TB-303

Name: TB-303
Price: 149 USD
Author: Roland

by Roland · Synth · TB-303 bass line emulation

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TB-303 is Roland's ACB-modeled plugin version of the TB-303 Bass Line, with saw and square waves, the resonant filter, accent and slide.

It adds a 16-step sequencer with play modes and a randomizer, built-in drive and delay effects, and a pattern edit window; it is sold through Roland Cloud.

Best for: Bass, Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM.

Keywords: basses, hardware emulation, sequencer, randomize, 80s, subscription, analog, licensed emulation, monophonic, circuit-modelled, leads, lo-fi, modern, sound design, subtractive, tempo-synced, vintage.

What it does

TB-303 is Roland's own software version of its 1981 acid bass machine. Roland's stated aim is "circuit-level sonic accuracy" with useful modern additions around a 303-style pattern sequencer.

Sound engine: a monophonic voice with saw and square waves, tuning, a VCF with cutoff and resonance, envelope modulation, decay and accent.
Character controls: Condition simulates an aged or worn unit, VCF Trim acts as a circuit tweak, and master tune runs from 430 to 450 Hz.
Sequencer: 16 steps with eight variations per pattern, shuffle, and scales of 1/8T, 1/16T, 1/16 and 1/32.
Play modes and generation: Forward, Reverse, Fwd & Rev, Invert and Random, plus Generate and Modify functions to create or vary patterns.
Edit window: draw and edit patterns visually across six octaves (C0 to C6), with user scales, accents and slides.
Drive and delay effects: Overdrive, Distortion, Metal, Fuzz, Drive and Compressor with tone and depth, then Delay, Pan Delay, two chorus types, Flanger or Delay + Chorus with tempo sync.
Workflow and hardware: drag patterns to the DAW as MIDI or audio, 48 preset patches and 32 preset patterns, and control from the TB-03 Boutique or TB-3 Touch Bassline.

It runs at sample rates up to 192 kHz. The product page links to Roland Cloud for purchase; Computer Music's 2019 review found it was then available only by subscription.

Source: Roland product page

When to use it

TB-303 is a single-purpose acid box: one monophonic voice, a 303-style sequencer and drive and delay effects built for squelchy lines. Compared with Diva or Serum 2 it has a tiny sound palette, but it is far quicker for writing accented, sliding 16-step patterns, and the Generate and Modify functions make happy accidents easy. Unlike AudioRealism ABL3 or D16 Phoscyon, it is Roland's own model and talks directly to the TB-03 and TB-3 hardware. It also adds a visual edit window that the original never had, though Computer Music missed the old step-by-step entry method.

Best for: acid basslines, resonant sequenced leads and pattern-driven jamming.
Genres: acid house, acid techno, techno, electro and trance.
Look elsewhere if: you want polyphony or general sound design; Diva or Vital cover much more ground. If you only want the 303 sound without Roland Cloud, ABL3 or Phoscyon are the usual alternatives.
Tip: use the drag-and-drop export to move a finished pattern into the DAW as MIDI or audio, then edit it there.

What producers say

Computer Music called it the definitive software 303 for sound and sequencing, with the subscription model as the main drawback.

Computer Music (MusicRadar, 2019) said it "sounds as close to the real thing as we've heard in software" and praised the graphical note editing, the effects and the randomise system.
Fun factor: the same review called it "as much fun as you'll ever have with a synth."
Criticisms: the reviewer wished they could "just buy it" rather than subscribe, and missed the original's linear, old-school programming method.

MusicRadar / Computer Music review

Where to buy

Plugin Boutique: $149
Roland: see store

Tutorials and reviews

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