Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    The 303 is a simple mono synthesizer that makes bass noises.  It has a
    small sequencer on board for writing bass lines, which you can slave to
    a drum machine that uses the old SYNC method.  As I recall, the synth is
    primitive: one oscillator, choice of saw or square wave and a simple
    ADSR envelope generator and some type of filtering (i.e., Matty, your
    SH-101 is more versatile).  It actually *looks* like a Roland drum
    machine.  
    
    Last one I saw in a want ad here in MA went for a whopping $75.
    
    							Brian

    Yep, the -303 and the -606 were a pair.  About the size of that new
    Yamaha gadget (i.e., a biggish paperback book, like 2" * 5" * 10"),
    all silver/gray plastic.  The -606 was my first drum machine, and I
    used it for quite a while as "programmable" click track when playing
    acoustic drums with sequenced synths.
    
    len.
     

    OK, I dug up an old article on the 303.  Here's the poop:
    
    Parameters: cutoff frequency, resonance, envelope mod, decay, accent
    Waveform: saw or square
    Sequencer: 1024 steps (64 patterns, 16 steps per pattern max), sync in
    Outputs: CV and gate to drive external synth, stereo phones, mono line
    Keyboard: tiny one octave "chiclet" keys
    Power: Six AA batteries or AC adapter
    
    Original U.S. List including carrying case: $395
    
    							Brian

    re-2, Brian - $75.  You couldn't buy one for me and send it over here
    could you? ;-)
    
    Everyone seems to be praising this old sync stuff (808, 909, 202, 101,
    303) over here.  This week it is LFO (a sucessful House/Electro style
    project from Leeds - some journalists are hailing them as the new
    Kraftwerk) in Sound On Sound magazine.  Then there's 808 State who named
    themselves after the TR-808.  They've had about 5 top 20 hits over here!
    I suppose it's a different kettle of fish in the UK.
    
    Does anyone know if the sequencer is step entry only?  Even though the
    synthesis is simpler than the SH-101, does it sound any worse?  Is it
    just more limiting?  Can it do anything the SH-101 can't?
    
    
    matty

    The sequencer is step only.  It stores about 10 times what the SH-101
    can store, plus allows chaining "patterns" into "songs", so you could
    have multiple songs in memory if the bass lines are pretty simple and
    repetitive. But you can't save sequences off to tape!!!
    
    Soundwise, it's basically a preset bass timbre with a couple of
    parameters you can mess with.  The SH-101 gives you more timbral
    control, but whether or not it's better, that's subjective.
    
    						Brian

    
    Yes, it's step time entry alright. If you're not very good in timing,
    you can first enter the notes in steptime and in a second run "tap" in
    the rhythm. 
    
    The unit used by the groups is either linked to a Roland 808 or TR-606
    (mine is linked to a 606- that's the orginal combination). Then the
    combination is MIDI-ed by connecting the 303 SYNC-output with a
    SYNC-to-MIDI converter. The 303 built-in synth has the sound quality of
    your average portable video-game (read: terrible). Therefore most
    owners connect their 303 via the built in GATE and TRIGGER outputs to
    similar inputs on old analog gear (in my set-up ARP AVATAR and AXXE).
    
    BTW if you're also a person prepared to pay 300 UK Pounds for it, I
    could be tempted into selling mine (including batteries - yes it runs
    on batteries!).
    
    ciao
    Jeroen 

    >Therefore most owners connect their 303 via the built in GATE and
    >TRIGGER outputs to similar inputs on old analog gear (in my set-up ARP
    >AVATAR and AXXE).
    
    Sounds like they're using it as a cheap MIDI to CV converter sort of...
    I'd rather just MIDI up the old ARP myself for 300 pounds!!!!
    
    						Brian

    Re: .7
    
    Yep, I agree. However this topic was entered based on the fact that the 
    303 itself is rapidly turning into a collectors item out here in
    Europe. I must admid that the "built in limitations" (from a 90-ties
    perspective that is) more or less force you into House Music. Other
    music style that is easy to achieve: 70-ties German synth music
    (Schulze, Tangerine Dream, M. Hoenig, Kraftwerk). 
    
    Device that makes those styles even easier to achieve: Oberheims
    Cyclone (a full MIDI-ed highly advanced arpeggiator). One of the pieces
    of gear that I would miss the most if I would "lose it all"
    
    groetjes,
    Jeroen
    
    
    
    

    Can you get it to do the Acid noises, as per Acid House records?  My
    SH-101 comes resonably close, but not close enough.  I'm going to try a
    Juno 106 on Saturday to see if that does the bizz.
    
    
    matty

    
    Matty,
    
    It's like with a sequencer: you have to hook it up to a synth (see my
    previous note) that can produce the Acid H. sound you want. Don't count on 
    the tb303 itself, it only produces 1 (one) low-quality - slightly editable -
    bass preset.  
    Jeroen