For many, drum machines were those boxes stuffed with "rattling", "booming" kick sounds from TR-808, or thick TR-909 snares. They were very popular in hip-hop and dance music, and completely changed our perception of drum machine sounds. But before all these cult things there was another instrument released by Roland, which impressed with its own peculiarities.

This machine is called CR-78 CompuRhythm. The expensive device offers 14 types of percussion which could be traced everywhere in the popular music of the 80's.

Like the late Roland classic instruments CR-78 uses analog synthesis, but its sounds are warmer and more refined, compared to its followers. Soft kick, hissing hi-hats, neat snare sounds (rather neat than splitting). Some of CR-78 sounds, such as guiro and tambourines, have their own adjustment to add a "sugary" character to the organs, while hi-hats can be changed using the "Metallic Beat" modulation.

The drum patterns vary from rock and disco to more exotic Boogie and Samba rhythms. Unfortunately, programming is possible only with a pedal switched via the TS-1 connector or ultra-rare WS-1, both of which were very large. And fortunately, CR-78 is easily integrated with other analog instruments. The synchronization options include a trigger and "24 PPQ clock sync".

While Roland TR-808 and TR-909 have long been considered classic units, CR-78 is currently gaining popularity. Thus, over the past few years, prices have risen, and yet, due to the simplicity of internal sounds, it is fairly easy to recreate those samples, many of which can be found on the Internet. The CR-78 occupied the studios of Phil Collins and Warrenn Cann.