A Short History of the 303 in 12 songs 🙂 How the 303 failed successfully - our fav TB-303 patterns
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
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In this episode we're going to look at the fascinating history of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer - and we'll do so with a colourful mix of our favourite 303 patterns spanning across four decades! We show every pattern so you can try them in your 303, TB-3 or any other synth 🙂
If you want to check out the originals then here's a playlist with all the tracks we mentioned:
• A Short History of the...
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Gear used:
DinSync RE-303 built by Kumptronics www.kumptronic... (NOT an affiliate link)
acidlab Bassline 3
Boss Blues Driver BD-2w
TC Electronic Magus Pro
acidlab Drumatix
Elektron Digitakt II
Seaboard RISE 2 provided by ROLI
Arturia Keystep
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#303 #synthesizer #acid #acidtechno #techno #technomusic #acidhouse #house #housemusic #drummachine #td3
Produced by Jean-Claude Dirckx and Sophie Hoppstädter
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Watching CBL life at Psy-Fi 2017 is still one of my most favourite experiences ever. 🙏😊😊❤
Seeing them mentioned in this video and commenting here.. awesome! 🤗
Didn't expect hearing CBL on this video, and totally didn't expect finding you guys in the comments!
Lots of love from Finland.
You guys are my introduction to the whole ambient genre after I heard RCA(+) for the first time back in 2016 and was like "what is this kind of music even called", Now I do make ambient music myself too. All thanks to you.
Oh my!
this video is so free of any interesting visuals or audio and it's so sterile, I can't bear watching this
Commercial failure, discontinued, available for cheap on the second hand market, insanely popular a decade later, featured on Bad Gear. The natural life cycle of all Roland products indeed.
Are you talking about Jupiter -8? 😅
And then Roland releases the boutique version with moderate interest
@@DmitryGorbushin plus tye Juno's and D-50.
Now they go straight to Bad Gear.
And now it will set you back about $4000
1:22 "And it makes stupid meow sounds."
1:45 "And of course it makes awesome meow sounds."
... and I am here for it all the way.
"the crowd enjoyed it after the 4th play" - basically when the ecstasy kicked in
I was thinking the same thing, lol
Tadao Kikumoto is probably THE single most important person for modern electronic music. Where would the world of electronic music have been without the 303, the 808 and the 909?
indeed
It would have found other paths. Lately I've heard a few really sick sounding east block synths and samplers from the 80s & 90s, and they would have definitely had the potential to fill the void.
That's an interesting angle. We usually think of electronic music pioneers as the guys experimenting with new sounds coming from new hardware but the people behind the hardware are just as important.
@@arturwittensoeltner8729whom?
maybe Roger Linn would have taken place if Kikumoto didn’t invent those machines….
I like how 808, 303 and Jupiter-8 are called a "minimalist electronic setup" 😋
Think of it this way - if you buy the originals - you are finally ready for one of those minimalist wallets
I thought the same 😅
Minimalist in the amount of gear used. Definitely not minimalist in price tag. XD
@@brmbkl LOL
I bought my first TB-303 thirty years ago when I was a teenager, and I still love it! On the train ride home, after buying it from an infamous, run down Glasgow pawn shop, I remember being so excited that I was literally shaking and nearly puked, lol.
V
😄
I bought mine almost twenty years ago, mint condition. Have it on display in the living room. I'll never sell that beauty 😊
@@Rr0gu3_5uture How much did it cost you 30 year ago??
Man I sold mine in 2004 . My soul is damned I know 😥😥😥 I miss it so much but can’t afford it anymore 😢
The TB-303 is probably one of if not the most revolutionary synthesizers of all time. It literally invented a whole new genre of music.
The filter do the unique sound to this little synth.
And a not intuitive sequencer do strange patterns..😏😏
@@Sandelec-gm2cl The faulty envelope charging and discharging, the completely unrealistic filter wow attack sounding nothing like a bass guitar. Its insane.
@__teles__ After several years I don't use anymore the 303 sounds.
I have the TB-03 (boutique version) and via CV/gate I play Neutron and Model D patched together..😏
Totally agree.
Fun fact is that it was made as a tool to help guitar players...at home. Same with the 808 and 909.
