Strange Loops Audio, a renowned developer in the audio plugin industry, has recently announced an update to their free granular synth plugin, gRainbow. The plugin has been revamped to version 1.0.0 and is now available for both Mac and Windows users. The update is an effort to enhance the user experience and to address some of the limitations of traditional granular synths.
gRainbow is an open-source, cross-platform synthesizer that uses pitch detection to select candidates for granular synthesis or sampling. The update was designed to tackle issues such as pitch variations in the input clip producing inharmonic tones, the need for manual pitch matching to the input clip for correct notes with MIDI input, and pitch shifting often done with timestretching which can create unwanted artifacts.
The plugin now features a full MIDI range, polyphonic voicing, and reliable pitch detection using Spotify’s BasicPitch machine learning model. It can support up to 150 grains playing at once and offers ultra-customizable parameters. Additionally, it includes a full internal modulation and mapping system, and a preset loading and saving system.
Users can avail the product package that includes a standalone and plugin version (VST, AU, LV2) of gRainbow and a 10 preset starter pack for Windows, MacOS, or Linux. The plugin has been well received by users, garnering an average score of 4.9 out of 5 from 49 ratings.