Whether the distribution of grains in time is constant or random.
Which envelope curve is applied to the grains - giving the impression of a “rough” or “smooth” texture. In
addition, to create textures with a “blurry” feel, a diffuser (network of all-pass filters - like a reverb without tail)
can be applied.
The module plays grains continuously, at a rate determined by the DENSITY and SIZE settings. A trigger
input is also present, to explicitly instruct the module to start the playback of a new grain. The maximum
number of concurrent grains is quite large - between 40 and 60. This specificity brings Clouds closer to the
roots of granular synthesis, and allows the synthesis of varied textures even from basic waveforms -
there’s indeed many more dimensions to granular synthesis than keeping a playback pointer moving
through a SD-card sample!
It is possible, at any time, to FREEZE the audio buffer from which the grains are taken - In this case, the
incoming audio is no longer recorded. Somehow, Clouds is the exact opposite of a sampler: by default, the
module always samples the audio it receives, except when it is in the frozen state.
A. FREEZE button. This latching button stops the recording of incoming audio. Granularization is now
performed on the last few seconds of audio kept in memory in the module.
B. Blending parameter/Audio quality button. Selects which of the blending parameters is controlled by
the BLEND knob and CV input, or selects one of the four audio quality settings.
C. Load/Save button. See the “Advanced topics” section.
D. Grain POSITION. Selects from which part of the recording buffer the audio grains are played. Turn the
knob clockwise to travel back in time.
E. F. Grain SIZE and PITCH (transposition). At 12 o’clock, the buffer is played at its original frequency.
G. Audio INPUT GAIN, from -18dB to +6dB.
H. Grain DENSITY. At 12 o’clock, no grains are generated. Turn clockwise and grains will be sown
randomly, counter-clockwise and they will be played at a constant rate. The further you turn, the higher the
overlap between grains.
Mutable Instruments | Clouds
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