Vintage Vibes: Exploring the Crumar Roady
The Crumar Roady is a vintage gem known for its unique sound and quirky character. I recently had the pleasure of sampling this instrument for a HALion sample instrument, and here are some observations I made during the process.
A Distinct Sonic Palette
The Roady offers a carefully curated selection of sounds, consisting of a deep and resonant bass, a set of expressive vibes that can be enhanced with an optional percussion click, and three variations of piano sounds. This combination of tonal options gives the instrument a broad musical range, making it an interesting choice for both rhythm and melody.
Below are visual representations of the waveforms for each sound, highlighting their distinct characteristics.
Keyboard Layout
The keyboard spans from F0 to F5, with a split at F2. Below this point, the bass sound is active, while the vibes take over above it. The pianos, however, cover the entire range of the keyboard, providing seamless playability across octaves.
The Tremolo Effect
The tremolo on the vibes sound is generated through a triangle wave modulation. It offers both rate and depth controls, allowing for significant customization. The rate can be adjusted from approximately 1Hz at its lowest setting to about 7Hz at the highest, with a middle setting of around 2Hz. The depth control ranges from subtle modulations around 2dB to more dramatic reductions of 15-20dB. Notably, the ON button for the vibes blinks in time with the tremolo rate, providing a visual indicator of its effect.
Percussion Click
The Roady's click behaves more like an electric organ’s percussive attack. Tuned a perfect fifth an octave above the original note, it is a pure sine wave with a short attack time of around 15-20ms. The decay time can be adjusted, ranging from 30ms to approximately 1270ms, following a nearly linear envelope with a slight exponential tendency. Although the percussive click belongs to the vibes sound, it is not affected by the tremolo modulation.
Decay Characteristics
The Roady is also characterized by its relatively short natural decay. Without the sustain pedal, notes typically last between 1000 and 1200ms, with higher notes decaying slightly faster. When the sustain pedal is engaged, decay times extend up to 2400ms for lower notes and 2100ms for higher notes.
The Sustain Pedal’s Unique Behavior
One of the more unconventional aspects of the Roady is its sustain pedal behavior. Unlike most keyboards where the sustain immediately affects all held notes, the longer sustain envelope here only applies to notes played after the pedal has been pressed. This quirk requires a slight adaptation in playing technique but contributes to the instrument’s distinct charm.
Output Configuration
The Crumar Roady provides multiple output options for greater flexibility. The main output carries the full range of sounds, while dedicated bass and piano outputs allow for isolated signal routing. If either the bass or piano outputs are used, those sounds are removed from the main output, enabling selective mixing and processing.
For enthusiasts of vintage keyboards, the Crumar Roady is a fascinating instrument that blends unique sonic characteristics with an unconventional playing experience. Whether you are drawn to its distinctive tremolo, quirky sustain behavior, or tailored output options, it remains an inspiring piece of musical history.
Further Reading
If you're interested in diving deeper into the Crumar Roady, check out these resources:
- Crumar Roady on SonicState – A technical overview and community insights on this unique vintage instrument.
- Crumar Roady SN 00335 on Matrixsynth – A collection of detailed images.
- Crumar Roady Flexi-Disc Ad (YouTube) – A vintage promotional flexi-disc showcasing the Crumar Roady.
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Crumar is a trademark of its respective owner. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Crumar.