Korg Rhythm 55 KR-55 Drum Machine
The KR55 was, for its time (1979), an advanced preset rhythm drum machine with up to 96 preset rhythm patterns! These patterns cover the whole gamut of presets (Waltz, Samba, Rhumba, Bossa Nova, Tango, Slow Rock, Swing, Rock, etc.). The KR55 also ... read more
Korg Rhythm 55 KR-55 Drum Machine
Along this video we can see Yannis Philippakis using this drum machine to set the drums of 'Daffodils' (Mark Ronson). more
Depeche Mode album gear discussion on 1981 album: "I SPOKE TO VINCE CLARKE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND HE TOLD ME THE DRUM MACHINE USED ON ... more
These days Ocasek busies himself while at home with a TEAC 88 8-track tape machine connected to a Sound Workshop 1280 B board in turn hoo... more
Reviews
Trusted musician and artist reviews for Korg Rhythm 55 KR-55 Drum Machine
Based on 3 Reviews
Amazing retro beat machine. Punchy snare drums.
I use this machine for early synth pop recreation. A la Speak & Speel
The Korg Rhythm 55 (KR-55) is a non programmable analog rhythm box from 1979. The KR-55 and its little brother KR-33 were the successors of the Korg Minipops series. Same knobs as on the MS/PS-series. The sound of the hi hats is more complex - similar to those on the Roland TR-808/606.
The KR-55 has some special features: a TRIG OUT jack including several triggering modes, SHUFFLE function and volume faders for the most drum sounds.
The rhythms are not mixable like on earlier Korg rhythm boxes (Minipops series). TEMPO and VOLUME controls. It was used by Jean-Michel Jarre (Magnetic Fields) and Depeche Mode (Speak and Spell) among others. It has a very characteristic sound - it sounds fantastic!
Pure analogue drums
Added MIDI and individual outputs