The KPR-77 was Korg's answer to the TR-606 drum machine. Like the 606, the KPR-77 is basically an analog machine. Its sounds consist of bass, snare, two toms, open and closed hi-hats, accent and (switchable) cymbal/clap. Each drum sound's level can be individual mixed via the sliders. Unfortunately the KPR does not sound nearly as nice as the 606 can. But it has a simple LCD programming display sort of like what the TR-505 sports.

It holds up to 48 patterns (3 groups of 16) and two songs. A pattern can hold up to 32 steps. Like the TR-606, the KPR can be battery operated and REQUIRES batteries for retention of your programmed drum patterns and songs when it is turned off! Fortunately a casette out lets you store its memory to tape for offline storage. The KPR-77 has DIN SYNC IN/OUT as well as Tom trigger outs (like the 606) for external control and triggering. However, Korg's DIN Sync is not the same as Roland's DIN Sync. When syncing Roland and Korg gear via DIN sync, they will work however the Korg machine will run at 1/2 the tempo/speed of the Roland unit. This is because Korg uses a 48 ppqn (parts per quarter note) DIN standard whereas Roland's is 24 ppqn. This can be corrected with several devices which will translate 24-48 sync, such as the Korg KMS-30.

Richard

March 9, 2012 @ 5:55 am

About as far from the overwhelming punch of the 808 and 909 as you can get, and not even in 606 class, it's hard to recommend this, unless you're after the particular quality of sound it does have - as some are. It's a nice enough box, but not particularly worth bothering with for most.

Ben of BNE

January 23, 2012 @ 9:08 pm

I still have my KPR-77 that I bought in the 80s. One owner!

Original box, manuals, factory cassette, carry case, leads, etc. Box and manual are a tad tatty but the unit is showroom.

Been in the box for the past decade or more (along with my Polysix!).

How much do you think that would be worth?

terry

September 27, 2011 @ 1:12 pm

Are the trigger out from the toms normal or inverted?

Calaveras

July 26, 2011 @ 7:00 pm

I use one of these along with my X0Xbox (which is a roland clone of course) and sync via din sync. You just have to either account for the "Roland" sync flying by at 2 measures for every one korg measure, or use 8 beats per measure instead of 4 on the Korg.
Choosing the lenght of the measure is part of the pattern writing procedure, so you should be familiar with it!
For my style of music I am not too concerned as I change the time signature of the rhythm a lot and leave the X0Xbox lines pretty simple.

Oortone

March 5, 2011 @ 5:10 am

Alpha means that you should use an option to switch time scale for the patterns. Similar to the method used for 32 beat patterns and triplet patterns on a TRX0X-machine. That is - the number of steps "per beat" is changed. By doing this - don't have the machine here now so I don't remember the details - you can make a bar on the KPR playing at the same speed as on a TR-machine.

<4321>

 

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