Granular synthesis exposes per-grain parameters: pitch, duration, position, panning, and waveform content

Each grain in a granular synthesizer can independently vary across several parameters: Duration — how long the grain lasts (constant, random, or frequency-dependent). Position — where in the source sample the grain reads from (start point). Pitch/rate — the playback speed, which determines perceived pitch. Panning — spatial position in the stereo field. Waveform content — either a synthetic source or a specific region of a sampled buffer. The power of granular synthesis comes from allowing these parameters to vary randomly or evolve across grains, producing textures impossible with conventional oscillators. When all parameters are fixed, the result is essentially a very short looped sample; variation is what produces granular texture.

Examples

Setting random panning per grain: each new grain gets a random position 0–127 (left to right). Even with identical duration and position, the stereo field animates dynamically.

Assessment

List four parameters that can vary per grain in a granular synthesizer. For each, describe what audible effect results from randomising it.