Grain
8–1200 ms. Smaller values create shorter, finer grains; larger values create longer, larger grains.
Studio Cucurbits / TRACES / Granular audio effect
Coming soon
Windows / macOS / Linux Alpha / VST3
Suspended
Sound in suspension. A body still in motion.
Suspended holds incoming audio as a granular sound body, preserving subtle motion and change within it.
A different kind of freeze
WHAT IT IS
WHAT IT IS
- A live-input granular effect
- A sound-suspension instrument
- A way to compose internal movement
- Usable as a fully wet texture generator
- A processor for instruments, voices and recorded environments
WHAT IT IS NOT
WHAT IT IS NOT
- A conventional looper
- A standard freeze plug-in
- A generic granular delay
- A static reverb
- A realistic acoustic instrument emulation
UI and renders
FEATURES
Density
0.5–90 gr/s. Sets grain generation density; the centre animation changes across ten density steps.
Drift
Move the playback position through frozen sound. Left moves backward; right moves forward.
Spread
Widen grain start position, length and stereo position; the mesh spacing also expands during Freeze.
Agitation
Vary grain density over time; during Freeze, each fragment moves irregularly.
Grain Skip
Probabilistically omit grains; during Freeze, the divided mesh fades away step by step.
Release Tail
Sets the time to return from frozen sound to live input: approximately 80 ms–6 s.
Mix
Dry/Wet balance.
Output
Output gain from −24 to +12 dB.
USES
- Transform voices and instruments into suspended textures
- Add delicate motion and fragility to synthesizer pads
- Turn field recordings into playable clouds of sound
- Create breaks, introductions and ambient layers
- Build sustained electroacoustic and installation material
- Preserve the resonant body after percussive attacks
FACTORY PRESETS
- Almost Motionless
- Frozen Distance
- Fine Particles
- Large Breath
- Glass Suspension
- Sudden Opening
- Fragile Continuum
- A Sound Held in Air
ALPHA INFORMATION
Suspended is currently in alpha.
The current build includes Freeze, granular playback, Release, factory preset loading and essential output-safety checks.
During Freeze, the mesh divides into closed-perimeter grain fragments; normal playback uses a continuous mesh. The centre animation uses Y-axis rotation only, with no zoom in or zoom out.
Sound behaviour, interface details, supported environments and parameter response may change during development.
Please verify operation in your own DAW and production environment before relying on the alpha in critical work.
IMPLEMENTED IN THE CURRENT ALPHA
- Live-input Freeze
- Granular playback
- Freeze / Release interaction
- Grain and density control
- Internal motion controls
- Release Tail
- 8 factory presets
- Stereo VST3 processing
- Essential output-safety checks
COMING DURING ALPHA
- Sound refinements
- UI refinements
- Expanded environment testing
- Improved parameter response
- Documentation and installation guidance
CREDITS
Concept, sound design and artistic direction: Sachie Kobayashi
Developed and published by: Studio Cucurbits.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Product
- Suspended
- Type
- Granular audio effect
- Format
- VST3
- Channels
- Stereo
- Operations
- Freeze / Release
- Grain
- 8–1200 ms
- Density
- 0.5–90 gr/s
- Drift
- Frozen playback position, left backward / right forward
- Spread
- Grain position, length and stereo spread
- Agitation
- Time-varying density and irregular Freeze fragment motion
- Grain Skip
- Probabilistic grain omission
- Release Tail
- Approximately 80 ms–6 s
- Mix
- Dry/Wet
- Output
- −24 to +12 dB
- Attack Threshold
- −60 to −6 dB (default −42 dB)
- Presets
- 8 factory presets
- Environment
- Windows / macOS / Linux Alpha
- Status
- Alpha / Coming Soon