Uploaded March 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
You don't need a special pedal to program a Roland CR-78. This video shows how to do it with a standard Roland DP-2 clone.
1. Hit Start button
2. Turn up one of the "always on" sounds like tambourine
3. Select one of the four "Program Rhythm" buttons to record onto.
4. Switch selector to Memory W/D.
5. Select an instrument sound to record first (I chose bass drum (BD)).
6. Hit the pedal to produce a rhythm. If you screw up, hold "Clear" button and do it again.
7. Repeat 5 & 6 up to three more times. You only get four programmable sounds but you can augment existing patterns and/or "always-on" sounds with your program.
8. Switch programmer switch back to "Play" to prevent accidental programming.
Other nice features shown:
- Auto and manual Fill-In
- Fade In and Out
- Multiple combinations are possible. You can push a bunch of buttons down at the same time to get weird/complex patterns.
Famous uses: In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins), I Can't Go For That (Hall & Oates), This Is Not America (David Bowie), Games Without Frontiers (Peter Gabriel), Take Me I'm Yours (Squeeze), Night Train (Steve Winwood), Barrel Of A Gun (Depeche Mode), Silent Running (Mike + The Mechanics), Enola Gay (OMD), Fade To Grey (Visage), Missed The Boat (Modest Mouse).
Best uses: Genesis - Duke, Trek With Quintronic, Fun Boy Three, John Foxx - Metamatic, Joy Electric - Hello Mannequin, Gary Newman - Dance, Godley & Creme - Isism, Comateens, Anthony Phillips - 1984.
You don't need a special pedal to program a Roland CR-78. This video shows how to do it with a standard Roland DP-2 clone.
1. Hit Start button
2. Turn up one of the "always on" sounds like tambourine
3. Select one of the four "Program Rhythm" buttons to record onto.
4. Switch selector to Memory W/D.
5. Select an instrument sound to record first (I chose bass drum (BD)).
6. Hit the pedal to produce a rhythm. If you screw up, hold "Clear" button and do it again.
7. Repeat 5 & 6 up to three more times. You only get four programmable sounds but you can augment existing patterns and/or "always-on" sounds with your program.
8. Switch programmer switch back to "Play" to prevent accidental programming.
Other nice features shown:
- Auto and manual Fill-In
- Fade In and Out
- Multiple combinations are possible. You can push a bunch of buttons down at the same time to get weird/complex patterns.
Famous uses: In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins), I Can't Go For That (Hall & Oates), This Is Not America (David Bowie), Games Without Frontiers (Peter Gabriel), Take Me I'm Yours (Squeeze), Night Train (Steve Winwood), Barrel Of A Gun (Depeche Mode), Silent Running (Mike + The Mechanics), Enola Gay (OMD), Fade To Grey (Visage), Missed The Boat (Modest Mouse).
Best uses: Genesis - Duke, Trek With Quintronic, Fun Boy Three, John Foxx - Metamatic, Joy Electric - Hello Mannequin, Gary Newman - Dance, Godley & Creme - Isism, Comateens, Anthony Phillips - 1984.
![1970 MATTEL Optigan Program Disc: The Blues - Sweet and Low (4/4) [70020]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gBqL76fb4Gw/mqdefault.jpg "1970 MATTEL Optigan Program Disc: The Blues - Sweet and Low (4/4) [70020]
Sounds from Optigan Music Maker. Get the Optigan app to hear better samples and it works just like the real thing. You can even play the virtual discs upside-down (backwards). Or, get them at optigan.com.")
