from TB-303 resources mailing list -------[ http://www.tb-303.org ] ---------------------- Tim... No, it doesn't work that way.
I think you've pretty much got the basics, but lemme try my .02cents to clear some stuff up. Basically, the original stock TB-303 doesn't come with any way to control it externally other than to sync it up. That means if you have a Sync24 output from another device (606/808/909) you can get the 303 to play back it's internal patterns at the same tempo as the other device. There are Midi Clock to Sync 24 converters you can get... and if that's all you want to do (sync your 303 to cubase, or something so it plays its internal patterns in time with the midi clock coming out of your PC) then all you have to do is get a cheap converter that does only that. On the other hand, if you want to actually control which notes are played from Cubase, you have to get a retro fit for your 303, such as the 5 socket cv kit from kenton. This allows you to control your 303 with cv inputs for which note is played, if it has accent or not, if it has slide, and for the cutoff frequency... but that's all! And you also need a special Midi to CV converter so you can send Midi info from Cubase out to this separate box that then plugs into the 303. This is the Kenton Solo everyone is talking about. Which is pretty expensive compared to just a sync24 converter. The key is, you don't need both. If you want to get the Kenton retro fit kit installed in the 303, along with the midi to cv converter then you don't need a sync24 converter, cuz that's built in. Does all that make sense? The BORG and Devilfish mods include the 5 socket kit, along with a lot of other things. However, you will still need to pick up the midi to cv converter as well... and all this can get pretty expensive! Now the argument everyone has pointed out is that one of the major distinctive qualities of the 303 is it's internal sequencer. It's what gives it a lot of it's peculiar sound. It is one of the main reasons why emulators can't quite get it right. I'd say the most realistic I've heard is the Syntecno TeeBee. But I've never played with a Retro-777. Anyhow, you loose that quality if you run the 303 in slave mode with the sequence laid out in Cubase. This "special" sequencer that's built into the 303 is a hardware thing. It has to do with the way it's set up mechanically (or electronically if you want to be specific). Point being if you could export the sequence out to Cubase (which you can't do directly, cuz there is no opposite for the Midi to CV (ie: CV to Midi) capability for the 303)... you would not get the same effect as running the exact same pattern from the 303's sequencer. Hope that helps a bit. I am by no means an expert, but I did do a little looking into doing the same thing you want to do... and this is pretty much what I found out. What I have found out in practice is that most people will sync up their 303, play a programmed pattern from the 303 and tweak the cutoff manually... recording all of this into cubase as an actual audio track. Then you can cut and splice and whatever later... but you can't actually change the sound much (ie: a sweeping filter)... unless you do it with plugins and effects and what not. So you might have to try re-recording a few times until you get what you want. Take Care! Morgan. [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.djmorgan.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Cannady" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 6:33 PM Subject: Re: [TB-303.org] Is a permantent hardware mod required for > from TB-303 resources mailing list > -------[ http://www.tb-303.org ] ---------------------- > > You guys are absolutely right, thanks for setting me back on track ;) So > what now? Stick to writing grooves within the 303 and then export them via a > Kenton controller to Cubase in realtime? > Thanks > -T -------[ http://www.tb-303.org ] ---------------------- Subscribe & unsubscribe there : http://www.tb-303.org/
