Granular synthesis

Granular Synthesis is the method of dissecting sampled audio or generated sound waves into tiny segments of generally only fifty to few hundred milliseconds. These segments can then be manipulated further. Pitch, duration and delay of grains can usually be edited to attain effects such as a "grain cloud."

Granular synthesis is used to make many reverberating, ambient sound-scapes used in film scoring.

Software Examples:
Audio Ease's RiverRun
KT Granulator
RTGS-X