Ben Carey

Microsonic FM is a polyphonic granular synthesiser for Max4Live, based on quasi-synchronous granular synthesis techniques. It's capable of creating anything from sparse and bubbling textures to lush, warm pads:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YOat5-9g7A

In contrast to sample-based granulators, each grain in Microsonic FM is synthesised using the technique of Frequency Modulation. FM-based granular synthesis was used in Barry Truax's original digital implementation of granular synthesis, as heard in his famous piece 'Riverrun'.

The device allows access to all typical parameters available in FM synthesis such as Modulation Ratio, Modulation Index etc. However, as these are applied per grain, controls are provided to apply randomised variations per grain, enabling the creation of extremely dense and complex textures. The synth is also polyphonic in the traditional sense, allowing playback of up to 8 grainstreams simultaneously.

The Window Function control has been adapted from Robert Henke's much loved Granulator device, and a fantastic Moog-style ladder filter has been implemented courtesy of Peter McColluch's PM.ladder~ external.

This is the first release of this synth, so comments and suggestions welcome. It is not the most efficient on CPU usage. When I have the time I would like to rebuild the synth voices entirely in gen~. I'll leave that for another day!

microsonic-fm-fm-based-granular-synthesiser

I'd be interested in translating this to gen for or with you . . .

Microsonic FM - FM-based granular synthesiser