Roland CR-78

Description : Classic autokomp drummachine, grumpy grandfather to the 808 and 909.

Production period : ?

Numbers made : ?

Used by : Phil Collins on "In the Air Tonight", Underworld, Fatboy Slim, Gary Numan, 808 State, Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Ultravox.

Sounds : Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Rim Shot, Hi-hat, Cymbal, Maracas, Claves, Cow Bell, High Bongo, Low Bongo, Low Conga, Metal Beat, Tambourine, and Guiro

Rythm presets : Presets are Rock 1 A/B, Rock 2 A/B, Rock 3 A/B, Rock 4 A/B, Rock 5 A/B, Rock 6 A/B, Disco 1 A/B, Disco 2 A/B, Bossanova A/B, Samba A/B, Mambo, Chacha, Beguine, Rhumba, Waltz A/B, Shuffle A/B, Slow Rock A/B, Swing A/B, Fox Trot, and Tango.

Description : This is one of the drummachines that have seen the most use in the Studio due to the fact that it sounds in my opinion great. It has a very characteristic sound that´s been used on thousands and thousands of recordings for good reasons. After the Oberheim Dx this is the Drummachine I use the most and I often cut out sounds and loop them to beef up acoustic drums.
It is also primitively programmable but I have never done it.

It has got some really apparent signature sounds that when you have heard them once you´ll start hearing them everywhere.

Whenever I haven´t had a clear idea of what to do in the studio I´d take out the baritone guitar and the CR-78 and plunk away. If that doesn´t work I usually start cleaning the studio or organize the Optigan discs.