Grainlet synthesis links any synthesis parameter to any other parameter

Grainlet synthesis is a generalization of granular synthesis in which any parameter of synthesis can be made dependent on (linked to) any other parameter. The fundamental notion is parametric interdependence: rather than setting grain frequency, duration, and envelope independently, the composer can encode relationships such as frequency-duration linkage (analogous to wavelets, where short grains have high frequencies), frequency-amplitude linkage, or any other dependency. This flexibility allows creation of synthesis instruments with constrained parameter spaces that have specific sonic characters. Grainlets can also encode specialized micro-particles such as chirps with pitch-dependent duration.

Examples

A frequency-duration grainlet: at 100 Hz, grain duration = 50ms; at 1000 Hz, grain duration = 5ms. This creates wavelet-like particles with constant cycles-per-grain. As frequency rises, grains become shorter.

Assessment

What is the defining feature of grainlet synthesis compared to standard asynchronous granular synthesis? Give an example of a parameter linkage and describe its perceptual effect.