It's just tools not instruments.
like nutella, made by mistake
your last song makes me want to cry while dancing of joy, so much emotions there ! thanks for this great vid
Everybody needs a 303 🙌
Especially Norman Cook
when this came up on my feed, I thought..'oh...not another 303 documentary'....but then I see it is by Captain Pikant....'click!' :)
Somewhere around the 10 minute mark I found myself thinking “hang on this is the sword and shield gym leader synth”. Never expected it to actually show up in the video
As someone who, in the year 1995, was 19 years old, and promptly, completely, lost my mind in a filthy, condemned warehouse in Baltimore when a DJ there spun "Higher State" for the 1st time... there really is no other sound like a 303...
Candy flipping memories so wild and free.
Amen to that. I was 21 in Sheffield in the UK. had the exact same experience to the same tune. Universal sound of house. ❤
I'm from India, but I wasn't aware of the fact that Mr. Singh was almost the pioneer of acid house which is my favourite genre and he gave a little bit of Indian taste to the actual acid house sound but I would say that it was quite minimal and very amazing album, very proud of him.
hes the goat!!
Always loved this album
++
Yep, it's a classic album that I'm glad is being given its due in more recent years. I'd also say that - while not as influential in a global sense - Bappi-da's work with the 303 in 80s Bollywood is still remarkably diverse and definitely worth checking out. And if you wanna go beyond acid, read up on the NID's electronic music lab in late 60s/early 70s too.
Any other Indian cross-over stuff you can recommend? I found this recently, a kind of Indian jazz thing, vocals are amazing: ua-cam.com/video/lNxsTsnoQXQ/v-deo.html
Roy of the Ravers!!!!!!!! Emotinium is such a beautiful track......❤
Agreed. It's a belter 👍🏼
that transition into daft punk blew my mind 🤯🔥
French disco, and almost everything(except the kick drum) routed into a lowpass send is just amazing.
That is in fact a Daft Punk invention insofar as I understand.
Disco was dead. Daft Punk, Niles Rodgers and Pharell brought it back, and made it sound way more awesome.
15:21 I'm so happy you've given us Emotinium by Roy of the Ravers, I've been struggling to figure that one out. Thank you!
We're glad you like it, this one took us some time to transcribe :) :)
I LOVE this track
Beautiful tune. I've put it in one or two mixes over the years
The TB-303 is, in my opinion, the most beautifully designed piece of hardware ever created. Not only does it sound absolutely wonderful, the look and feel of it is also fantastic. Let alone the inner circuitry! The slide section is the circuit is so simple but so clever and when you open up an original 303 you are greeted with all those old components and distinct smell. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Thanks for the video - a great tribute!
I opened mine once and couldn’t believe how much they’d crammed in there!
@@leftmono1016 Yes, its madness hahah
I think a Hammond organ probably deserves the gold medal. The 303 probably gets a silver medal tho.
I recently heard a fender 1973 Rhodes mark1 and was amazed. That must be absurdly expensive.
The Yamaha dx-7 &&OR emulations get a bronze medal on rhodes/hammond style.
The linux nerds made a solid 303 emulation. I think it probably even runs on a raspberry pi?
Firstly, great video. Secondly, I don't want to be 'that guy' but.... the first mainstream commercial record to feature the 303 was 'Let Me Go' by Heaven 17, not 'Rip It Up' by Orange Juice. I was fortunate enough to bump into Martyn Ware at a gig years ago (he was in the crowd) and we got chatting. I asked him if it was a 303 used on that track - I was pretty certain it had to be due the unique sound - and he confirmed it was. He went on to say they had one of the first 303s in the UK just after they were released, and they were keen to start using it.
I bloody knew it. For years I've been saying this. Thank you for confirming it.
I've just commented saying the same thing. As a Sheffielder I felt it was my duty and feel no shame in being 'that guy' personally.
I'm surprised Richard H Kirk didn't get there first, but then again, H17 consisted also of Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, so I'm not surprised after all......thanks for the back story there!
cant believe you skipped over the Jonzon Crew 😢
I feel deeply connected to the Roland TB-303 synthesizer's sound. It reminds me of PSX demos' menu tracks and those quintessentially 90s sounds. It carries me into a dreamlike dimension that flows into the cybernetic space.
