FK11: Korg Rhythm 55B
The Hardware
Korg Rhythm 55B
The Rhythms
- Jazz 1-6
- Tango
- Baion
- March
- Shuffle 1-3
- Rock 1-12
- Waltz
- Jazz Waltz
- Rock Waltz
- Ballad 1-3
- 5 Beat 1-3
- Enka
- Country
- Foxtrot
- Samba 1-3
- Bossa Nova 1-3
- Mambo
- Rumba
- Beguine
- Cha-Cha
- Habanera
- Latin
Each group of three rhythms has its own Intro and Fill-in pattern.
Everything above has two variations by toggling the Rhythm Pattern switch.
The Korg Rhythm 55B (AKA KR-55B) is the 1982 follow-up to the Rhythm 55 released in 1979. The sound generation is identical but there is a doubling of preset rhythms, Intros and Fill-Ins as well as a major overhaul of the existing rhythm patterns. The extra bank of rhythms are selected via the toggle switch that is assigned to the Swing all Rhythms feature on the KR-55. This feature is now assigned to the Swing Beat knob that has been replaced with a push-pull potentiometer.
If the rhythms on the KR-55 were more Rock and Pop orientated than most previous rhythm units, then this model takes things one stage further. There are some very funky beats going on here! This is particularly so when in Rhythm Pattern Ⅱ mode.
What I don’t see mentioned elsewhere is that there are in fact two variants of this machine. There are some rhythm pattern changes between them that can be seen on the front panel, but some of the same-named rhythms are quite different also. My guess would be that they were destined for different regions of the world. This Kontakt Instrument includes both version of this machine that can be toggled one to the other!
As mentioned, The KR-55B uses the same sound generation as the KR-55 and you can read a little more about that on the Rhythm 55 page.
The Kontakt Instrument
Details of the Kontakt Instrument and how to purchase it are here. Essentially it is a re-creation of the real thing so most of the description above is relevant. However, please contact me if you have any questions.
FK11: Korg Rhythm 55B Kontakt Instrument