Real-Time Granular Synthesizer 3

What's new in RTGS3?

RTGS3 introduces many new features and refinements since the previous version. The most significant of these are the totally redesigned interface windows, the powerful new capabilities which have been added, and the new methods for working with external controllers.

⌊ Improved Interface
    – The new main interface window design integrates the primary controls into a single window (no more floating windows or menu commands).
    – New slider interface design, including integration of both the position and randomness setting into a single slider, and new keyboard shortcuts for quicker access to extra features.
    – Larger Buffer window allows for more detailed selection and scrubbing possibilites.
    – Extensively detailed documentation, including helpful step-by-step tutorials and FAQ.

⌊ New Capabilities
    – Added a setting for Microtonal Resolution to the Transposition Slider.
    – New Presets Morph slider lets you interpolate (morph) between stored settings.
    – Added a 2D Grain Envelope slider which provides more detailed control over the grain envelope shape.
    – Added 2D Amplitude Curve and Pan Scaling sliders which provide more flexibility and control for the grain amplitude and panning settings.
    – New Transposition Range pop-up menu lets you set the maximum range of the Transposition Slider from 1 to 8 octaves.
    – Added multiple Delays and Filters effects, as well as 2 more VST inserts including wet/dry faders.

⌊ More Controllers
    – Added the Open Sound Control protocol, giving access to a wide variety of external OSC devices for use as controllers.
    – Added the Game Controller protocol, giving access to a wide variety of USB devices for use as controllers.
    – Added a "Listen…" button to the MIDI Controller window, enabling quicker setup of MIDI devices.
    – Added a View Data toggle which lets you monitor all your controller data in a single window.

What is granular synthesis, and what can I do with it?

Granular synthesis is, in a nutshell, the process of creating new sounds using tiny fragments of existing sounds. These fragments of sound are normally referred to as 'grains', hence the term 'granular' synthesis. The idea that sound itself consists of particles goes back to 1947, when the physicist Denis Gabor presented his article "Acoustic Quanta and the Theory of Hearing" in the journal Nature. Some early proponents of granular techniques in music are the composer Iannis Xenakis (for example, listen to the great orchestral work Pithoprakta from 1955), Curtis Roads (probably the first guy to perform granular synthesis techniques with computers) and Barry Truax (listen to his seminal work Riverrun from 1986). I could go on forever about the science and theory behind granular synthesis, but I don't think this is the appropriate place to do so, since only a basic understanding of the technique is necessary for using RTGS. Anyone really interested in granular synthesis theory might want to check out Curtis Roads' "Computer music tutorial" (MIT press, Mass 1994).

Granular synthesis can be used to generate brand new sounds or to manipulate and distort existing sounds. It is very useful in generating dense sonic textures, which can evolve quickly or over long periods, to create alien soundscapes. It is also useful for creating short sound effects or sonic motives, which could be used in musical or theatrical situations. One of the most interesting applications of granular synthesis is the manipulation of existing sound through temporal distortion (time stretching, compression, reversal, and fragmentation). Taking a short sample of a sonically rich sound and stretching it to a hundred times its original length can yield some remarkably interesting results! I have been able to generate some wild, interesting and fresh sounds using granular synthesis. What I like most about it is that it is possible to generate sounds which have a certain "natural" quality to them, unlike sounds generated using FM or other oscillator-based synthesis techniques. I hope that in your exploration of granular synthesis you will also find sounds that stimulate your senses and creativity!

System Requirements

RTGS3 requires a Mac PPC or Intel machine running OS X 10.4.11 or later with 1 GB RAM (2 GB or more recommended) and QuickTime 7.1 or later installed.

How to purchase and authorize your copy of RTGS3

The demo mode of RTGS3 is fully functional in every way. The only limitation is a friendly reminder that pops up every now and then, asking you to consider purchasing and authorizing your copy.

You may purchase an authorization request code at Kagi's secure ordering page. Once you've received your code, you can activate your copy of RTGS3 by selecting "Authorize RTGS3..." from the File menu.

contact: supportatLowNorthdotnl