GrainBrain
11.5 MB
GrainBrain — Stereo 4-Band Multiband Granular Processor
Split it. Freeze it. Scatter it. Bleed it into the next band.
Splits your signal into independent frequency bands, then shreds each one into grains — its own LFO, spectrum view, and gate per band. The deepest knob-forest in the XNULLX family, built for players who want their hands on everything at once.
Built for texture
INDEPENDENT BAND STRIP
Split the signal across multiple bands, each with its own granular engine — sculpt highs into shimmer while keeping the low end intact.
PER-BAND LFO MODULATION
Every band carries its own modulation source, so grain density, size, and position can drift independently across the spectrum.
LIVE SPECTRUM VIEW
Watch the band split and grain activity in real time instead of guessing at crossover points.
GATING PER BAND
Keep grains from spawning on silence — each band’s gate reacts to its own signal, not the full mix.
Core Signal Path
4-Band Split — draggable bandpass filters right on the spectrum analyzer; grab a band and move it, narrow it, or disable it entirely.
8-Voice Granular Engine (per band) — grain size, scatter, pitch + pitch spread, drive/saturation, and wet/dry mix, independently on every band. Reverse and Freeze modes included.
Cross-Band Bleed — each band’s output can feed into the next (Low LoMid HiMid High, wrapping back to Low), for resonant, self-reinforcing textures that a simple per-band effect can’t produce.
Stutter Gate (per band) — a BPM-synced trapezoid envelope with attack, release, and phase offset, for rhythmic amplitude patterns that lock to the host tempo.
7-Target LFO Matrix (per band) — modulate Center, Width, Mix, Pitch, Scatter, Size, and Gate Phase simultaneously, each with its own depth and phase.
Built to Watch, Not Just Hear
The real-time spectrum analyzer isn’t decoration — band regions animate live under LFO modulation, so you can see a Center sweep or a Width pulse happening in sync with the audio. Drag directly on the analyzer to reposition a band by ear and eye.
Highlights
Ducked, equal-power Master Mix — dry and wet displace each other instead of just stacking, so blending in granular texture never gets muddy.
Global In and Out trim sit alongside Mix in the bottom bar — set levels in one place without hunting through four bands of per-band Gain knobs.
Collapsible Spectrum / Gate / LFO sections, remembered per preset, so the window stays exactly as compact or as deep as the patch needs.
Full MIDI Learn on every parameter.
What It’s For
Multiband texture design, granular pads and drones, rhythmic stutter/gate effects synced to tempo, spectral freeze composition, glitch and sound-design work, and subtle “make it feel alive” granular blending underneath a mix — GrainBrain covers the gap between a delicate texture enhancer and a full sound-design instrument.
GrainBrain is donation-ware — free to use, no strings attached. If it earns a place in your workflow, a tip is always appreciated: buymeacoffee.com/brittnell
Format: VST3 (Windows & macOS) | Current version: 1.0.1.
GrainBrain.1.0.1Â Â ( 11 MB )
