WholeGrain

WholeGrain is an effects unit that makes granular synthesis accessible to instrumentalists – an effect that is otherwise mainly found in DAWs. Any instrument can be connected via the stereo jack socket. The prototype of the effects unit requires a connection to MaxMSP and is therefore linked to a laptop via a USB port. In the final version, intended for future market release, the effects unit will be stand-alone.

The sound processing is based on granular synthesis, which generates new and unique artificial sounds.
Granular synthesis breaks the incoming signal down into individual pieces, known as ‘grains’, and then reassembles these grains. The length, position and pitch of the grains can be varied using the WholeGrain.

What does our product stand for?
We want to create a device for musicians and music enthusiasts that allows them to experiment and ‘play’ to their heart’s content. Users can give free rein to their creativity and create entirely new sounds of their own. It is also well suited to sound designers who are constantly striving to create something new.

The WholeGrain has three footswitches, seven knobs and three sockets.

The Threshold footswitch activates Threshold mode, which can be adjusted via the Sensitivity control. To load a signal into the buffer and store it there, press the Freeze footswitch. You can then experiment and play around with this signal stored in the buffer. To switch the sound modulation on and off, press the On/Off footswitch.

The Dry/Wet control determines the balance between the original signal and the processed signal. Using the Voices control, you can add new voices and position them within the stereo image. The Reverb control adds a vinyl reverb effect.

The Length, Octave and Position controls are used to adjust the grains. This means you can hear the grains in ever-changing variations.

There is a USB port and two jack sockets each for input and output.