GrainCharlie: Free Granular Synthesizer Plugin by ukdf

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ukdf has released GrainCharlie, a free granular synthesizer plugin for macOS and Windows. The developers created it after failing to find an affordable granular tool that was simple and usable right away, without unnecessary complexity.

Five Operating Modes

GrainCharlie offers five modes. Melody is the standard granular mode, where pitch follows the played MIDI notes. Slice divides a sample into individual slices that can be played separately, similar to a traditional sampler, while granular controls remain available.

In addition, Slice Melody combines both approaches, letting you create melodies from a single sample while retaining control over its slices. Unison works like a classic synth unison mode with Glide for smooth note transitions. Finally, Polyphonic mode supports up to eight simultaneous notes.

Sound Shaping Controls

The plugin provides a focused set of controls for shaping grains and the overall sound. For instance, Length and Grains can be synced to the project tempo, while Position, Jitter, and Spray determine where grains are generated within the sample.

Moreover, Pitch transposes the output from -36 to +36 semitones, and Pan Spread randomly distributes grains across the stereo field. Reverse plays some grains backwards, and Density controls the texture of the granular output.

Features

  • Five modes: Melody, Slice, Slice Melody, Unison, Polyphonic (8 voices)
  • Tempo-syncable grain Length and Grains controls
  • Position, Jitter, Spray, and Density controls
  • Pitch transposition from -36 to +36 semitones
  • Pan Spread, Reverse, Attack, Release, and Glide
  • Free VST3 plugin for macOS and Windows

Price
Free

Pros

  • Free VST3 plugin for macOS and Windows
  • Five operating modes including Slice and Slice Melody
  • Simple, intuitive workflow with tempo-syncable controls

Cons

  • VST3 only, no AU or CLAP support
  • Limited to 8-voice polyphony

More info: ukdf | GrainCharlie