Granular synthesis is a technique of sound synthesis that involves the manipulation of small, discrete units of sound called "grains". In granular synthesis, a sound is broken down into tiny fragments or grains, each of which typically lasts only a few milliseconds. These grains are then manipulated and recombined in various ways to create new sounds.

 

The manipulation of grains can involve changing their duration, pitch, amplitude and other properties. Granular synthesis techniques can be used to create a wide range of sounds, from metallic and percussive sounds to complex, evolving textures.

 

Granular synthesis has been used in a variety of musical contexts, including experimental and electronic music. It is often used to create soundscapes and ambient textures, as well as in more rhythmic and percussive contexts. Granular synthesis can be implemented using a variety of software and hardware tools, such as granular synthesizers and digital audio workstations (DAWs).