I’ve had the good fortune to pick up a couple of Auto-Orchestras over the years (two variations of the AO1 and one 16R) and aim to collect and post as much information about these machines as I can.

The content is pretty thin for now, but you can see all AutoOrchestra related posts at this category page.

I purchased my CR78 unexpectedly in January 2023 after stumbling on a Craigslist ad *hours after it had posted. The unit was the first I’d ever seen for sale outside of the large auction sites, was only a short drive from my house, and was list at an amazingly, amazingly approachable price. The description simply read “Unique Vintage Sounds”. The seller was a very personable retired musician who simply wished to see the machine off to a new home. He knew what the machine was, had purchased it new for band rehearsals, and had toured the country with it. While downsizing he found no interest for the unit within his own family and had even previously attempted to sell the unit to a pawn shop but wasn’t satisfied with their offer – I can only imagine what *that was, knowing what I was able to pick it up for.

The unit itself was remarkably tidy, aside from some paint across the pattern selection buttons and some typical wear to the wooden case. After a teardown and solid cleaning, I was pleased to find the unit fully functional. Even the original battery backup was installed; knowing that these, left alone, could destroy the machines, however, prompted me to order a replacement from Syntaur which I’ve since installed.

Oh, these are fun-fun-fun. I never anticipated that I’d find one, and as I’d previously found a CR68 locally I didn’t feel compelled to pay anything near market rate, but I’m so very glad to have found and played with this. The interface is logical and quick to work with; the sounds are stellar and inspirational, and the patterns vary from run of the mill to unexpectedly nice preset to the best you can get, by programming your own.

As mentioned, back in Sept. 2013 I also managed to pick up a CR68 from a local seller (thinking back, actually, the sellers were on the same street and less than one mile apart). As is often the case with such transactions, sometimes the sellers up being more memorable than the drum machines themselves. I recall this seller had one of the most impressive DAT collections I’ve ever seen (with wall-mounted display cases).

Controls

• programmer
• pattern
• accessory voices + volume
• fill and variation

In/Out

• ext clock
• TS-1 footswitch write/start-stop/variation control
• trigger out
• ext. clock

Demo

Resources

• Owners Manual (CR68)
• Service Manual (CR68)
• VintageSynth (CR68)
• Wikipedia
• http://www.sequencer.de/syns/roland/CR68.html
• http://astronautapinguim.blogspot.com/2012/01/roland-compurhythm-cr-78.html?m=1
• https://djjondent.blogspot.com/2019/09/roland-cr-78-compurhythm-repair-pics.html
• http://www.tauntek.com/CR78.htm
• https://forum.vintagesynth.com/viewtopic.php?t=66374
• https://www.keithrobertmurray.com/articles/roland-cr-78-tuneup.html
• https://syntaur.com/keyboard.php?keyboard=447&brand=Roland&model=CR-78
• https://gearspace.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and-electronic-music-production/441934-roland-cr78-6.html
• https://gearspace.com/board/geekzone/658320-replacing-roland-cr-78-battery.html
• https://gearspace.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and-electronic-music-production/647781-roland-cr-78-battery-replacement-how.html
• https://syntaur.com/keyboard.php?keyboard=447&brand=Roland&model=CR-78
• http://synthpeter.blogspot.com/2013/07/roland-cr-78-non-rechargeable-lithum.html

Related Posts

• 
  Roland CR78
• 
  Roland CR8000
• 
  Sakata DPM-48
• 
  MTI Auto Orchestra Cartridge: COUNTRY FUNK DISCO REGGAE
• 
  MTI Auto Orchestra Cartridge: LATIN

I purchased my CR8000 from an eBay listing in August 2023 after the seller accepted what I thought was a reasonable offer for the machine (lights come on, but functionality was uncertain). I already had a CR5000 in my collection so the sounds and general character of the machine were already familiar, but curiosity (and the allure of a three digit LED tempo display) got the best of me.

