Amber is a granular synthesis software tool that offers flexibility in sound manipulation.
Amber is a must-have software for anyone interested in granular synthesis, an innovative technique that is gaining popularity in the world of computer music. The developers of Amber identified the limitations of the tools available for granular synthesis, and thus developed Amber to make the process much more flexible and accessible.
For those unfamiliar with granular synthesis, it's a sound synthesis method that works on an incredibly small time scale called the microsound time scale. This technique involves taking a sound sample and breaking it into small pieces about 1 to 50 ms in length, which are called grains. Multiple grains can then be played together simultaneously at different speeds, phases, and volumes, creating a complex and unique soundscape. By manipulating the waveform, envelope, duration, spatial position, and density of grains, the possibilities for sound creation are virtually endless.
Amber is the perfect tool for creating music, sound effects, or raw material for further processing by other synthesis or DSP effects. With Amber, users can change amplitude modulation, time stretching, stereo or multichannel scattering, random reordering, disintegration, morphing, and more.
The features of the recent release include a complete rewrite of the main granulator code, which has made it much more concise and easier to comprehend. Additionally, the software has corrected a problem where the first grain was written in the wrong position in the output stream. The convolution code has also been improved, and although it still produces weird results, it does function much better.
Perhaps most impressively, instead of writing the output file in chunks, Amber will hold all of the output samples in memory until processing is complete, and then write the file out. This allows users to add some normalizing code and other post-processing, all while enabling a much smoother workflow. Finally, the pan options have been eliminated, as it is assumed that anyone who uses this program knows how to apply panning. However, this may return later as some form of stereo-ization of the final output.
Overall, Amber is a compelling software tool that is perfect for those looking to experiment with granular synthesis. Its new update has made it even more user-friendly and has expanded its capabilities, making it a must-have program for music enthusiasts and sound technicians.
For those unfamiliar with granular synthesis, it's a sound synthesis method that works on an incredibly small time scale called the microsound time scale. This technique involves taking a sound sample and breaking it into small pieces about 1 to 50 ms in length, which are called grains. Multiple grains can then be played together simultaneously at different speeds, phases, and volumes, creating a complex and unique soundscape. By manipulating the waveform, envelope, duration, spatial position, and density of grains, the possibilities for sound creation are virtually endless.
Amber is the perfect tool for creating music, sound effects, or raw material for further processing by other synthesis or DSP effects. With Amber, users can change amplitude modulation, time stretching, stereo or multichannel scattering, random reordering, disintegration, morphing, and more.
The features of the recent release include a complete rewrite of the main granulator code, which has made it much more concise and easier to comprehend. Additionally, the software has corrected a problem where the first grain was written in the wrong position in the output stream. The convolution code has also been improved, and although it still produces weird results, it does function much better.
Perhaps most impressively, instead of writing the output file in chunks, Amber will hold all of the output samples in memory until processing is complete, and then write the file out. This allows users to add some normalizing code and other post-processing, all while enabling a much smoother workflow. Finally, the pan options have been eliminated, as it is assumed that anyone who uses this program knows how to apply panning. However, this may return later as some form of stereo-ization of the final output.
Overall, Amber is a compelling software tool that is perfect for those looking to experiment with granular synthesis. Its new update has made it even more user-friendly and has expanded its capabilities, making it a must-have program for music enthusiasts and sound technicians.
What's New
Version 1.1.2: N/A