                              Rain Storm
========================================================================
                             version 1.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  a patch for the Roland JV-1080, JV-2080, XP-50, XP-80, or compatable
                                 synth
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           by Nathan Sheldon
========================================================================


** REQUIREMENTS **

There are no special requirements to use this Patch beyond the need for
a Super JV synth like the JV-1080, JV-2080, XP-50, and XP-80.

No expansion boards are required for this Patch.

** PATCH OVERVIEW **

This Patch realisticly simulates the sounds of thunder and rain; a rain
storm (though not a heavy one, more like a light rain storm).

** PATCH INFO **

This patch uses 4 Tones:
    TONE 1 is the thunder rumble,
    TONE 2 is the thunder clap (only heard at high key on velocities),
    TONE 3 is the left channel rain falling,
    TONE 4 is the right channel rain falling.

Timbre Control:
    Modulation..........makes thunder brighter (opens filter a bit).
    Aftertouch..........makes thunder louder and rain fall harder
                          (increases the level).

** PATCH SPECIFICS **

TONE 1 uses the INT-B 124 "Applause" waveform, coarse tuned by -36
semi-tones to help mask the high frequencies of the waveform and to
"transform" the short, quick pops of the hand claps into longer, deeper
booms for the rumbling thunder effect.  The Random Pitch Depth is set
very high at 500.  This is so the thunder rolls will sound different
(more or less) with every new key strike; all the thunder claps won't be
the same pitch.  The Pitch Envelope parameters are all set to 0 since
all the effects of the thunder are more effectively simulated with the
filter envelope (TVF) and the amplitude envelope (TVA).  I use a Low
Pass Filder with the Cutoff Frequency set at 57 (approx. 186 Hz) to
filter the remaining high-frequency harmonics of the Applause and to
mask the quantization harmonics introduced when I lowered the
waveforms's pitch by three octaves.  The TVF envelope has a rather steep
attack rate as well as decay rate.  This makes the initial sound of the
thunder brighter (the main part of the sound heard when lightning
strikes from a distance).  The cutoff frequecy drops rather quickly
making the sound dull and rumbly (the reverbations and reflections of
the thunder sound).  Note that the Time Keyfollow is set to +50.  As you
play higher on the keyboard, this setting subtly decreases the attack
and decay times of the TVF envelope making the thunder sound ever so
slightly closer.  In the TVA settings, note that the Pan Keyfollow is
set to +40.  This will allow your playing position (relative to middle C
(C4)) to influence panning of the thunder sound.  So the farther right
of middle C you play, the farther right of center in the stereo image
the sound will occure (usually).  However, also note that the Random Pan
Depth is set at 16 so that the Pan Keyfollow will not precicely follow
your playing position, making the thunder effect sound more realistic. 
This is also the purpose of the Alternate Pan Deptch of L08; it adds
realism to the thunder panning.  The TVA envelope is pretty obvious (to
me anyway).  One thing to notice is the Velocity Time 4 setting of +50. 
This is to allow your key release velocity to influence the release rate
of the thunder rumbling.  If you quickly release the key before the
thunder completely decays, it will decay faster.  If you release the key
slowly before the sound decays completely, the thunder will die away
more slowly.  LFO 1 is used to really create the effect of rumbling.  It
uses a random waveform at a rate of 120 and greatly affects the Level
parameter (better rumbling sound).  LFO 2 also uses a random waveform to
slightly adjust the Filter parameter (cutoff frequency) and panning of
the sound at a different rate than LFO 1 (further enhancing the realism
of the thunder).  

TONE 2 uses the INT-B 096 "Hand Claps" waveform for the thunder clap at
high key on velocities.  It too is detuned by -3 octaves to make the
hand clap "pops" sound more like lightning strike "snaps."  The Random
Pitch Depth is fairly high at 200 so all thunder claps don't sound
exactly the same.  Again, as with TONE 1, there is no pitch envelope. 
With this Tone, I use a Peaking filter at a Cutoff Frequency of 30
(approx. 33 Hz) to enhance the extreme low frequencies of the waveform
without removing the upper frequencies needed to make the snapping sound
of the thunder clap and without having to use the EFX processor for
enhancement.  There's really nothing spectacular about the TVF envelope.
 It has a VERY steep attack rate (time of 0) and a steep decay rate   As
with TONE 1, TONE 2 uses Pan Keyfollow, Random Pan Depth, and Alternate
Pan Depth to make the thunder clap panning more realistic and still
allow some user influence on the panning position of the clap.  The TVA
envelope itself is relatively uninteresting.  I did, however, use a very
high Velocity Sens value (+150) and the Velocity Curve 2 to make the
clap fade in more naturally with higher key on velocities.  It fades in
quickly with this curve and sensativity.  I limited this Tone's velocity
range to values from 85 to 127 to save poliphony when you don't press
the key with a velocity of 85 or more.  LFO 1 uses a random waveform at
a rate of 116 to adjust the Level parameter while the Tone is sounding;
help give it a more realistic effect.

