GrainDust

Name: GrainDust
Price: 224 USD
Author: Sound Particles

by Sound Particles · Synth · Spatial granular synth

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GrainDust is a granular synth from Sound Particles with 4 independent granular layers, each fed by imported samples or the 500+ included sounds.

Grains can be animated in 3D and rendered to stereo, surround up to 7.1.2, binaural or Ambisonics, with an arpeggiator, a 128-step sequencer and MPE support, for $299.

Best for: Sound Design, Keys & Synths. Genres: Ambient & Cinematic, Electronic & EDM.

Keywords: granular, textures, arpeggiator, evolving, MPE support, preset-driven, sequencer, sound design, cinematic, drones, film & game audio, pads.

What it does

GrainDust is Sound Particles' granular synth. It offers "4 fully independent granular layers" for evolving textures, and the developer's spatial engine moves the grains around the listener.

Four granular layers: each plays its own sample, so you can layer and blend different sources in one patch.
Grain controls: rate, density, size, continuity and detune, with a sample range you can set per layer and per envelope stage.
Grain envelopes: Hann, Rectangle, Triangle, Tukey and Saw shapes, plus a pitchless grain mode with octave selection for noise textures.
Sources: import your own samples or use the 500+ included sounds.
Modulation: a matrix that can "connect anything to everything", eight extra envelope generators and LFOs, and keyboard and velocity mapping.
Performance: an arpeggiator with seven modes, a sequencer of up to 128 steps that can also drive spatial parameters, and MPE support.
Effects and filters: four effect slots and filters with their own modulation.
Spatial output: stereo, surround up to 7.1.2, binaural and Ambisonics, with a 3D view of the movement.

Version 1.0.0. A trial is available from Sound Particles.

Source: Sound Particles product page

When to use it

GrainDust is the pick for granular textures that should move around a surround or binaural field. Compared with the granular engine in Pigments 7, it is a dedicated granular instrument with four independent sample layers and output to 7.1.2 or Ambisonics; Pigments stays in stereo but mixes granular with wavetable, analog and other engines in one patch. Unlike Output Portal, it plays samples from the keyboard rather than processing a track in real time. Next to Sound Particles' own SkyDust 3D, it trades oscillators and FM for grains, at the same price.

Best for: evolving pads, drones, textures and spatial sound design for film, games and immersive music.
Genres: ambient and cinematic, experimental electronic.
Look elsewhere if: you want a granular effect for existing tracks (Output Portal), or stereo-only granular work inside a broader synth (Pigments 7).
Tip: build the sound in the Grains tab first, then use the Space tab to animate it (Production Expert).

Where to buy

Best Service: $224
Sound Particles: $299 (Price as listed on KVR Audio; soundparticles.com could not be read.)
Plugin Boutique: $299
PluginFox: $299
AudioDeluxe: $299

Tutorials and reviews

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