The Crow Hill Company is proud to announce availability of VAULTS-RHYTHM MACHINE as its latest VI (Virtual Instrument) release ready for all to download and make music with for free for the rest of their lives — literally preserving Roland’s 1978-vintage CR-78 CompuRhythm’s classic character as the Japanese giant of electronic musical instrument manufacturing’s first programmable drum machine (that changed the way artists approached rhythm and, in doing so, stamped its musical mark on a number of notable hit records that subsequently secured its iconic status in the annals of music technology history for all eternity), effectively expanding its sonic potential with some tasteful effects as a result — as of October 1…
Far from stretching the boundaries of truth, it is fair to say that the introduction of Roland’s CR-78 CompuRhythm changed the course of history as the first computer-controlled programmable drum machine. Most rhythm machines before its late-1978 introduction were preset-only affairs, forcing their users to pick from the likes of ‘Bossa Nova’, ‘Rock’, and ‘Waltz’ — more in keeping with the home organ-orientated terminology of the time. The CR-78, however, offered something new — namely, an ability to program rhythm patterns and store them in memory using the external WS-1 programmer optionally offered by Roland.
Indeed, its 14 onboard instruments include bass drum, cymbals, hi-hats, rimshot, snare drum, and tambourine alongside several Latin-type sounds, such as bongos, claves, and cowbell — all generated using analogue circuits, giving it a distinctly warm, punchy character. Thanks to the CR-78’s analogue nature, though, the tempo control is not exactly surgical, but this foible only adds to its charm. And, as history has borne out, when placed in the creative musical hands of Blondie, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and others, it became an iconic instrument in its own right.
“Before the ’808, before drum machines became staples of pop, hip-hop, and electronic music, there was the Roland CR-78, Roland’s first fully-programmable drum machine,” so says The Crow Hill Company’s Theo Le Derf, by way of affirmation, afterwards putting it into its iconic context by listing several notable hit records from famous users showcasing its distinctive sound: “First up, is ‘In The Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins; in the slow burn leading up to the iconic drum fill, the CR-78 is the eerie, ticking rhythm that carries the song along. Next is ‘Atomic’ by Blondie; the CR-78 opens the song before the explosive guitar riff takes over. Same band — even bigger hit; ‘Heart Of Glass’ fused disco and new wave, and the whole production was built around a hypnotic drum loop from the CR-78. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark used the CR-78 in ‘Enola Gay’, bringing a machine-like precision to a song about nuclear devastation. The CR-78 was used in ‘Mad World’ by Tears For Fears, which aids in building its moody, dynamic soundscape.”
For more information, visit thecrowhillcompany.com.
