Cherry Audio’s KR-55C is an authentic emulation of the Korg KR-55A and KR-55B drum machines (released in 1979 and 1982), offering unlocked programming and sequencing capabilities. While the massive interest in Roland’s legendary drum machines like the 808 and 909 continues, many other great-sounding analog drum machines often go unnoticed. Among these are the Korg KR-55A from 1979 and the KR-55B from 1982, both of which were preset drum machines built on analog technology.
Now, Cherry Audio has revived these relatively underappreciated classics with the KR-55C plugin. Unlike the original, fixed-preset machines, this emulation expands the potential by providing more flexibility in programming.
Artists such as Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Jean-Michel Jarre, and, most famously, Joe Jackson in his 1982 hit “Steppin’ Out,” have all used the KR-55 (A and B) models. It is important to note that both vintage machines utilized the same analog circuits, with the only differences being the built-in patterns and the external appearance. The KR-55B, launched in 1982, featured twice the pattern content and a darker housing. Other than that, both models were identical. Cherry Audio’s KR-55C plugin seamlessly combines both drum machines into a single instrument.
The KR-55C features an easy-to-use interface, reminiscent of the original models, with both cream and darker blue finishes. It includes three switchable areas within the main interface: instrument, mixing, and FX.
The instrument section contains all 12 original drum sounds: bass drum, snare, cymbal, hi-hat, low tom, high tom, low conga, high conga, rim shot, cowbell, and claves. Although the distinction between open and closed hi-hat isn’t visible in the interface, the sounds use the same parameters. Cherry Audio recreated these sounds using analog modeling technology, without relying on samples. A significant improvement over the vintage versions is the ability to shape each drum element independently using five adjustable parameters: EQ frequency, EQ amount, tone, tune, and decay.
The KR-55’s original sound palette was limited by its preset nature, but the KR-55C plugin opens up new possibilities. While the range of sounds is not vast, it is notably more versatile and engaging than the original tones.
The KR-55C also offers flexible routing. A simple mixer can be revealed at the touch of a button, allowing users to adjust the proportion of each drum sound in the pattern. Each channel offers controls for L/R pan, volume, and solo/mute buttons for individual sounds.
An effects routing matrix is located above the mixer. Users can route effects to individual sounds using color-coded buttons. However, the lack of an option to set different effect proportions for each drum sound is a downside, as every sound is treated the same.
By pressing the FX button at the top of the interface, the effects section unfolds, offering four creative effect blocks: overdrive (tube/fuzz), flanger/chorus, echo/delay (digital, tape, ping-pong), and reverb (room, plate, galactic). Each effect is fully editable with multiple control options. For instance, the echo processor provides feedback, dampening, level, and time controls, as well as a sync option. While the effects are not on a high-end level, they are solid and flexible, with the Galactic Reverb standing out as particularly pleasant.
The plugin also includes a fully customizable bus compressor and bus limiter. These are helpful as the plugin’s levels can often be too high, even with lower global volume settings.
The KR-55C is not only a drum synthesizer but also a drum machine. In addition to emulating the character of the original drum machines, the plugin features a sequencer engine that blends retro and modern styles. The retro (preset) section offers all 240 original drum patterns from the KR-55A and KR-55B, including factory patterns, intros, and fills. These can be triggered with retro-style buttons similar to the original machines. The interface allows users to switch between two hardware pattern banks and start patterns with intro sequences and fill-ins on the fly.
For those seeking more flexibility, the user button opens the sequencer engine, providing a fully programmable XOX sequencer (12 or 16 steps) with up to 32 steps and a song mode. The song mode can hold up to 99 patterns and 99 steps per song. Sounds can be selected with a large switch and programmed either in XOX style or in real-time with the instrument trigger button. Additionally, users can add swing and adjust the tempo. A tempo sync option to the DAW is also available.
However, one limitation is that all tracks must have the same number of steps, which rules out polyrhythmic sequencing. Still, users can export MIDI patterns via drag-and-drop into their DAWs.
In addition to the original content, Cherry Audio ships the plugin with 200 extra rhythms and sound presets. These demonstrate the KR-55C’s ability to achieve both retro vibes and modern grooves.
Overall, the Cherry Audio KR-55C plugin is a high-quality emulation of the vintage Korg KR-55A and KR-55B drum machines from 1979 and 1982. While most software emulations focus on Roland, Linndrum, or Oberheim drum machines, Cherry Audio’s KR-55C provides a welcome surprise. The plugin is fun to use and sounds authentic, though it’s unclear if it’s an exact replica since the reviewer only has samples of the original hardware. Regardless, the KR-55C offers a major advantage: each sound is a fully tweakable drum synth instrument.
There are a few areas for improvement, such as the high levels in some cases (though the limiter helps) and the inability to route effects more precisely to individual channels. A sequencer with polyrhythm options would also be a welcome addition in a future update.
Nonetheless, the KR-55C is an excellent-sounding drum machine plugin for both macOS and Windows. Anyone seeking the Korg KR-55A/B in their DAW will find this emulation hard to beat.
The Cherry Audio KR-55C is available for $49. It functions as a standalone application and as a VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows.
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