Granular processing requires a block of memory to hold digital samples for playback, and the Z-DSP has one second of memory for the audio used in processing. From this audio buer the grains will sample smaller sections for playback.

The number of grains in the process determine how dense the overall output sounds. These programs have 3, 4 or 6 grains for playback. Each grain plays from a random point in the audio buer and have an independent envelope controlling their duration. The envelope time is the ‘grain size’ parameter in many of the programs.

This cartridge implements a simple and customised granular synthesis with a limited number of grains, and parameters that mainly control the size of grains and their positions in the sample. One nice aspect of the Z-DSP is that it uses live inputs (granular synthesis is usually based on a pre-recorded sample), so it can disassemble live input and reassemble it in real-time into a different order resulting in a (usually !) nice sonic transformation of both texture and the rhythm.

Programs

• Four spread grains #1: control of length and position. Two grains are output left and two right in the stereo field
• Four spread grains #2: control of length and position. All grains have the same size, reducing the stereo width
• Pitch modulated grains #1. Control of each grain's pitch by LFO. Two grains are emitted on left channel, two other on the right one
• Pitch modulated grains #2. Control of each grain's pitch but with a lower amount than Program 3. Two grains to the left, two to the right
• Three pitches grains. Control of pitch shifting (the same fixed amount for all grains). One grain to the left, two to the right and one circulates in the stereo field
• Six grains in Stereo. Two grain size controls, each one for three grains, generating different textures / rhythms. Three grains are output to the left and three to the right
• Three flying grains. Control of size and panning rate. Panning creates a stereo spread
• Three modulated grains. Control and modulation of grain size, varying the texture. Output in stereo