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question regarding the tb-303

so, it's become this classic, vintage, legendary unit over the course of 20+ years, the demand is there but no one feels like dishing 1.5k+ for it. why exactly hasn't roland tried releasing a sequel unit but with improvements and a range of features?

Probably because they can�t make it like that anymore. It�s sound was success, but that was just by accident. And it was after it got discontinued.
It was supposed to be a bass guitar "emulator", at which it failed terribly. It did make some people happy, but they didn�sell enough units in the start, so it got discontinued quickly.
They probably couldn�t make a new unit, that had the same sound if they tried. And it wouldn�t be financially viable. I�d like to see a new JP8, but that will most likely never happen. And it would certainly not sound the same.

Or a new CS80! But that�s another story.

haha yeah, a "JP-9000" with MEGA-SAW waveform! (Instead of super-saw) That'd be nice!



*Giving my JP a hug and calmly whispers that I would never replace him <3*

I was thinking a new jupiter 8
But a new jp 9000 with ultrawave or something would be cool as well

Roland released something a few years back called the MC-09, and it is Roland's best attempt at recreating the TB-303's sound (in vintage mode that is).

I have both the MC-09 and TB-303. Programming the MC-09 is a bit difficult in my opinion, but it's timbral palette is definitely superior to the TB-303's.

quote:

Originally posted by Beyer Probably because they can�t make it like that anymore. It�s sound was success, but that was just by accident. And it was after it got discontinued. It was supposed to be a bass guitar "emulator", at which it failed terribly. It did make some people happy, but they didn�sell enough units in the start, so it got discontinued quickly. They probably couldn�t make a new unit, that had the same sound if they tried. And it wouldn�t be financially viable. I�d like to see a new JP8, but that will most likely never happen. And it would certainly not sound the same. Or a new CS80! But that�s another story.

so you're saying they have no clue how to replicate that technology/sound?

They probably don't care since there are a whole slew of analog, VA, and soft mono synths that do roughly the same thing. People want the original because it is the original like any other collectors item.

Re: question regarding the tb-303

quote:

Originally posted by jupiterone so, it's become this classic, vintage, legendary unit over the course of 20+ years, the demand is there but no one feels like dishing 1.5k+ for it. why exactly hasn't roland tried releasing a sequel unit but with improvements and a range of features?

I think part of this can be answered by looking at the x0xb0x. It was a kit that reverse engineered the 303, and did a darn good job of it. To get that unique sound the transistors and other components had to be very carefully chosen, not to mention some parts being rare. As a result the kit is no longer for sale, but you can get the circuit board and schematics. Now, this isn't to say that Roland can't create their original sound by other means, but high volume sales of the original method can't be sustained.

hypersaw wasn't enough for you two?

Re: question regarding the tb-303

quote:

Originally posted by jupiterone so, it's become this classic, vintage, legendary unit over the course of 20+ years, the demand is there but no one feels like dishing 1.5k+ for it. why exactly hasn't roland tried releasing a sequel unit but with improvements and a range of features?

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=486053

Re: Re: question regarding the tb-303

quote:

Originally posted by atxbigballer1 http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=486053

thanks, watching the vid now

reason i'm asking is because i have the opportunity to buy a 303+909 for 1600$ at a shop here. the guy has brought in like 20 pieces of vintage gear, amongst them are 303, 909 and 808, space echo ect ect., but i'm not so much interested in the 808.

pretty sure many people wouldn't even think twice about it for that price but i've got a list of things that need repair/replacement around the studio

there is something unique about his 303 too, it has this liquidy sound to it. read somewhere that no 303 sounded alike when it was first released, it just sounds so bad ass

Yeah, but everyone hated it when it was first released. It became popular because a bunch of black kids made a genre called acid house. I agree that roland should lift their game a bit and either rerelease it or create something similar. Their gear is all so bloody pedestrian, its all aimed at the old guy who plays keyboards in the local pub band or people who make music for ads. They should create more stuff which is interesting and out there, but isn't a failure like the Vsynth.

I think more synths with cool step sequencers generally would be a great thing, its been proven to work with the korg electribes, and I know Dave Smith's starting to throw a few step sequencers in there, they're really part of the core of dance music IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by kitphillips Yeah, but everyone hated it when it was first released. It became popular because a bunch of black kids made a genre called acid house. I agree that roland should lift their game a bit and either rerelease it or create something similar. Their gear is all so bloody pedestrian, its all aimed at the old guy who plays keyboards in the local pub band or people who make music for ads. They should create more stuff which is interesting and out there, but isn't a failure like the Vsynth. I think more synths with cool step sequencers generally would be a great thing, its been proven to work with the korg electribes, and I know Dave Smith's starting to throw a few step sequencers in there, they're really part of the core of dance music IMO.

You should probably check out the V-Synth GT. Anyway, most of these companies, that aren't specializing in boutique synths, aren't interested in making another analog-poly.

