Miso Cornflakes | Granular Synth Engine with Harmonizer vs. Arbhar & Morphagene

I love granular synthesis and I felt I had enough modules and hardware to scratch every granular itch. Miso (Denmark) introduced the Cornflakes a year ago, but I did not feel it would add something to my Arbhar, Nebulae, Morphagene, Clouds, Beads, BitBox and the mighty GR-1 from Tasty Chips. Not to mention the awesome PC software... I was so wrong. This little gem is worth checking out, especially if you're thinking about your first granular module.
Edit: Nebulae seems to have a lot more up its sleeve that I am aware of through combo buttons.
I'll check if it can 'spray' after all...

[@musiquemacabre]

An instructional video with a plot twist? The Shyamalan of synth education? I'm damn sold on this channel

[@weepwow]

Wow, great work. Cornflakes is on my buy list for someday. I have a few Phonogenes, Morphagene, Clouds.

[@chridmeister]

Great video!! As a person who is trying to resist buying all the granular modules, this video does nothing to solve my problems :)

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I am very sorry, but I can't help you from deep down this rabbit hole...

[@CapriciousBlackBox]

Very nicely done….you fooled us at the beginning lol. It should be noted that Expert Sleepers have added a granular engine to their Disting EX, and it’s not half bad, especially for a multipurpose module. Cheers from Canada !

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I started my modular adventure with a Disting MK4 but haven't used it much because in the end it's always replaced by something permanent. But the EX may have plenty of value that can't be replaced. Thinking about it...

[@CapriciousBlackBox]

@@CinematicLaboratory I can see that, my MK4 has been relegated to “convenient WAV recorder” lol……but the EX is a whole new animal…..very powerful.

[@chridmeister]

I have two Disting EX's in my rack, they are simply awesome.

[@endless_arps]

It would be great to see Disting EX in the running , as it seems to be left out or overlooked on granular duty and reverb + stereo delays

[@GeorgeLocke]

I remember wondering if this module would ever make it to release. Glad it's finally here.

[@chriscopeman8820]

Hey George, I used to go to your library in Toronto when I was a kid.

[@GeorgeLocke]

@@chriscopeman8820 I have many libraries in Toronto. Can you be more specific?

[@chriscopeman8820]

@@GeorgeLocke Sure. The George Locke Library I refer to is on the south east corner of Yonge and Lawrence. A long time ago in a land far away.

[@antduude]

Nice. This might be the module that helps me put together that Maths/Plaits/Clouds starter kit that I've been dreaming of.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

That will be an amazing combo!

[@martintaylor9205]

Your spoilt for choice Robert, I’ve only got Morphagene so limited options but could record into Erica Drum Sample module, splice again and Reverse Another GRAIN breaking tutorial yet again Bravo 👍🆒🎶🎶🇬🇧🕸⚡️🔱👁🌟🌟🌟

[@music4screens]

Great review of a bunch of modules! lovely as always! Thanks!

[@studio48nl]

My setup for the Arbhar currently is have trig out to sample/trigger a s/h and have the new sampled CV (from the Wogglebug audio) go to scan for 'selecting' a new part of the buffer.

[@gesslr]

WONDERFUL VIDEO! Thank you. 🙏

[@Hikove]

I am still thinking on which granular module to buy, as my first. I have only 28HP free space for two modules, granular and a looper. I think most likely Miso will be my solution on both, my other option in a looper is the 8HP jroo loop.

[@djformalin]

A beautiful presentation - thx 🎼

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

Beautiful ! And excellent informative videos , you guy´s make,-

[@moondustweb]

Thanks for the video. where you show the differences. I like my miso modul, but sometimes i think it works too roughly. the beads is finer, but not as understandable

[@cardboardmusic]

You mention Nebulae in the comment/description. I know it's not possible to compare everything, however, if someone could maybe make a few remarks comparing Cornflakes and Nebulae I'd be most grateful. Nice video as always, thanks.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

They're hard to compare. Nebulae is a DSP platform that comes with an amazing granular engine that allows great time stretching and pitch tracking. But you can also install different instruments. In standard mode it comes closer to the Morphagene, a tape machine with microsound. It can do more, but it's hidden behind shift functions. Cornflakes is unique because it harmonizes four instances of the buffer, creating huge soundscapes. As I have shown in the video, it's a jack of all trades and it's possible to mimic almost every granular processor. If I had to keep one, it would be Arbhar, but Cornflakes is something special in this field of grain.

[@cardboardmusic]

@@CinematicLaboratory That's brilliant thanks for that, it gives me a better idea/comparison. BTW, I went and watched your Nebulae V2 first patch video, and now I see what you mean. It's very interesting the way you're using it, most impressed. Unfortunately, that makes it even harder to choose between the two. Naturally, some will say buy both 🤔, although I find it's better to buy one and see how you get along with it. Thanks again.

[@johntbd]

Some awesome sounds.

[@studio48nl]

Hi Robert! The Neb can have random grain start position (source+start) just like the Arbhar's spray, probability of drop out of grains, random pitch, random panning, random size, random 'start time displacement', FM, circular recoding (grain delay-ish)... Actually a lot like the Arbhar! Check out the Secondary Controls in the manual. So saying it is not designed to 'Spray Paint' is not true in my opinion 😉

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks for clearing that out, Ian, I really need to revisit Nebulae.

