TT-303

Overview

The TT-303 is a faithful re-creation of the classic bassline synthesizer. It has a distinctive sound often associated with acid house, techno and other dance music genres. Due to its legacy and prominence in the history of electronic music, the 303 is perhaps the ultimate “table top” device. Much like the M8RX and the XOX Drum Deranger, this pattern machine device is programmed as much as it is played.

Tone Controls

These controls shape the sound of the TT-303.

Tuning

Transposes the synth up to 12 semitones (one octave) in either direction.

Cut Off Freq

This controls the tone color by adjusting the cutoff frequency of the filter. Rotate the knob counter-clockwise to remove the upper harmonics and make the tone “softer.”

Resonance

Also known as Q, this knob emphasizes certain frequencies as it rotates clockwise.

Env Mod

Also known as “envelope modulation,” this controls the tone movement of a note.

Decay

Decay adjusts the fade-out time of a note and affects both volume and tone. Turn this knob clockwise to increase the length.

Accent

Controls the amount of accent applied to notes. Set which notes have accents in the pattern controls.

Edit Pattern

This menu provides the controls to manipulate the current pattern.

Shift Left/Right

Shifts all tracks of the pattern one step to the left or right.

Randomize Pattern

Randomize everything in the pattern including notes, accents, pitches, etc.

Tap the Random button above Edit Pattern to use this feature without opening the Edit Pattern menu.

Randomize Accents

Randomize which notes have accents, while retaining the basic pattern.

Randomize Pitches

Randomize the pitches of the notes, while retaining the basic pattern.

Alter Pattern

Alter everything in the pattern including notes, accents, pitches, etc.

Alter Accents

Alter which notes have accents, while retaining the basic pattern.

Alter Pitches

Alter the pitches of the notes, while retaining the basic pattern.

Note: Randomize sets new values completely at random, while alter creates more subtle changes and retains some of the aspects of the current pattern.

Transpose

Transpose the pattern up to 12 semitones (one octave) in either direction. Tap “Apply Transpose” to make the change.

Cut Pattern

Cuts the current pattern, and copies it to the clipboard.

Copy Pattern

Copies the current pattern to the clipboard.

Paste Pattern

Pastes the pattern stored in clipboard to the selected pattern slot.

Clear Pattern

Clears the current pattern and restores the 303 to its default state.

Pattern Interval

Sets the timing of the steps to either 1/8th or 1/16th notes. This setting applies to the whole device.

Pattern Banks

Store eight patterns in banks A, B, C and D. Turn the bank selector knob and tap the number block to select a pattern for playback and/or editing.

Waveform Selector

This switch changes the synth’s waveform to either triangle (left) or square (right).

Program Pattern Controls

Edit Step Screen

Displays the step currently being edited. Use the “Step” button to advance and “Back” to move back one step. When the pattern interval is set to 1/16, the 16 steps in a TT-303 pattern make up one bar (when set to 1/8, they make up 2 bars).

Note Toggle

To enable playback for the selected step, tap the note button to the right of the Edit Step screen.

Pitch Keys

These controls are displayed like a traditional one-octave keyboard. Tap the button with the desired tone to set the pitch for the current step.

Transpose

Tap the Down or Up buttons to play the step one octave lower and/or higher.

Accent

Adds an accent to the step. The amount of accent is determined by the accent knob in the tone controls.

Slide

Slides between pitches. Tap to toggle slide on for the current step.

Pitch Mode

When Pitch Mode is on, the step advances each time you tap a Pitch Key. Use this feature for quickly creating new patterns by playing them on the keyboard.

Clear

Clears all the settings for the current pattern.