Cherry Audio's KR-55C is a powerful software emulation that blends the features of Korg's iconic KR-55A and KR-55B drum machines from the post-punk era. It offers all 240 factory rhythms, intros, and fills from both models, alongside 200 additional original patterns and kits designed to cover a broad spectrum of musical styles. The interface dynamically adapts to the selected model, providing an intuitive experience with a familiar step-editing layout and real-time pattern programming. A dedicated song mode allows users to chain up to 99 patterns, making it suitable for complex compositions.

The original KR-55 series, introduced in the late 1970s and early 1980s, was known for its preset-only rhythms and flexible mixer capabilities. The KR-55A featured 48 preset rhythms with intro and fill options, while the KR-55B doubled this memory and introduced new patterns and fills. These machines made a significant impact on early synth-pop and electronic music, used by artists such as Depeche Mode, Fad Gadget, Soft Cell, and Jean-Michel Jarre. The KR-55C preserves the character of these vintage machines while expanding their creative possibilities with modern enhancements.

Beyond faithfully recreating the classic sounds, KR-55C provides extensive sound editing options including parametric EQ, tuning, and decay controls for each instrument. It features a versatile mixer with independent level, pan, and mute controls, plus a comprehensive effects panel offering studio-quality processing such as overdrive, chorus, delay, and reverb. MIDI integration allows velocity-sensitive triggering and custom note mapping, while flexible export options enable seamless workflow with DAWs through drag-and-drop MIDI export and individual outputs. The plugin also includes detailed documentation and user-friendly features like zoom and oversampling controls for a refined production experience.