# Borderlands Granular — Discover sounds within sounds. > Granular synthesis app for creating evolving sound textures and timbres. (iPhone/iPad app by Chris Carlson.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borderlands-granular/id561369733 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Chris Carlson](https://appshunter.io/developer/561369736) - Category: Music, Entertainment - Price: $19.99 - Rating: 4.80/5 from 124 App Store ratings · 207 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 119 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2012-10-16 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borderlands-granular/id561369733/reviews.md ## What is Borderlands Granular? Touch, transform, and explore sound with granular synthesis, a technique involving the superposition of tiny fragments of sound, or “grains," to create complex, evolving timbres and textures. “The best app for exploring sound just got better... This is 'go out and buy an iPad to run it' good stuff.“ -Peter Kirn, Create Digital Music “Borderlands has floored us. It is very rare that we find an app that is not only fun to use, but extremely useful. It is truly inspiring. The interface is stunning, the sounds are so evocative: they're a film composer's dream.” Paul Hepker and Mark Kilian, Film Composers (Tsotsi, Rendition, Eye in the Sky) “It’s beautiful, it’s absolutely great. It goes in a completely new direction. I wish software companies would make more [programs] like that for the computer and not only for the iPad.” Christian Fennesz, Experimental Musician. Interview from Tiny Mix Tapes, May 2014 “When I first saw the demo video for Borderlands Granular in 2012, my jaw hit the floor. My first thought was ‘THIS is what making music on an iPad should be.’” Sean Garland, iOSMars.com About ------------ Create, drag, and throw pulsing clouds of grains over a landscape of audio files, or use the built-in accelerometer to sculpt sound with gravity. Borderlands comes ready to play with default sample content included, but you can also load and export your own sounds via Audiobus, Audioshare, and real time input from the mic or external audio interfaces. Re-sample recordings made within the app on-the-fly for layers-upon-layers of granulation. You can also improvise alongside the app - touches and parameters may be recorded, looped, stored, and duplicated. Entire configurations of clouds, sounds, and automation can be saved into presets, or “scenes,” that may be recalled at a later time, allowing Borderlands to seamlessly transition between the studio and the stage. More information is available at www.borderlands-granular.com Instagram: borderlands_granular Twitter: @BorderlandsiPad Facebook: BorderlandsGranular ## Key features - Granular synthesis engine - Touch and accelerometer control - Load and export custom audio - Audiobus and Audioshare integration - Real-time input and re-sampling - Preset and scene saving - Looping and automation recording ## Recent user reviews (10 of 207) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borderlands-granular/id561369733/reviews.md ### 5/5 — original beauty and USEFUL *2026-02-17, version 2.1.3* you really don't see a lot of warez that do everything they need to, and not everything they dont, and this one plays friends with all the things that it needs to to inegrate and really puts a unique interface with alot of depth .. lots of different pitentials in reach when you once you can create complicated automations..and get how much you can actually fit into a scene!! As software developer I know say you gotta give them enough rope to hang themselves or it's just not strong enough to make great work, and this thing definitely has enough rope. ### 5/5 — Love *2026-02-16, version 2.1.3* I can’t put into words how much I still love this app all these years later. Superb. Inspiring. Genius. ### 5/5 — Thenk youuuu *2026-02-04, version 2.1.3* My absolute favorite sound app ever, and the updates keep coming with the years. I feel deep admiration for Chris Carlson, the creator of this app. Thank you so much!!! ### 2/5 — Import *2025-08-28, version 2.1.3* I cn’t import unless i buy audi share?? It seems like there is no other way to import… so buy this app, and have to buy another ### 3/5 — Pas auv3 *2025-03-17, version 2.1.3* Intéressant, mais je pensais que cette app était jouable depuis Aum, une mise à jour dans ce sens en 2026 serait bien appréciable. L’application quitte inopinément sur ios16. ### 1/5 — Nothing to recommend _ wouldn‘t buy it again *2025-01-16, version 2.1.3* Although a bit old the pictures looked promissing so I bought the app. Weile nicely working as a standalone version, it Crashs immediately in Loopy Pro and AUM on a new iPad Pro - this is rediculous and useless. ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2025-01-06, version 2.1.3* I am new to the iPad being used for music, and this app appeared on everyone’s must have apps, and they were right. It’s so easy to get lost in its musical possibilities and I use it in every thing I create. ### 5/5 — Granular synthesis gateway to blissfullness *2024-07-30, version 2.1.3* I started my granular synthesis journey with this app about 10years ago, the interface design, the ease of use and the depth keep me coming back. Read Curtis Roads “micro sound” and start your journey. Highly recommended ### 3/5 — Ausências importantes *2024-05-19, version 2.1.3* O fato de não suportar AUv3 e não ter MIDI I/O e consequentemente, MIDI Learn é um desperdício pra tanto potencial. ### 5/5 — Absolutely unreal *2024-04-26, version 2.1.3* I caught a video on YouTube the other day looking to catch up on how iOS music making was coming along and saw a bit of a showcase on this app. I knew from those couple of minutes this was right up my alley so I took the plunge. Very glad I did! Very easy to pick up and get started with a good tutorial and simple controls. I imported a couple of my own short demos I had laying around and created something new out of them in minutes! Being able to set a nice stage then have a node or two to perform with makes for some really use cases for unique sounds. Definitely will be using this heavily on my next album later this year :) ## Frequently asked questions about Borderlands Granular ### What is Borderlands Granular? Borderlands Granular is a mobile application that utilizes granular synthesis to create complex and evolving sound textures. It allows users to manipulate tiny fragments of sound, known as 'grains,' to sculpt unique timbres and atmospheric soundscapes. ### What are the key features of Borderlands Granular? Key features include a powerful granular synthesis engine, intuitive touch and accelerometer controls for sound sculpting, the ability to load and export custom audio files, integration with Audiobus and Audioshare, real-time audio input, re-sampling capabilities, and the option to save and recall entire sound configurations as presets or 'scenes'. ### How much does Borderlands Granular cost? The application is a paid app, meaning there is an upfront purchase cost to download and use it. There are no in-app purchases or subscriptions mentioned for additional features or content. ### What devices is Borderlands Granular compatible with? While the description specifically mentions iPad in several testimonials, it is generally understood to be an iOS application. For precise compatibility information, it is recommended to check the app store listing for your specific device and iOS version. ### Who would benefit from using Borderlands Granular? This app is ideal for musicians, sound designers, film composers, and experimental artists who are looking for innovative ways to create unique sounds. Its capabilities are well-suited for generating atmospheric textures, evolving soundscapes, and complex timbres for various creative projects. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.1.3 — 2020-05-13 //2.1.3 improvements Bluetooth output now works consistently! Fix for invisible text input / save dialog color for ipads running dark mode //2.1.2. improvements: -New scenes from Arovane and Cristian Vogel -Panning inversion fixed! -Clouds resist tiny movements when ADSR is enabled (to prevent accidental drag while playing the trigger pad) -Ring mod amount param smoothed to remove zipper noise. -Scene browser extended to fill screen height on larger iPads -Randomize sound position button moved to settings menu to avoid accidental presses. ------------- New in 2.1 // Tempo sync -Ableton Link support. -New sync division (1/256 notes up to 4 bars), beat offset (triplet, dotted, etc), and sync phase parameters when beat sync is turned on for grain cloud. -Tap tempo control for beat synced grain clouds. //New Parameters -Semitone tuning option for grain clouds with 6 octave range (-36 to +36 st) -Grain trigger probability -Ring modulation -Vibrato amount ///Envelope Mode -ADSR envelope may be turned on and modified for each grain cloud. -A trigger pad appears inside the grain cloud and allows simultaneous envelope triggering and dragging of the cloud. //Automation updates -Sound file position, size, and rotation may now be automated with gesture recording. -“Ghost clouds” now appear for automated clouds when they are touched. Primary cloud stays stationary, making it easy to capture/edit clouds actively moving around the screen. - "Background touch modes” - touch screen background to activate ghost clouds for all automated grain clouds, second touch to pause all parameter automation, third touch to pause all position automation. -Global automation speed can be increased to 40x original speed. New automation speed is recorded relative to current global automation speed. //Input / Output changes -New “Waterfall” input mode streams audio in from right to left allowing for complex granular FX. Original looping mode is still an option and can be set per sound. -Files support allows easy access to the Borderlands documents directory. -Overdub level allows sound on sound realtime input recording -New audiobus trigger for adding input recordings. -------------------- Other Improvements -------------------- -Audiobus 3 support -Borderlands Presets and Artist Scenes section added to scenes browser with example content. -Longer max grain duration - 6 seconds. Older scenes will still load with 3 second max. -48 and 96 kHz sample rate options -Input can be monitored anytime, not just when audio is recording. -Realtime input buffers now use double buffering to reduce playhead conflicts with grain playback. -Tempo and automation speed values are now saved / loaded with scenes -Clouds can be rotated and moved simultaneously by touching and dragging with two fingers. -Cloud position can now be automated while cloud is in parameter edit