The Crow Hill Company has released Rhythm Machine, a free drum instrument plugin from the Vaults series, focused on the warm, punchy character of Roland’s CompuRhythm CR-78 while adding tasteful modern effects. It delivers the familiar groove of classic rhythm machines in a compact plugin designed for fast, reliable results.
CR-78 Background
Introduced in 1978, Roland’s CR-78 shifted rhythm machines from preset-only boxes to programmable instruments. Beyond fixed patterns like bossa nova or waltz, producers could create and store their own grooves with the external WS-1 programmer, making the CR-78 a practical tool that adapted to the track instead of the other way around.
Sound And Legacy
The CR-78’s 14 analog drum voices, kick, snare, hats, rimshot, tambourine, claves, and more – deliver a warm, immediate tone. Its slightly imperfect tempo behavior adds human feel, a quality heard on records by Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and Blondie. That combination of character and programmability cemented its influence and continues to inspire modern production.
Vaults Interpretation
For this Vault, the Crow Hill team set out to preserve the core CR-78 character while extending its range with tasteful processing. The result is an instrument that can sit subtly under guitars and keys or step forward with more pronounced, stylized patterns, without losing the recognizable CR-78 DNA.
Features
- Free Rhythm Machine instrument from the Vaults series
- Inspired by the Roland CR-78 with 14 classic drum voices
- Built-in effects for quick polish and mix placement
- Light footprint for multiple instances across a session
- Available for macOS and Windows in standard plugin formats
Free Download
Rhythm Machine drum instrument plugin can be downloaded for free at The Crow Hill Company website.
