We're currently living in the age of digital audio. Granular FX is an incredibly powerful tool that is essential to any music producer.

But there are so many different Granular FX plugins in the music production landscape, so we decided to create the ultimate list of the top Granular FX plugins today that will help you find the perfect fit.


MGranularMB

Granular FX by MeldaProduction



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Description


MGranularMB is an extremely versatile granular resynthesizer, which can make your lead sound like a pad, make your drums more powerful and much more. The plugin cuts your audio material into small pieces and creates a whole new material from them, in multiple bands as usual. Besides standard panorama and pitch shifting, the plugin can also perform true graph based transformations, adjust pitch of each grain to harmony, layer up to 20 of them at once creating a true grain clouds. And that's just a beginning...

Features

  • Dual user interface - the plugin is not only extremely versatile, but also quick and easy-to-use thanks to 2 graphical user interfaces. First there is a simple default one with several predefined modes, but just a few controls, which lets you start quickly and easily without any knowledge. All you need to do is choose what you want and use a few knobs. And the plugins also has an advanced mode, which provides all the extreme features the plugin offers.
  • 1-6 fully configurable independent bands built on 3 perfectly transparent crossover algorithms (analog with slopes from 12dB/oct to 120dB/oct, linear-phase and hybrid) with fully adjustable limits and input gains. Includes peak meters for all bands and the master.
  • Continuously adjustable oscillator shape - every oscillator in our plugins is defined by a mix of predefined oscillator shapes, custom waveforms edited using our MeldaProduction Envelope System (MES), step-sequencer and several methods for algorithmic postprocessing. It is the most advanced approach for defining oscillator shapes.
  • 4 global modulators - in each instance you can have up to 4 fully-featured modulators that can modulate any set of parameters including other modulators! In this way you can make the sound move in time, be less static and more interesting. Each modulator works as LFO, follower, midi/audio triggered ADSR envelopes, a pitch detector or even a combination.
  • M/S, single channel, up to 8 channels surround processing - our plugins can handle not only mono and stereo signals, but also mono/stereo encoding, separate channels and encodings, and up to 8 channels of surround audio, which makes them ideal for audio production for movies, games etc.
  • Smart randomization - using a single button you can generate completely new settings. By clicking the button you can walk through the billions of possible settings and find the best one for you! The smart randomization algorithm wisely chooses between which parameters can be randomized and how. It can even randomize modulators for you. And if that's too much, you can just hold ctrl and MGranularMB will only slightly modify existing settings.
  • Automatic gain compensation (AGC) - most plugins can change loudness of the output audio, which makes browsing presets not convenient, not mentioning randomization. Our plugins include automatic gain compensation, which quickly adapts to current settings and ensure the output sounds as loud as the input. This even protects you from thinking that something sounds better in cases it's just louder.
  • Adjustable up-sampling 1x-16x to minimize aliasing and get an even clearer sound. Includes both minimum-phase and high-quality linear-phase algorithms.
  • Extremely advanced and easy-to-use user interface - our products are always designed to enhance the workflow. You can easily change all values, fine-tune each control in multiple ways. Easy orientation in a standardized GUI, textual editing and smooth visualization with almost unlimited zooming are standard in all of our plugins. Moreover our plugins are the world first (and still the only ones), which support resizable and stylable GUI's.
  • MIDI controllers with MIDI learn - you can map any parameter to any MIDI controller or MIDI keyboard and control it realtime or record and automate it.
  • Very fast, optimized for SSE and SSE2 processors.
  • Global preset management and online preset exchange - using a title button you can save your settings (which are shared on the computer) so you can easily access these in other songs. Moreover all plugins can automatically share your presets and download presets of other users from our servers (if this feature is enabled). We are building a community and you can be a part of it!
  • Fully automatable.



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Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


Windows

  • Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • VST / VST3 / AAX compatible host (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Intel/AMD processor with SSE2 support

Always use 32-bit plugins in 32-bit hosts, or 64-bit plugins in 64-bit hosts!
 
