Roland CR78 Compurhythm

Roland Cr-78

Compurhythm (1979)

The first programmable compurhythm series machine ever created: CR-78 has very famous sounds heard in many 80' hits such has Ultravox or OMD tunes.

OVERVIEW main panel features 5 sliders, 31 buttons, 5 switches and 5 knobs.
CR78 exists in 2 design colors: wood and black

RELATED MODELS:
- Roland Cr68: a cutdown version with less sounds and no programming option
- Roland CR-800 very rare!an hybrid between Cr78 and cr68 with internal speaker.
- Roland CR-8000 successive Compurhythm model
- Cyclone Analogic TT78 modern clone with midi and new features

Terminal connectors:

- main out at low impedance

- main out at high impedance

- trigger out signal +5V pulses for sync out

- trigger input (for clock sync)

- pedalswitch input for variation function

- pedalswitch input for start/stop

- TS-1 write is an input for custom Roland programmer model WS-1.

OSCILLATORS mainCPU is a custom 8 bits NEC D8048-C015 with MROM mask.

Basically the drum machine can be played in 2 modes:

A- arranger with preset patterns

B- sequencer with custom programming

SOUNDS the CR-78 features 4 channels and generates 14 analog percussions: kick, snare, rimshot, hihat, cymbal, maracas, claves, cowbell, metal beat, bongo (x2), guiro, tambourine and conga (x2).

ARRANGER up to 34 preset patterns with some possible real-time variations:

- cancel mutes instruments

- 8 different FILL-IN

- pattern variations like conga roll

- balance is simple lowpass filter

- fade in/out smoothes the sequences on both intro or outro

- accent amount

- pattern A/B alternate mode.

LIST: rock (x4), swing, samba, enka, disco (x2), foxtrot, mabo, waltz, tango, chacha, shuffle, boogie, beguine, slow rock, bossanova and rhumba.
TIP: Patterns can be combined together.

Roland CR78 Specifications

Company: Roland

Model: CR-78

Class: Drum machine

Dates: 1979

Price: 1500€

Synthesis: analog

Polyphony: 4 voices

Sounds: 14 percussions

Preset: 34 rhythms

Sync: 12 ppq

RHYTHM SELECTION BUTTONS:

Rock 1-4, Disco 1-2, Waltz, Shuffle, Slow Rock, Swing, Fox Trot, Tango, Boogie, Enka, Bossanova, Samba, Mambo, Chacha, Beguine, Rhumba.

SOUND SOURCE:

Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Rim Shot, Hi-Hat, Cymbal, Maracas, Claves, Cow Bell, High Bongo, Low Bongo, Low Conga.

VARIATION SELECTOR:

Fill in 1 – 7, Break, Rhythm (A – B), Rolling-HB, SD

MEASURE SELECTOR:

(2, 4, 8, 12, 16)

CONTROL KNOB:

Level, Balance, Accent, Tempo

SWITCH (BUTTON):

Fade in / Fade out, Start/Stop, Rhythm Pattern Selector, Auto / Manual Selector, Manual Power.

CANCEL BUTTONS:

Cymbal + High Hat, Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Cow Bell + Claves.

ADD VOICE:

Control Sliders: 2

Tambourine Level, Guiro Level

CY HH METALLIC BEAT:

Control Slider: 1

Metallic Beat Level

INDICATOR: Tempo. (also used as Power Source Pilot Lamp)

PROGRAMMER:

(INSTRUMENTS SELECTOR KNOB): 1

Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Rim Shot, High Hat, Cymbal, Maracas, Claves, High Bongo, Low Bongo, Low Conga, Accent.

SWITCHES (BUTTONS) Memory W/D, Play, All Clear

INDICATORS: Track 1-4

PROGRAM RHYTHM: 4

JACKS: OUTPUT: 2

Start/Stop, Variation (DP-1, DP-2)

Write (TS-1)(TRIGGER PULSE OUT)

TRIGGER PULSE SELECT IN SWTTCH:

8 Beat, 16 Beat, Combination

EXT. CLOCK: Off: OV / ON: + 5 ~ + 15V pulse, min. 5ms width

POWER CONSUMPTION: 13W

DIMENSIONS: 300(W) x 280(D) x 205(H)mm / 11.8″(W) x 11.0″(D) x 8.1″(H)

WEIGHT: 5.5 kg / 12.1 lbs

ACCESSORIES: 2.5m connection cord, TS-1

OPTIONS:

Pedal Switch DP-2

Write Switch WS-1

Weight: 4,5 Kg

Dimensions: 78 × 28,6 × 8,8 cm

Roland Cr-78

Compurhythm (1979)

Overview

Sound

Rhtyhm Arranger

Roland CR78 Specifications

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Roland Cr-78

Compurhythm (1979)

Overview

Sound

Rhtyhm Arranger

Roland CR78 Specifications

Leave a comment

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