TONE 3 and 4 are exactly the same with the exception of two parameters. 
First, TONE 3 is delayed by 150 milliseconds so that its waveform (which
is the same as TONE 4's) does not fall in phase (or in opposite phase)
with TONE 4's waveform which would make the use of two Tones for the
rain useless.  Second, the Tone's Tone Pan parameters are set to the
opposite sides of the stereo image.  This makes the rain sound as if it
were falling around you rather than in front of you (or above you in the
case of using headphones).  The Tones use the INT-B 124 "Applause"
waveform as does the thunder rumble sound (TONE 1).  However, these
tones detune the applause sound by only -16 semi-tones leaving many of
the higher frequencies of the sample intact, but reducing the sence of a
clapping audience.  No pitch envelope is used.  The use of a filter is
key to creating the rain effect.  I used a Band Pass Filter at a Cutoff
Frequency of 127 (though any number above about 115 seems to have no
more effect than 115 does) (apporx. 8000 Hz) to cut out all the low and
most of the mid frequencies of the waveform.  I decided not to use a
High Pass Filter becuause it seems to have a steaper cutoff curve than
the Band Pass Filter does when filtering the low frequencies.  I wanted
the rain to sound as if it were falling on accumulated water from the
storm and I couldn't attain that effect with the High Pass Filter.  No
TVF envelope is used.  The TVA envelope is set up so the rain faids in
slowly as you hold a key down.  I wanted to be able to press the first
key and continue holding it for as long as I want the rain to fall, or
until I press and hold another key long enough for the rain envelopes to
faid the rain in, at which time I could release the first key which is
sounding the rain.  Also, many times, the thunder is heard in the
distance before the rain actually begins to fall and I wanted to be able
to create many thunder claps and rolls before any rain actually began
"falling" without having to use two different patches for thunder and
rain.  Because of this, the TVA envelope's attack rate allows the rain
to start falling close to the end of the decay cycle of the thunder
rumbling.  Notice the use of Velocity Curve 5.  This allows the rain
sound to be at about the same volume at lower velocities as at higher
velocities.  Also Velocity Time 4 is set very high so your key release
velocity can affect the release time of the rain.  LFO 1 is set at a
randome waveform with a rate of 73 and slightly adjusts pitch and
panning.  LFO 2 is also a random waveform, but at a rate of 127 and more
moderately affects Tone level.  This makes the waveform sound more like
rain drops falling.

Regarding The Effects Processors:

Though I do use all three of the effects processors in this patch, they
only add subtle differences to the sound.  The patch can be sued and
sound about hte same without any of the effects processors on.  The
Enhancer EFX (no. 6) is used for TONEs 1 and 2 to help enhance the low
frequencies.  Both of these tones use the Reverb processor as well, but
do not rely heavily on it.  I use a Pan-Delay for the Reverb with a Time
of 100, HF Damp at 5000 Hz, and no feedback.  This helps increase the
sence of spaciousness with the thunder.  TONEs 3 and 4 do not use the
EFX unit at all and have zero send levels to the Reverb processor.  All
Tones have zero send levels to the Chorus processor.

** VERSION HISTORY **

1.0  Initial creation and release.

1.02  Minor modification making the thunder sound more realistic.

1.05  Minor modification making the rain sound more realistic.

1.2  Moderate modification addiing the ability to use Modulation to
control the thunder brightness through slightly raising the Cutoff
Frequency.  Added the ability to use Aftertouch to increase the level of
the thunder rumbling and of the rain, making it sound as if the rain
were falling harder, or allowing for more expressiveness with the
thunder.  Added Velocity Time 4 values to three of the Tones allowing
the use of key release velocity to affect the release times of the
thunder rumble and the rain.  Removed the Time Keyfollow values so the
TVA envelope would no longer be affected by key position.  Changed the
Velocity Curve on TONE 3 and 4 to curve 5 to even out rain cross-fading
when cross-fading two keys' rain sound.  Changed the Velocity Range of
TONE 2 (the thunder clap), setting it at 85 to 127 to save poliphony
when keys are pressed at low velocities (when the clap can't be heard
anyway due to the high Velocity Sens value).

** MISCELLANIOUS **

I hope you enjoy and can use this Patch.  The first version of this
patch, whitch differs only a bit from this version, I created only 2
weeks after I purchased my XP-80 keyboard.  It is still my favorite of
the few patches I've programed.

If you would like to get in contact with me for any reason, you can
e-mail me at

    nsheldon@geocities.com

I'd be pleased to receive the e-mail.  All kinds of feedback are
welcome.
