The Klavis Grainity is a 10HP Eurorack filter that runs two analog filters side by side: a granular VCF and a conventional multimode VCF. A microcontroller handles control, interface and display, but the audio path stays fully analog, with no sampling memory or delay lines. It is aimed at modular users who want a filter that adds harmonic and rhythmic material instead of only taking it away.
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Two filters at once: granular and multimode VCFs with their own outputs, plus a Mix output with a CV-controllable blend
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Granular engine: detects rising zero-crossings of the input and steps through preset or random filter/phase structures at that rate
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Division and Track: step repeats from 1 to 128, and pitch tracking that retunes the cycling rate from unison up to an octave
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Multimode filter: LP2, LP4, HP, BP and band reject responses, plus an IN setting that passes the dry signal for blending
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Seven CV inputs: all settings can be modulated, and settings are retained when the power is off
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Detect input: clock the granular section from triggers, gates, LFOs or another audio source
The granular side borrows its name from Xenakis's idea of building sound from short grains arranged in a pattern, but it works quite differently from digital granular modules. Rather than layering grains, it uses each cycle of the incoming waveform as an audio-rate trigger to move through a structure: a loop of 2 to 8 steps, each a combination of filter and phase settings. Structures are chosen with an encoder, grouped by length, and include random variants driven by an analog noise source. The results range from subharmonics, harmonies and unison to flanging and formant-style filtering.
Div sets how often each step repeats. Low values stack harmonic layers, and combined with Track a single VCO can produce three-note chords. High values turn the structure into rhythmic filter patterns that follow the input pitch. With Track off, the Φ/Frq control shifts the phase delay of the cycling point for phasing and flanging; with Track on, it retunes the cycling rate relative to the detected pitch.
Both filters share the frequency fader, FM input with attenuverter, V/Oct input, resonance fader and Q CV, and the filter can self-oscillate. A long press on the Type/inv button flips the phase between the two sections, which changes the character of the Mix output. Feeding the Detect input from a clock or sequencer gives slower, stepped filter sequences, and it can also help tame drums or mixed material. The module is shallow enough for skiff cases and is available with a silver or black aluminium panel.