To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

General Gear Discussion - effects, synths, etc.

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D Rock
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To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by D Rock »

So I am having a 303 meltdown over here and realizing that I need one bad, but there is no way I can afford an original. The Tb-03 does miss some of the filter squelches of the original but still seems to sound pretty good in it's own right. Hell maybe the Volca bass is a good cheap option though it doesn't sound anything like the 303. I just need some analog acid groves in my life right now. The new monologue looks like it could be good for acid as well, and with it being cheaper than a new TB-03, maybe that is a no brainer.

Somebody talk some sense into me over here.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by MechaGodzilla »

Volca bass sounds really different because of having 3 oscillators. It fills a similar sort of role, but feels really distinct.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by repoman »

I bought a Cyclone TT303 after a bunch of reading and that seems to be about the most authentic cheap 303 clone from reviews and videos. I think I paid about $300 for mine new during a sale a little while ago, so check that unit out too.

The TB03 looks really cool I think, I like the control features and layout it has, there is something a little 'off' about the sound, but I think It sounds pretty nice and interesting. It seems to lack a bit of that weird liquidy thing that happens at the very high frequencies when the resonance is cranked up...the portion of the sound that is well..acidic, caustic, liquidy.
I've heard MS20s do the 303 thing really well too, probably most well regarded cheap monos on the market now can do a good approximation of the 303 sound.

The downside of the TT303 is the case feels really flimsy, like the cheap plastic they make toys out of. I don't get a good feeling from the small pots that control resonance, decay, tuning, etc. either as they feel really cheap too.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D. »

x0xb0x w/ mods? do they still make these?

i liked the volca bass it was dope

acidlab made some 303 clones too.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by space6oy »

i was gonna say x0xb0x too. i've had a 303 and the x0x is better IMO.
and i have a lot of synths...

korg is who's been kicking ass of late. fuck modern roland crap.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by chrisdermo »

space6oy wrote: korg is who's been kicking ass of late. fuck modern roland crap.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+1 for x0x, so much fun, and a really PHAT sound. There are some companies/people still making them but expect to pay 3-4x more than a volca bass.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by chrisdermo »

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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by MechaGodzilla »

Slightly OT...

When I was messing with vsts making synthy music, I was using the d16 303 clone (can't remember what they called it) and that's pretty cool, it's like a more extreme 303 sound. Iirc it didn't squelch all that much but I still liked it.

Anyway, I hooked up two-one set to square wave, one saw - in an ableton rack and modulated the pitch between the two. both were following the same filter/eg controls, but they were still independent (ie not going through the same filter). I had a max effect which was this gnarly overdrive and that combo sounded great together.

I've forever been in pursuit of 303squelch but never quite hit on the right thing.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by fcknoise »

If i would want a 303 is probably get this: http://www.mam-germany.de/mb33-manual/ if you are in Europe, they are like 100€ on thomann
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by D Rock »

Brandsmannen wrote:If i would want a 303 is probably get this: http://www.mam-germany.de/mb33-manual/ if you are in Europe, they are like 100€ on thomann
I wonder about shipping to the US. I would love to give that shot first as I use maschine for most of my sequencing anyway.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by guillotine420 »

the way the volca bass filter distorts is very nice, plus its got that slide step. id say mess with one of those before the tb-03. it will scratch the analog itch, but not for long. this dude on another forum was complaining about the moog mother 32 saying it was basically a super premium moog flavored 303, as if thats a bad thing. actually a pretty cool way to think of it.
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by popvulture »

Was gonna add more praise for the x0xb0x (very killer), but DAMN I hadn't seen that x0xi0 yet. Toight!
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by space6oy »

MechaGodzilla wrote:When I was messing with vsts making synthy music, I was using the d16 303 clone (can't remember what they called it) and that's pretty cool, it's like a more extreme 303 sound. Iirc it didn't squelch all that much but I still liked it.
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Brandsmannen wrote:If i would want a 303 is probably get this: http://www.mam-germany.de/mb33-manual/ if you are in Europe, they are like 100€ on thomann
holy shit, MAM still exists?!?
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Re: To TB-03 or not TB-03, that is the question...

Post by repoman »

Brandsmannen wrote:If i would want a 303 is probably get this: http://www.mam-germany.de/mb33-manual/ if you are in Europe, they are like 100€ on thomann
That is super cool looking.
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