Roland TB-3 opinions?

[basic303]

I'm considering getting a TB-3 to add to my acid set up which is criminally sans 303, but I do have a Doepfer Dark energy that I trigger with my Machinedrum to get a pretty good emulation. Only problem is the sequencer on the Machinedrum is limited and doesn't have that classic 303 slide. So I guess I'm thinking either using the TB-3 as a 303 clone, or using it to trigger the Dark Energy

[meatballfulton]

Slide is always a function of the receiving instrument.

Slides requires the sequencer to send a tied note and the receiving instrument to support portamento for tied notes.

If you are not going to use the TB3 for it's sounds, pretty much any sequencer will do the job...just not a drum machine!

[pflosi]

Slide is always a function of the receiving instrument.

Not always, only under midi control actually For cv/gate it's often included in sequencers, or you use a slew in between. I don't know of any modular oscs that can slew on the pitch cv inputs...

[basic303]

Thanks guys, I guess my next question would be, how does the TB-3 sound? The sequencer and effects possibilities, as well as the scatter function seem really appealing to me, but the digital emulation of a 303 kinda worries me.

[Stab Frenzy]

Slide is always a function of the receiving instrument.

Not always, only under midi control actually For cv/gate it's often included in sequencers, or you use a slew in between. I don't know of any modular oscs that can slew on the pitch cv inputs...

Well if you want to get picky the modular osc isn't it's own instrument, it's part of the same instrument as the slew. The Pittsburgh Synth Block isn't strictly an osc, but it has slew on the V/Oct input.

[pflosi]

True, but is then my modular sequencer part of the whole instrument as well?

[Stab Frenzy]

Yep.

[Walter Ego]

I'm considering getting a TB-3 to add to my acid set up which is criminally sans 303, but I do have a Doepfer Dark energy that I trigger with my Machinedrum to get a pretty good emulation. Only problem is the sequencer on the Machinedrum is limited and doesn't have that classic 303 slide. So I guess I'm thinking either using the TB-3 as a 303 clone, or using it to trigger the Dark Energy

Disclaimer: I haven't had time with the TB-3 myself. But what I understand is that it is quite limited. And demos I've heard sound pretty blah. Take that for what it's worth.

If you're really into acid and want THAT sound, why not just find a used x0xb0x? They can be found for 300-400 USD on the used market (not much more than the TB-3); or if you want something even more recent and a tad bit pricier, there's the TT Cyclone. Purists may bicker about the precise sound, but they may be more fun than the new Roland box.

[ninja6485]

Disclaimer: I haven't had time with the TB-3 myself. But what I understand is that it is quite limited. And demos I've heard sound pretty blah. Take that for what it's worth.

I'm in the same boat - not having sat down with the tb3 myself, although I thought that the sound was supposed to be pretty good, and if you compare the limitations of the tb-3 with the Xoxbox or cyclone, the latter two are going to be more limited feature-wise. I noticed a few of the reviewers were almost shocked in their experience tweaking the tb-3, which is a very good sign.