While the site of a large modular synth, a Roland TB 303 or a Fairlight CMI III is titillation enough for most synth freaks, the 2010 APC calendar goes a step further.

Here’s what APC’s Simon Iddol has to say about their 2010 calendar:

The calendar itself is a limited edition (500 copies) A3 sized wall calendar featuring legendary synths like Fairlight CMI III, Roland TB 303, PPG Wave, EMS AKS or Roland Jupiter 8.

Our aim is to create a calendar like this in every year and to do something for the music world like the Pirelli calendar for the car world.

If every garage has a hot chick VS cool cars calendar, than every studio needs our calendar.

The model is a world famous Hungarian striptease dancer and model Dorothy Black.

The politically correct side of me thinks that they should have balanced out the gear photos featuring the “world famous Hungarian striptease dancer” with some shots with a hunky naked guy – but photos of naked guys with monster synths would probably kill the vintage synth resale market on eBay forever.

The calendars are $30 via PayPal. Details at the APC site.

SFW preview (that’s probably NSFW) here.

Free Music Software: The Venom VB-303 is a pattern-based acid bassline synthesizer for Windows inspired by the Roland TB-303.

Venom VB-303 is actively under development, but is still in beta.

Download links are available at the KVR forum.

via isopod: Brent talks about the mystery of self-programming synths – the fact that old batteries sometimes lead to synth patches that are actually pretty cool.

A lot of people take an Eno-esque view – that the quirky results can lead to something more interesting than you might program yourself, or at least provide an interesting starting point.

Many TB-303 owners find that they get interesting random sequences, too, when their batteries get old.

Have you ever had this happen with one of your synths? And do you think synths should come with a “Randomize Patch” button?

This is a demo of Roland TB-303 Acid Sounds, a free collection of Roland TB-303 Bassline Synthesizer samples.

via LorDBassePL:

Acid Sounds from Roland TB-303 great for Hardcore/Rave/Hardstyle production.

Remember the Acid Symphony Orchestra?

This short video clip comes from Flow Festival Helsink, where the Acid Symphony Orchestra opened for Kraftwerk:

There are ten TB-303’s in this orchestra and one TR-707(?) operated by conductor Mr Jori Hulkkonen. This was very good performance, but unfortunately I only have some short clips with very bad audio quality. These guys were supporting Kraftwerk, which played excellent gig later.

Imagine ten 303’s from Kraftwerk PA system… Ahhh…

via Chris Randall

Image: JoeLMutantE

Check out this very nice x0xb0x bassline synth, with TB303 Mods by JoeLMutantE:

A clone killer TB303 sound with a clone killer enclosure aspect TB303 alike.

via the Synthtopia Flickr Group

Nice! Oliver Chesler, of the WireToTheEar blog, has published an interview with Klaus Suessmuth of Acidlab.

Acidlab is a boutique electronic music gear maker that’s created nice clones of the Roland TB303 & Roland TR808, along with an original synth design, the Bombass.

Official music video for Acid Symphony Orchestra’s Diamonds Of The Night.

Taken from the forthcoming Acid Symphony Orchestra 12″ on Turbo recordings.

The Acid Symphony Orchestra’s live perfomances feature 10 Roland TB-303 bassline synthesizers, one TR-707 or a TR-808 drum machine and personnel to operate them.

Composer and conductor:

Jori Hulkkonen

The Orchestra:

Juha Matinmäki
Aku “Huoratron” Raski
Kalle Karvanen
Jussi-Pekka “Monoder” Parikka
Janne “Burdock” Puurunen
Tatu “Mr Velcro Fastener” Peltonen
Kimmo “Acid Kings” Oksanen
Pete “Sintetik” Salonen
Tuomas Toivonen
Johannes “TinMan” Auvinen

TB-303 & Reason 4.0 – Using Reason to Generate DIN Sync

Using classic synth gear with music software has never been easier. This video demos synchronizing a Roland TB-303 with Propellerhead Reason by using CV/Pulse signals routed through a MOTU 896HD interface.

Clock and Control Signals are generated in Reason Devices and converted to audio signals. The audio is then passed through a converter cable that connects to any Roland DIN-Sync device like the 303, 606, 808, 909, etc.

via PeffTV

This is a 9 minute sound sample of the new version of the Pulsar synth, with improved code, and better PCB layout.

The Pulsar mini chip synthesizer is a synth DIY project designed to be a sort of chiptune take on the classic Roland TB-303 Computer Controlled bassline synthesizer. It’s still in the designe stages.

Details at the StarFireTech blog.

This is a quick demo of the AcidCode ML303 – a Roland TB303 clone.

via acidjack303:

ML303 the best TB 303 Clone ever !!

