Intellijel — MultiGrain

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Intellijel Multigrain v1.2 — Manual

Creative Eurorack Patch Ideas With Intellijel Multigrain

The Intellijel Multigrain v1.2 is a next-generation, live stereo morphing granular sampler perfectly suited as the focal point of experimental, textural, and performance-based modular systems. Let’s dive into creative applications and inter-module pairings that unleash Multigrain’s full potential.

1. Live Granular FX Chain for Instruments & Modular Voices

Workflow:

• Use one or more channels of Intellijel Multigrain as Live Sounds, processing inputs in real time.
• Feed source: Acoustic instruments (mic’d), electric guitar/bass (via Intellijel’s HiFi I/O, Strymon AA.1, or Befaco Instrument Interface), or synth voices.
• Send audio back out post-processing for further external processing or reinforcement (e.g. via a stereo mixer with an effects send/return loop).

Why? - Process audio through Multigrain’s Live Grain Engine, enabling evolving granular effects, freezing, and mutation with voltage control. - Insert granular textures after direct instrument input, for creative live ambient processing.

2. Granular Drum Layering & Electroacoustic Percussion

Workflow:

• Load multi-sample percussion libraries or drum stems into various Sound slots.
• Modulate grain Rate, Size, and Pitch via triggers/LFOs/randoms for glitch or swung rhythm.
• Pairing: Mutable Instruments Grids, Numeric Repetitor, or euclidean sequencers can sequence the GATE/NEXT/TRIG inputs for rhythmically controlled granular playback.

Bonus: Use morphing between Scenes A and B for per-step parameter morphing—think constantly shifting timbres with rhythmic CV addressing.

3. CV/Gate Sequencing & Sound Morphing

Workflow:

• CV-address Sounds using Select input (0–5V for Sounds 1–8), sequencing phrases and textures.
• Use precision CV sequencers (like Intellijel Tetrapad/Tête, Make Noise Pressure Points, or Malekko Voltage Block) to automate Scene morphs or grain parameters.
• Modulate the Morph fader (or Morph CV input) rhythmically for dynamic transitions.

Creative Tip: Animate Morph with function generators or random LFOs (Make Noise Maths, Stages, Buchla 281e) for organic scene blending.

4. Advanced Modulation: Attenuvert Everything!

Workflow:

• Feed modulation sources (random, LFOs, envelopes—e.g., ALM Pamela’s Pro Workout, Xaoc Zadar, or even pitch CV) into X/Y/Z modulation ins.
• Attenuvert and assign to unique parameters per Sound/Scene Random, Rate, Size, and Pitch for every new grain.

Creative Variation: Patch a self-generated random trigger (Noise Tools, SSF Ultra-Random Analog) to either humanize or introduce sudden timbral shifts.

5. Feedback, Resampling, and Recursive Granular Textures

Workflow:

• Patch OUT L/R back to IN L/R via a VCA or mixer to create controlled feedback.
• Enable resampling mode—Multigrain's internal recorder then captures the output, creating hall-of-mirrors, self-generative granularity.
• Pair with a mixer like Intellijel Mixup or Befaco Hexmix for blend/attenuation.

Pro Tip: Insert a filter, VCA, or distortion (e.g., Erica Pico DSP, Happy Nerding FX Aid) in the feedback loop for effect-ridden “granular clouds.”

6. Creating Ambient Soundscapes With External Effects

Workflow:

• Use Multigrain as a granular source, then route OUT L/R into rich external effects chains: Strymon Magneto, Make Noise Mimeophon, Happy Nerding FX Aid XL, or even external pedals (via an output interface).
• Use Multigrain’s Blur (reverb send) for initial atmosphere, then stack spatialization or tape delay.

7. Polyphonic/Layered Granular Voices

Workflow:

• Assign different vocal, synth, or instrument samples to multiple Sounds.
• Trigger multiple grains simultaneously using different GATE/NEXT/SELECT inputs.
• Sequence multiple CVs or triggers (from René, Pam’s, or Voltage Block).

Optional: Cross-fade between polyrhythmic granular streams by modulating BLUR/TONE/PITCH per row for immersive stereo imaging.

8. Performance Macros & Morph Automation

Workflow:

• Map MORPH CV to foot pedals (via Intellijel Pedal I/O), MIDI-to-CV converters, or fader banks for hands-free, gestural scene morphing.
• Use external controllers (like Planar2, Tetrapad, Soundmachines LS1 Lightstrip) to sweep between scenes, triggering “macro” sound changes in a live set.

9. DIY Granular Sampler/Looper

Workflow:

• Use the Looping Recorder mode as an 8-32 second looper, capturing external sources on the fly.
• Freeze/auto-freeze grains in performance, with a clock or input threshold.
• Combine with a looper pedal or sampler for recursive time-based layering.

10. Intellijel Multigrain + Video Synthesis

Workflow:

• Multigrain’s assignable MOD outputs (A/B) can clock or cross-modulate video modules (like LZX Vidiot, LZX VBM, or Syntonie VU007/VCF).
• Use random mod sources, grain triggers, or envelope followers to animate visuals based on granular sound events—true audio/visual synthesis!

Bonus: Integration With Alternative Controllers

• Touch/MPE to CV: Use converters like Polyend Poly, Endorphines Shuttle Control, or Expert Sleepers FH-2 with MPE devices (Sensel Morph, Linnstrument) to modulate Multigrain’s X/Y/Z for gestural granular performance.
• Pedal Inputs: Use external expression pedals to blend or freeze grains in real time.

Pairing Highlights

• Random/LFO: ALM Pamela’s Pro Workout, Mutable Instruments Marbles, Xaoc Batumi, DivKid Ochd
• Sequencer: Intellijel Metropolix, Make Noise René, Malekko Voltage Block, Mordax Data (for shaped modulation)
• Processing: Mimeophon, FX Aid XL, Z-DSP, Strymon Magneto
• Recorder: 4MS Stereo Triggered Sampler, Expert Sleepers Disting MK4 (for capturing grains into further processing)

These techniques transform Intellijel Multigrain into a central brain for generative, performative, and experimental modular rigs. The ever-changing grain landscape, paired with creative CV control and modular effects, opens an endless world of sonic morphogenesis.

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