Description of microsound music
Microsound is a subgenre of electronic music that focuses on very small and precise sounds, often emphasizing the imperfections and subtleties of digital audio. It emerged in the late 1990s as a reaction against the dominant trends in electronic music at the time, which were focused on larger, more bombastic sounds.
Microsound artists often use granular synthesis, a technique that involves breaking sounds down into tiny grains and recombining them in different ways to create new textures and timbres. They may also use glitch techniques, such as intentionally introducing digital errors or glitches into the audio signal.
Some notable microsound artists include Kim Cascone, Richard Chartier, and Taylor Deupree. The genre has also had an influence on contemporary classical music, with composers such as Kaija Saariaho incorporating microsound techniques into their work.
Related genres: ambientelectronicsoundscapeglitchnoiseidmdronemicrotonaldark ambientminimalismindustrialelectrosteampunkelectronicaelectroacousticdark industrialcyberpunk