Kawai R-50 III 🔥 Rare Industrial Drum Machine Only Released in Japan

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"'I had never seen an R50 version III before.' - Jim Atwood, Professional Musician and Synth Tech in Japan.

If you go to Kawai's website you'll see there's no official mention of this drum machine ever existing. I thought for the longest time the rare Japanese-only release of the R-50 was a myth. In fact the only consistent comment you'll hear about this drum machine is that it's rare.

Now it's here at Vulture Studios!

The R-50 iii has all three eproms released for the Kawai R series of drum machines (R-100, R-50, R-50e) in one unit without the need to mod it to change the eprom sounds.

Common wisdom is that basically all the old Wax Trax industrial records from bands like Ministry, Front 242, Front Line Assembly and KMFDM used the Kawai R-50e drum samples, they have that classic industrial 12-bit sound.

In this video, we take a look at the Kawai R-50 III drum machine - a classic piece of electronic music hardware that has been used on countless records across a range of genres. We'll explore the features and functionality of the R-50 III, and delve into the history of this iconic instrument.

First, we'll give a brief overview of the R-50 III's capabilities and take a tour of the interface. We'll demonstrate how to create beats using the machine's 48 onboard drum sounds and explore its editing capabilities, including step sequencing and pattern chaining. We'll also showcase some of the R-50 III's unique features, such as its ability to adjust the tone and decay of each individual sound.

Next, we'll dive into the history of the R-50 III, tracing its origins back to the early 1980s when Kawai first began producing drum machines. We'll explore the evolution of the R-50 series and examine how the R-50 III differs from its predecessors, the R-50 and R-50e.

Along the way, we'll touch on some of the notable artists and genres that have utilized the R-50 III in their music, from 80s synth-pop to 90s hip-hop to modern-day techno. We'll also discuss the impact that the R-50 III has had on electronic music production and how it continues to influence musicians today.

Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer to the world of drum machines, this video is sure to provide valuable insights and inspiration. So sit back, relax, and join us on a journey through the history of the Kawai R-50 III."

via this listing

Note this appears to be the first post to feature pics of the R50 III. It was featured in a couple of sample packs by Goldbaby featured in previous posts here.

I found Vulture Culture's video above doing a quick search on YouTube.