I recommend listening to the Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed Soundtrack which fits the sound you are describing. Rom Di Prisco used a Future Retro 777 for some tracks.
Great episode! British synth trio Heaven 17 featured the 303 on their 1982 track Let Me Go!
Also My Mine "Electric Tango", Alexander Robotnick "Problèmes d'Amour"
As an Indian synth nerd and history fan I’ve known about Charanjit Singh since long before his passing, perhaps since that Stuart Aitken article, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen a technical breakdown of what he did, so cool. Thank you for that.
Never here for the quantity, always for the quality. Incredible production again 👍🏼
Glad you used 'Orange Juice - Rip It Up' but I've always thought 'Heaven 17 - Let Me Go' was an important early use of it too.
And a lot more “ rubbery “ such a rad track
I can tell from the comment section that I am far from alone, but want to thank you again for making this amazing video. For me it is exactly the right mix of learning, enjoying and being inspired music.
And I finally get why Hardfloor named their song Acperience...
Great documentary of one of the simplest and yet complex music devices of the contemporary music history. Thanks for bringing Mr. Singh back to my memory.
this was such a great video, lots of good tracks, excellent pattern recreations and some great jokes. love your stuff!
The angry frog made me laugh very hard! 🤣😂
My interest in this video is a testament to how well produced and arranged it is. I'm not really a huge electronic music fan, but I will happily sit and watch this for 30 minutes 👌🎶
luke vibert - i love acid of course comes to mind!
That's an awesome track!
@@CaptainPikant the video.........the video!!!!!!! 😁
TB-303 Romance, it will put you in a transe !
Thank you! Many screen shots were taken. Chorus pedal was checked (one day maybe) - Blade needs it (and blood sprinklers). Lovely episode
Good job adapting Pokemon SwSh Gym theme back to the 303 sequencer. Those visualizations of the pattern data are really clear and helpful too. Thanks!
I thought I was pretty aware of the 303's history, but this contextualized the device's limitations and their relation to the music that was produced during its emergence. I suppose I hadn't given thought to how the esoteric and unintuitive sequencer shaped the cadence, melodic content, and note order of music that has become so central to electronic music genre motifs.
Exceptional work captain!
Yes, I got my 303 in the mid-80s.
And you're wrong about it being unauthentic. I like the synthetic sounds a lot more, but when I first got it I painfully put in the examples that came in the manual for when the saints go marching in and got a very authentic stand-up acoustic bass sound.
I think it had some examples of a Fender precision type sound in the manual as well.
But deliberately doing random program was the way myself and other people mostly use them. Got some great sounds
If the 303 had a variable pulse width, it would have been more evocative of a real bass. I find a narrow pulse wave to be the best for plucked sounds.
@@100DollarHeadache I disagree if you're patient and slowly go through the controls you find it has a very authentic sound. It takes a long time to master it, but my main instrument was bass and I particularly love fretless sliding base.
I spent many hours fine tuning The sounds. Even in the late '80s I helped some friends learn how to use theirs and their unit sounded a bit different to mine. So I would have to very slowly fine-tune and then I could find the sounds that I was used to on mine.
Confusion is always been my fav 303 track
Is still my ringtone ... when I am in public and my phone goes off I always look around and there are always people that have the "Ahhh, Blade" look on their face. If you know, you know.
808 303 Beverly Hills record label has more groundbreaking electron composition.
@@Vurt.451can’t wait to experience this in the wild💚💚💚
Aaah, so well produced again and again made me lough a lot! And of course this one is very special to me. ;)
We knew you'd like this one ;)
Man, I went and listened to the actual "Confusion", because the version in this video sounds off to me, but it made me realize that there's a sort of audio illusion in original recording. The notes on steps 8 and 13 can be heard as higher notes, like they are here in the Pikant video, but if I choose to, I can also hear them as lower octave notes instead. I can switch back and forth pretty easily. Very trippy.
It may depend a little bit on which exact pedal was used on the original, but there's one small problem... they can't remember what it was.
back in the 90 me and friends held a concert of some sort using only a tb303, a delay and some percussion instruments like shaker and bongos. We sat on the floor and the audience stood around us. This was a great experience for us and the audience. Nothing beats the magic of a real 303.