mode. -Automated clouds only delete when full path is offscreen (i.e. no accidental deletion of clouds that have been automated) -Parameter automation begins playback on touch release. -Two finger touch of automated cloud pauses automation when cloud is not in edit mode. -Pitch, duration, vibrato, and volume now impact grains as they are playing (rather than being queued for the next grain), resulting in responsive, instantaneous parameter changes. -“Open blank” option in settings allows you to load blank workspace on launch -Drop folders of sounds into the documents directory. Folder becomes header in the recordings browser. -Switched keys to dark gray -Solo clouds by with mute button and cloud touch -Input recording from line in / mic is working again on iOS 12. -Gravity / cloud edge mode functionality now works when app is in the background -Fixed crash that could occur when deleting clouds while accelerometer is on. -Pan automation values now update properly. -Blank scene can now be saved without freezing the app ### 2.1.2 — 2020-05-05 //2.1.2. improvements: -Bluetooth headphones / speaker support -New scenes from Arovane and Cristian Vogel -Panning inversion fixed! -Clouds resist tiny movements when ADSR is enabled (to prevent accidental drag while playing the trigger pad) -Ring mod amount param smoothed to remove zipper noise. -Scene browser extended to fill screen height on larger iPads -Randomize sound position button moved to settings menu to avoid accidental presses. ------------- New in 2.1 // Tempo sync -Ableton Link support. -New sync division (1/256 notes up to 4 bars), beat offset (triplet, dotted, etc), and sync phase parameters when beat sync is turned on for grain cloud. -Tap tempo control for beat synced grain clouds. //New Parameters -Semitone tuning option for grain clouds with 6 octave range (-36 to +36 st) -Grain trigger probability -Ring modulation -Vibrato amount ///Envelope Mode -ADSR envelope may be turned on and modified for each grain cloud. -A trigger pad appears inside the grain cloud and allows simultaneous envelope triggering and dragging of the cloud. //Automation updates -Sound file position, size, and rotation may now be automated with gesture recording. -“Ghost clouds” now appear for automated clouds when they are touched. Primary cloud stays stationary, making it easy to capture/edit clouds actively moving around the screen. Ghost cloud continues to move grains down the automation path, merging with the primary cloud when editing is complete and the cloud is no longer touched. - "Background touch modes” - touch screen background to activate ghost clouds for all automated grain clouds, second touch to pause all parameter automation, third touch to pause all position automation. -Global automation speed can be increased to 40x original speed. New automation speed is recorded relative to current global automation speed. //Input / Output changes -New “Waterfall” input mode streams audio in from right to left allowing for complex granular FX. Original looping mode is still an option and can be set per sound. -Files support allows easy access to the Borderlands documents directory. -Overdub level allows sound on sound realtime input recording -New audiobus trigger for adding input recordings. -------------------- Other Improvements -------------------- -Audiobus 3 support -Borderlands Presets and Artist Scenes section added to scenes browser with example content. -Longer max grain duration - 6 seconds. Older scenes will still load with 3 second max. -48 and 96 kHz sample rate options -Input can be monitored anytime, not just when audio is recording. -Realtime input buffers now use double buffering to reduce playhead conflicts with grain playback. -Tempo and automation speed values are now saved / loaded with scenes -Clouds can be rotated and moved simultaneously by touching and dragging with two fingers. -Cloud position can now be automated while cloud is in parameter edit mode. -Automated clouds only delete when full path is offscreen (i.e. no accidental deletion of clouds that have been automated) -Parameter automation begins playback on touch release. -Two finger touch of automated cloud pauses automation when cloud is not in edit mode. -Pitch, duration, vibrato, and volume now impact grains as they are playing (rather than being queued for the next grain), resulting in responsive, instantaneous parameter changes. -“Open blank” option in settings allows you to load blank workspace on launch -Drop folders of sounds into the documents directory. Folder becomes header in the recordings browser. -Switched keys to dark gray -Solo clouds by with mute button and cloud touch -Input recording from line in / mic is working again on iOS 12. -Gravity / cloud edge mode functionality now works when app is in the background -Fixed crash that could occur when deleting clouds while accelerometer is on. -Pan automation values now update properly. -Blank scene can now be saved without freezing the app ### 2.1 — 2020-02-02 ------------- New features ------------- // Tempo sync -Clouds may optionally sync their grain triggers to the global tempo with Ableton Link support. -Tempo sync works with or without connected Ableton Link clients -New sync division (1/256 notes up to 4 bars), beat offset (triplet, dotted, etc), and sync phase parameters when beat sync is turned on for grain cloud. -Tap tempo control for