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.
One gesture, many sliders: the global modulators and Process
In four minutes this tutorial explains the two global modulators. A global modulator is one LFO with four slots: each slot sends it to one grain modulation, so that pitch, brightness, density and volume of a granular cloud move together - one gesture instead of four separate modulations.
An oscillator in every grain: the GCO
This tutorial explains the GCO, the grain controlled oscillator: an oscillator that is printed into every grain and only sounds while that grain sounds. It is not a second layer beside the granular cloud - it is part of the grains, so everything that shapes a grain shapes the oscillator too.
A reverb made of grains: Feed and a Delay for every generator
This tutorial builds a reverb out of nothing but grains. There is no reverb effect in it: every generator reads the grain buffer at its own delay, and Feed sends the grains back into the buffer, so that the echoes multiply and blur into a tail.
Grains in space: the Panner and the In-Grain Panner
This tutorial explains how a granular cloud gets its place between the speakers - and how the grains can move while they sound. The Panner places every grain at its start; the In-Grain Panner pans the grain itself during its runtime, from one side to the other, or from the centre out, across and back.
Vowels and monsters: the Formant filter
This tutorial explains the Formant mode of the grain filter. Every grain in crusher-X has its own filter; in the Formant mode that filter forms a vowel, and Filter-Cut no longer sets a frequency but selects the vowel - a, e, i, o, u.
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).