We’re happy to announce Granulita Versio, a granular chord resynthesizer on the Versio platform. As usual, the firmware is available and free to swap via the firmware app, but we’re also doing a limited run of paneled modules for the diehard fans. In this post, we’ll go over some of the things it can do and chat about the limited-edition hardware.
Limited edition, you say?
We recently covered the changes we’d be making to our platform lines to simplify our inventory and your shopping experience. However, we love Granulita so much that we decided we wanted to find a way to release it with a beautiful panel and pre-flashed hardware.
As a way to keep things simple, we decided to do a limited run of 100 Granulita Versio. This gives the hardcore granular fans a way to buy a more dedicated module, and also mitigates our production and distribution challenges.
However, this means that once they’re gone, they’re gone – if you want a Granulita module, now’s the time to buy! Check in with your favorite retailer, or order one from our webshop. They won’t be produced again, and replacement panels will not be available.
So, let’s go over what Granulita can do so you have some reading material while you wait by the mailbox for yours to show up, or if you’ve flashed the firmware onto another Versio.
Granular chord resynthesizing fun
The concept behind Granulita Versio is simple: take in a sound, and generate timbrally similar sounds at new pitches using a granular process to create harmonies.
The Chord parameter selects from a bank of harmonies, and the Voice parameter selects which note in the harmony tracks the input. There are 16 possible harmonies, from unison and simple intervals to triads and tetrads. The LEDs show the currently selected harmony, and since the parameters of the Versio can be CV controlled it’s easy to sequence different harmonies from an external source. Additionally, the unquantized Pitch parameter offsets the generated harmonies from -1 to +1 octave, which opens up a lot of possibilities for more abstract harmonies, or, my personal favorite, haunting atmospheres with some external modulation. With a little bit of Pitch tweaking, you can turn a saw wave into an instant horror soundscape.
That’s only the pitch parameters, though: the fun really begins when you start experimenting with the timbral controls. The Count control sets the number of grains, from 0 to 32 – having the 0 value opens up some particularly interesting options for rhythmic patterns when paired with external CV or gates. Length sets the grain duration, from 16 milliseconds all the way up to 4 seconds. And if you want to mix things up, the top switch sets the grain playback direction: forward, backward, or a random mix of both.
Freeze, sync, and trig
The Hit button and gate input on Granulita can serve a few functions, depending on the position of the bottom switch.
When in the Freeze position, grains are frozen and play back continuously while the button is held down, or the gate at the input is high. They resume playback as usual when the gate goes low or the button is released.
The Sync position synchronizes grain playback to an external clock. You can tap in a tempo with the Hit button, or patch a clock signal into the gate input to synchronize playback to the rest of your patch.
The Trig option is my personal favorite: grains only fire when the Hit button is pressed or the gate input receives a trigger. This makes Granulita Versio act a bit like a chaotic arpeggiator with a unique and ominous sound.
Add some atmosphere
Pairing granular synthesis with reverb is a classic for a reason, and we couldn’t forget it here. The Verb control adds in a simple reverb with some Noise Engineering flair. The bottom half adds in beautiful echoes, emulating smaller spaces and short reverberations. As the parameter is turned up past noon, a pitch shifter is introduced to the reverb feedback tank, adding in shimmering octave overtones. And when the parameter is turned up past 3 o’clock, the reverb feeds back into infinity – if you’ve played with Desmodus Versio, you’ll be familiar with the infinite atmospheres we love so much.
Try it out now
If you already have a Versio, you can swap over to the Granulita firmware right now using the firmware app. Overlays are now available, and they are also now part of the Versio Overlay Multipack. If, like us, you can’t get enough granular resynthesis in your life, you can order one of the limited edition Granulita Versio hardware. Remember, once they’re gone, they’re gone, so ask your favorite retailer or order from our webshop soon to secure your resynthesizer!
