User Manual
(EN) Step 3: Getting started
TD-3 Getting Started
OVERVIEW
This ‘getting started’ guide will help you set up the
TD-3 analog bass line synthesizer and brie y introduce
its capabilities.
CONNECTION
To connect the TD-3 to your system, please consult the
connection guide earlier in this document.
SOFTWARE SETUP
The TD-3 is a USB Class Compliant MIDI device,
and so no driver installation is required. The TD-3
does not require any additional drivers to work
with Windows and MacOS.
HARDWARE SETUP
Make all the connections in your system. Keep the TD-3
power turned o when making any connections.
Use only the supplied power adapter for the TD-3.
Ensure your sound system is turned down.
Turn on the TD-3 before turning on any power ampli ers,
and turn it o last. This will help prevent any turn on or
turn o “pops or thumps” in your speakers.
WARM UP TIME
We recommend leaving 15 minutes or more time for the
TD-3 to warm up before recording or live performance.
(Longer if it has been brought in from the cold.) This will
allow the precision analog circuits time to reach their
normal operating temperature and tuned performance.
SETTING SYNC and CLOCK TYPE
Selector switches 1, 2, 3, or 4 represent clock source INT,
MIDI, USB, or TRIG respectively
Selector switches 5, 6, 7, or 8 represent clock rate 1PPs,
2PPQ, 24PPQ, or 48PPQ respectively
1. Press Function.
2. Make sure no sequence is playing.
3. Press BACK and WRITE/NEXT at the same time to
enter Sync setting mode.
4. Selector 1 to 8
LEDs will turn on, and the current
clock source (1 to 4) and clock rate (5 to 8) will ash,
you have about 3 seconds to make any changes.
5. Press Selector 1, 2, 3, or 4 to change the clock source
to INT, MIDI, USB, or TRIG respectively
6. Press Selector 5, 6, 7, or 8 to change the clock rate to
1PPs, 2PPQ, 24PPQ, or 48PPQ respectively.
7. Press any other buttons or after no changes for a
3 seconds, the changes are saved.
8. Repeat step 3 to check your selection.
Caution: Clock source must always be INT (internal) if
you are not using an external clock. Note: Clock rate 24 or
48 PPQ (Pulses per quarter) are recommended.
TUNING
To quickly start making sounds with your TD-3, use the
tuning feature as follows. Note that in this mode, the notes
are transposed one octave higher.
1. Make sure the VOLUME is turned down.
2. Set the MODE switch to PATTERN PLAY.
3. Press and hold down the PITCH MODE switch and
then press the PATTERN 6 switch (note A).
4. Now, each time you press WRITE/NEXT, you will hear
this note in your headphones or speakers. Adjust the
VOLUME level to a comfortable listening level.
5. Use the TUNE control to adjust the output frequency
to exactly 220 Hz. The frequency can be adjusted up
or down, and allow ne tuning to other instruments.
6. To tune to other notes instead of A, press and hold
PITCH MODE and then the desired note.
7. Now that the TD-3 can make sounds, you can
experiment with the synthesizer controls, and the
distortion, and listen to the e ects on the sound.
SIGNAL FLOW
The signal path within the TD-3 can be thought of as
moving from left to right as follows:
1. The TD-3 has one voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)
which generates the sound, and can be adjusted by
its WAVEFORM and TUNING. The waveform can be
selected from reverse-sawtooth or pulse. Listen to
the changes in sound that both waveforms make.
2. Next in line is the voltage controlled lter (VCF)
where the CUTOFF frequency and RESONANCE can
be adjusted. Play with the cuto frequency, and
resonance controls, and listen to their e ects on
the sound. The classic low-pass lter allows a great
deal of control over the sounds created by TD-3.
It reduces the level of signals that are above the
cuto frequency, so reducing the levels of the
higher-order harmonics.
3. The RESONANCE control gives an enhancement to
the signals at the crossover frequency. Rotating it
towards maximum will give very interesting e ects
and self-oscillation.
4. The ENVELOPE and DECAY controls a ect the VCF by
modulating the cuto frequency. The controls are
dependent on each other, so if the envelope level
is high, then the decay e ect on the sound will be
more noticeable.
5. The ACCENT control a ects only those notes in a
pattern that have accent assigned.
6. The voltage controlled ampli er (VCA) output then
moves through the DISTORTION section (if this is
selected). Use the VOLUME control to adjust the level
going to your headphones and the main output.
7. Keep the level down low when rst putting
on headphones.
PATCH BAY SECTION
This section allows you the versatility to connect to other
units and modular synthesizer equipment to create
many di erent sounds. The connections are standard
3.5 mm TS, and the voltage requirements are shown in
the speci cations table. The TD-3 does not need these
connections in order to operate, they are used for further
expansion of your system.
Caution: Do not overload the 3.5 mm inputs.
They can only accept the correct level of voltages as
shown in the speci cation tables. The 3.5 mm outputs
should only be connected to inputs capable of receiving the
output voltages. Failure to follow these instructions may
damage the TD-3 or external units.
SEQUENCER SECTION
Please see the section later in this guide for details of
pattern writing and playing, and track writing and playing.
FIRMWARE UPDATE
Please check our website behringer.com regularly for
any updates to the rmware of your TD-3 synthesizer.
The rmware le can be downloaded and stored on your
computer, and then used to update the TD-3. It comes with
detailed instructions on the update procedure.
HAVE FUN
The TD-3 has many useful controls to recreate di erent bass
instruments, and to create bass lines. The patch bay allows
for further experimentation and expansion to other units
and modular synthesizer equipment.
With all these controls, the possibilities for musical
creativity are endless!
We hope that you will enjoy your new TD-3, and that it will
become an essential part of your system.
28 29Quick Start GuideTD-3