This is a great video and really pays great tribute to the 303! Thanks for making it!
Josh Wink used the MC202 for the track Higher state of consciousness which explains the screeching high resonance Acid sequence in the track.
Really wow?!? I had no idea, could have fooled me that it was a 303 honestly 😅
My first synthesizer. Bought it at age 14 and that was also my only synth for about half a year, because I waited for the release of the MPC 2000 which served as my drum machine since then. That being said, the TB-303 is still with me, going strong without flaws or problems.
Have to say… that last song… so good. Thank you.
😍😍😍
I have a lot of respect for you staying true to the 303 for so many years.
@@user82938 Allerdings :)
You guys are the legends of this machine! Love your work!
Undisputed kings of acid
Hey there champs! :)
Smashing that you covered Carbon Based Lifeforms on this! The tender side of the 303 is what draws me the most :D
I love the smooth introduction to Da Funk. Well played 🙌
I've lost count of how many times I've played these bangers into my sets. Pure fire🔥🔥🔥
I would have expected to find Emmanuel Top, anyway, the video is wonderful. In the end it moved me.
Turkish Bazar was one of our close contenders for this episode :)
Sounds so goood. Cool video, cheers!
„with your dawless jams“…… you killed me with that comment. Lmao :-)
Massive Attack's Protection comes to mind as a beautiful example of 303
P.S. Your videos make me feel happy and relaxed. Good job guys, chapeau!
Nice variety of Acid tracks and supreme video as usual. Funny and entertaining. Loved the Emotinium jam, thanks a lot 🤩
definetely wasn't expecting the last one! great video!
10:10 - I just love this deadpan snark throughout your video
I love the 303 sound. Two particular favorites. 'Charles B - The Lack of Love' and the wonderful 'Garden of Eden by Garden of Eden' from 'The Evil Acid Baron Show' (VHS only but the 12" of that track was released thankfully). Not forgetting 'Stakker - Humanoid' and their 'Eurotechno' video.
Garden of Eden is probably my favorite acid track. And like Singh it incorporates some eastern modal elements into it. Very euphoric.
If this video wouldn't have been in my feed, I wouldn't know that I can chain the patterns by pressing down the first pattern and selecting how many patterns I want to include in the chain. Really usefull trick and gave a whole new meaning to sequencing with the TD-3. Big thanks. 🖤
How dare you make the best version of Emotinium I've ever heard. Very clean and balanced stereo mix.
Thank you so much Mark :) :)
Not sure if there’s a category that fits, but this deserves a Nobel prize! so well done! More please!
The Pokemon gym theme, mwah. You’re a legend for including that. I heard it the other day and was thinking this is very 303-esque
Thanks for a truly wonderful video and possibly inspiration for my next project.
so happy to have a new video! always so much fun to watch
Es ist immer wieder richtig geil ein Video von euch zu sehen.
Es ist nicht nur qualitativ hochwertig sondern auch absolut unterhaltsam und lehrreich.
Es ist kurz genug um mehr sehen zu wollen und lange genug um nicht gelangweilt zu werden. (Obwohl ich in RL bestimmt stundenlang zuhören könnte)
Dankeschön für Eure Mühe solch tollen Inhalt für Musik Enthusiasten bereit zu stellen!
Weiter so!
Ich freue mich schon auf das nächste Video!
Let’s go! Always hype when you drop a new vid!
303s be like pokemon gotta catch em all. great vid
Here for another banger of a video
Enjoy :) :)
I had so much fun watching this, thanks a million! good old times! And I love the frog!
Heaven 17 - Let me go and Section 25 - Looking from a hilltop other pre acid uses of the TB303. Nice video thank you :)
This must be one of the most lovely documentary about music all above UA-cam. I enjoyed (and learned) every second of it. You can’t see me but I swear I ended up applauding standing on. Bravo!
Cool video. Bam Bam “Where’s your child” or Richie Hawtin “Plasticine” were one of the favs
Brilliant and fun. Your copywriting is informative, concise, and immensely enjoyable. Thank you!
