Roland just dropped the CR-78 Software Rhythm Composer—a plugin recreation of the drum machine that powered Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight,” Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” and Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That” (not to mention OMD, John Foxx, Soft Cell and other new wave artists). Available now on Roland Cloud, it’s built with their ACB (Analog Circuit Behavior) modeling and includes a modern step sequencer that goes far beyond the original hardware’s limited programmability.
Before the 808 Changed Everything
In 1978, Roland released the CR-78 CompuRhythm—the company’s first programmable rhythm machine and a genuine turning point in drum machine history. While it looked like another preset rhythm box at first glance, the CR-78 was the first commercially available drum machine to use a microprocessor, allowing musicians to program and store their own patterns in four memory slots.
The timing couldn’t have been better. New wave, synth-pop, and disco crossover acts needed rhythm textures that sat between live drums and cold sequencing. The CR-78’s analog-generated sounds—14 voices including kick, snare, hi-hats, cowbell, tambourine, and more—had a crispy, slightly delicate character that cut through dense mixes without dominating them.
The Phil Collins Effect
Perhaps no single track cemented the CR-78’s legacy quite like “In The Air Tonight”. Phil Collins used a preset disco pattern from the CR-78 as the foundation for that eerie, ticking rhythm that builds tension for nearly four minutes before the legendary drum fill. The machine’s distinctive pulse became so iconic that whenever someone mentions the CR-78, that song is the first reference point.
But the CR-78 wasn’t a one-hit wonder. Blondie built “Heart of Glass” around a CR-78 loop combining the Mambo and Beguine presets—the machine also triggered the filter on Jimmy Destri’s SH-5 synthesizer to create that pulsing bassline. Hall & Oates relied on it for “I Can’t Go For That,” Ultravox used it on “Vienna,” and Tears For Fears incorporated it into “Mad World”.
ACB Modeling Meets Modern Sequencing
Roland’s new plugin uses their Analog Circuit Behavior technology to model the CR-78’s circuitry at the component level. This isn’t sample playback—it’s recreating how the original analog circuits generated and shaped each sound, capturing the subtle variations and organic movement that made the hardware special.
The interface offers two skins: the original wood panel version and the black vinyl variant from later production runs. Basic operation mirrors the hardware with direct-access controls for rhythm patterns, instrument sounds, shuffle, fills, and volume balance.
Where things get interesting is the expanded Pattern view. The original CR-78 required an external WS-1 programmer to create custom patterns—an inconvenient setup that limited its programmability. Roland’s plugin supercharges this with an advanced step sequencer featuring per-instrument shuffle, adjustable last-step control, sub-steps (×2, ×3, ×4), flams, and alternate/weak hit modes for expressive variation.
The Kit screen provides per-instrument editing well beyond the hardware’s capabilities: independent tuning, level, decay, pan, mute/solo, and main/sub output routing. This level of control lets you shape CR-78 sounds for contemporary production contexts while maintaining their essential character.
Not the Only Game in Town
Roland’s official plugin arrives as the second major CR-78 software recreation in recent years. Cherry Audio released their version in 2024 at $69, featuring component-level modeling without samples, an X0X-style step sequencer, per-instrument effects, and a full mixing section with overdrive, delay, reverb, and compression.
The comparison raises interesting questions about approach. Cherry Audio focused on enhanced sound design and effects processing, transforming the CR-78 into a flexible modern production tool. Roland’s ACB implementation prioritizes circuit-accurate behavior while adding deep pattern programming—though notably without per-instrument effects beyond basic routing.
Roland isn’t exactly starting from scratch here—in September 2023, they added a free CR-78 ACB model to their TR-8S and TR-6S hardware drum machines via firmware update. That release included all 14 CR-78 sounds and nearly all the original preset patterns, giving hardware users a taste of what ACB modeling could do with this vintage rhythm box. The new plugin takes that foundation and wraps it in a complete production environment with proper visual editing, project integration, and MIDI export capabilities.
For hardware enthusiasts, Behringer’s RD-78 ($199) offers a physical alternative that shipped in February 2025, though it arrives with the typical Behringer baggage of quality-control concerns and ethical debates about cloning.
Pricing and Availability
The Roland CR-78 Software Rhythm Composer is available now through Roland Cloud. You can access it with a Roland Cloud Ultimate membership ($19.99/month or $199/year) or purchase a Lifetime Key.
Through February 28, 2026, the Lifetime Key is discounted to $49—75% off the regular $199 price. The plugin supports AU, VST3, and AAX formats with host tempo sync, parameter automation, and drag-and-drop MIDI/audio export.
More information: Roland CR-78 official page | CR-78 is ialso available at Plugin Boutique.
