Iridium vs GR-1 - Which does Granular Better?

Yes, these two synths are very different, but they do share something in common: granular synthesis. Let's talk about how the Waldorf Iridium and Tasty Chips GR-1 each handle granulating some samples from my Rhodes MK1. Oh and you can get the samples I use in this video for FREE with the link below.
FREE Synthesis Workshop:
bit.ly/synthworkshop
FREE Rhodes Samples: bit.ly/Rhodes_Delays
Affiliate Links courtesy of Perfect Circuit:
Waldorf Iridium: bit.ly/iridiumPC
Tasty Chips GR-1: bit.ly/PerfectCIrcuitGR1
0:00 - What we're comparing and why
1:36 - The samples we're granulating (FREE download)
2:26 - GR-1 deep dive
10:12 - GR-1 Multi-timbral mode
13:18 - Iridium granular patch making
25:21 - Some final differences between the two
27:13 - Closing thoughts
Spotify: bit.ly/JNJSpotify
Apple Music: bit.ly/JNJAppleMusic
Bandcamp: bit.ly/JNJBandcamp
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[@caydilemma3309]

People saying "you can't compare these two synths, it's apples and oranges" is one of my biggest stupid pet peeves lol. Seeing how they're different is THE WHOLE POINT OF COMPARING THEM. Also just using the phrase "apples and oranges" as if you can't compare two round fruits that grow on trees.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

That was kind of my thought too 😂

[@big-smoke-rc]

If you want an Apple, and you're given an Orange, you aren't happy. Visa versa.

[@spintonik]

I thought the point of comparing two synths was to conclude they sound almost identical, and it's ok to buy the Behringer clo.. I mean cheaper one. And then the owners of the Seque.. I mean expensive one all swarm in to state they hear a big difference, like in apples and oranges 😂

[@hughkremer4026]

Humor is hard and few people can pull it off with this type of content, but I think you’re a funny guy.

[@Bananskuden]

The GR-1 has a MONOphonic playhead, and the Iridium has POLYphonic playheads. Every time you play a note on the GR-1 the playhead resets for all notes. On the Iridium each note plays independently, as visualized on the screen. This is a big difference that all reviewers overlook for some reason. It made me replace the GR-1 with a Quantum. Maybe I couldn't find the setting in the menus of the GR-1, even though I looked and looked many times.

[@jonirischx8925]

Tasty Chips is now coming our with a successor to the gr-1 that is polyphonic!

[@nitevisionimages]

This is such a great video! Seriously impressive work

[@EricLevyMusic]

That Rhodes tone is amazing, even before graining it out!

[@collectionofsensations]

Thank you very much sir for sharing those wonderful Rhodes samples.

[@cesarsjogren]

I got the iridium thinking I might kill two birds with one stone and I was very wrong. I loved it anyway, but now I have the Gr-1 and the iridium was sold

[@asynchronicity]

Fascinating and helpful comparison. Thanks!

[@mark35mi]

Bro. Love your production value and sense of humor. Bravo!

[@briansherling5515]

I really am a fan. You are informative and fun! I love my iridium

[@tedstahl3794]

Jameson - Great video! I have the Iridium and I've been tempted by the GR-1 because of the interface. One thing that I was having trouble with originally was the constrainable random jumping around that I've always associated with granular synthesis. I found that assigning a sample-and-hold LFO to the position and then modifying the modulation amount gives the Iridium that "sound" I was looking for. As you noted, Tasty Chips seems to get things right out of the box, but Waldorf allows for an immense depth through programming and customization. Peace.

[@jericho2x2]

Excellent comparison. Thanks for sharing.

[@ErwinSchrodinger64]

I've watched this video so many times. Got rid of my Hydrasynth, and got the GR-1 (Black Edition). You're not helping Mr. Jones. The G.A.S. is real.

[@rayderrich]

Great comparison that only feeds my Iridium G.A.S. more. Thanks man!

[@downpatmusic]

I hear the difference. The GR-1's more resolution comes across like melting butter compared to the Iridium more jagged crumbs. The Iridium sounds more transparent in this example but the GR-1 for this granular scrubbing sounds more musically useful which I would take over transparency. I would use this for under water sound effects. Nice comparison video Mr. Jones.