The Doepfer MS-404 is a MIDI-controlled monophonic analog synthesizer designed to be a rackmounted Roland TB-303 synth clone. It offers additional features, like MIDI and LFO’s, that give the synth additional flexibility.

The sound generating section of the MS-404 is 100% analog (VCO, Noise, VCF, VCA, ADSR, 2 LFO’s). Even the envelope and the LFO’s are pure analog and not simulated by software. Immediate access to all sound parameters is offered by 15 knobs and 6 switches. An external audio input enables sound mangling of other sound sources like samplers, digital synthesizers or expanders.

On top of that the MS-404 works as a monophonic MIDI-to-CV interface to control another analog synthesizer. The MS-404 is capable of controlling VCF frequency and VCA envelope amount (accent) via MIDI.

If you’ve used the Doepfer MS-404 MIDI bassline synthesizer, leave a comment with your thoughts.

MS-404 Features

VCO

• real VCO (no DCO)
• switchable between sawtooth / off / rectangle (pulse)
• pulsewidth of rectangle adjustable, pulsewidth modulation with LFO1
• glide time adjustable, glide on/off via MIDI-Controller #65 (Portamento)
• frequency modulation with LFO1, even in audio range for producing typical FM sounds

NOISE

• white noise as alternative sound source (switcheable instead of VCO)

VCF

• 24dB resonance filter (low pass), resonance/emphasis adjustable up to self oscillation
• frequency may be controlled via any MIDI controller and/or MIDI velocity
• frequency modulation with LFO2, even in audio range for metallic/FM sounds
• keyboard tracking switchable off/half/full

VCA

• envelope amount (accent) controllable via MIDI volume (ctr.#7) and/or velocity
• effect of accent adjustable (accent knob)
• full ADSR type (Attack-Decay-Sustain-Release)

LFO1 and LFO2

• 3 frequency ranges from sub-LFO (some minutes oscillation period) up to audio (max. 5kHz)
• waveform triangle
• frequency and level adjustable
• LFO1: to VCO frequency or VCO pulsewidth modulation switchable
• LFO2: VCF frequency

External Audio Input

• level adjustable
• alternative sound source instead of VCO or Noise

MIDI-CV Interface (internal):

• MIDI channel and transpose (reference note) selectable via learn button
• retrigger on/off (new trigger if playing legato)
• controlling of glide on/off via Controller #65
• controlling of VCF frequency via any Controller and/or Velocity
• controlling of VCA envelope amount via Controller #7 and/or velocity
• two 1/4″ jack sockets for CV und Gate Output (may be changed to CV/Gate Input when changing jumpers inside by authorized dealers)
• light grey 19″ housing, 1 unit

Resources:

• The Doepfer MS-404 official page
• Video via jkselsyn

Image: Neil Vance

If this ain’t techno, I don’t know what is.

Jazz great Oscar Peterson on the Roland PianoPlus, TB-303 & TR-606, from a scan of an old 1982 Roland brochure. This shows you what Roland designed the TB-303 & TR-606 for, back in the day!

No disrespect intended, but have you ever heard of an Oscar Peterson 606/303 PianoPlus synth jam?

This video shows how to get realistic Roland TB-303 sounds with SILVER BOX – TB-303 Emulation for Reason V4.

You can download Silver Box from the E-Note MySpace page.

via shultzroolz

To get best from SILVER BOX combinator patch, this short tutorial movie shows how to sequence (NON)ACCENT, SLIDE & MUTE TO SLIDE notes.

Roland TB-303, Jomox 999 & Analogue Systems Acid

Description:

via bigcitymusic:

We love the Roland TB-303 (who doesn’t?), so we went nuts with some Analogue Systems rs95 oscillators, triggering them with the CV and Gate outputs from the 303.

The sound of the 303 is given additional balls by processing it through the Malekko B:Assmaster Germanium pedal…sacrilege.

You can hear the TB-303 without extra balls at the very end between 6:12 – 6:18.

Along with the A.S. rs95 oscillators we’re also using the rs110 Multimode Filter, the rs120 Comb Filter, and the rs100 Low Pass Filter.

The drums sounds are from the behemoth Jomox XBase 999 and we’re using the Kenton Pro Solo MIDI-CV converter to sync the 303. One of the cymbals from the Jomox is running through the A.S. rs310 Reverb/Chorus module, which is being modulated by the rs80 LFO’s triangle wave. The rs290 Sample/Delay module is providing the delay for that cymbal as well. All of these sounds are being mixed by the rs165 Signal Mixer.

