Not better but more authentic?
Thanks for your very technical input.
lol, I think thatās an important distinction. Stylistically I enjoy MIDI sequenced 303 as much as 303 sequenced on the 303 sequencer, but it can be different.
1 Like
The gate length on the TB303 is 50%. On a 24ppq MIDI sequencer the 50% gate length is handled by sending a note 3 ticks long = a 32nd note (ie 1/8th of a quarter note).
In addition, there is some CPU jitter which affects the gate on/gate off timings. Should be very subtle to most people, and glaringly apparent to people whoāve listened long and hard. 
On top of that, triplet mode has a longer gate (5 ticks on, 3 off).
6 Likes
Wow, that is one nice PDF! 
The MB33 gets it right.
I think it sounds good too.
I like that you can sweep between osc waveforms (although I guess thatās not authentic). And the last 2/10s of the amplitude drives and saturates.
The Acidlab Bassline sounds a bit different. Almost more percussive and raspy. The saw on the MB33 can be quite smooth and melancholic whereas the Acidlab always sounds a bit brighter.
For the moment Iām digging sequencing the MB33 from a DigiTakt. It I were to try anything else along these lines I guess it might be the ADDAC Acid Source in Euro or the standalone Erica Bassline (which I think sounds fantastic and has a sweet sequencer and cv out).
6 Likes
Ive just had a test drive of Arturia V Acid and itās pretty sweet. I like the extra features they added to it. Sub oscillator, a load of distortions and other stuff. It sounds great.
I wish they would put it into its own hardwareā¦.
4 Likes
Do you think the filter and resonance need a little bump to get them sounding more like the OG? Iāve had a Mk 2 for years (well out of itās warranty), so Iām very interested in this. I had an original 303, it wasnāt in a great state when I bought it, I got the Sequentix midi upgrade and got it fixed, I think I remember more resonanceā¦but they (OG TB-303ās) are all so old and different now, itās hard to know!
Sorry for the delay; I still read here regularly but often donāt log in.
I canāt truly speak on the comparison with the original 303, since I havenāt played one. (And like you, Iāve heard that each original 303 has its own thing going on.) But Iāve tried quite a few 303 variants at this point, and I can say there is a sound I want from a 303. To get there with the Mk2 was only possible by opening it up and bumping up the filter and resonance. And then it was singing to me.
If it means anything, I am pretty hopeless when it comes to things like repair or crafting with my hands. Even for me, this was a simple tweak. I highly recommend it!
2 Likes
Hereās some pics on how to open the tt303 mk2 safely: Bass Bot TT-303 MK2 Modifications ā maffez synth mods
1 Like
TB EFA is cool, though line level.
BTW, thereās a Rev2 available wirh some of my modifications already integrated: TB-EFA Rev2 ā Ge0sync Synth
1 Like
Thanks for the info, no worries about the delay in responding. 
I did solder some modules together a couple of years ago, but lost confidence after destroying some SMD parts and ruining a kit. Iām glad this is an easy tweak! Thanks again (love your videos by the way).
I have a Roland TB-03 but feel like changing it out for the Cyclone TT-303. I like the sound and the mod seems easy enough to do. It just looks a bit flimsy but I think thatās ok.
mk2 isnāt flimsy at all. mk1 is fine too, though the pots, like on the og 303 tend to go meh after a while
2 Likes
The pots of mk2 as well? I thought they were improved somehow.
mk2 pots are okay!
1 Like
If only they didnāt round off the cornersā¦
I can totally live with that though. Hearing what Paranoid London do with it kinda swung my verdict, really, and ardine can or not, I find the ergonomics fine and stuff like the performance buttons etc. are cool as well. Sound can be roughed up and tweaked quite nicely (rewiring only, though), and thereās even enough space for placing modification controls, so you donāt need that bulky mk1 form factor.
Mods look a bit shabby on mine ATM, but sooner or later I was gonna tinker some nice top panel that holds tall trimmers rather than pots (and a couple of switches more).
9 Likes
Is that an old Emagic MT4 in the background?!
Still have mine kicking around. Not currently in use but does get used
1 Like
Yes, I have it on my MPC Live3 (most of my synths get usb midi from bitwig and din midi from the mpc for convenience). Gotta love that old Emagic stuff- plug n play, and done!
1 Like
Anyone have one of the Behringer 303 clones? Iāve been looking online and everything says no. But I have a mate who swears his is usb powered. Is he chatting out of his arse?