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Audio setup

Grainsmith runs either as a standalone app with its own audio engine, or as a plug-in inside your DAW. This page covers both paths and the host-compatibility matrix.

Audio interface selection (standalone only)

Open the standalone app's audio preferences (Preferences on macOS, Settings on Windows). You can pick:

  • Driver — Core Audio on macOS, ASIO or Windows Audio on Windows. ASIO is recommended on Windows for usable latency.
  • Input device — used by a layer's Live mode (recording incoming audio into the buffer). Leave it on your interface's input, or ignore it if you only play files.
  • Output device — where the grains play back. Select your audio interface here, not the built-in speakers, if you want low latency.
  • Channel count — Grainsmith is stereo in and stereo out.

Sample rate and buffer size

The standalone app defaults to 44.1 kHz. You can change the sample rate from the same audio preferences. As a plug-in, Grainsmith always follows the host sample rate, so there's nothing to configure.

Buffer size trades latency for CPU headroom:

  • 128 or 256 samples — good for live playing and MIDI performance.
  • 512 samples or higher — good for mixing, bouncing, and dense patches with heavy grain density.

If you hear crackles or dropouts, raise the buffer size first. If latency feels sluggish, lower it.

Sample-rate auto-resampling

When you load an audio file, Grainsmith resamples it to the current session sample rate on a background thread. A 48 kHz file dropped into a 44.1 kHz session plays back at the correct pitch — no manual conversion required. The resample happens once at load time, so there's no ongoing CPU cost.

DAW host compatibility

Grainsmith is tested against these hosts:

  • Logic Pro — AudioUnit. Insert on an instrument or audio track via the channel-strip plug-in slot.
  • Ableton Live — VST3 or AudioUnit. Drag from the Plug-ins browser onto a track.
  • Reaper — VST3 or AudioUnit. Use the FX button on any track.
  • Studio One — VST3 or AudioUnit. Drag from the Instruments or Effects browser.
  • FL Studio — VST3. Add from the Channel Rack or the Mixer's plug-in slots.
  • Bitwig Studio — VST3. Drag from the browser onto a track.
  • Cubase / Nuendo — VST3. Add from the Instruments or Inserts rack.
  • Pro Tools — AAX. Insert on an audio or instrument track from the AAX plug-in menu.

If your host doesn't see Grainsmith after install, force a plug-in rescan — most DAWs only look for new plug-ins at startup or when you press a Rescan button. See the troubleshooting page if the plug-in still doesn't show up.

Instrument vs. effect

Grainsmith is a MIDI-controlled instrument: load it on an instrument track and send MIDI notes to trigger pitched playback. Grainsmith FX is a plain insert effect that processes whatever audio is on the track, with no MIDI required. Both share the same granular engine and UI; the difference is the input (MIDI notes vs. track audio) and the default dry/wet balance.