Here is a demo 23 did with the MC-09:
http://peregrin.jmu.edu/~watkindj/m..._MC_09_Demo.mp3

quote:

Originally posted by kitphillips Yeah, but everyone hated it when it was first released. It became popular because a bunch of black kids made a genre called acid house. I agree that roland should lift their game a bit and either rerelease it or create something similar. Their gear is all so bloody pedestrian, its all aimed at the old guy who plays keyboards in the local pub band or people who make music for ads. They should create more stuff which is interesting and out there, but isn't a failure like the Vsynth. I think more synths with cool step sequencers generally would be a great thing, its been proven to work with the korg electribes, and I know Dave Smith's starting to throw a few step sequencers in there, they're really part of the core of dance music IMO.

<3 Dave Smith

Re: Re: Re: question regarding the tb-303

quote:

Originally posted by jupiterone thanks, watching the vid now reason i'm asking is because i have the opportunity to buy a 303+909 for 1600$ at a shop here. the guy has brought in like 20 pieces of vintage gear, amongst them are 303, 909 and 808, space echo ect ect., but i'm not so much interested in the 808. pretty sure many people wouldn't even think twice about it for that price but i've got a list of things that need repair/replacement around the studio there is something unique about his 303 too, it has this liquidy sound to it. read somewhere that no 303 sounded alike when it was first released, it just sounds so bad ass

I would buy the 808 and sell it on ebay to make the money then fix your stuff! I think that guy don't know what he has in his hands! $1600 for 303 909 and 808?

no, just the 909 and 303. i don't want the 808, the 909 has much more to twiddle around with than the 808 and i like the sound much more, if i want some 808 percs i'll just throw samples into machinedrum and go from there. i could do that for the 909 too but....it's a 909....

if it was all three for 1600 i would not be posting online right now

mmmmm you have a machinedrum tasty... i just need one of those and an 888

Re: question regarding the tb-303

quote:

Originally posted by jupiterone so, it's become this classic, vintage, legendary unit over the course of 20+ years, the demand is there but no one feels like dishing 1.5k+ for it. why exactly hasn't roland tried releasing a sequel unit but with improvements and a range of features?

That's Roland internal policy: the NEVER re-release a model. The deeper I got into synthesis, the better I understand why.

I wouldn't say it's damn simple to make synths, but nowadays, any VA synth or modular thing might emulate that 303 sound as all of those subtractive synths are based on the same physical laws. Everything else is just sequencing. Once you know how to program from scratch, you might discover that you no longer need this or that synth, and that the sequencer only was that great, until you discover how it's sequenced, etc... It's just a question of interface and macros, and some of us just go for this or that feature, without even knowing how it works at first... It's kind of visceral, instinctive.

So why should Roland release a 303 again, as its software version has been available for more than 10 years? (Rebirth, ABL and now phoscyon). Why should they after 10 years of Reaktor, plug-ins, and VSTi's?

There will always be people who will only swear by this little box and claim that software versions don't sound as good as the original one. and I completely understand them, but we all have our specific demands. Roland's a company. They can't make a few hundred units like that. I wish that what you expect was that simple for all of us, so we could all invent something.

So, my point is that although I understand some people's frustration, I understand Roland's decision at least as much.

quote:

Originally posted by jupiterone no, just the 909 and 303. i don't want the 808, the 909 has much more to twiddle around with than the 808 and i like the sound much more, if i want some 808 percs i'll just throw samples into machinedrum and go from there. i could do that for the 909 too but....it's a 909.... if it was all three for 1600 i would not be posting online right now

Buy it. If after you buy it you fiind you need the cash just sell the 909 and you are making just as much or more than you spent

Re: Re: question regarding the tb-303

quote:

Originally posted by Lolo That's Roland internal policy: the NEVER re-release a model. The deeper I got into synthesis, the better I understand why. I wouldn't say it's damn simple to make synths, but nowadays, any VA synth or modular thing might emulate that 303 sound as all of those subtractive synths are based on the same physical laws. Everything else is just sequencing. Once you know how to program from scratch, you might discover that you no longer need this or that synth, and that the sequencer only was that great, until you discover how it's sequenced, etc... It's just a question of interface and macros, and some of us just go for this or that feature, without even knowing how it works at first... It's kind of visceral, instinctive. So why should Roland release a 303 again, as its software version has been available for more than 10 years? (Rebirth, ABL and now phoscyon). Why should they after 10 years of Reaktor, plug-ins, and VSTi's? There will always be people who will only swear by this little box and claim that software versions don't sound as good as the original one. and I completely understand them, but we all have our specific demands. Roland's a company. They can't make a few hundred units like that. I wish that what you expect was that simple for all of us, so we could all invent something. So, my point is that although I understand some people's frustration, I understand Roland's decision at least as much.

True, but I can't think of another setup which is as efficient as a 303, 909 and a keyboard synth for live work. Most synths these days just don't have the sequencers you need for that work. And ableton is... limited, in a lot of ways... Now if they put a proper 303 style step sequencer in ableton, maybe released a hardware interface to go along with it, and let you send the midi to any synths, that would really be something.

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