I’m only watching this on an iPhone while washing pots and soon as the emotinium line played my hairs stood up and I had a little rush of euphoria. That track is such a magical track I remember the first time I heard it a friend played it while we were b2b djing and it blew my mind and I couldn’t stop thinking about it and listening to it for months. It’s like the universe is giving you a big loving hug
Ah you just got me again at the end 💦 I imagine they will be playing this in heaven 24 hours a day
I was happily surprised to see “Emotinium” included in the list and even more by your rendition at the end of the video, well done. It’s such a great tune, very well balanced, subtle almost.
Definitely should listen to plastikman sheet one. Which I was surprised wasn't mentioned in this wonderful video but up there for me as one of my all time favourites
I like the bit in UR's "The Final Frontier" where it goes from the short pattern to the 16 step pattern. Donato Dozzy''s "Filo Loves the Acid" is one of my favourite modern-ish acid EPs.
Wunderbare Arbeit. Toll gemacht !!!
Absolute legend tracks here and a nice walkthrough of my younger days!
This video has everything!
Excellent recreations of classic 303 lines, and even a subtle jab at dawless jammers.
Great work here.
13:50 my jaw actually dropped when you revealed the final bass line. I always forget how insane the 303 is lol
That pump panel remix had at least one layer of 303’s too, think; moment the blood sprinklers kick in 😂
I've been wanting to do some acid house inspired music myself after diving into video game music from the 90s! This was such a good video for giving me a starting point of what to try out! Superb as always!
What a fantastic video. Great picks and glad to see Roy of the Ravers here!
that's an incredible cover of emotinium. & my personal fav acid tune
Such a great video! I was just listening to Larry Heard, Mr. White - The sun can't compare on the train home from work. Another great acid track!
Oh boy, I think I've found my most perfect UA-cam video. We can always rely on Captain Pikant to put out suberbly (re)produced and researched episodes but this one, and I suspect this is the case with a lot of viewers, holds a place dear to our hearts. How you managed to replicate Phuture's Acid Tracks so perfectly, despite all those analogue dials, is a thing of marvel. Another excellent video, thank you.
Thank you Jamie!! :)
Such a nice video and awesome track selection! 🙏🏻🔥😍
Roy of the ravers emotinium what an amazing track 👌
Emotinium is the track I always turn to when someone asks "What's Acid House?"
It's the perfect example. "You hear that baseline that plays throughout the entire track? That's Acid. Add a 4x4 inspired drum machine pattern, that's Acid House."
It's a great track but in no way is it an Acid House track
90's Scottish Rave Band "Ultra-Sonic" mastered the 303, most of their tunes are done on a 303, and they made some great tunes and Albums.!
They were a huge group in Scotland in the 90's, sadly the main guy behind the group passed away early 2024 aged 51, (R.I.P. - Mallorca Lee)
Thank You for the music and memories.!
You can't beat the sound of a 303.!, I love it.!
Awesome information. There were also some great uses of the 303 in trance music as well, one that comes to mind is Damaged by Plummet.
CBL had some wonderful acid lines inside drone and mabient pieces.
great video
Briljant production... thank you for making me smile!
this channel is pure inspiration! From the subtle to the obvious. THANK YOU
Dude!!! what an amazing video 😃 I always love these type of History of a beautiful instrument. You do so much work and love in these videos, explaining and providing fantastic examples! I appreciate your work ❤ Thank you!
Oh we've been waiting for this one!!!:)
9:56 got a td3mo for Christmas, and this was the first thing I learned to program! I was so happy when it came out sounding somewhat similar. This thing is so stupid. I love it lol
This video is a master class! I enjoyed every moment. I salute the 303! ❤
Good video, really enjoyed it. I was expecting some Prodigy tunes seeing that they helped make it more famous in the early to mid nineties.
Outstanding video! what a journey
Boston 168 are a great modern techno duo utilizing the 303. Quite popular in recent years. The bassline from 'kiss my accent' is forever the first thing that comes to my mind when talking acid. 10/10 recommend checking them out.
My favourite instrument, I could litteraly listen to Acid music everyday !! Acperience 1 is my go to !
thank you so much for channel and this video.