KORG KPR-77 Drum - getting started tutorial

This is a basic getting started manual on the Korg KRP 77 programmable Rhythm.

It's one of my favorite drum machines. Quite underrated and still affordable. 

It came out in 1983 and was Korg's answer to the Roland 606. 

The mixer however, reminds me of the Roland TR 707.

All the sounds in this baby are analogue & don't sound anything like a 606 or 707 which

is a refreshing change.

 

Note that there is no midi. It uses Korg's version of DIN sync which runs at 48PPQN

(Roland uses 24 PPQN) but this is easy to overcome with a Arturia Beatstep. 

The trigger outs also sync Korg Volcas really nicely. 

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the KPR's DNA has found it's way into the Volca Beats.

The manual is really confusing and programming patterns is very different to Roland drum

machines.The controls are cryptic and I must admit that understanding the display took 

ages to work out.

So this is an attempt to simplify things.

 

 

Playing the instruments

When you first buy it, you will want to hear the individual sounds.

Slide the MODE switch to "Write/Training" to play the instrument pads.

 

The mixer will control the volume of each sound

 Just 8 sounds

Notice, there is a vol slider for the metronome.

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Playing Patterns

The KPR can store a total of 48 patterns.

These are spread over 3 Groups : A, B,C.

Each group can hold 16 patterns

These are accessed with the 16 instrument buttons... called Basic Banks.

These 16 buttons have many functions.

 

In order to play a stored pattern:

1. push the mode switch to PLAY

2. press a GROUP button (A, B or C) 

3. press a BASIC BANK button (1-16) 

4. press the orange START/STOP button. 

 

While a pattern is playing you can restart the pattern by , pressing the D.C. button.

 

(You can combine patterns, but that's for a different post) 

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Writing Patterns

Patterns can be written in STEP mode, PLAY (real time) mode, or a combination.

First, choose a bank & erase the pattern

To erase a pattern:

1. Start in play mode

2. Choose the group/bank as above 

3. Switch the MODE switch from play to Write while holding down the chosen BASIC BANK button

4. Hold down the CHAIN WRITE key (legend: ERASE) and

    press STEP DOWN (legend: ALL INST).

5. you should hear a ping sound.

 

Now that you have created a clean memory slot we need to set 4 basic parameters:

A. Decide whether you want Claps or Cymbals in this pattern

B. Decide whether you want the Toms to be flamed or not,

C. set resolution/ quantisation, 

D. set the length of pattern

 

A. Claps or Cymbals ?: 

1. hold down the FUNC SET button

2. press BASIC BANK button 15 

3. the legend on the display will show "CLPS" when the Claps will sound instead of a Cymbal.

 

B. Toms - Flamed or not ?

1. hold down the FUNC SET button 

2. press BASIC BANK button 16 

3. the legend on the display will show "FLAM" when the Toms will play a double stroke.

 

C. Resolution

1. hold down the FUNC SET button 

2. press instrument pad 11-14 

You can see the resolution under the numbers.

Button 13 sets the quantise to16ths 

 

D. Length

1. hold down the FUNC SET button

2. press one of the instrument pads 1-8.

    This sets the pattern length in quarter notes (one quarter note to 8 quarter notes). 

   The  no "4" is one bar (I think) 

 

If you select a length longer than the resolution allows, the "FULL"
indicator will appear to the right of the bar indicators on the bottom
edge of the LCD.) 

 

The maximum pattern length is 32 steps. This compares favorably with the Roland TR 606 which has a max pattern length of just 16 steps.

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There are 2 ways to program your beats: Step time or Real time.

Step Programming & editing

1) Set the parameters as detailed above (select bank, pattern, resolution, length, etc.)

2) Press an instrument key to place it in the pattern. The bar indicator will show you the 

    step to which you're writing. 

    Writing a hit will advance the KPR-77 to the next step automatically 

3) Press the STEP UP & STEP DOWN key to step forward & back through the pattern, 

effectively inserting rests between notes if you're writing to a previously blank pattern.

 

Thus, you can edit the pattern you/ve just written using the STEP UP and STEP DOWN buttons.

To erase drum strokes from a pattern in step-time again use the STEP UP and STEP DOWN 

buttons to move to the location of the drum stroke.

Then hold down the CHAIN WRITE button (which has ERASE written beneath it).

Now press the instrument button for the drum stroke you wish to erase.

 

The unique method of representing the drum pattern can make editing seem difficult.

However, to simplify things the drum strokes for a particular instrument can be viewed.

(while in step mode).

 

1. hold down the BASIC button

2. press the instrument button you wish to edit.

    The display will only show the drum strokes for that instrument 

 

 

Real Time programming

1. following the above instructions for setting resolution, length, etc.

2) Press START/STOP to begin.

    You will hear the metronome.There is also an accented ping on the 1st beat.

3) Play the instrument keys. (1-16)

    The KPR-77 will quantize your playing according to the set resolution so 

    you wont get any off time beats.

    (You can watch the step position move on the LCD.) 

 

To erase any unwanted "hits/strokes" in real time, you need to hold down the CHAIN WRITE (ERASE) key
and the  instrument key in question at the exact time that the pattern passes the undesired hit.

I find this method quite tricky, though you sometimes get happy accidents.

 

To erase all hits by a single instrument, repeat as above but hold the instrument key down until the
pattern goes through one, complete pass.

+ KPR 77 Drum

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