Cyclone Analogic TT-303 Bass Bot V2

B
ack in 1981,
nobody could have
predicted that over
35 years later a little
cheap single-
oscillator synth-and-
sequencer combo
would still provoke such interest, but
such has been the fate or Roland’s
TB-303 Bass Line. Originally
conceived as a basic bass
accompaniment machine to partner
Roland’s TR-606 drum machine, the
303 was initially embraced by early
synth-pop artists, but ultimately
extremely hypnotic and alluring to
Chicago’s late-night club crowd. From
this point on, the 303 become
entwined with dance music and has
since forged its place as a classic.
Because of its classic status,
prices for secondhand units have
risen considerably since a low point
in the late-’80s, where used 303s
could be had for under £50. From
the ’90s onwards, there have been a
host of software and hardware
‘clones’ attempting to recreate or
expand on the sound of the original.
The Cyclone Analogic TT-303 Bass
Bot V2 follows on the heals of their
original TT-303 (that memorably
employed a replica TB-303 case and
knob design). In this guise it managed
to last a few years, (undergoing a
significant OS update to version 2
along the way) and garner much
praise for its sonic authenticity.
When testing the MkI TT-303 for
the first time, it was clear by direct
comparison with an original TB-303
that at points they were almost
indistinguishable. The most obvious
difference appeared to be in the
maximum range of certain
parameters, where the Cyclone
version could reach slightly further in
the envelope modulation and cutoff
department. It’s important to stress
that, like any vintage analogue kit,
no two original units sound exactly
the same. Given that both the MkI
and MkII TT-303’s employ
surface-mount components, these
small differences are to be expected.
Another extremely important aspect
of Cyclone’s design philosophy has
been to build on the the usability of
the original Roland designs, where
functional breadth, in the sequencer
department in particular, was
somewhat lacking.
The Bass Bot MkI built on the
awkward step editing of the original
by adding additional pattern creation
modes. User Patterns are the core
stored patterns, used to create tracks
or to interact with a few of the other
playable modes. Confusingly, Preset
Patterns are not fixed, but are
created by the unit’s pattern
generation system– much like a
pattern spawning ground. The MkII
adds a Pattern Lab Mode, which is
an extension of the generated Preset
Patterns, and allows more detailed
control of what is generated. The
Loop Edit Mode provides real-time
editing of User Patterns, allowing
you to add notes, and alter pitches
and note modifiers (such as accents
and slides) on-the-fly. The quirky
Arpeggiator mode is still present,
found fame with the rise of Chicago
house music, especially when some
strands of its sound become
harder-edged, giving rise to acid
house. Phuture’s Acid Tracks is the
archetypal acid track, and makes use
of only a TB-303 and a TR-707
drum machine. This was characteristic
of what happens when the unit’s
simple synth engine employs its
single-stage decay envelope to sweep
the cutoff point of its distinctive
filter. With the Resonance control
pushed up, this gave the whole thing
a liquid, bubbling quality that proved
THE PROS & CONS
+
Swing, added in the
MkII, is great for
adding extra vibe
Bigger knobs really
make a difference
when tweaking
Note entry, pattern
generation and
manipulation
methods make
music creation a
more enjoyable
experience than it
was on the original
-
Analogue Clock –
it’s great to have
analogue outs,
but there’s no
input or adjustable
PPQN parameter
Parameter
automation
isn’t supported
under internal or
external control
Cyclone Analogic TT-303 Bass Bot V2 | Reviews
83
FMU323.rev_cyclone.indd 83 06/09/2017 10:20