Kawai R-100 User reviews -Page 6

Synth Site: Kawai: R-100: User reviews Add review

Average rating: 3.9 out of 5

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m71 a hobbyist user from USA writes:

Just picked one up today for $75 (US)It's made real solid and sturdy sort of like a TR909 or DMX, I'm sure it'll outlast me. In the back you have MIDI i o & t, sync i o, phones, l&r outs, 8 outputs, tape/clk in, tape out, clk out, hh for pedal, start/stop, trig out, & metro. This machine is real easy to figure out, I don't have the manual (I would like to find a manual so I can get more out of it) but in less than an hour I have figured half of it out, hopefully the other half is just as easy.

You can make two patterns and join them to create a new pattern (eg. 01 + 76 = 02, or 10 + 10 = 11) I would like to be able to copy patterns, so I can make changes to the copy but haven't figured that out yet (hopefully it can be done)

The 24 sounds are very typical of 80's drum machines but not too fad-ish so they are still use-able (I wish they didn't put the C HH on the same button as the O HH tho) Since there are 8 outputs you can process them. I think the sounds are versitile and can be used for just about any style of music. I like the fact you can change up the volume, pan, velocity, pitch of the drum sounds for each different pattern. I haven't chained patterns yet to make a song. I can't wait to try it out because it looks like fun (I hope) I've heard of Kawai before but wasn't familiar with any of their products. I am very surprised the R100 is not as popular as the Rolands TR series, comparabily it's inbetween a 909 and 707 (not as great as the 909 but better than a 707).

I'm going to play around some more with mine. If you have any questions you're welcome to e mail me.

-regards, m71

Rating: 4 out of 5 posted Saturday-Oct-16-2004 at 21:34

writes:

like the module version the best

Rating: 0 out of 5 posted Monday-Apr-26-2004 at 16:30

crustypaul a professional user from UK writes:

If anyone has got an R-100 or R-50 thats freaking out i can guarantee its caused by the internal battery being dead. Symptoms include the machine making up random patterns, not being able to remember anything you've programmed and locking up every now and then. Unfortunatly Kawai decided to weld their batteries in so you've got a bit of soldering to do. Anyone know how many sound ROM chips were made for the R-100? Mine has three installed with an empty space for another one. The sounds are pure 80's 12 bit filth but seem to sound really good for drum&bass for some reason. Programming can be a bit wierd if you are used to Roland/Boss machines but it pisses all over the Tr-505/626 or similar. Lots of R-100's seem to have problems with the front panel buttons not working properly all the time so check them all out before you buy. i mainly use mine for the absurd overkill on the syncing options. If you want a DIN-sync with the added bonus of a drum machine strapped on get an R-100 rather than a TR707

Rating: 3 out of 5 posted Monday-Apr-26-2004 at 13:35

wysedawg a professional user from United States writes:

What ever happened to creativity?The R-100 gives you evertyhing you need to make quality drum tracks from scratch-touch sensitvity,separate outs for processing options,MIDI,DIN sync-What's the problem?The ONLY reason why i don't have one anymore(I going to get another one)is someone gave me a MPC-60 in a production deal-Wished i would have sampled the drums.The R-100 is one of the best drum machines ever made.Try the Jazz/Fusion sound chip for more options.

Rating: 4 out of 5 posted Saturday-Aug-30-2003 at 14:42

stig a hobbyist user from usa writes:

I bought the R-100 on the many reviews calling it an excellent machine for industrial muzik. Frankly I wasn't impressed with the sounds. And the ability to effect pitch and velocity wasn't enough to mangle them to my liking. The sounds lacked any kind of punchiness, and had a low fi-ness to them that really wasn't a cool lo-finess to me, just thin really. BD 2 and 3 level output was impossibly weak for some reason, even with gain and velocity set to max. All the samples were so naturally high pitched and tinny that turning down the pitch meant turning down the volume, because there really wasn't any low frequencies to attenuate!

Don't get me wrong, some of the sounds like BD1 and the tuned down ride cymbals were fairly cool, but not worth owning a 15 pound 16X20 metal drum machine just to have those 3 or 4 decent sounds. Your taste may vary from mine, but I love strange and wild, eerie and spooky sounds and of course think a hard hitting boomy bass drum should be essential. this box just had dull, foggy, thin and lifeless sounds to me and not enough editing parameters to do anything about it. No envelope even. Just pitch, thats it.

Programming patterns was pretty much a breeze, even without the manual. The auto save was nice. The thing looks really cool as well and is built like a tank. Multiple outputs is nice to have. If you're more patient than me you could use those outputs to send to your effects units and really liven up the sound.

I really don't recommend this box for any musical style, except maybe some wierd latino shit with the shaker and tambourine. Anyone looking into this machine should save up more cabbage and buy a Roland R-8. I wouldn't pay more than maybe 60-70 bux.

Rating: 2 out of 5 posted Saturday-May-10-2003 at 20:19

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