Minimal Audio Launches Lucid ‘Next-Generation Granular Effect’ Combines Granular Engine & Sound Design Tool
Minimal Audio is a Minnesota-based developer behind a growing catalogue of plugins that includes popular tools like Rift, a versatile distortion effect, and Current, a powerhouse virtual instrument.
The latest release from Minimal Audio is Lucid, a granular multi-effects plugin and sound design tool that the company says can “turn any sound into musical textures, harmonies, and rhythmic effects that stay in key, in time, and under control”, combining a flexible granular engine with scale locking, tempo sync, deep modulation and a host of additional effects.
At the heart of Lucid is its granular engine. Like other granular effects, Lucid captures audio in real time and chops it up into tiny fragments called grains that can be manipulated and rearranged to create new sounds and textures.
Alongside the typical controls for grain size, rate and shape, Lucid features two playback modes that determine how Lucid moves through captured audio over time: Stretch Mode time-stretches, reverses or freezes audio in sync with your DAW and Scrub Mode allows you to set the playback position manually, or via modulation, automation or randomization.
On top of this, Lucid features three Grain Effects that run each grain through independent filter, delay and stereo imaging modules: the Grain Filter has 10 different filter modes and built-in saturation, the Grain Delay module is equipped with its own pitch-shifter, filter and diffusion reverb and the Grain Imager can be used to create complex spatial patterns through its six Spread Modes, which determine how grains are positioned in the stereo field.
What makes Lucid different from many other granular processors is its ability to detect the pitch of each grain and retune it independently, making it possible to produce creative tonal and harmonic effects while ensuring that Lucid’s output always remains in tune with your project.
Enter the key of your track on the right-hand side of Lucid’s interface and the plugin will analyse and retune each grain in real time. There’s plenty of potential for pitch-based experimentation here, with multiple Retune Modes, a Chord Mode that creates layered harmonies from each grain, and an arpeggiator that cycles through retuned grains.
In addition, Lucid features a sophisticated modulation engine, equipped with six swappable modulators that can function as LFOs, envelope followers and “curve sequencers” (freely drawable envelopes) that can be assigned to any parameter via the modulation matrix to introduce movement and depth. Each preset also has two macro knobs that can also be controlled via Lucid’s Animator Pad, an XY pad that also has multiple modulation controls.
As if that wasn’t already enough to keep all but the most adventurous sound designers busy, Minimal Audio have added an Effects Rack to Lucid with eight effects that can be chained together in 12 slots. The rack includes delay, reverb, chorus, compression, distortion, EQ, filter, ring mod and frequency shifting, and each effect has a surprising amount of tweakability on board.
As is the case with every Minimal Audio plugin, Lucid is stocked with a diverse array of presets (more than 350) with searchable tags, each of which has two preassigned macros, so you can quickly introduce variation with the Animator Pad without having to dig into any of the deeper controls.
Lucid can transform your audio into everything from pointillist ambient soundscapes and chaotic time-stretched textures to complex harmonic patterns and glitchy rhythmic fragments, and the deep modulation system and bolt-on effects give it an edge over the growing number of similar plugins in this space.
Main Features:
- Real-time granular engine: Lucid works as an insert on any channel or source, rebuilding the incoming audio grain by grain into deeply musical sounds you couldn’t make any other way.
- Grain scale-lock: Every grain’s pitch is detected and retuned in real time, so you can transpose and modulate freely, always locked to your key.
- Granular timeline sync: Sync time-stretching to your grid, snap to transients, or scrub manually through a captured loop while everything stays locked to your timeline.
- Preset library: Over 350 track-ready presets across 13 purpose-built packs, searchable by tag, each with two macros for instant control.
- Harmonic grain delay: A multi-tap delay with scale-locked pitch shifting for always in-key shimmer effects and arpeggiated spaces.
- Multi-mode grain filter: Every grain gets its own filter with independent modulation and drive for shifting tone and texture no single filter could produce.
- Dynamic grain imager: Spread grains across the stereo field with unique panning patterns for a wide and controlled stereo image generated by the grains themselves.
- Grain chord and arp modes: Stack grains into rich harmonies from any source, or step each grain through your scale for evolving sequences.
- Timeline display: A timeline-locked waveform shows your captured input and where every grain plays, so you always see exactly what Lucid is doing.
- Animator pad: One animated XY pad controls many parameters at once, for organic, evolving movement across your whole patch.
- Grain blur: Blurs each grain to smooth away the digital artifacts of time-stretching and freezing, so even extreme processing stays organic and natural.
- Full effects rack: Eight freely loadable studio-grade effects that extend the granular output, from mix-ready polish to deep creative sound design.
- Deep modulation system: Assign macros, LFOs, curve sequencers, and envelope followers to any parameter by drag-and-drop or the modulation matrix.
Check out the preset demo and walkthrough below to get a sense of what it can do.
Available now in VST/VST3/AU/AAX formats for macOS and Windows, Lucid is currently priced at an introductory discount of $79.
Find out more on Minimal Audio website.
