Roland Cloud CR-78

[Guy Rowland]

I did a double take - yes, they really haven't done the CR-78 until now!



It looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous. Of course I don't need it and of course I wants it, precious. So many songs and artists I love majored on the 78 - New Musik, Peter Garbiel, Blondie, Visage and of course Phil Collins for In The Air Tonight.

It's just a classic. Cherry Audio did a version recently that looked good I know.

[progger]

Despite the many foibles of the Roland cloud, I have to say they do a great job emulating their hardware... this looks awesome indeed! Trying to think where else I have pseudo-CR78-in-the-box, I suppose in Revolution and certain sample banks in Triaz, etc, but these will all be samples and not modeled circuits. This looks very appealing.

[Ashermusic]

I am trying to imagine a scenario where I would want this sound, failing to do so

[Piet De Ridder]

I am trying to imagine a scenario where I would want this sound, failing to do so

You do what you want of course, Jay, and I don’t want to presume having any qualifications for giving advice, but it seems to me that that is precisely the reason why you might want to consider trying it. Not necessarily the CR-78 perhaps, but anything that you can’t fit in your familar scenario of how you go about writing and producing songs. Bringing something in that you don’t feel immediately comfortable with, that you may even dislike, might lead you down paths you haven’t explored before. And you could end up being pleasantly surprised.

McCartney, whom I believe you admire, once started writing a new track by programming some rhythm on the CR-78, and he finished with “Goodnight Tonight”. Sure, I agree, perhaps not a song that belongs among his very best, but definitely not McCartney at his worst either (and it was a Top5 entry in many countries). While the track is today most fondly remembered for its phe-no-me-nal bass part, and the CR-78 ended up being buried in the final mix, it’s experimenting with that rhythm box that triggered it all.

Also note that "Goodnight Tonight" was recorded in 1978, the same year the CR-78 was released and a year before Blondie's influential "Heart Of Glass", the track which can be said to have started the CR-78's rise to fame.

Here's the 7 min. demo version of "Goodnight Tonight" (with McCartney playing everything):




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[Guy Rowland]

I doubt we'll convince Jay to go with a sound he hates to inspire something different, but its a good point Piet. But I LOVE the sound. Its a unique sonic signature that is perfect to me, like the 808 and 909. While the Linn was vitally important, it doesn't have such a distinct singular character.

But despite being very distinctive, it is also very malleable. Here's some CR-78 classic songs:

Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel
I think I've waxed lyrical about this stupendous production before - the combo of CR-78 and live percussion is inspired.

Heart of Glass - Blondie
This is featured in the intro but continues throughout for a disco classic

In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
It took a drummer to hear the brilliance of the wooden rhythm machine. Although the song is most famous for Phil's gated drum fill, the majority of the song is pure 78.

Fade To Grey - Visage
Man that intro. That everything. Again mixes real drums with the CR-78, something of a classic combo. The drummer held shy from hitting the snare until the final section, keeping the CR-78 prominent - it was really just kick and hat that augmented for the most part. Sublime.

I Can't Go For That - Hall & Oates

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

Song For Guy - Elton John

Vienna - Ultravox

Luxury - New Musik
A favourite band of mine, oft forgotten. The CR-78 is all over their Anywhere album. A distinctive triplet pattern drives this one. Cracking chorus (and I've always loved their pre-delay vocal effect)



And to drag us out of the 80s, here's Radiohead jamming with it

[Piet De Ridder]

Also add Roxy Music's "Same Old Scene":



There's a CR-78 on Steve Winwood's "Arc Of A Diver" album as well (which, with "Night Train", includes what I consider one of the greatest things released during the entire 80's), though it is mostly masked by the Linn Drum (and by Winwood's drumming):



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[Ashermusic]

I don’t hate the sound, I just am not writing songs where it would fit. And for me, classic drum machines have now become kind of a cliche due to the overuse in hip hop.

[Guy Rowland]

FWIW - versatile though it is, I've never heard a CR-78 used in hip hop. That'll be the 808.

I mean, there must be A hip hop track using it somewhere, but it's hardly cliche.

[Ashermusic]

FWIW - versatile though it is, I've never heard a CR-78 used in hip hop. That'll be the 808.

I mean, there must be A hip hop track using it somewhere, but it's hardly cliche.

I stand corrected. But it still very much sounds like a drum machine and for me, drum machine sounds are now a cliche .

Here’s proof, because AI agrees with me
https://www.google.com/search?apps=ma,y ... 2123&vse=1

[My name is Nobody]

I doubt we'll convince Jay to go with a sound he hates to inspire something different, but its a good point Piet. But I LOVE the sound. Its a unique sonic signature that is perfect to me, like the 808 and 909. While the Linn was vitally important, it doesn't have such a distinct singular character.

But despite being very distinctive, it is also very malleable. Here's some CR-78 classic songs:

Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel
I think I've waxed lyrical about this stupendous production before - the combo of CR-78 and live percussion is inspired.

Heart of Glass - Blondie
This is featured in the intro but continues throughout for a disco classic

In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
It took a drummer to hear the brilliance of the wooden rhythm machine. Although the song is most famous for Phil's gated drum fill, the majority of the song is pure 78.

Fade To Grey - Visage
Man that intro. That everything. Again mixes real drums with the CR-78, something of a classic combo. The drummer held shy from hitting the snare until the final section, keeping the CR-78 prominent - it was really just kick and hat that augmented for the most part. Sublime.

I Can't Go For That - Hall & Oates

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

Song For Guy - Elton John

Vienna - Ultravox

Luxury - New Musik
A favourite band of mine, oft forgotten. The CR-78 is all over their Anywhere album. A distinctive triplet pattern drives this one. Cracking chorus (and I've always loved their pre-delay vocal effect)



And to drag us out of the 80s, here's Radiohead jamming with it

Hah…..New Musik….that’s an old fav as well… World of Water….fantastic song!
Just like ( to me off course) Fischer Z is also a looong ago fav. that I think for most people may have become a bit obscure…..anyway, totally off topic.Sorry!

[Guy Rowland]

Hah…..New Musik….that’s an old fav as well… World of Water….fantastic song!

It is! On Islands is another gem.