beat synced grain clouds. //New Parameters For Grain Clouds -Semitone tuning option for grain clouds with 6 octave range (-36 to +36 st) -Grain trigger probability -Ring modulation -Vibrato amount ///Envelope Mode -Optional Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release (ADSR) envelope may be turned on and modified for each grain cloud. -A trigger pad appears inside the grain cloud and allows simultaneous envelope triggering and dragging of the cloud. -The trigger pad and envelope parameters are fully automatable via the same gesture recording method used throughout the app. //Automation updates -Sound file position, size, and rotation may now be automated with gesture recording. -“Ghost clouds” now appear for automated clouds when they are touched. Primary cloud stays stationary, making it easy to capture/edit clouds actively moving around the screen. Ghost cloud continues to move grains down the automation path, merging with the primary cloud when editing is complete and the cloud is no longer touched. - "Background touch modes” - touch screen background to activate ghost clouds for all automated grain clouds, second touch to pause all parameter automation, third touch to pause all position automation. -Global automation speed can be increased to 40x original speed. New automation speed is recorded relative to current global automation speed. //Input / Output changes -New “Waterfall” input mode streams audio in from right to left allowing for complex granular FX. Original looping mode is still an option and can be set per sound. -Files support allows easy access to the Borderlands documents directory. -Overdub level allows sound on sound realtime input recording -New audiobus trigger for adding input recordings. -------------------- Other Improvements -------------------- -Audiobus 3 support -Borderlands Presets and Artist Scenes section added to scenes browser with example content. -Longer max grain duration - 6 seconds. Older scenes will still load with 3 second max. -48 and 96 kHz sample rate options -Input can be monitored anytime, not just when audio is recording. -Realtime input buffers now use double buffering to reduce playhead conflicts with grain playback. -Tempo and automation speed values are now saved / loaded with scenes -Clouds can be rotated and moved simultaneously by touching and dragging with two fingers. -Cloud position can now be automated while cloud is in parameter edit mode. -Automated clouds only delete when full path is offscreen (i.e. no accidental deletion of clouds that have been automated) -Parameter automation begins playback on touch release. -Two finger touch of automated cloud pauses automation when cloud is not in edit mode. -Pitch, duration, vibrato, and volume now impact grains as they are playing (rather than being queued for the next grain), resulting in responsive, instantaneous parameter changes. -“Open blank” option in settings allows you to load blank workspace on launch -Drop folders of sounds into the documents directory. Folder becomes header in the recordings browser. -Switched keys to dark gray -Solo clouds by with mute button and cloud touch --------- Bugfixes --------- -Input recording from line in / mic is working again on iOS 12. -IAA loading issues fixed. -Gravity / cloud edge mode functionality now works when app is in the background -Fixed crash that could occur when deleting clouds while accelerometer is on. -Pan automation values now update properly. -Blank scene can now be saved without freezing the app -Location services removed from app -Removed airplane mode notification ### 2.0 — 2015-03-29 New Features: ----------------- Audiobus Sender, Filter, and Receiver support AudioShare import and export Real time audio input recording and granulation Gesture recording and looping for cloud parameters and positions Save and load "scenes" - presets of clouds, sounds, and automation Resonant filters for each grain cloud with per grain randomization ...and much more! Bugfixes: ----------------- Fixed common sources of crashes on launch. Better sample import options Better performance, hardware accelerated audio Support for external audio interfaces Improved memory handling Multiple sample rates and buffer sizes supported Interface rotation supported File sharing enabled ### 1.0 — 2012-10-16 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Borderlands Granular | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Rozeta Sequencer Suite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rozeta-sequencer-suite/id1292546479) | 4.8 (149) | $9.99 | Music | | [无损音乐播放器](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1483316840) | 3.0 (2) | $12.99 | Music | | [MasterQ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterq/id1485124580) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Music | | [Samplr](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samplr/id560756420) | 4.7 (149) | $19.99 | Music | | [Setlist Carrot - Setlist.fm](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/setlist-carrot-setlistfm/id1481784500) | 3.9 (15) | Free | Music | | [FM Radio - Local City &Country](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-radio-local-city-and-country/id1489584840) | 4.3 (6) | Free | Music | ## Related topics [oh yeah](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/oh-yeah) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*