Plugin interface — screenshot pending
Delay

Grain Delay

Ableton

Grain Delay is a delay effect that slices the input signal into tiny particles called grains, which are then individually delayed and can have different pitches compared to the original signal. By randomizing pitch and delay time, it creates complex masses of sound and rhythm useful for generating new textures and experimental effects.

Key Features

01Grain-based delay processing with individual pitch and delay per grain
02Sync mode with beat division chooser (delay time in 16th notes)
03Spray control for random delay time variations
04Pitch transposition with Random Pitch parameter for chorusing to unintelligible effects
05Feedback parameter for signal regeneration and oscillation
06X-Y controller with assignable parameters on horizontal and vertical axes
07Dry/wet control routable to X-Y controller vertical axis

Things to Try

  • 01Use low Spray values to smear the signal across time and add noisiness, or high Spray values to completely break down source signal structure
  • 02Combine low Random Pitch values for mutant chorusing effects, or high values to make the original source pitch completely unintelligible
  • 03Use Sync mode with beat division numbers (e.g., selecting 4 for a quarter note delay) to keep delays synchronized to song tempo
  • 04Adjust Delay Time percentage in Sync mode to produce swing-type timing effects found in drum machines

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Grain Delay by Ableton | Plugin Library