64-bit plugins can't work in 32-bit hosts even if the operating system is 64-bit. Do NOT use 32-bit plugins in 64-bit hosts. They would have to be bridged and can become slow and unstable.
 
Mac OS X

  • Mac OS X 10.9 and newer (64-bit only)
  • VST / VST3 / AU / AAX compatible host (64-bit only)
  • Intel/AMD processor with SSE2 support or Apple Silicon processor

Note: Please check your product PDF documentation for more information and installation instructions.

OS Compatibility



Venom

Granular FX by W.A. Production



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Description


Spectral Shifting

When reverb and delay just aren’t enough, reach for Venom. This powerful spectral processing plug-in twists raw audio into many types of sounds from subtle granular movements to unrecognisable soundscapes. This makes Venom an incredibly versatile tool for sound designers, musicians, EDM producers and anyone who needs other-worldly transformations. 

Explore the myriad of possibilities by using the included presets, then dive deeper with the hot-swappable effects chain, granular sizes and advanced tone shaping. Every experiment with Venom will yield sonic surprises; creating expansive reverbs, harmonic excitement, frozen spectral tones and completely unique ambiences.

Two-Stage Processing

Venom processes audio in two stages: Firstly a ‘freeze’ stage captures and accumulates a snapshot of the incoming sound, applying the audio effects to the continuously and creating feedback. This causes the output signal to change over time (like the reverb tail of an echo). The subsequent direct output stage applies a user-defined spectral operation to the signal.

Seven Transformations

The 7 creative audio effects shape all sorts of spectral processing: Focus, Feaze, Decay & Damping for the creation of unusual, beautiful sounding ambiences. Mirror, Pitch & Slope to generate experimental spectral transformations. Any combination of these is possible for other unique soundscapes.

Hot-Swappable FX

The user interface of Venom is completely modular: Drag an individual effect into the desired position in the processing chain to define the order of effects processing.
Live or studio

Live or Studio

Venom comes with user-controllable parameters for various aspects of spectral resolution that allow you to find the best settings for any environment; in the studio, on the road, or in a live setting.

Power

The Venom logo acts as a bypass control for the whole plugin and is smoothed to be click and pop free for unhindered A/B testing. Use it to swap between your original audio and the Venom transformations. 

Presets

A range of factory presets are designed to get you up and running quickly, with tailored settings for many types of special FX and spectral shaping. These are all easily accessible from the menu and of course, you can save your own settings as user presets too. 

Let Venom inspire you to create unique sounds that you never thought possible - all with just a few clicks. W. A. Production are real-life producers making creative plugins to help you achieve studio quality processing quickly and easily. Enjoy!




Features

  • Spectral freeze and processing
  • Real-time frequency display
  • 7 individual FX: Focus, Feaze, Decay, Damping, Mirror, Pitch & Slope
  • Hot-swappable FX chain
  • Creative Presets for special FX and spectral shaping
  • Click-free bypass control
  • Input, Output level and Mix controls
  • Full PDF manual and tutorial video

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Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


Mac

  • macOS 10.15 and later (64-bit only) (M1 Apple Silicon Supported)

Available Formats:

  • VST
  • VST3
  • AU
  • AAX

PC

  • Windows 8 and later (64-bit only)

(The plug-in might run on older versions too, but it's not guaranteed)

Available Formats:

  • VST
  • VST3
  • AAX

Compatibility (Tested OK On):

  • Ableton Live 10 (and later)
  • Bitwig Studio 2
  • Cubase 10
  • FL Studio 20 (VST, not VST3)
  • Logic Pro X (Mac only)
  • Studio One 3
  • Maschine 2 (and later)
  • Reason
  • Reaper
  • Pro Tools 11 (and later)
  • Max/MSP

Important notes:

  • The Mac version is 64-bit compatible only and will not function on 32-bit systems.