[@photosinferno6870]

Excellent video as always, ( I’m a fan of self deprecating humour ) concerning the GR1 versus Iridium , well I had the GR1 and though it was cool to use - the slider is awesome as you say for finding the sweet spot - the menu system and interface once you got ‘under the hood’ was a programmers dream- but alas my nightmare, and me and the filter just didn’t agree at all. I have the iridium now, so as you rightly point out there’s loads of synth engines- and the one I’ve yet to try is the ‘granular’ …… so as they say TBC . Thanks again for some excellent iridium videos very much appreciated 👍

[@Drew_Vernon]

Both sound amazing tbh!

[@Sypher474]

Didn't know Bad Santa's new side hustle was synth vids! Love my GR-1, but the menu could have definitely done with some more usability work for really getting deep. I tend to just route it through external effects and a filter anyway. Still fighting my desire to get an Iridium as well, no sure this helped at all... Subbed 👌

[@Moruial]

Soem very nice texture with both instruments. The GR1 has maybe a more "fuller" sound, but it seems the Iridium has more option to manipulate the samples. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Great video!

[@noizareth]

100% exactly how i feel about them!

[@PeterJDeVault]

My journey was slightly different, but I still ended up owning both the GR-1 (first) and the Iridium (second). Because I have the GR-1, I haven't really touched the granular engine on the Iridium. Seems like the next thing to do. Thanks for the video.

[@kkeytone]

My son loves the word wobbly. He would enjoy your wobbly sounds.

[@wickeddubz]

Awesome! It would nice to watch ios granular apps comparison. Borderlands Granular, Spacecraft, Fluss (+AUM)

[@0072gldnfngr]

Yea. The lack of audio inputs and ability to multi-sample.. on a sampler are two very big things that (I think) if they added to the GR-1 it’d be the best! Awesome video tho! Thanks man. I’m over here struggling. I agree. The particle synth is my favorite as well.

[@troyjlandry]

I have both and love them equally. 💕 🎹

[@Jamooshoe]

Love your content and watch every video! Can I ask you what stand you’re using on your iridium? Thanks :)

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks! It’s the stand for my Prophet 6 desktop actually, but I think it’s made by 3d Waves

[@psytronic5049]

i wait GR MEGA Granular Workstation!!

[@justjoeblow420]

I've been going back and forth between these two as my 3rd work horse in a hardware setup I've been planning for a while now. Some how I'm even less decided now and the idea of just saying fuck it and buying both would be very tempting if I could actually afford to do it.

[@gavinpeters9531]

Great to see this. I owned a GR1 which I gave up thanks to covid related financial issues. Have been thinking about picking one up again, but was curious about the granular synthesis in the iridium. Doesn't make my position any clearer .. I guess both is always the right answer. FWIW you can pitch the grains and pan them in the GR1 too, but the pitch mapping is nice on the iridium.

[@Hyperslob]

Thanks for sharing! Check out the Tempura granular synth by the makers of the Vector synth?

[@carstensorensen154]

Great video. Only have 1010music BlackBox for hardware graining,,,,but several sw plugins...

[@tommyg5095]

At 13:38, we are exposed to the rare technique of " TWO FLYING BIRDS "... Some may find this extremely difficult, while there are others that are naturally fluent in this approach.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Many have tried. Few have cared.

[@tommyg5095]

@@JamesonNathanJones I just used the ONE FLYING BIRD to SUBSCRIBE... CHEERS

[@organicfrequencies]

Plug the ACIDBOX III after the GR-1 and you're in for a crazy time

[@urielterry]

Hello Jameson. I love all the videos of the G-1.... But wanna know if a plug in can do the same??? for example the padshop 2 of Steinberg?... What you think... i don't know in which one spend my money....

[@simontomalik1095]

oh man you are so freakin funny, love your humor

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Haha thanks man 🙏

[@VinylWave11]

I have both the GR-1 and the Iridium keyboard. I find myself using the Iridium much more. However I do like the GR-1 when I have a lot of time to spend on one instrument. I don't feel like it is as intuitive as the Iridium. I would love if you did an extensive how to and workflow of the GR-1. It would be very helpful. Also getting sound into the GR-1 and using samples in GR-1 is not easy for me. I just don't quite gel with the GR-1 so much as I do with the Iridium. But I would really like to be better with the GR-1

[@JamesonNathanJones]

The menu system and “under the hood” stuff is definitely less intuitive with the GR-1. Might do some more videos about that in the future.

[@zariisofficial]

I love my GR1, though next month i plan to buy a Quantum,

[@davidRios622]

If I had to choose between the Iridium and GR-1 , the iridium is a powerhouse that can do everything , if I need the niche envelope configuration of the GR-1 , I would go for that , but very niche applications.

