Behringer Releases RD-78 Drum Machine Offers Updated Take On Roland CR-78
Behringer is on a hot streak at the moment: following the release of a raft of new products in December – including long-awaited recreations of the classic PPG Wave synth and LinnDrum drum machine – the German manufacturer returned to NAMM after a decade away with a show-stealing clone of the Yamaha DX1.
You would think the company might take a little downtime after such a barrage of headline-grabbing new releases, but it seems that Behringer is only just getting started.
Today, Behringer has announced that its RD-78 drum machine – an updated copy of the Roland CR-78 from 1978 – is now shipping from their factory and available to order. The $199 RD-78 promises to “bring the magic of the ’70s and ’80s back to life”.
The Behringer RD-78 isn’t a straight copy of the original CR-78. Instead, it takes the sequencing interface from their RD-8 and pairs it with the sounds of the CR-78.
Behringer says the RD-78 authentically captures the classic tones of the CR-78 thanks to detailed recreations of the original drum machine’s analogue circuitry. A new 909-esque clap joins the CR-78’s selection of 14 drum sounds, a list that includes guiro, bongos and cowbell alongside the usual suspects, and you’ll find all of the CR-78’s beloved preset rhythms onboard.
RD-78 also recreates of some of the CR-78’s more distinctive features, letting you drop in drum fills and breaks between patterns, fade patterns in and out when triggered, and adjust the tonal balance between bass and treble via the Balance dial. While the CR-78 required the use of an additional device – the WS-1 – to dial in your own patterns, RD-78 is equipped with a far more intuitive 16-step sequencer that can store up to 32 patterns.
RD-78 augments its vintage forebear with a number of modern features that, though they now seem par for the course, were a little way off back in 1978: you’ve got individual volume and mute controls over each voice, along with enhanced connectivity options that include MIDI in/out/thru over DIN and USB, sync in/out, and individual 3.5mm outputs for each voice alongside a dedicated headphone out and main output. You’ve also got also ports for hooking up footswitches to control transport and trigger fills, should you so wish.
Here’s the official Behringer RD-78 drum machine intro video:
Features:
- Copies original CR-78 circuitry from the 70s
- 15 drum sounds with mix parameters and global accent capability
- 34 iconic rhythm patterns with fill in, rolling and break variations
- 10 independent analog outputs for external processing or recording your rhythms as multi-track audio
- Easy-to-use 16-step drum sequencer with real-time switching between 32 separate patterns
- Patterns can be chained into full songs with up to 250 bars
- 16 step buttons with LED indicators
- 18 controls and 29 switches to give you direct and real-time access to all important parameters
- MIDI and USB implementation for synchronization and connection to external devices
- Sync options include USB, MIDI, Clock and Internal
Behringer says that the RD-78 is now shipping from their factory, priced at $199. It typically takes a month or so for their shipping products to be available through their retail partners. Find out more on the Behringer website.
