Granular in core

totole robot

Hello, I would like to build a granular delay in core but can't find any info on how it's done, is there any ensemble that use granular be it a delay or a sampler? So that I can find inspiration?

Thank you 🙂

Sunborn

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/48533/granular-in-core

Building a granular delay in Reaktor Core involves creating a structure that continuously records incoming audio into a buffer (a delay line) and then reads small, overlapping segments (grains) from that buffer at a controlled rate and position. This is an advanced topic that requires a good understanding of Reaktor's Core level programming. A complete, step-by-step tutorial is too complex to present here (…and is beyond my skills too 😋), but those are the core conceptual steps and modules you'd typically use:

The Delay Buffer (Audio Storage)

The granular delay relies on a long delay line to store the audio signal.

• Core Cell Setup: Start with a new Core Cell within a Reaktor Macro.
• Write Pointer: You need a Write Pointer that continuously increments at the audio sample rate. This pointer's value cycles when it reaches the end of the buffer length, essentially making the buffer a continuously rotating loop.
• Array Module: A Core Array is used as the audio buffer (the delay line). The write pointer determines the address in the array where the incoming audio sample is stored each clock cycle. The size of the array defines the maximum delay time.

More details here:

https://www.musicradar.com/news/how-to-build-delay-reaktor

Grain Generation (Reading the Buffer)

This is where the granular aspect comes in, reading small "grains" of audio.

• Grain Structure: You'll need a mechanism to launch multiple "voices" (grains) that read from the buffer. This is usually managed by a Voice/Event Generator or a Polyphonic structure in Reaktor Primary, which feeds control signals (like a Grain Start trigger) into the Core cell.
• Read Pointers: Each grain needs its own independent Read Pointer. When a grain is launched, its read pointer's starting position is set to the current Write Pointer position minus the desired delay time.
• Grain Envelope: To avoid clicks, each grain must have an envelope (typically a short fade-in/fade-out, like a Hanning or Gaussian curve) applied to its volume as it is read. ( https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/granular-synthesis#:~:text=To%20avoid%20clicks%20and%20glitches,process%20known%20as%20'smoothing'. )
• Windowing: Multiply the audio being read from the buffer by the envelope shape before outputting the grain.
• Grain Length/Rate: A counter or event generator controls the length (how long the grain's envelope lasts) and the rate (how often a new grain is launched). This is key to granular texture.

Granular Delay Parameters

The creative control of a granular delay comes from manipulating these parameters:

• Delay Time: Controls the offset between the Write Pointer and the Read Pointer's start position. This is the core delay effect.
• Grain Size/Length: Controls the duration of the grain's envelope. Shorter grains create a more abstract, "cloudy" sound.
• Grain Rate/Density: Controls how often new grains are launched. High density leads to a smooth, continuous sound while low density creates a stuttering or sparse texture.
• Pitch/Transposition: This is done by varying the speed at which the Read Pointer moves relative to the Write Pointer or by interpolation during the read process.

https://blog.native-instruments.com/granular-synthesis/#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20rate%20at,a%20sporadic%20and%20stuttering%20sound.

You might also find this video helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDXgLbCq5jM

The video provides an introduction to the basic principles of granular synthesis and explores granular modules within Reaktor, which is foundational to building a granular delay.

All the above are mostly basic things but, there are people here with a higher level of knowledge and better understanding of the Reaktor Core and perhaps they can tell you more.