There are many monosynths, so just what is it that makes the sound of the TB-303 so unique? In many ways, it’s a simple sound that emanates from that mono output a single oscillator can be switched between a square and saw wave before sculpting with the 24 dB low-pass filter (often misquoted as 18 dB, 3-pole) that can’t even ascend into self-oscillation. See our list of 10 iconic songs made with the TB-303 on POWERON In 1987, Phuture released Acid Trax, a 10-minute squelch-fest that helped define the Acid sound, a sound that would quickly cross the Atlantic to become a pivotal component of 1988’s nascent rave culture that would come to be known as the UK’s very own “Summer of Love.” What the TB-303 lacked in user-friendliness and authentic bass tones it more than made up for with its quirky idiosyncrasies and insanely over-engineered tweaking potential via the half-dozen, front-panel rotaries. But notoriously difficult to program and producing a less-than-authentic acoustic sound, the 303 was swiftly relegated to a curiosity in second-hand music stores, where it languished for years-right up until Phuture, a trio of under-funded Chicago musicians, picked one up for a giveaway price and set about experimenting. The TB-303 (TB standing for “Transistorized Bass”) proudly left the Roland stable in 1981, originally designed to play bass accompaniment for solo guitarists. What other monosynth, and single oscillator monosynth at that, has carved such a prominent niche for itself throughout the contemporary landscape of electronic music? What other synth could claim to have such a unique and distinctive feel, capable of creating sound like no other? No one could argue that the electronic music scene would be markedly different today without that little silver box. It’s hard to make a definitive statement these days without kicking off an almighty flame war, but we’re going to make one anyway: the TB-303 is the greatest single-oscillator monosynth of all time, bar none.
The machine that put a smile on the faces of party people all over the world, without even realizing-the incomparable TB-303 Bass Line. Image from ‘Forward to the Past 2’ on PokerFlat Recordings.
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