The AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0, from the auditory laboratory of affezwei, is a Max4Live device that broadens the world of sound design, inviting listeners into a domain where sound is fluid and open to infinite mutation.
Designed to granulate live incoming audio with up to 24 voices, the AZ Polyvoice Granulator stands as a formidable tool in the arsenal of any aspiring or professional audio producer. The device gives you in-depth control over granular size, the rate of emission, pitch, and the position of the grain — making this instrument not only a playground for tinkering, but also a precision tool for creating distinctly detailed soundscapes.
This high level of control could lead some to think of the Polyvoice Granulator as intimidating. However, its innovative use of the gen~ patching methods, studied in "Generating Sound and organizing Time" by Gregory Taylor and Graham Wakefield, assures an intuitive and fruitful user experience. Each dial and button is set up to allow the user to easily manipulate the audio plain and work through the intricacies of sound designing.
Although the Polyvoice Granulator 1.0 works brilliantly on Ableton Live version 11 and higher, there is an unavoidable instance of slight latency, as the device processes the complex actions asked of it. This should not be seen as a drawback but rather an inherent characteristic of the granular process.
This minute latency, despite being measurable, is rendered almost inconsequential when taking into consideration the expansive sonic landscapes that can be achieved with the device. Granulating your incoming audio opens up realms of creativity that take your audio from the mundane to the celestial. Manipulating these grains gives you the ability to treat the fabric of your sound with an unimaginable depth. Whether it is for creating intricate rhythmic patterns or generating a lush, ambient soundscape, the Polyvoice Granulator 1.0 is an indispensable tool for modern audio production.
You can download the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0 free of charge. Its continuous development by affezwei ensures regular updates, each refining the usability and widening the scope of possibilities. This granulation device carves out a new paradigm in the field of sound design, turning Ableton Live into an experimental arena for audio manipulation.
The path to becoming a master of soundscapes requires tools as revolutionary as the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0. Unleash the bounds of your creativity and reshape your understanding of what is achievable in sound design today. This Max4Live device is a celebration of granularity and the beauty that lies in the details, as it helps hone your ability to weave your audio stories with precision.
Experience this innovation from affezwei for yourself by visiting the Max4Live library at https://maxforlive.com/library/device/10085/az-polyvoice-granulator, where the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0 is waiting to unleash a universe of sonic possibilities.
Example Usage
To begin exploring the sound design capabilities of the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0 in Ableton Live, let's create a lush, evolving padscape using a simple chord progression.
- Start by recording a basic chord progression into a MIDI track using a synth pad sound from Ableton's built-in instruments.
- Freeze the track and flatten it to convert the MIDI to audio.
- Create a new audio track and drag the newly created audio clip onto it.
- Load the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0 onto the audio track.
Now you're all set to granulate:
- Start playback of the audio clip.
- Begin with the grain size. Set it to around 50-150ms to create overlapping textures.
- Adjust the emission rate to set how often new grains are produced. A slower rate will give you a more spaced-out texture, while a faster rate will create a denser sound.
- Modify the pitch parameter to introduce harmonic or inharmonic variations to the grains. For a more harmonic texture, keep the pitch settings close to the original or at intervals of octaves or fifths.
- Play with the grain position to scan through the audio clip and find interesting segments to granulate.
Remember, each adjustment can dramatically alter the soundscape, so take time to experiment with each parameter. Use the AZ Polyvoice Granulator's ability to have up to 24 voices, panning grains left and right to create a wide stereo image.
Adding further movement and evolution to your soundscape can be achieved by automating parameters such as grain size, emission rate, pitch, and grain position throughout the track.
By starting with a basic chord progression and using the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0, you're able to craft a unique and complex pad sound that can be used as a creative foundation or texture for your Ableton Live projects.
Imagine you're working on a track that has a lush, evolving pad that builds up the emotion in your piece but feels a bit static. With the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0, you can breathe new life into this sound by granulating the audio in real-time to create a dynamic, textured soundscape.
