KVR Audio

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Sat Jan 24, 2026 5:27 pm

Short and to the point. I want to control the CR-78 manually so I can start and stop it when I want and not when my DAW starts running.

I tried disabling auto start and then automating putting it on when I want it to but that didn't work.

The workaround I found was just letting it start from the beginning and then muting the track when I want to turn it off and then unmuting the track when I want it back on. It works fine but there has to be a better way.

Also, how do you program variations during playback?

4_the masses · Post by **4_the masses** » Sat Jan 24, 2026 8:46 pm

Not sure what DAW you are using, but I hit the spacebar on my laptop to start / stop the rhythm. As for the second question, I have so far never programmed a variation, there doesn't really seem much info in the manual either.

Edit;
I have just tried the variation knob in the top left during playback and that has no effect what so ever on the rhythm ?? Much confused.

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Sat Jan 24, 2026 9:15 pm

4_the masses wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 8:46 pm Not sure what DAW you are using, but I hit the spacebar on my laptop to start / stop the rhythm. As for the second question, I have so far never programmed a variation, there doesn't really seem much info in the manual either.

Edit;
I have just tried the variation knob in the top left during playback and that has no effect what so ever on the rhythm ?? Much confused.

I'm using Cubase. And yes, the spacebar starts and stops the drum machine. But it also stops Cubase too. I need something that will stop the drum machine separately from Cubase.

Mr Arkadin · Post by **Mr Arkadin** » Sat Jan 24, 2026 10:28 pm

Yeah, the MIDI side is a bit confusing. In the manual you open up the MIDI panel and there's all these options. I open it up in the plug-in and see blank. I guess you're supposed to populate the options yourself? Not sure.

The variations are preset and cannot be programmed. Unless you mean can you program when they play? In that case I guess you could set it to manual and assign the trigger button to a MIDI note or CC?

Examigan · Post by **Examigan** » Sat Jan 24, 2026 10:42 pm

I tried installing the demo version and it was hit or miss for me. It was all a bit confusing.

They do have have their own forum here, maybe they can help:
viewforum.php?f=296

Your workaround actually is something I would do, at least for now.

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Sun Jan 25, 2026 2:51 am

Well, back in the day when I owned hardware, I had all these drum machines. You turned them on and that was it. Yes, they had a foot peddle so you could start and stop them but for the most part, they were meant to just keep a beat to whatever you were playing. I concede that I'm looking to do something with this that it probably wasn't designed to do. But, with DAWs and automation and a little bit of work, I managed to eventually get starting and stopping and variations.

I just wish it wasn't so limited, knowing what is possible today, and there was a better way. But I should have known what I was buying when I bought it. So that's on me.

Nameerf · Post by **Nameerf** » Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:01 pm

Delete! Misread your question .

KRO 609K · Post by **KRO 609K** » Fri Jul 10, 2026 8:19 pm

HI, this may be a bit late - but thought I would reply as I had the same issue when working on a piece to video and the music had to be in bars of od lengths to get clips to lines up.

As suggested elsewhere in this thread you need to open the MIDI panel in the VST. In the instrument track select a MIDI input, then in the CR78 VST MIDI options, select MIDI Learn, Select Start.Stop on the CR78 and then a note on your MIDI keyboard. Select Stop Learning.

Now in the Instrument Track open the MIDI editor and place the MIDI notes where you want the CR78 to start /stop.

This will work for programming variations or any other of the CR78 buttons.

Cherry Audio CR-78 Help Needed