Hailstorm Quad Drum Synthesizer + Sampler + Sequencer

Rainy Day Electronic Instruments Hailstorm

Conjure up a four-voice rhythmic deluge with Hailstorm from Rainy Day Electronic Instruments, a touch-controlled drum synthesizer and sampler instrument designed for intuitive percussive programming. In a compact package perfect for any studio space, Hailstorm delivers huge percussive capabilities, nesting both a four-voice drum synthesizer and four-channel sample manipulator within a streamlined interface designed for immediate, performance-oriented control. Four columns of LED-backlit touch strips comprise the main tactile control for each voice, with six buttons at the left that select which functions are controlled by the touch strips. At the top of the instrument, quality knobs provide ready access to important global parameters, while the bottom row of buttons offer dedicated mute switches for each track.

Getting started with Hailstorm is easy, while still offering an immense depth to explore once you've mastered the basics. The Mode switch lets you use the touch strips to select modes labelled on the right side, which can then be recorded using the record button. Trigger Mode allows you to create triggers for each track, with the Mix knob blending between the internal drum sounds and user samples. Additional modulation controls for Level, Pitch, Decay, loose-grid Shuffle effect, and Hailstorm's global effects can all be sequenced from these different modes, quickly creating complex patterns with sufficient automation. Effects include the global one-knob Reverb at the top, and touch-strip control over beat-repeat, pitch, low pass filter, and a granular delay line effect.

In the Load menu, you can load in your stored user samples and any created patterns, and also create pattern and sample bank chains independently for your sequence, enabling longer patterns with more sample variation. Hailstorm plays well with your other gear too, featuring comprehensive connectivity for TRS MIDI, analog sync with support for Eurorack clock levels, and a USB connection for power and MIDI. Great for both conventional groove duties and experimental sample mangling alike, Hailstorm from Rainy Day Electronic Instruments is sure to rain down a river of rhythmic fun for any musician.

Hailstorm Features

• Four track drum synthesis and sampler instrument
• Tactile control interface for intuitive sequencing and sound design
• Control each voice with the four touch strips, record sequences, add effects, and more
• Trigger mode adds triggers with increasing density at higher touch strip positions
• Level mode controls volume of each track
• Pitch mode adjusts pitch with reversed sample playback at lowest setting
• Decay mode adjusts envelope decay per track
• Shuffle mode adds off-grid variations to your rhythm with a distinct character
• Effects mode controls global effects for beat repeat, global pitch, filter, and granular delay
• Global controls:
  • Mix: controls balance between internal synth engine and samples
  • Decay: adjusts global decay time for all sounds
  • Reverb: adjusts global reverb blend and size
  • Volume: controls output volume
• All parameters can be live recorded and automated for complex pattern creation
• Dedicated mute switches for each track
• Sequences and sample banks can be saved and recalled immediately during performance
• Independent pattern-chaining and sample bank changes for evolving patterns
• MIDI input and output via 3.5mm TRS and USB-C
• Analog clock sync compatible with Eurorack level signals