Against the Grain: Best Granular Synths & Samplers 2025
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Granular synths and samplers are among the most powerful tools for creative sound design. They can transform any sound into something completely new, turning simple samples into a huge palette of unexpected timbres and textures. We check out the best granular synths and granular samplers of 2025.
Best Granular Synths & Samplers
Granular Synths: Perfect for Creative Sound Design
Granular synths and samplers work by breaking down sounds into tiny pieces called grains and then rearranging and reassembling them so that a new sound is formed. By tweaking and modulating various parameters such as grain position, length, density, and tuning, even seemingly unremarkable sounds can be transformed into exciting soundscapes and interesting timbres that often bear only a distant resemblance to the source material, if any. This is why granular synths are extremely popular with sound designers looking for unique sounds and unusual timbres.
The difference between a granular synth and a granular sampler is marginal. Both use previously recorded audio files or samples as source material. The difference is that a granular sampler allows you to create these samples directly on the device, i.e., it has audio inputs for recording samples. With a granular synth, on the other hand, the source material usually has to be imported via USB or another method. However, the basic principle of breaking samples down into grains and reassembling them is the same for both types of instruments.
Waldorf Iridium: A Sound Designer’s Dream
The mighty Waldorf Iridium series can do just about everything you could possibly want from a synth—including granular synthesis, which is called “particle generator” here. Samples can be imported or recorded via the audio input. And since the particle generator can also be applied to a live input signal in real time, the Iridium can also be used as a granular effect for any signal you decide to throw at it.
With a slew of modulatable grain and playback parameters, the Iridium offers extensive sound design possibilities. In addition, it boasts several other synthesis engines, including wavetables, virtual analog waveforms, resonator, and kernel. When it comes to creative sound design, the Waldorf Iridium will definitely give you your money’s worth.
In addition to 16-voice desktop and keyboard versions, Waldorf makes the slightly slimmed-down Iridium Core with 12 voices and fewer controls.
The Waldorf Iridium series is available from Thomann*.
Tasty Chips GR-MEGA: Granular Synth with up to 5000 Grains
Expanding on the original concept, the Tasty Chips GR-MEGA is the evolution of the GR-1, which was already one of the best granular synths. In addition to granular synthesis, the GR-MEGA offers traditional sampling, a tape mode, a granular slice mode, and a spectral engine. Thanks to a stereo audio input, samples can be recorded directly on the device.
Unlike the GR-1, the GR-MEGA is 4-part multitimbral, with each part offering 20 voices of polyphony. In total, up to 5000 grains can buzz around simultaneously – enough to make your head spin. An extensive modulation engine with four LFOs per layer, four step modulators, and a total of 20 sources and 100 destinations adds even more movement. Despite its depth, the GR-MEGA is intuitive to use and lets you manipulate most parameters in real time.
You can pre-order the Tasty Chips GR-MEGA granular synthesizer directly from the manufacturer for €1,500 plus VAT. A deposit of €500 plus VAT is required at the time of ordering. The older GR-1 costs €849 or €949, depending on the color of the case.
Sonicware LIVEN Texture Lab: Granular Sampler and Effect
Sonicware’s LIVEN series grooveboxes now cover just about everything from lo-fi sampling to FM and 8-bit sounds to granular synthesis. The LIVEN Texture Lab is a 4-voice polyphonic granular sampler with a built-in sequencer. You can record up to 32 samples of up to 6 seconds in length at a resolution of 16 or 32 kHz. Resampling is also possible. Sounds can be manipulated in real time using controls such as Size, Timing, Density, Jitter, and Position, which can also be sequenced.
Moreover, the Sonicware LIVEN Texture Lab also lets you apply granular processing to an audio input signal in real time, turning it into a creative effects unit. A shimmer reverb is also available.
The Sonicware LIVEN Texture Lab is available from Thomann*.
1010music nanobox lemondrop: Pocket-sized Granular Synth
Although it’s among the smallest granular synths you can get, the tiny 1010music nanobox lemondrop (read our review here) really packs a punch. Despite its small size, it offers a full-blown granular engine that can easily compete with much larger and more expensive instruments in terms of versatility and sound.