[@tomjepson2295]

Lovely stuff!

[@paultasbeeb]

Love Cornflakes

[@saren6538]

me too especailly with milk

[@sandroidmusic]

Great video as always. If you were to choose software instead, which Granular would be your go to? My morphagene recently died and i'm yet undecided if i should get a Nebulae V2 or a Cornflakes. Or actually just use software since i'm already super hybrid in my setup.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

The best VST for granular processing I came across is Audio Damage Quanta. Jeremy from Red Means Recording has an awesome walkthrough. As for modular I'd go for Arbhar.

[@sandroidmusic]

@@CinematicLaboratory wow! record reply-time 😆. Thank you so much. What makes you say Arbhar? Because it's closest to the morphagene or because it is your personal favorite of the bunch? The reason i'd go for either nebulae or cornflakes is exactly because it would be different. Again, thank you for all you do. Cheers from Switzerland.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

@@sandroidmusic It's hard. Morphagene is unique because of the splicing, Cornflakes is close to the morph, but adds harmonic spreads, Arbhar is the most 'granular' of them all in the traditional sense and I dare to say the most musical. But the Quanta VST adds extreme processing power, polyphony and tons of modulation, it's not fair to compare VST to eurorack. Narrowing it down to Nebulae and Cornflakes I'd pick Cornflakes. But it all comes down to the music you love to make.

[@sandroidmusic]

@@CinematicLaboratory thank you for elaborating, really appreciate it and it has definitely helped narrow it down for me. i'll give quanta a spin and if i decide go get another granular module i'll probably give the cornflakes a spin. cheers!

[@joostvanbunnik7646]

Nice one

[@TheNimasan]

sold!!!

[@tesseractive4567]

Oh wow, that's really cool! It's been looking to get an Arbhar when I can, but this looks really tempting too. Ah, Eurorack. BTW, I realize it's probably coals to Newcastle for you, but have you looked at the 1010 Lemondrop at all?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks for the suggestion! I will check it out, but I try to focus on something that can be mounted in a case :).

[@CinematicLaboratory]

If I could only keep one in my collection, I guess it would be Arbhar because of the mic, the reverb, the looks, the amazing sounds you can get out of it and the massive CV support.

[@TheMachinesWon]

@@CinematicLaboratory hi! Sorry to jump in but I hear this a lot. Other than the reverb is this what puts it over the morphogene for you? Just curious, I’ve been leaning towards the morphogene but don’t have either currently

[@CinematicLaboratory]

@@TheMachinesWon Both modules don't offer reverb. For me, Miso and Morphagene aren't competitors. Miso has more options for harmonizing a sample, but Morphagene can make splices (little fragments) you can sequence e.g. into a drum kit or a wavetable. I would never part with both of them, but they're 'the right tools for the right job'. I'd say Miso is easier to operate 'musically', while the Morph is more suitable for sonic experiments.

[@TheMachinesWon]

@@CinematicLaboratory sorry for the confusion just meant vs arbhar. But thank you for the explanation

[@juliangosper]

Awww... no Mungo G0???

[@kenswanson1093]

Cine, .. Cornflakes sounds very clean & bright. I've been at the dials of MI Beads, lately .. & Cornflakes is brighter, in comparison, in my opinion. Not necessarily good (or bad) ..

[@kenswanson1093]

Ah! .. I have to correct myself .. I think you did mention that Cornflakes is not furnished with it's own wavetable .. soo ..

[@walrtbstudios5430]

Trying to resist this but it’s not easy. If the MG did pitch it might be easier… Can one own both do you suppose?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Well, you should never ask this question to a granular module collector... You can't go wrong on any of these, but they're all different. I'd say a big modular system should at least have a MG and an Arbhar (if granular is on the menu). Imagine making something cool with Arbhar, then you can still record/process it with the MG. And when the MG is doing something fancy, you can record it again with the Arbhar :). If your case only had space for two modules, you could perform for hours with these two.

[@walrtbstudios5430]

@@CinematicLaboratory The more I look into the Cornflakes, the less convinced I become. I’ve been in touch with the devs, and even they can’t tell me whether it’s possible to load files from the iOS Files app to sd card… The selling points here are pitch and harmonisation- but are they that important in granular world? It’s not going anywhere- I’m going to wait this out and see what others make of it. I sort of wish you hadn’t mentioned the Arbhar, but as I’m looking to begin live performing shortly it may be the answer to a question I hadn’t originally asked!

[@MelonSprout]

Do you find the morphagene having that coil whine issue?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I am not sure what you mean, but I have one that makes a high pitched noise doing nothing and unconnected, and another one that is silent.

[@MelonSprout]

thats exactly what i mean- thank you for answering! @@CinematicLaboratory

[@entropydisorder6359]

Did you put the whole drum sequence into a big reverb?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Yes, it's going to Desmodus Versio - but it's still pretty mild :).

[@DJ-Lazy-Lodger]

carry on;-')