The unit arrived in the condition indicated by the seller; I’d missed that the LED display was non-functional in the listing images and found (both before and after cleaning the unit) that a number of the buttons were non-responsive – these sounds like a handful and a headache to repair, but when the time and tools converge, I’m excited to take that restoration on.

I initially thought that the machine was nearly entirely unresponsive, but was relieved to find a laugh hiding on the other side of the Syncro in/out switch.

As previously mentioned, a handful of pushbuttons will need to be restored (arranger buttons are largely unresponsive, as is one of the bank selectors) and the tempo LED repaired. Despite these behaviors, the machine is a blast to use and program.

Controls

• three banks of 16 patterns
• programmer
• pattern variations
• arranger controls per voice

In/Out

• mono audio
• DP-2 footswitch remote control
• trigger out
• synchro in/out

Demo

Resources

• Service Manual
• Troubleshooting: Fault w. internal clock
• Roland CR-8000 :: GumiElectronic
• Roland CR-8000 Button Cleaning & Repair :: GumiElectronic
• Roland CR 8000 Switch Replacement issues – MOD WIGGLER
• Roland CR8000 Restoration

Related Posts

• 
  Roland CR78
• 
  Roland CR8000
• 
  Sakata DPM-48
• 
  MTI Auto Orchestra Cartridge: COUNTRY FUNK DISCO REGGAE
• 
  MTI Auto Orchestra Cartridge: LATIN

I’ve looked out for one of these for years and managed to snag one on eBay with cart (!) in April 2023.

Controls

• solid, solid knobs
• pattern memory cartridge
• volume sliders per voice
• alternative instruments per voice

In/Out

• metronome + separate outs + master outs
• trigger interface
• external switch
• synchro in/out

Demo

Resources

• Hollow Sun’s description page
• Creative Technology’s MIDI interface for the DPM48
• March 1984 Review from Electronics & Music Maker
• Owner’s Manual (from CyborgStudio.com)
• (Sold) Promotional brochure from Reverb.com

Related Posts

• 
  Roland CR78
• 
  Roland CR8000
• 
  Sakata DPM-48
• 
  MTI Auto Orchestra Cartridge: COUNTRY FUNK DISCO REGGAE
• 
  MTI Auto Orchestra Cartridge: LATIN

• Fortwo
• Walzco
• Disco 2
• Disco 1
• Donna
• Disco 3
• Funko 3
• Funko 1
• FunkcoB
• Funko 3
• Roebuck
• Sears
• Waylon
• Willie
• Weswing
• Buck
• Reggae 2
• Reggae 1
• Reggae 4
• Reggae 3

• Bolero
• Mexwaltz
• Bossa 2
• Bossa 1
• Bossa 4
• Bossa 3
• Samba
• Cha-cha
• Mambo
• Brasamba
• Beguine
• Rumba
• Argen-tango
• Tango
• Habanera
• Merengue
• War Chant
• Aloha
• Calypso
• Persian Market

• Seven
• Take 5
• Presley
• Basic
• Octrock
• Berries
• Histation
• Latin Rock
• Wipe out
• Double Bass
• No Trips
• Stevie
• Big Trip
• Trip Lots
• Two-Trips
• Trip Trip
• Cobham 4
• Cobham 1
• Cobham 3
• Cobham 2

• Bluesette
• Viennese Waltz
• Swing 2
• Swing 1
• Jazz 2
• Jazz 1
• Here’s Johnny
• “Fats”
• Fast Jazz 2
• Fast Jazz 1
• Cut March
• Cut Time Cadence
• Dixie
• Stop Time
• Jewish
• Poker
• 6/8 March
• Hat Dance
• 6/8 Cadence
• Tarantella

• P/N 637-1: COMM.-JAZZ
• P/N 637-2: ROCKOB
• P/N 637-3: LATIN
• P/N 637-4: COUNTRY, FUNK, DISCO, REGGAE
• P/N 646 Rock