CR-78 FROM MARS

The Classic Analog Rhythm Machine

The CR-78 is our favorite rhythm box, and has been used by everyone from Phil Collins to Blondie, Jimmy Edgar to Todd Terje, (and too many 90s Techno tracks to count). Metallic percussion, warm analog kicks, crisp 808-ish snares, and some of the smoothest hi hats of all time. 

In addition to the sounds, the grooves in this machine are unparalleled. Combined with the right amount of accent they have a human like feel - as if a miniature drummer is playing groovy backbeats on a 70s analog drum kit. Especially when you start combining shuffled and triplet rhythms with straighter grooves, things get jazzy quick! These patterns lend themselves perfectly to layering with heavier beats, but they're also great on their own. 

The Recording Process

We've captured both the one hits and the patterns, sampling two different CR78s for added variety. The first CR78 was extremely clean sounding, almost as if it had never been used. We began by opening it up and dropped the tuning of the bass drum, extending the decay, to get a really subby CR78 kick like we've never heard.

Next, we plugged the 78 into the amazing Reddi (Tube DI), and multed the signal, recording one hits and rhythms to tape - both unprocessed and completely distorted to hell with a vintage 60s Ace Tone Mixer. Check out the distorted grooves:

The second CR78's sounds were a bit lower in tuning - and for this guy, we tracked through an SSL console, with EQ, compression and gating, straight to tape. Once on tape, we re-pitched all of the hits, giving you deeper kicks, trashier snares, and more percussion than the original machine offered. As a result, the sound is quite unique:

If you're looking for the classic CR78 sounds, unprocessed one hits and patterns, you'll find them here. But you'll also find a really unique 78 - re-pitched hits on tape and weird rhythms distorted and club ready. Either way, enjoy this excellent sounding rhythm box!