Rainmaker

Description

16 tap stereo spectral rhythm delay and comb resonator

The Intellijel/Cylonix RAINMAKER eurorack-format module provides a high-quality (96KHz sampling rate with 32-bit internal processing) stereo rhythmic delay and stereo comb resonator effect.

The stereo rhythm delay has 16 taps, each with its own resonant 2nd-order filter and granular pitch shifter. The filters have independently adjustable resonance and cutoff frequency, and can be set to either lowpass, bandpass, highpass or bypass operation. The filters are also capable of self-oscillation, enabling modal synthesis techniques. The granular pitch shifters have a range of 15 semitones up or 16 semitones down. Each tap can repeat at a rate value set in tap#’s in order to create regenerating echo effects.  The feedback signal has a lowpass/highpass tone control and its own pitch shifter. The tap delay times can range from 0.1 millisecond up to a maximum of 20 seconds. The overall delay times can be set with the rotary encoder, the tap tempo button, or synced to an external clock.

The stereo comb resonator section has 64 time-delayed taps which are summed together. This produces a deep comb filter or resonating effect. At large comb sizes (long time delays) a multiple echo effect is produced. The density of the resonator can be varied from 2 to 64 taps. The tap with the longest delay time is fed back to the input. High feedback levels, with short comb sizes, produce “Karplus-Strong” types of plucked string sounds. The relative timing of the 64 taps are set according to one of 16 different preset patterns, which provide different resonator timbres or echo rhythms. The comb size can be set either with the rotary encoder, an external clock or through a transposable 1v/oct input voltage.

The Rainmaker module has extensive voltage control capabilities. Direct voltage control is available for the delay feedback level and tone, the global pitch shift for all delay taps, the comb resonator size, and comb feedback level. There are two assignable modulation inputs, which can be assigned to different parameters in each preset. A trigger input with assignable functionality can trigger built-in types of noise bursts, freeze the delay buffer, reverse the delay, randomize parameters, mute taps, and much more.

Features

• 96KHz, 24-bit (32-bit internal) signal processing
• Most parameters are controllable by external control voltages, either directly or through the two auxiliary modulation inputs (MODA, MODB)
• 128 Factory preset and 128 User preset storage
• (audio-rate) randomization of all parameters, or selectable subsets
• Preset download and upload via built-in USB-MIDI interface
• Online preset librarian via Laser Mammoth

Stereo delay line with 16-taps

• Each of the 16 taps has its own set of audio processors:
  • 2nd order resonant multi-mode filter (LP,BP,HP) with adjustable cutoff frequency and resonance
  • Level and Balance setting, with quick mute capability
  • +/- 1 octave granular pitch shifter (1,2 or 4 grains with adjustable grain size)
• Delay line feedback can be taken from any of the 16 taps (pre-filter) or from the sum of the 16 taps (post-filter)
• Delay line feedback has its own granular pitch shifter and 1st-order tone filter
• Global delay time can be set either by manual entry with the encoder, or by an external clock (with adjustable clock divider), or by tap tempo button.
• Individual tap delays are set according to one of 16 preset patterns (grooves)
•  Global delay time modulation by an LFO with 8 selectable waveforms
• Delay times range from 0.1 millisecond to 20 seconds.
• Delay buffer freeze and reverse
• Taps can be piled on top of each other to give complex filtering and chord effects
• Global pitch shift control which transposes the delay line output by +/- 1 octave

Stereo multi-tap comb resonator

• Comb can have between 1 and 64 taps allowing for complex resonances
• Three different nonlinear comb feedback structures for spectral shaping
• Comb is pingable to give physically-modeled guitar, sitar, clarinet(ish) types of sounds
• 16 different comb tap spacing patterns
• Global comb time can be set either by manual entry with the encoder, or by an external clock (with adjustable clock divider), or by a 1v/oct control voltage.
• Global comb time modulation by an LFO with 8 selectable waveforms
• Comb times range from 0.1 millisecond to 20 seconds.

Specs:

• Panel width: 36HP
• Max depth: 44mm
• Power: 270mA@+12V, 24mA@-12V

Manual		Manual (v1.09-143) FCC CE Compliance FPGA Update Guide
Firmware		Mac / Win / FPGA / Factory Presets (1.09/144 & 2.0.10/144)

Video demos

Presets
Each Rainmaker currently ships with a set of 68 factory presets plus an additional 41 presets created by sound designer extraordinaire Richard Devine.

Thanks to Laser Mammoth there is now an online SysEx librarian for managing Rainmaker presets. Visit the Laser Mammoth website to share your presets!

If you want to return your Rainmaker back to the initial factory conditions you can download the presets file and upload it to your module via the display’s MIDI sysex interface: rainmaker_factory_presets_1.00.syx NOTE: This will overwrite your user presets.

Instructions for uploading the presets are found in the manual.

Here are the preset numbers and details of each Richard Devine preset.