MOTM

Hi All -

Just back from vacation.  Two weeks away from all musical tools is a 
recipe for epiphane, albeit a painful wait to try things out.

Here is a way to do basic granular synthesis using only four 
modules: two oscillators, on EG, and a VCA.  For theory check out 
Curtis Roads' "Microsound" from MIT Press.

Oscillator one is set at 20 Hz to about 800 Hz (between about 2 and 
4.5 on the COURSE knob) and will output pulses in the 10 to 50 msec 
range (you do the math, I suck at it).  The PULSE output is sent to 
the GATE or TRIGGER in of the EG. The EG's DECAY and RELEASE are set 
to zero with ATTACK and SUSTAIN set to about 2.  The + OUT of the EG 
goes to a 110 CV IN.  Another oscillator's SIN out is sent to the 
110's IN (this is the signal to be granulated).  Send the out to the 
console, but if you have a scope send it there, too.

Play with the COURSE knob on oscillator 1 and the ATTACK and SUSTAIN 
values on the EG.

What's happening is that we are 'granulating' the output of the 
second oscillator.  Each granule has it's own little envelope but is 
played at a rate below which we can detect pitch.  Taken together 
the grains create a new timbre and texture.

Cool!

Try feeding ANYTHING into the IN of the VCA (guitar, vocals, drum 
loops, sequences).  Paul suggested MiniWave, which is a great idea...

Mike

PS - Paul, the 700 doesn't work as well for 'chopping' as you put 
it, because the 'envelope' in AUDIO mode is fixed at 5 msec which is 
not that usefule in granular synthesis.  Makes a cool weird noise, 
though!

m