How to master Granular Synthesis with crusher-X

Short video tutorials for everyone who is new to crusher-X. Every episode explains one thing and builds it from an empty program, so you can follow each step with the free demo.

 

Not one filter: a 24 dB Ladder filter for every grain

 

This tutorial takes you from the free demo to a cloud of 48 resonating ladder filters in under five minutes - and shows on the way how the granular engine works.

 

Time is a slider: the Delay grain modulation

 

In four minutes this tutorial shows what the Delay grain modulation does: it decides where in the past a grain reads. From there it is a short way to an echo, to a melody at half speed in its original pitch, to time standing still - and to one melody heard at eight moments at once.

 

From clicks to clouds: Length, Birth and the grain window

 

In four minutes this tutorial shows what a grain cloud is made of. Two sliders decide it: Length - how long a grain lasts - and Birth - the time from one grain to the next. Between them lie a rhythm, a stream, sparks, a pitch of its own, and a cloud of 64 grains at a time.

 

Vector modulation: Phase and Spread, one LFO for every generator

 

In three and a half minutes this tutorial explains the idea that makes a crusher-X cloud move: the vector modulation. A grain modulation is one LFO, but it has a value for every generator. Two sliders, Phase and Spread, say how the generators differ: Phase shifts the LFO from one generator to the next, Spread lets every generator run at its own speed.

 

Every grain its own pitch: Speed, Sweep and the arpeggiator

 

In four minutes this tutorial explains how a granular cloud gets its pitches. In crusher-X the pitch belongs to the grain: Speed says how fast each grain is played, Sweep bends the pitch while the grain sounds, and the arpeggiator keeps every grain on the notes of a scale.

 

crusher-X 12: Multichannel routing in Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio

 

How to set up and use the multichannel outputs of crusher-X 12 in Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio - for sound design and for surround setups.

 

crusher-X in a hypnotic techno project

 

How to control crusher-X in a rhythmic music project (shown with crusher-X 11).

 

How to route MIDI to a crusher-X effect plug-in in Pro Tools

 

MIDI routing for crusher-X as an effect plug-in in Pro Tools.

 

How to MIDI control granular morphing transitions

 

How to set up crusher-X to switch programs and to control the morphing between them with a MIDI controller (shown with crusher-X 10).

 

How to use the crusher-X MACRO parameters in Live

 

The MACRO parameters of crusher-X in Ableton Live (shown with crusher-X 10.3).

 

How to MIDI control crusher-X in Live

 

MIDI control of crusher-X in Ableton Live (shown with crusher-X 10.3).