FRMS
by Imaginando · Synth · Granular synth
Not rated yet
FRMS is a granular synthesizer from Imaginando that turns any sample into a playable instrument, with up to 80 grains per voice across four layers.
It adds a ladder filter, a 24-slot modulation matrix, reverb, delay and MPE support, for €89 (about $101) or rent-to-own.
Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Ambient & Cinematic, Electronic & EDM.
Keywords: granular, textures, evolving, modulation matrix, pads, drones, MPE support, rent-to-own, polyphonic, beginner-friendly, cinematic, preset-driven, simple, sound design, tempo-synced.
What it does
FRMS is Imaginando's granular synthesizer, built for "sound designers & texture builders". You drop in a sample, and it chops it into tiny grains that you can scrub, freeze and spread into pads, drones and evolving tones.
- Grain engine: up to 80 grains per voice, with position scrub and freeze, and a per-grain Hann window envelope.
- Grain controls: position, density, length, spray, jitter and pitch, all set per grain.
- Layers and voices: up to four layers per patch, each with its own engine, and 8 voices of polyphony with dynamic allocation.
- Filter and envelopes: a non-linear, self-oscillating multimode filter with a 4-pole ladder option, plus two ADSR envelopes for amplitude and filter.
- Modulation: four LFOs with tempo sync, free-run and phase-lock modes, a 24-slot modulation matrix and MIDI Learn.
- MPE: per-voice pitch, slide and pressure for expressive controllers.
- Samples and sounds: drag-and-drop loading of WAV, AIFF and MP3 with automatic transient detection, an FX rack with reverb and delay, 163 factory presets and 18 expansion packs.
It is sold outright or rent-to-own, with a 14-day refund guarantee. The demo has no time limit but plays a short noise burst every 60 seconds and disables saving until you buy a license.
Source: Imaginando product page
When to use it
FRMS is the better pick when granular is all you want and you want it quick: load your own sample and start playing textures without building a patch from scratch. Compared with Pigments 7, it has one synthesis method instead of several, but its layers and grain controls are dedicated to that one job and it costs less. Phase Plant and Omnisphere 3 also include granular sources, yet in both it is one part of a much larger instrument with a steeper learning curve.
- Best for: pads, drones and evolving textures from field recordings, vocals or loops.
- Genres: ambient, cinematic, experimental and electronic music.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a full multi-engine synth (Pigments 7, Phase Plant), or want to granulate audio on a track as an effect (Imaginando's GRFX or Output's Portal).
- Tip: use the modulation matrix to keep textures evolving over time, as MusicTech suggests.
What producers say
MusicTech recommended it for electronic producers after testing an early release in 2020, which had subtractive and FM engines alongside granular; the current product page describes a granular-only design.
- MusicTech found it "remarkably easy to use" and said the results "can be exceptional" for pads, leads, basses and bells.
- Criticisms: MusicTech found it heavy on CPU, had trouble with live input in some hosts, and felt its sound leans strongly towards electronic music.
Where to buy
- PluginFox: $89
- Imaginando: $101.06 (Listed at €89; converted at €1 = $1.1355 (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))
- Best Service: $111.95
Tutorials and reviews
- Checking out FRMS (granular sythesizer VST) from Imaginando!
- Imaginando FRMS - Demo: New pack Sounds of Saxophone
- Remember you can use Imaginando FRMS for live granular processing (desktop, iOS)
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