Each grain can carry an independent spatial position for three-dimensional microsound projection

Spatialization of microsound assigns an independent spatial position to every sonic particle. Spatial position is a function of the particle’s amplitude in two or more output channels plus the amount of per-grain reverberation. At sparse densities, grains can be positioned manually. At high densities, automatic scattering algorithms assign positions based on probability functions. Per-grain reverberation depth creates the impression of spatial depth by varying the wet/dry ratio for each grain. This per-grain spatial variation is distinct from global panning - each grain has its own trajectory. The technique is most effective over multiple loudspeakers (pluriphonic systems) and extends spatialization down to the micro time scale.

Examples

Cloud Generator stereo scatter options: (1) stationary, (2) linear pan left-to-right, (3) fixed to random, (4) random per grain. Option 4 produces a three-dimensional shimmering effect.

Assessment

What is the difference between spatializing a granular cloud globally versus per-grain? At what density range is per-grain reverberation most audibly effective, and why?