Descent Granulator vs GrainHeads

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.

GrainHeads is a granular synthesizer that turns any sound into something entirely new. Built for sound designers, musicians, and experimental producers who want deep, hands-on control over texture and motion. Multi-source granular engine Load material into four sample slots and deploy independent playheads — each targeting its own source. Blend, crossfade, or dynamically switch between samples using modulation. The result: rich, multi-layered textures that evolve continuously without repetition. Shape every grain Each playhead carries a full set of granular parameters — position, scan speed, grain size, pitch, chance — plus a drawable grain envelope. Sculpt transient character using splinter or Bézier curves for anything from soft clouds to sharp, percussive fragments. Modulate everything, from everywhere A summing modulation matrix lets multiple sources target the same parameter simultaneously. Assign LFOs, envelopes, and sequencer lanes to virtually any control — including sample slot selection, filter cutoff, and even other LFOs. Filter envelopes add per-step timbral motion in Sequencer mode. Sequencer with parameter lanes Go beyond note patterns. The step sequencer locks any parameter per step — pitch, position, filter, grain size — with polyrhythmic lengths and clock divisions. Each playhead runs its own sequence independently. Macros for expressive control Four macro axes map multiple parameters to simple X/Y gestures — Time Smear, Spatial Bloom, Degradation, Complexity. Combined with the 4-finger 2D touch pad controlling up to 8 parameters, GrainHeads becomes a performance instrument. Effects that reshape the signal A re-routable effects chain includes delay, reverb, lo-fi degradation, and filtering — with adjustable signal flow so effects interact in the order you choose. Key Features • AUv3 instrument and effect plugins — use standalone or inside your DAW • Up to 8 independent granular playheads • 4 sample slots with per-playhead source selection • Drawable grain envelope (splinter / Bézier curves) • Summing modulation matrix — multiple LFOs, envelopes, and sequencer lanes per target • LFO-on-LFO modulation for deeply nested movement • Step sequencer with parameter locking and polyrhythmic clock divisions • Filter envelope per step (Sequencer mode) • Per-playhead dual Moog-style ladder filter (self-oscillating, with overdrive) with link and mirror modes • 4 macro axes (X/Y pads) for multi-parameter gestures • Re-routable effects section (delay, reverb, lo-fi, noise, limiter) • Scale quantization — chromatic, major, minor, and exotic modes • Dice — one-tap randomization for instant inspiration • Ableton Link • Import/export presets • Customizable look and feel PRO version unlocks loading external samples and microphone recording. GrainHeads turns granular synthesis into a hands-on instrument — not a menu-diving exercise.