Programming the Roland TB-303

start | Sequencer: workflow - pattern play - pattern write - track play - track write - quick results | Sound |

pattern write
when the 303 is slaved to a master (eg the TR-606), the RUN/STOP key is disabled on the 303. please use the RUN/STOP key on the master.
for the benefits of programming the 303 in slave mode, see "realtime recording" below.

  PATTERN WRITE
- there are 3 modes during PATTERN WRITE: NORMAL mode, PITCH mode and TIME mode.

workflow:
1. set the general pattern settings in NORMAL mode (eg pattern length and 3/4 or 4/4 time)
2. create and edit the note pitch sequence (including accents and slides)
    > in PITCH mode (=STEP RECORDING OF NOTE PITCHES)
    > there is no way to enter the pitches in REAL TIME
3. create and edit the note duration sequence
    > in TIME mode (=STEP TIME RECORDING),
    > or during RUN state (=REAL TIME RECORDING)

the different modes:
- the 3 modes can only be changed during STOP state, because they are locked in RUN state.
- the mode selection buttons can be found here:


remember:
- pitch data can never be deleted, only TIMING data.
- in other words, you can "overwrite" existing PITCH data, but you can never actually "delete" existing PITCH data.
- after switching on the TB-303, all the patterns are filled with 48 random pitches, but you can only use the first 16 pitches in a pattern.
- the ACCENT and SLIDE pitch data is only reset when the PITCH is changed.
- TIMING data are the note durations but not the STEP or data.
  normal mode

for GENERAL PATTERN SETTINGS

functional buttons:

 

 STOP 		 pattern - select : [1..8], A or B    
  - clear : hold [1..8] + "PATTERN CLEAR"   clears TIMING data and resets STEP to 4/4, 16 steps.
  - step information : hold "FUNCTION"   when lights up the STEP is in 3/4, 15 steps.
when is dim the STEP is in 4/4, 16 steps.
  - set step to 3/4, 12 steps : hold "FUNCTION" +   lights up.
keeps TIMING data
  - change nr of steps for 4/4 : hold "FUNCTION" + press STEP 1x..16x   clears TIMING data
  - change nr of steps for 3/4 : hold "FUNCTION" + press STEP 1x..15x   clears TIMING data
  - reset step from 3/4 to 4/4 : hold "FUNCTION" + press STEP 16x   clears TIMING data (same as "pattern clear" but more work)
    unsure about all this "timing" stuff? see the "sync" explanation in the quickresults page, question #5.
               

RUN		 recording - start realtime recording
for TIMING data		       => see REAL TIME RECORDING
               
  pitch mode

for STEP RECORING OF NOTE PITCHES

functional buttons for "change this pitch":

 
functional buttons for "keep this pitch but change the properties":

 

 STOP 		 for every PITCH : (step 1) choose one
of these 2		 : - to change the pitch:
(hold transpose DOWN/UP or none +) press [C..C']  
release button(s)

- to keep the pitch but be able to change the properties:
hold WRITE/NEXT    (+ press DOWN/UP, ACCENT, SLIDE or none),
release WRITE/NEXT button
           
      (step 2) choose one
of these 3		 : - to edit the next pitch:
go to step 1

- to re-edit the above pitch or properties:
press BACK to edit the same pitch,
go to step 1

- to go back to edit the first pitch of the pattern
press PITCH MODE,
go to step 1
               
      (last step) : - to finish editing the pitches and store the pitch data:
press NORMAL MODE
               

RUN		 recording - start realtime recording
for TIMING data		       => see REAL TIME RECORDING
               
  time mode

for STEP TIME RECORDING

functional buttons:

 

 STOP 		 time - enter the timing of each pitch : for every STEP in the pattern, choose:
 play next pitch
sustain the last pitch
 rest (play silence)		   after the last STEP in the pattern,
the sequencer automatically returns to NORMAL MODE.
can not play an ACCENT or SLIDE
does not make sense after a rest
               

RUN		 recording - start realtime recording
for TIMING data		       => see REAL TIME RECORDING
               
REAL TIME RECORDING

functional buttons:


when you press RUN on the master in normal, pitch or time mode, and the TB-303 is slaved, the sequencer starts running without making sound.
the mode buttons are disabled during RUN.

RUN		 recording - to clear TIMING data,
start metronome and
arm TAP button		 : press PATTERN CLEAR   - in normal mode *:
the sequencer keeps running along with the master, even when PATTERN CLEAR is pressed half-way of the bar.
this is very useful when the 303 is slaved to a master.

- in pitch or time mode:
sequencer keeps running, but restarts from the first step of the bar, so it's not perfectly sync with the master any longer.
this is useful for when the TB-303 is in stand alone mode, because the metronome restarts from step 1 of the bar.
 
    - "one key play" ** : press TAP in time
or
hold [1..8] + TAP		   hold TAP to make ... (=sustained note)
release TAP to make ...
hold [1..8] + TAP to make all notes sustain

TAP fires the recording for the current metronome loop.
when the metronome then finishes it's loop, REALTIME RECORDING is automatically ended and the sequencer starts playing the pattern.

* undocumented
** borrowed from Casio

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