Glisson synthesis gives each grain an independent frequency trajectory (chirp)

In glisson synthesis, each particle or glisson has an independent frequency trajectory - an ascending or descending glissando over the grain’s duration. Unlike standard granular synthesis where each grain has a fixed frequency, glissons sweep through a frequency range. This creates cloud textures with chirp-like spectral behavior, producing effects ranging from sweeping metallic scintillations (short glissons with steep slopes) to slowly evolving spectral smears (long glissons with gentle slopes). The frequency trajectory can be linear or otherwise shaped. Glisson clouds can produce unique timbral effects not achievable with static-frequency grains.

Examples

A glisson cloud: 200 particles/sec, each sweeping from 300 Hz to 1200 Hz over 10ms, scattered in time. The result sounds like metallic sparkling rain.

Assessment

How does glisson synthesis differ from standard granular synthesis? Describe what you would expect to hear from a cloud of glissons with very steep frequency slopes (e.g., sweeping from 100 Hz to 5000 Hz in 5ms).