grmtools | Atelier
Patch, play, discover
Atelier is a sandbox for the curious, a platform for exploring endless sonic ideas. Modular at its core, multichannel from the ground up, it is the modern tool for all sound adventurers. Atelier doesn't hand you the sound: it gives you everything you need to uncover it yourself.
Standing on decades of research in audio signal processing and electronic lutherie, Atelier is the new software platform of the GRM Tools series, coming straight from INA grm's research & development department and developed in close connection with GRM's avant-garde composers and sound designers.
What's in the box
Atelier is a standalone application and a plug-in for DAWs (VST3, AUv2, AAX) for macOS (Windows support coming soon). Atelier comprises a set of Modules, which are freely chainable and connectible:
- Processors which generate or transform sound, and
- Modulators which generate modulations, freely assignable to any parameter
Features
Polyadic Modulation Engine
A novel modulation paradigm: organic and per-voice control, making it fast and expressive to build complex, evolving patches. Everything modulatable, no artifacts.
Full Multichannel Support
Create in stereo, quad, or 64+ channels without changing how you work. Perfect for spatial composition.
Groundbreaking yet simple modules
From granular delays to multi-playhead samplers, modules are simple and understandable, yet reward curiosity and creative misuse.
Hybrid Workflow
Sound generation and processing in one place; build an advanced synth, a granular FX chain, or something never seen before.
Parameter Morphing
Transition between module snapshots or randomize parameters with smooth sonic interpolation, ideal for performance, evolving patches or simply to be surprised.
Modules
Philosophy
- By enthusiasts, for enthusiasts: Like you, we are all passionate musicians and curious minds. We exchange every day with avant-garde electronic music composers at GRM. Atelier is built by a small and dedicated team inside a public institution. Our favorite question is "what if?". We have a unique goal: make the universally-accessible instrument we are dreaming of. No market considerations: all decisions taken by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.
- The magic is in the making: true to Pierre Schaeffer's founding principles of composing by directly interacting with the musical material ("Le faire et l'entendre"), everything in Atelier is real-time, interactive and modulatable. No forethought necessary, no music knowledge required: be guided by what you hear.
- Just tools: Every module has simple and easy to understand functions: everything is observable and documented, nothing is a black box; there is no wrong way to use them. Just by playing, you will learn how things work, and discover new uses for the tools. Keep it simple or build something complex; we are just giving you the tools to do so.
- Functional user interface: The UI never gets in the way: every element on screen has an informative function, and no menu or tabs hides important information. A single screenshot should be enough to get a grasp of a patch.
- Classics, reinvented: Atelier is a reinvention of the venerable GRM Tools suite: while respecting and preserving the underlying philosophy, it bears no single line of code in common with its older sibling.
The beginning of a beautiful friendship
Atelier is built to grow. As we develop new features it will evolve over time, including new modules, processors and modulators, and new core features. Your purchase of Atelier v1.x is a lifetime purchase: no subscription, no recurring fees. It includes all features that will be introduced in point-updates, i.e. about 1.5—2 years worth of upgrades. When v2.0 is released, we will propose discounted upgrade paths for existing v1.x user.
Topics
Getting started
The modulation system
Multichannel processing
Snapshots and randomizer
MIDI and automations