Pulse Code has released DB-303 Digital Bass Line synthesizer – a Roland TB-303 emulator, with effects, for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  

It’s $4.99 via the App Store.

If you’ve tried out the DB-303 Digital Bass Line synth, leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Description:

via Pulse Code:

Armed with the passion to bring to life a virtual 303, we have gone to great lengths to recreate the ultimate acid machine. We used our very own vintage 303 as reference, running the machine through a battery of feature specific tests to better understand and emulate in our application.

What we discovered is that the 303 is not just another subtractive monosynth as some may claim and we believe that our emulation captures its true expressive essence. Our emulation has nuances that only owners of a real 303 know such as what happens when all of the pattern steps are slides or how each parameter truly reacts to the tempo.

Not only does Digital Bass Line give you a full featured virtual analog synthesizer, it also gives you two versatile effects stomp boxes to bring more life to your bass lines. The easy and intuitive design makes creating bass lines fun and quick, whether you are a veteran of analog and digital synthesizers, or a newcomer to electronic music.

Download the owner’s guide and view “How-to” videos at www.pulsecodeinc.com/db-303.

Features:

• Virtual Analog Bass Line Synthesizer Emulation
• Precise oscillator emulation (not a simple waveform, but a true emulation of the analog circuitry)
• Classic analog style low pass filter finely tuned to a real 303
• Internal sequencer which has all of the features of the classic, but with a quick and easy programming interface 
• Envelope Modulation and Accent to really make your bass lines expressive 
• Stunning visual representation of a 303 style synthesizer meticulously designed and 3D modeled from the real thing
• Virtual knob controls which precisely track your finger touch
• Additional Functions: 
  • Random pattern generator that will instantly program incredible bass lines for you! 
  • Group 1-8 patterns in to play back as a loop 
  • Transpose Pattern 
  • Shift Pattern 
  • Copy Pattern 
  • Delete Pattern 
  • Tempo range from 40-240 beats per minute 
  • Automatic memory save if application is interrupted or exited 
• Integrated Stomp Box Style Effects Units: 
• Distortion 
  • Extremely harsh distortion tuned to make your Digital Bass Line scream! 
  • Tone control to add extra fatness or shimmering highs 
  • Level control for precise control of audio output
• Delay 
  • up to 1000ms variable delay time 
  • Feedback amount for adding extra depth and echoes to the delay
  • Mix control for blending delay output with input signal 

 Can an inexpensive DIY x0xb0x synthesizer sound as good as a $1,000+ vintage Roland TB-303 Computer-Controlled Bassline Synthesizer?

Give this demo a listen and you make the call.

Here’s the details for the hardcore DIY’ers:

This is a side-comparisson between two selfsourced x0xb0xes and a TB-303. Both of x0xb0xes use the original Roland BA662-VCA, but the blue one has a SK30Y-type transistor in the oscillator where the other one uses SK30-AO.

Sammy Taters wants to do the seemingly impossible – trade up from a Yamaha DX200 to a Devil Fish Modded TB-303 in less than a year:

Have you ever wondered if it was possible to trade up to another piece of gear literally? For Example: To go from a Yamaha DX200 to a Devil Fish Modded TB-303 in less than a year? Is it even possible?

I have a Yamaha DX200 and am offering it for trade. If you’d like to have this and have something of value to offer, send an e-mail to supercool [at] chartermi [dot] net

I will document the process on this website to see if it is possible. If you have any stories, send them in. Thanks!

Do you think he can do it? And should he really be aiming for a Future Retro 777?

Remember Finger Bassline - the new app that turns your iPhone into a Roland TB303-style bassline synthesizer?

This demo video highlights most of the features of Finger Bassline.

via kay101011

This is sure to be controversial, but I can’t argue with their thoroughness. 

Acid Voice has compared a collection of the top clones of the Roland TB-303 and ranked them, based on how well they clone the sound of the original acid synth. 

They’ve got audio demos and in depth comparisons of the various bassline synths, including the x0xb0x, the Future Retro Revolution, the TeeBee and the FR 777. 

Here’s how they stack up, in Acid Voice’s opinion:

1. Adafruit x0xb0x
2. Future Retro Revolution
3. Syntecno TeeBee MKIII
4. Oakley TM3030
5. Analogue Solutions TB-X
6. Acidcode ML303
7. Acidlab Bassline 
8. MAM MB33 MKII
9. Future Retro 777

I would rank the 777 much higher. The Future Retro 777 will do just about everything you’d want to do with a TB303, plus it’s a fairly full-featured analog synthesizer, too.

The bottom line, though, is that there’s never been a better time for people interested in great-sounding acid bassline synths. 

Let me know what you think of the results!