OS Compatibility



Albedo

Granular FX by Sinevibes



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Description


Granular Cloud Reverb

Albedo is a granular cloud reverb. It constantly records incoming audio into a buffer, and at the same time runs up to 64 individual looping playheads – called grains – scattered within this buffer. All grains have their own random size and position, and as they are overlaid together, a lush “cloud of sound” effect is produced.

Thanks to dual envelope generators per grain, playback speed has continuous adjustment with perfectly smooth transitions between forward and reverse directions – enabling live audio manipulation much like on a tape machine or a turntable, including a fully stopped state.

With a flexible multi-mode filter before the buffer recording stage, as well synchronous grain speed and size modulation, Albedo is capable of a truly vast variety of effects: from melting pitch shifts and chaotic reversed delays to chorus atmospheres and dark grimy dissonance.

Albedo can also “freeze” its buffer and keep playing the granular cloud indefinitely, allowing you to layer the original input signal on top – and making this plugin a great performance tool.




Features

  • Sound Engine

  • Real-time circular recording buffer with freeze and stereo link functions, plus optional multi-mode state-variable filter
  • Granular playback engine with up to 64 grains, randomized position, and size, bi-directional speed, variable detune
  • Selectable grain playback interpolation: low quality linear and high-quality spline
  • Sine-wave LFO for synchronous grain speed and size modulation
  • Lag filters on all continuous parameters for smooth, click-free adjustment
  • Supports mono › mono, mono › stereo, and stereo › stereo channel configurations
  • Graphic Interface

  • Color-coded graphic elements
  • Consistent name, mapping, value, and unit implemented for all parameters in both graphic user interface and host control/automation
  • Built-in preset management functions
  • Supports window size scaling up to 200%

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Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


Mac

  • macOS 10.9 or later (64-bit only)
  • Intel or M1 Apple processor.
  • AU / AAX / VST3

Windows

  • Windows 8.1 or later (64-bit only)
  • PC computer with x86 processor.
  • AAX / VST3

OS Compatibility



Portal

Granular FX by Output



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Description


Granular Synthesis Reinvented

Built to be Musical

With PORTAL, granular synthesis takes your sounds to another dimension. Easily alter any audio input—VSTs, drums, vocals, live guitar, you name it—in a new and musical way.

Infinite Ideas in Seconds

Experience the playability of granular effects that are actually centered around the music you make. While in the past granular sounds have been chaotic and abstract, PORTAL re-synthesizes sounds that are more closely related to the original input.

Explore the Details

Get into the far-reaching depths of PORTAL’s advanced features to dial in the exact sound you want.

  • Advanced: Go beyond the presets and mess with grain controls, modulation and FX in PORTAL’s advanced features.
  • Time Stretch: Slow down and stretch your sounds, then easily sync them to your master tempo or leave them unsynced for a more experimental vibe.
  • Humanize: Add natural-sounding variations to envelopes for less repetitive, more organic sounds.
  • Pitch Shift: Alter the pitch of your sound without affecting its length or timing. Lock it into a scale for the most musical result.

Key Features

  • 250+ presets for immediate playability
  • A circular visualizer linked to granular parameters
  • Powerful time manipulation engine
  • Tempo-synced grain delay
  • Musical scale-based pitch modulation
  • 7 built-in FX with an additional master compressor and filter
  • Value readout panel for better understanding of controls
  • Favoriting feature in Presets menu
  • Built-in Tool Tips on Advanced page



Video


Rating


Value For Money

Sound Quality

General Ease of Use

Number of Presets


  • Mac OS X 10.9 or higher
  • Windows 7 or higher
  • 32 and 64 bit compatible (PC)
  • 4GB of RAM required, 8GB recommended
  • At least 300 MB of free drive space

Supported Interfaces

  • VST
  • VST3
  • Audio Units
  • AAX

OS Compatibility