[@tsunamimae1965]

This gear is amazing! I guess powerhouse like Iridium cannot be as immidiate in hardware layout as granular-only gear, but both sounds otherworldy. However, GAS aside, how do you compare these nice hardware gears with NI granulars, like Straylight?

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Obviously the hardware offers tactile control, which counts for a lot to me. That’s said, I love Straylight, and I know there are several other vsts that do some really cool granular things. Still use Straylight often for the immediacy of just dragging in a sample from my daw and manipulating it quickly. Lots of modulation options too.

[@christ5826]

which makes the better granola ?

[@Banquet...]

Man, after arrival of Iridium Core and playing with the granular - I just realised, even in granular mode you can have more than one audio file being processed and then set to random, ping pong, etc, to move between them.. and this works for notes added with the first note still held... so if I do a chord by adding the notes slowly or like strum, different fingers can be playing different audio files, being processed by the same granular settings. This makes it insanely powerful! Can you do that on the GR1? Can anything else do that? Mind blown (not for the first time since using Iridium.

[@xiaoxia5]

i knew a guy who was beta testing a Quantum, and i wanted one. then the Iridium desktop came out, and i wanted that. as cool as both units are, i read so many negative things about the build quality(mostly screen issues), that i stayed clear. i bought a M to satisfy my Waldorf fix for the time being.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Haven’t had any screen issues, but I have heard that from some Quantum owners. The M looks great too.

[@tommyg5095]

I started researching the Iridium about 4 weeks ago... I " wobbled " back and forth , seeing videos and chats describing the varied problems... Two days ago I told myself to just forget this, move on, keep an eye out for the next greatest slice of bread... Short story long. I found a used Iridium Keyboard, at a great price, and will be picking this up this weekend. I hope and pray the unit is free of any problems...

[@xiaoxia5]

@@tommyg5095 hope you get a good unit. both the Quantum, and Iridium are fantastic for what they do.

[@2112jonr]

The Iridium screen issues are pretty much fixed now, not heard a complaint in a long time. Also, it usually becomes apparent very quickly after buying it, so it's still under warranty. But I think Waldorf are now on top of this. The other thing with the Iridium is to update the firmware as soon as you buy it. Latest (beta) firmware has been beta for two years now, but it seems very solid.

[@Dolle_Man]

I'm missing a personal recap, of you. If you have both of them, you use them for different purposes. like when do you use the Gr-1 and when the Iridium. Reading all the comments, it seems that many are ending up with both of them. I think it's safe to say if you are into granular starting with the GR-1 is the way to go..

[@bennethos]

Would love a comparison with ableton granular III . Why ? It’s more cost efficient for some of us . Just curious

[@jazzbeats8168]

how does the GR-1 compare to VST such as SILO or Palindrome sound quality wise? I would imagine the VST would far more higher number of grains ... in the thousands?

[@GeekGearSynths]

For me the winner is the GR1. However it will be dethroned by the GR Mega!

[@g3cd]

Did you know the GR-1 now also comes as Limited Editon in BLACK and is twice as cool? You gtta get this! 😁

[@JamesonNathanJones]

I did see that 👀

[@zariisofficial]

I have the white one, damn i wished i had waited to get the black one, looks so much better!

[@g3cd]

@@zariisofficialyeah, and it also SOUNDS so much better too 😂 (nah, I just sold it to get a Torso S-4 as I'm fed up waiting for the update that fixes the aweful file saving situation while Tasty Chips works on the truck sized GR-Mega, I'd also LOVE to have some audio inputs that the GR never had).

[@rhialto39]

I have both and it's hard to beat the GR-1 for pure granular. One thing I wish the Iridium had was the ability not only to travel backwards through the sample, but for the grains to have their own direction of travel separate from the scan line - eg scan forward through the sample but generate grains that move in reverse. Or have they added that in a recent FW update?

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Agree. No reversed grains to my knowledge in Iridium. I was referring purely to the travel direction through the sample in the video. Would be a nice firmware addition for sure.

[@marcbrasse747]

Since I bought and returned my GR-1 I’ve always felt a need to warn people. The one I got didn’t work properly. It did not safe any preset adjustments and thus seemed to confine one to messing around with the existing presets. How to make one’s own unique sounds on such an instrument? I basically had to threaten them with legal steps to force them to take it back. I Never received an explanation for what could have been wrong with my individual machine so I can only assume it was a major software problem. So be warned!

