01
Record or load a sample
Capture a voice, instrument or surrounding sound from your microphone, or load an existing audio file from your device.
Free browser-based granular sampler
Granular Sampler Online
Record a sound from your microphone or load an audio sample, then freeze, scatter, pitch and reshape tiny grains directly in your browser.
Record from microphoneLoad your own sampleProcess locally in-browser
Granular Sampler
Record or load a sample, then reshape it.
Ready
Built-in demo0:05
Grain Cloud
Current character
Dream
18 grains/sec
180 ms grains
Shape the grains
Start with a preset, then make it yours.
Advanced controls
Record the processed output to export it
Sampling first, synthesis second
Capture a moment. Keep playing it after the moment is gone.
A granular sampler starts with a real recording. Instead of playing the sample only from beginning to end, it repeatedly reads tiny pieces from the sample buffer and layers them together.
That makes a short voice, instrument note or environmental recording behave like raw synthesis material. You can hold one instant, scan through the sample or scatter grains around the selected position.
02
Choose where the grains come from
Move through the waveform and focus the granular engine on one moment, or spread the read position across a wider part of the sample.
03
Reshape the sample
Change grain size, density, spray, pitch, stereo width and reverse probability to move from recognizable audio to a new texture.
04
Record the new result
Perform the granular controls in real time, record the processed output, and download it for another production or sound-design session.
Granular sampling ideas
Start with a sample you already understand. Then break the rules.
The easiest way to learn a granular sampler is to hear how one familiar source changes under different grain settings. These are practical starting points rather than fixed recipes.
Voice → Vocal Cloud
Record one spoken syllable, freeze a small region and raise density to turn the voice into a continuous texture.
Piano → Ambient Pad
Load a sustained piano note, use longer grains and stereo spread, then add reverb for a wide atmospheric bed.
Drums → Glitch Chops
Use short grains, lower density and more spray to pull unpredictable fragments out of a rhythmic loop.
Field Recording → Drone
Record a room, street or natural ambience and concentrate the grain position on a tonal or noisy detail.
Guitar → Shimmer
Pitch grains upward and spread them across the stereo field to create bright layers above the original sample.
Noise → Texture
Use fans, paper, water or mechanical sounds as raw material for abstract movement and cinematic texture.
Sampler vs synthesizer
Granular sampler and granular synth are related, but the starting point changes the workflow.
This page is built around capturing and reshaping a sample. If you mainly want to explore granular synthesis as an instrument and learn the core controls, the main GranularSynth tool is the broader starting point.
Open Granular Synthesizer OnlineGranular Sampler
Capture or load source audio, then read and transform grains from that sample buffer.
Granular Synthesizer
Use granular techniques more broadly to build sustained clouds, textures, pads and experimental instruments.
Granular sampler FAQ
Questions about recording and granulating samples online.
The tool keeps the core workflow in the browser: capture or load a sample, reshape it with grains and record the processed output.
What is a granular sampler?+
A granular sampler records or loads audio into a sample buffer, then plays tiny fragments called grains from that buffer. Changing grain position, size, density, pitch and randomization can turn one recording into completely different textures and rhythms.
Can I record a sample directly in the browser?+
Yes. On supported browsers you can grant microphone permission, record a source sample, and use that recording immediately in the granular sampler without uploading it to a server.
Can I load my own WAV, MP3 or other audio file?+
Yes. You can load common browser-supported audio formats such as WAV, MP3, M4A, FLAC and OGG. Actual decoding support can vary slightly by browser and operating system.
What is the difference between a granular sampler and a granular synthesizer?+
The techniques overlap. A granular sampler emphasizes capturing or loading a source sample and reading grains from that buffer, while a granular synthesizer describes the broader process of generating sound from overlapping audio grains.
What kinds of samples work well?+
Vocals, single instrument notes, field recordings, percussion, drum loops and noisy textures are all useful. Short samples can produce sustained pads, while rhythmic sources can create chopped or glitchy material.
Can I download what I make?+
Yes. Record the processed granular output and download the resulting browser-supported audio file for further editing, resampling or use in a DAW.
Is the granular sampler free?+
Yes. The core online granular sampler is free to use in the browser and does not require installing a VST plugin.
Sample something nearby
A useful granular texture can start with one second of ordinary sound.
Record your voice, tap an object, play one note or load an existing sample and hear what happens when it becomes a cloud of grains.
Open the Granular Sampler