First, load up the AZ Polyvoice Granulator on the track with your pad. Start off by setting the number of voices to 8 to add a rich layer of complexity without overcrowding the sonic space.
Now, tweak the grain size to about 50ms to maintain the atmospheric feel of the pad while introducing the granularity. By adjusting the emission rate to a slower setting (say, 20 grains per second), you ensure that each grain is discernible, thus creating a hypnotic rhythm.
For pitch modulation, set the 'Pitch Jitter' parameter to a subtle value of 5 semitones to infuse a gentle fluctuating character without steering too far from the original pad's pitch. This will result in an organic, chorusing effect.
Next, manipulate the 'Position Randomness' control to 30% to allow the grains to be sourced from varying positions within the audio clip. This provides an element of unpredictability and helps keep the listener's interest.
To add movement, map an LFO from Ableton Live's MIDI effects to the 'Grain Size' or 'Emission Rate' parameters. Set a slow rate for the LFO, and choose a triangle or sine wave to create a smooth, undulating effect across the parameters.
Finally, use the built-in 'Grain Envelope' to shape the attack and decay of each grain. Opt for a faster attack and a longer decay for a more seamless texture. This will ensure the grains blend well together, creating a unified soundscape that supports the emotion of the track.
As with any audio effect, be sure to adjust the 'Wet/Dry' balance appropriately. A setting around 50% should maintain the integrity of the original pad while overlaying the granulated texture.
By exploring the vast parameter range of the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0, you transform a static pad into a living, breathing component of your music – a soundscape that's uniquely yours.
Further Thoughts
Creating an Ephemeral Soundscape with the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0
Imagine crafting a sonic environment that shifts and evolves as though it's a living, breathing entity. With the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0, you have the power to turn a simple recording of ambient street noise into an immersive auditory experience.
Start by recording a 30-second clip of city ambience — the distant murmur of conversation, the occasional car passing by, the subtle rustling of trees. Once you have your sample, drag it into an audio track within Ableton Live and arm the track for playback.
Insert the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0 onto the same track. Begin playback of your ambient sample and you'll notice that the granulator immediately starts processing the audio, but let's sculpt this soundscape into something uniquely ethereal:
- Grain Size Control: Set the grain size to around 100ms to preserve some of the environmental texture while allowing the granulator to create a cloud of sound. This size will smooth out abrupt sounds, such as car honks or footsteps, blending them into the evolving soundscape.
- Emission Rate: Adjust the rate of grain emission to a moderately slow pace, let's say one grain every 150ms. This ensures each grain is heard distinctly but also overlaps with others to construct a cohesive texture.
- Pitch Shifting: Engage the pitch control and select an interval of a perfect fifth (+7 semitones) for a portion of the grains. For the rest, dip down an octave (-12 semitones). This contrasting pitch alteration creates a sense of depth and intrigue within the soundscape.
- Position Modulation: Use the position control to modulate where within the sample the grains are being pulled from. Set a slow LFO (Low-Frequency Oscillator) to modulate this parameter, simulating a drifting effect where the focal point of the soundscape meanders through the original recording.
- Add Movement with Pan: Take advantage of the 24-voice polyphony by randomly panning voices across the stereo field, giving listeners the sensation of being enveloped by the soundscape as it undulates around them.
- Overcome Latency: Since this device introduces a bit of latency, engage Ableton Live's track delay feature to compensate for it by negative adjustment, keeping your granulated soundscape tight in timing with the rest of your project.
Finally, consider routing the granulated audio to a return track doused in reverb with a large room size and high decay time to extend the ethereal quality. Tuck this effect underneath the dry signal to provide a subtle, haunting undercurrent that embellishes the overall texture.
Remember, granulation is a creative journey. Each performance using the AZ Polyvoice Granulator 1.0 can yield drastically different results, so embrace the serendipity of the process. With these guidelines, create a living, dynamic cityscape that tells its own unique story with every listening.