[@downpatmusic]

Wow scrubbing though that Rhodes sample is beautiful. If I was a famous film director (I'm not) I would hire you to score ALL of my films.

[@asynchronicity]

Agreed that the lack of inputs on the GR is a nuisance / irritant. Luckily the new Mega version rectifies this.

[@coreynasfell1095]

So funny! GR1 link doesn’t work.

[@dovepaige]

I think you are trying to get me to spend a LOT of money I don't really have...two of the three devices I desperately want all in the same video!!!!

[@BedouinRecords]

What's the third one?

[@dovepaige]

​@@BedouinRecords its nothing granular but I'm wanting to pick up the korg opsix

[@mack_solo]

IMO and pretty much stating the obvious (i've got a PhD in that), the GR-1 seems to be more focused... * AND WHAT I'VE LEARNT FROM THIS VIDEO IS NOT TO TYPE COMMENTS BEFORE WATCHING THE VIDEO TILL END COS EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY WAS ALREADY STATED IN THE CONCLUSION * 🤪 On a less goofy note, I am a sucker for granular synthesis. I can easily get lost in it for hours even more so than in wavetables. I dunno, there is something instantly explorative and creatively open-ended, which even when given (rhymes with Steven) the same starting sample point always leads to new horizons - I love that. I only have software synths for granular (Lectric Panda, Grains in Reason rack and Arturia Pigments) and I think I prefer having that type of synthesis in the computer, mouse clicking on a big screen and all. Someone manufacture the Collidoscope with 32-inch touchscreen please! (Fiore Martin & Ben Bengler collidoscope.io/) I'm waffling now, I'll go... Good video. Cheers. 👍

[@RikMaxSpeed]

I’ve owned both these synths, the GR-1 I can easily replace with more powerful iOS apps, the Iridium is a multi-talent beast, and this video didn’t really mention the filters: for example you can run any scratchy clicks sample through the comb filter and turn it into beautiful Karplus-Strong ambient plucked string atmospheres.

[@MarlinForbes]

Which apps?

[@JH-te1ct]

I would have died if in your confession skit they threw a Behringer TD-3 at you

[@JamesonNathanJones]

That’s gold. I’m going to remember you if I ever become big enough as a hack comedian to hire writers 😅

[@JH-te1ct]

@@JamesonNathanJones I do write! lol

[@millenniummastering]

GR1 absolutely smokes waldorfs granular sound quality. I have both and man I wish it wasn't so.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Haha yeah I know what you mean. That higher grain count really shows itself. It would be incredible to have that pure granular quality in Iridium, but I still love the fact that Iridium has some granular capabilities.

[@seanluke3052]

It's historically called a "Grain Envelope".

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Ah clearly I failed my Grain History course 🙃

[@Rightly_Divided]

You can do 6 if you use both layers

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Correct!

[@vecvan]

20:08

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

Just use Falcon 2... So much cheaper and leaves both of them for dead especially regarding Granular.

[@Dolle_Man]

349euro

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

@@Dolle_Man Bargain. Like having 4 Iridiums in one package. Much better value than the 2.300 quid for 1 iridium.

[@Dolle_Man]

@@maydaygoingdown5602 too much options for me 🥹

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

@@Dolle_Man yes there's a lot to Falcon. Especially Falcon 2.8. You can use as little of its features or as much as you want. The piont is though, No matter what you do with it's features, it can do it much better than the iridium for example. No mater wether that be Sampling, Granular, Sound design, etc. Its many many times a more powerful tool to have at your disposal.

[@istvantoth7431]

Not difficult to image if the $700 dollar or trillionbilliongizillon dollar synth does the grains better... guess which.

[@smallalien5860]

Good info but I encourage you to pick up the pace.

[@Jonas-km4qx]

The wallet never wins...

[@Paparumbo]

Funny 😀

[@waltersir7306]

If you are looking for a prize there are none, only more cardboard

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thank you, Terry the tiger

[@Dolle_Man]

[@MrKrisstain]

Unpopular opinion: granular very rarely sounds good

[@Dolle_Man]

[@ennayanne]

if you don't know what you're doing with it

[@hamsterbrigade]

Didn't this dude marry Angelina Jolie? I didn't realize he was making great KZbin content under a pseudonym.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

The ole career clearly took a downward turn after Fargo 😅

[@DonLeino]

Ahh what a distiguished gentlemen using the word "tinkly" to describe sounds , carry on lad ... carry on