onlinehome.us/Audio_Env_to_MIDI.ens

btw, NicFit, mDSP's plug is only for OSX.

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KiloWatts wrote: btw, NicFit, mDSP's plug is only for OSX.
Did you try the link with this image on that page?
Image

Runs fine on Win XP here ;)

nF

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oh... wasn't aware that env2midi was included in that zipfile. ;)

Oh well, at least I know a little more about reaktor now!

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[hint]
try bidule. it has functionality comparable to Reaktor, but can do a lot of things Reaktor CAN'T, midi and VST effects being one of them
[/hint]

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it seems that my page is confusing people:

all my MIDI plugs are available on win32
MIDI tools win32

while only env2midi has been ported to OSX.
env2midi OSX

cheers

remy

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