10.6

52Logic Pro Instruments
Granular element parameters
In addition to the following controls, granular playback is affected by loop modes and by
the settings and modulations of the Position and Speed knobs in each source subpage. See
Logic Pro Alchemy source subpage controls. Modulations of the granular element update
with each new grain. For an example of the impact this has, modulating the source Coarse
Tune parameter with an LFO causes the stream of grains to rise and fall in pitch, but does
not create pitch sweeps within each grain. If a large Size value is used in conjunction with
a low Density value, modulations of source parameters such as pitch may sound stepped,
rather than smooth.
• Waveform window: Shows real-time changes to the waveform.
• On/off button: Turn on to use the granular element in the source.
• Volume knob: Set the volume of the granular element, independent of other source
elements.
• Size knob: Adjust the duration of each grain from 2 msec to 230 msec.
• Density knob: Determine the number of potentially overlapping grains from 1 (no
overlap) to 10.
The Size and Density parameters interact with each other. When the Density value is 1,
a single grain is sent to the output stream. As soon as one grain finishes, the next one is
sent. A Size value of 100 msec sends a new grain every 100 msec.
Increasing Density to 2 adds a second grain that is sent in between those of the first,
resulting in a new grain every 50 msec, assuming a Size value of 100 msec. The first
and second grains overlap each other. Higher Density values inject additional new
grains into the output stream. These new grains occur more frequently and overlap
more heavily.
Setting Size to around 100 msec and Density to around 5 grains is often suitable for
smooth pad sounds with no sharp transients. Setting Size between 40 and 80 msec
and Density to around 2 grains is useful for drums and other sounds featuring sharp
transients. Small Size values tend to produce a buzz that masks the original pitch of
the sample. Large Size values tend to break up the sound. You can counteract both
tendencies by increasing the Density.
Note: Also important to the Size and Density parameters is the shape chosen in the
Grain Shape pop-up menu. This can have a significant or subtle impact on sonic
artifacts that may be introduced in the stream of grains.
• RTime knob: Add a small random offset to grain extraction positions in the sample.
The default value is 3% because a small amount of randomization helps to smooth the
output of the granular element.
• RPan knob: Add a random offset to the stereo position of each grain. The source Stereo
button must be on for RPan to have an effect.
• Num Taps knob: Set the number of taps (up to 8). Taps retrigger the attack phase of the
source.
Note: Taps that fall within a looped area are retriggered on each loop cycle.