I’m really in to Hainbach’s new “Gauss” app. It’s been fun to make sequences in Ripplemaker then “record” them for looping and mangling. I usually come up with really weird ambient passages this way.
However, working on an iPhone screen is frustrating, and I don’t want to spend $300+ dollars on an iPad either. So now I’m looking for a similar Ableton plugin that I can incorporate in to my non iOS workflow. Granite is the closest thing I’ve found, but it doesn’t have a record/buffer function. Instead you have to render a WAV of whatever you’re working on, save it on your computer, then import it in to the plugin. Kind of a pain. Portal is also nice, but it’s a real time effect and not a looper. Does anyone have advice on what a good approximation would be?
PS: I’ll also note that the Digitakt is my main sampler/sequencer, so maybe sampling my synth sequences in there is the way to go, but it’s a pretty different experience from something like Gauss.
My granular plugins, regardless if you can record into them:
Granulizer 2
Grain Freeze (Max for Live)
Granulator 2 (Max for Live)
Grain Scanner (Max for Live)
The Mangle
Samsara (Max for Live)
Iota (Max for Live)
Skanner XT (Reaktor Player)
Bitwig’s granular device via its sampler
I like Grain Freeze and Granulizer 2 a lot. Samsara and Iota are fun too. As is Skanner XT. And I like Bitwig’s a lot actually, though I’m still demoing the software. Btw I use granular devices for percussion/noise, not for ambient soundscapey stuff, so I’m not sure if what appeals to me will appeal to you.
I like the Microgranny 2 a lot but it’s not a plugin and it’s a bit limited since there is no sequencer or anything else with it - though it’s a champ at receiving MIDI CCs/notes. You can record directly into it via the line-in or the onboard mic.
Wow! Quite the list. Somehow I use the 3 plugins you didn’t type out (Granite, Portal and Grainspace). The first is good for loops, while the other two are more like live audio effects.
No Max for Live, unfortunately, but i’ll check out some of the others.
Halion 6 (Padshop Pro will get you most of the way here without all the workstation stuff and the $$$). Since you don’t want to spend $300 on an iPad this one might not be a choice.
Falcon 2 ($$$). Similar to Halion. It can be pricey.
Quanta is really good, too. I have a license on my iPad and the plugin.
I just bought Spacecraft from Tracktion and the Portal granular processor effect from Portal during my fit of US Thanksgiving holiday buying. I tend to this, then jump from thing-to-thing. I haven’t spent much time with them.