In addition to two granular oscillators that draw from the 300 included WAV files or your own source material, the nanobox lemondrop offers a third oscillator with standard waveforms. For sound shaping, there are two multimode filters, envelope generators, and LFOs each, as well as a versatile modulation sequencer with 32 steps. Thanks to its audio input, the nanobox lemondrop can also be used as a real-time granular effect. Everything is controlled via a touchscreen, four buttons, and two rotary knobs.
The compact nanobox lemondrop is perfect for getting a taste of granular synthesis. You can get it from Thomann*.
Polyend Tracker+ and Tracker Mini: Granular Sampling Grooveboxes
The Polyend Tracker+ and its little brother, the Tracker Mini, are mainly known for their namesake tracker-style sequencers. But these sampling grooveboxes also feature a granular engine that lets you mangle samples in every conceivable way. Granular is one of the available playback modes for samples, alongside other options such as One-Shot, Loop, and Slice.
In addition to sampling, the Polyend Tracker+ and Tracker Mini both received several other synthesis engines through firmware updates, such as virtual analog, FM, and drum synthesis. Both grooveboxes have 16 tracks. Which version you choose depends mainly on how you plan to use it. While the larger Tracker+ features more controls and even a built-in radio, the Tracker Mini is built for the road with a rechargeable battery and a microphone.
Both are available at Thomann*.
Beetlecrab Tempera: Granular Playground
One of the most unique granular synths, the Beetlecrab Tempera (read our review here) is all about exploring new ways to perform with samples. You can assign eight samples to the eight tracks, represented by the columns of the “canvas”. Then, you can use your fingers to place and manipulate so-called granular emitters, which emit grains from the underlying samples according to a range of customizable parameters. From chopped-up breakbeats to ethereal soundscapes, the Tempera offers vast possibilities for manipulating samples creatively in real time.
For sound shaping, each voice has a multimode filter and a wide array of modulation sources. Chorus, delay, and reverb are also available.
Equipped with 8 GB of internal memory, the Tempera lets you import samples via an SD card or record your own using the audio input or built-in microphone. Resampling is also possible.
The Beetlecrab Tempera is available directly from the manufacturer for €670 plus shipping and tax.
Torso Electronics S-4: Granular Sculpting Sampler
As a “sculpting sampler” with a workflow inspired by 4-track portastudios, the Torso Electronics S-4 is all about manipulating samples in a creative way. Alongside other effects, it includes a real-time granular processor that offers a wide range of creative possibilities thanks to various modulators (complex LFOs, generative sequencers, envelope generators). Time warping and pitch shifting algorithms are also available, as is a morphing filter bank with 48 bands. This allows you to turn any sample into a completely new sound.
Offering four stereo tracks, the S-4 is also a live looper. It even boasts a built-in microphone for sampling on the fly.
The Torso Electronics S-4 is available at Thomann*.
Roland P-6: Granular Sampling on the Go
The Roland P-6 is a compact performance sampler that fits in your pocket. With six tracks, a built-in microphone, and up to 3 hours of battery life, it’s perfect for making tracks on the go. But the P-6 isn’t just for jamming on the beach or on the subway—it also offers a surprisingly capable granular engine for mangling samples into oblivion.
You can get the Roland P-6 at Thomann*.
1010music bento: Portable Sampling Studio
1010music bento is a portable sampling studio designed as a hub for DAWless production and performance. In addition to a powerful sequencer with eight tracks for internal sounds and external gear, bento includes a flexible sampling engine that supports multisamples. Depending on the size of your SD card, samples can be up to 4 hours long! Resampling with effects is also possible.
The granular engine is similar to that in the nanobox lemondrop mentioned above. Each granular track has two grain oscillators, a third oscillator with standard waveforms, and dual filters. The large touchscreen provides a good overview of what’s going on.
1010music bento is available from Thomann*.
More about Synths and Samplers
- The 5 Best Budget Polysynths for your Home Studio & Playing Live
- The Best Budget Samplers for Music Production
- Samplers with Analog Filters: Get the Best of 2 Worlds
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