GrainHeads vs Somnideck

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.

A tape-deck-inspired looper that puts any sound on repeat – to settle someone to sleep, or to start your next song. No setup, no fuss, nothing to learn. Built for creatives and tired people alike. Open the app, press record, and ten seconds later you're up and running. But underneath, it's a real instrument – a real tool. LOOP MODE Some features require Studio. - Trim your loop on a draggable waveform, with visible, adjustable crossfade regions as the tape spins - Tune the pitch, shift the speed, or flip playback in reverse. Three controls for finding sounds you didn't expect - Drop in any audio file – a song, a sample, a voice memo – and shape it with the same tools - High-pass and low-pass EQ filters that snap to useful presets – or slide anywhere you want them - Powerful on-device denoise that reduces unwanted background noise – fans, traffic, or whatever is humming in the room – all without sending your audio anywhere - Studio-quality reverb, delay and tape-style saturation, each with presets that turn even the smallest sound into something with weight and atmosphere - Save a loop to a slot and find it where you left it, two hours or two months later NOISE MODE, DONE DIFFERENTLY Every sound in Noise Mode is original. Some features require Studio. Three categories: - 5 synthetic colors, each generated and tuned, live, in a real audio engine running on your phone - 9 field recordings captured on location with some of the world's quietest microphones – wind in an ancient forest canopy, the comforting crackle of a fire pit, the warm sonic embrace of a road trip, the waves lapping next to a Hawaiian lanai at night, and more – each held to AAA audio standards in capture and post-production. - Nocturne, a 45-minute original composition that loops seamlessly. Written to settle a newborn – and now, anyone who listens. Layer it under any synthetic color or field recording for a soundscape mix that's entirely yours. These sound good out of your phone speaker. Out of headphones, they sound extraordinary. TAKE IT WITH YOU Somnideck doesn't stop at the app's edge. - You're only ever five taps away from turning your latest masterpiece – be it the old-timey horn on your bike, or your child's bubbly laugh, into a custom ringtone you can keep and use forever. And Somnideck automatically boosts it as loud as it can be, so it stands the best chance of cutting through from your pocket. - For creatives: Export any loop as a seamless WAV with the crossfade baked into the audio, so the loop-point is invisible the moment it lands in Logic Pro, Cubase, Ableton, or GarageBand. Normally a complex process in expensive desktop software – Somnideck does it in a handful of taps. STUDIO Studio gives you the full audio creation suite – all 9 field recordings, Nocturne, the complete effects rack, pitch and speed, reverse playback, export, audio import, the sleep timer, and expanded loop storage. The looper, the synthetic noise generator, and one field recording are always free. Available monthly, annually, or as a one-time lifetime purchase. WHO IT'S FOR - Creatives who want a real, inspirational audio sketchpad that lives natively on their phone - Parents at 3 a.m. who need calm, fast - Anyone looking to settle, focus, or wind down at the end of the day PRIVACY Somnideck collects no data. No accounts, no third-party SDKs, no analytics, no tracking. Your recordings stay on your device, and denoise runs locally. A powerhouse that can stay shallow or go as deep as you need. Press record and you're done – or disappear into it for an hour. Both paths are first-class.