PolyPipe vs Descent Granulator

PolyPipe is a multi-lane, polyphonic AUv3 sequencer plugin designed for creating evolving musical patterns rather than fixed, repetitive loops. Instead of thinking in terms of a single step sequence, PolyPipe lets you build multiple independent lanes, each with its own rhythm, pitch logic, octave behavior, probability, and modulation data — all running together as a coherent musical system. It comprises elements of some of my favourite sequencers of all time, all rolled into a single interface. At its core, PolyPipe takes incoming MIDI notes (or internally generated notes) and uses them as a musical “seed.” These notes are then processed through patterns, scales, transposition rules, and step logic to generate new musical phrases in real time. This makes it especially suited for generative music, complex arpeggiation, bass-and-chord splitting, and long-form evolving sequences. Each lane in PolyPipe is its own sequencer voice. A lane contains one or more patterns, and each pattern is made up of steps. Steps don’t just define when a note plays — they can also define how it plays. A step can include pitch offsets, velocity, gate length, strumming, probability, repeats (ratchets), ties for legato behavior, and even chord information. Patterns can be enabled or disabled independently, shifted by octaves, and combined with global transposition. Because lanes can have different lengths, directions, and step modes, the resulting sequences naturally phase against each other, creating variation without manual intervention. PolyPipe applies musical logic at the MIDI output stage rather than hard-coding notes upfront. Pitch values can be forced into a chosen scale and key, allowing even highly experimental patterns to stay musically coherent. Different step modes (such as forward, backward, ping-pong, random, chord, bass, or hybrid note/chord modes) let each lane behave differently, from traditional arpeggios to controlled chaos. PolyPipe Sequencer is built for musicians who want to explore ideas quickly, create unique patterns, and discover results they wouldn’t think to program manually. It rewards experimentation: small changes to probability, repeats, or step logic can dramatically alter the musical output while staying rhythmically locked and musically usable. PolyPipe Features ○ Multi-Lane Sequencer: with 4 independent lanes. ○ Pattern-Based Structure: where each lane contains multiple patterns. ○ Advanced Step Parameters: including pitch offset, velocity, gate length, auto-roll, repeats (ratchets), and legato ties. ○ Chord-Aware Steps: allowing steps to trigger chords, rotated voicing, or individual notes depending on lane mode. ○ Multiple Step Modes such as Up, Down, Ping-Pong, Random, Drunk, Chord, Bass, and hybrid note/chord modes. ○ Chord Strumming: allowing guitar like strumming patterns. ○ Polyrhythmic Playback: through lanes and patterns of differing lengths and directions. ○ Probabilistic Sequencing: with per-step chance and variable repeat behavior for evolving patterns. ○ Octave Transposition Control: per pattern and globally for rapid harmonic variation. ○ MIDI CC Sequencing: allowing lanes to output modulation data. ○ Real-Time MIDI Interaction: where incoming notes influence pitch selection, chords, and playback behavior. ○ Live-Safe Parameter Editing: with immediate feedback and no need to stop playback. ○ Generative-Focused Design: optimized for long-form evolving sequences rather than static loops. ○ Long Patterns: up to 32 steps in length, chain-able up to 128 steps. ○ 4 MIDI Output Ports: allowing each of the 4 phase-locked arpeggiators to be routed to a different instrument. ○ Global Swing: allowing 8th- and 16th-note swing across all 4 arpeggiators. ○ Rhythm Generator: creates rhythmic patterns that are none chord/scale specific.

Descent is a real-time granular effect that captures incoming audio, breaks it into tiny grains, and scatters them across time and pitch. The result: everything from subtle thickening and rhythmic delays to vast frozen soundscapes and shimmering pitch-shifted clouds. GRANULAR ENGINE Control up to 50 simultaneous grains with independent settings for duration, overlap, and envelope shape. Play grains forward, reverse, or randomly mixed for tape-style effects, reverse swells, and glitchy textures. PITCH SHIFTING WITH QUANTIZATION Transpose from -24 to +24 semitones. Lock pitch shifts to specific intervals—octaves, fifths, or any chromatic combination—for harmonically correct shimmer and transposition effects. SIX-AXIS RANDOMIZATION Independently randomize pitch, pan, position, amplitude, duration, and grain count. Dial in subtle organic movement or push into complete textural chaos. DIFFUSION AND FEEDBACK High-feedback mode with a diffusion control transforms delays into lush, reverb-like washes that never get harsh or run away from you. TEMPO SYNC Lock grain timing to your session's tempo or let textures evolve freely in untethered mode. 35 FACTORY PRESETS Covering shimmers, delays, reverbs, pitch effects, and experimental sound design. Cross-platform XML presets are compatible across all Audio Damage plugin formats and operating systems. SOUND DESIGN IDEAS Add subtle depth with a few long grains and minimal randomization Create rhythmic delays with short, quantized grains at high feedback Build infinite sustain pads by freezing audio with high grain count and overlap Craft shimmer effects by quantizing pitch to octaves and fifths Transform vocals into ethereal textures with diffusion and wide panning AUv3 compatible. Runs standalone or hosted in AUM, ApeMatrix, Audiobus, Cubasis, GarageBand, and other AUv3 hosts on iOS 13 or newer. From Audio Damage—making creative software for discerning musicians since 2002.