Grain Imager

Overview

The Grain Imager positions each grain across the stereo field as it's generated. Distinct panning patterns and width controls build a wide, controlled image straight from the grains, from subtle movement to bold, immersive width.

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1. Imager Mode and display

Spread Mode

The Spread Mode menu determines how grains are positioned within the stereo field.

• Alternate places consecutive grains alternately on the left and right channels, creating a rhythmic stereo bounce.

• Pendulum moves grains progressively across the stereo field from left to right and back again.

• Helix distributes grains along two interleaved paths that move in opposite directions, producing a layered stereo motion.

• Bloom uses a golden ratio distribution to create an even, non-repeating stereo spread.

• Scatter assigns each grain a completely random stereo position for a diffuse, cloud-like image.

• Drift gradually offsets each grain from the previous position, causing the stereo image to wander organically over time.

2. Grain Panning

Smooth Spread

When Smooth Spread is enabled, grains continuously glide between stereo positions throughout their lifetime instead of remaining fixed.

This creates fluid stereo movement, transforming stepped placement patterns into smooth, evolving motion.

Spread

The Spread control adjusts how widely grains are distributed around the current Pan position.

At 0%, all grains are centered at the base pan position, creating a mono image. Increasing the value expands the distribution, with 100% allowing grains to span the full stereo field.

Combine high Spread values with Mono Lows enabled to create a wide stereo image while keeping the low frequencies focused in the center.

Pan

The Pan control sets the center position around which grains are distributed.

Unlike a traditional pan control, the pan position is captured individually by each grain as it is generated. Changes therefore affect only newly created grains, resulting in natural transitions without abrupt jumps in the stereo image.

3. Dimension and Size

Dimension

The Dimension control widens the grain output using a dedicated stereo expansion effect.

The effect automatically adapts its delay times and movement to the current grain size and playback rate, ensuring the stereo enhancement remains synchronized with the granular texture.

Dimension Size

Dimension Size scales the delay times used by the Dimension effect.

Lower values produce a tighter and more subtle stereo expansion, while higher values create a larger, more spacious stereo image.

4. Mono Lows and Width

Mono Lows

When enabled, Mono Lows keeps frequencies below the Mono Frequency crossover point in mono.

This preserves a focused, stable low end while allowing higher frequencies to remain wide in the stereo field.

Mono Frequency

The Mono Frequency control sets the crossover frequency used by Mono Lows.

Increasing the value keeps more of the low-frequency content centered, while decreasing it allows the stereo image to extend further into the low end.

This control is available only when Mono Lows is enabled.

Stereo Width

The Stereo Width control adjusts the overall width of the processed signal.

At 100%, the stereo image remains unchanged. Lower values progressively narrow the image toward mono, while values above 100% increase the perceived stereo width.

For improved mono compatibility when using wider settings, enable Safe Width.

Safe Width

Safe Width determines how stereo width values above 100% are generated.

When enabled, stereo expansion is applied dynamically to maintain a balanced image with improved mono compatibility.

When disabled, stereo width is increased statically up to 200%, allowing for a more exaggerated effect at the expense of greater phase cancellation when summed to mono.

Grain Imager Bypass

The Grain Imager Bypass button enables or disables the entire Grain Imager section, allowing you to quickly compare the processed and unprocessed stereo image.