Sugar Bytes Graindad

Realtime Granular FX

Sugar Bytes Graindad is a real-time granular effect designed for high-quality audio manipulation.  Freeze, texturized, or reorganize & slice your audio, triggered by transients, clocks, or MIDI notes. A complex modulation system with intelligent randomizers provides astonishing results. Filters, reverbs, delays and the all-at-once manipulating Harvester complete the package.

Graindad Key Features

• Grain Engine with up to 64 grains
• 12 main controller for easy handling
• Harvester: Innovative modulation system
• Freeze, Stutter, Glitch, Texturize
• Multiband transient detector
• Host sync and transient clock
• 16 step trigger sequencer
• LP, BP, HP, Band Reject filters
• HQ reverb, spring reverb, shimmer, delay, flanger, chorus
• Complex dry/wet envelope
• Modulation system with countless random functions
• Morph between Harvester and modulation

What Graindad can do

With up to 64 grains Graindad offers extensive possibilities to define your sound in realtime. With 12 main parameters, quick and powerful access to granular synthesis is provided.

There are basically 2 modulation systems: a classical system with modulators like step sequencers, lfo, & envelope, for familiar access. And a modulation system called Harvester, which provides an easy and playful way to control multiple parameters at once in a visual manner. These two modulation systems can then be mixed for uniquely complex results.

Randomization is a big part of Graindad – varying amounts of randomization can be applied to nearly every parameter. Furthermore, there are dedicated functions to define when randomization should be generated, for example, a transient in your audio signal can trigger a randomizer.

Grain Engine

The heart of Graindad is the Grain Engine. While audio is being recorded, it can simultaneously be played back up to 64 times via so-called grains. Organising and defining these grains is the core task of the engine.

The 12 main parameters provide the power to achieve various effects like looping, stuttering, time stretching, pitch shifting, reversing, or harmonizing.

As important as the playback is, recording also plays a huge role in defining the overall result. Graindad can record in sync to your host clock or be triggered directly via MIDI. It can even dynamically start recording depending on transients in your audio material.

Modulation Engine

In addition to envelope, LFO and a classic step sequencer with step repeat, the Harvester, various randomizers and MIDI notes can be used as modulation sources.

Even the intensity and source of modulation can be controlled by randomizers, and can do so in different modes.

Not to forget the Modmix Control, which crossfades between the Harvester and Main Page modulation for surprising results.

Effects

Whether it’s classic effects like filters, reverbs, and delays, Graindad’s effects section has everything you need in order to add a new dimension to your sound. Filter types include lowpass, bandpass, band reject and highpass. Choose between three reverb effects: HQ reverb, spring reverb and shimmer. The delay section offers not only different delay types, but also flanger and chorus modes.

Dry/Wet controls make it easy to blend filter sweeps into the image or use the bandpass as a peaking EQ to emphasise certain frequencies.

The Harvester

The Harvester modulates all 12 main controls at once. The distance between the Harvester and parameter objects defines the modulation depth. The parameter objects have “moons” that can be recorded as automation or randomized for additional layers of motion. On the Auto-Pilot Page, the Harvester can move between 12 breakpoints, which can also be triggered by MIDI notes for performative control.

The power of the Harvester is hard to put into words. Hours of fun and surprises, and endless sonic possibilities await. Of course, there are many more features that are explained in detail in the manual.

Sounds & Presets

Graindad comes with hundreds of presets from our best sound designers. All presets were meticulously crafted and created with love.

Melting all the feedback into one sentence: “Graindad is an endless source of inspiration, one little sample can turn into a million of things.”

“Graindad’s Granular Engine is so refined and sounds top notch. Add to that insane deep and creative modulation capabilities and then add the excellent sounding post effects like Reverb, Delay and more, and then knowing everything can be CRAZY Modulated with such ease makes it a powerhouse package, an absolute must for amazing granular and unique creative effects.” Embray Designs

“I haven’t run across a granular processor quite like this before. To me, it blurs the line between effect and instrument, which has taken me on many unexpected journeys. As a granular enthusiast I wouldn’t want to be without Graindad in my toolkit.” Quinn Zender

“Graindad impressed me. It has a clear vision, it’s helpful both for live and studio people, it packs a lot of fun and a lot of punch – if you’re willing to learn, understand, embrace the true power of granular.” Vospi

“The most refreshing way to give your samples a new life.” Miclop