Roland Bass Line

SYNTH The sound of the internal
synth engine is adjusted via only
four controls. Despite being so
minimal, this is where most of the
action happens.
SEQUENCER The 303’s sequencer
was fabled for its quirkiness. This is
recreated in the TB-03, though a new
Step Recording Mode makes things a
little more straightforward.
AROUND BACK The original only
had a DIN Sync input. The TB-03
loses this, though gains MIDI and
USB comms to carry timing, note and
control changes in and out.
ANALOGUE TRICKS Trigger In allows
analogue clock pulses to control
sequencer stepping and CV/Gate lets
the internal sequencer engine play
notes on external analogue gear.
each note in the sequence. The Value
knob (linked to a stepped continuous
encoder) allows you to move back and
forwards in the sequence. However,
despite maintaining the Tap Writing
mode of the original (for entering
real-time note timings) there is no
real-time recording mode. Given that
the TB-03 can be mounted in the
Roland K-25m Keyboard Unit, or
receive notes via MIDI, this seems a
missed opportunity. Also, although it’s
understandable that the TB-03 stays
close to the TB-303 interface, this
means many of its convoluted key
presses remain. Roland could have
gone further with the display. Adding
a menu button and a few others
sound of their own specifi c nasty
guitar pedal. The CV/Gate outputs
from before are joined by a Trigger In
that facilitates external analogue
control over the sequencer (making it
a nice pairing with TR-09’s Trigger
Output). Full size MIDI in/out as well
USB MIDI and audio in/out are also
included. So if you fi nd the internal
sequencer frustrating you can control
it directly from your DAW (or capture
sequences for further arrangement). A
further benefi t of the external DAW
approach is parameter automation,
which is not supported by TB-03’s
internal pattern/track sequencer.
Taking this into account begs the
question as to why studio-bound
musicians wouldn’t just use a plug-in
such as AudioRealism’s Bass Line 3?
There are currently a number of
alternatives to the TB-03, many of
which employ ‘real’ analogue
circuitry. If you must have analogue,
then the TB-03 isn’t for you. But for
everyone else looking for that classic
tone it is well worth checking out.
FM VERDICT
7.8
C aptures the essence of the
original 303 and adds a
twist. But Roland could have
gone further in updating the
sequencer and interface.
combined with an alphanumeric
display wouldn’t have broken the
bank. Digital devices are easily
updated to add new features but with
a fi xed interface they have to resort to
adding unlabelled key combinations.
In its latest iteration the Bass Line
also adds built-in Overdrive and
Delay/Reverb effects. While both are
useful, it is the distortion element
here (with three different selectable
fl avours) that is perhaps the most
immediately alluring. There are
countless classic 303 tracks where
what you hear is a heavily driven
version of the Bass Line sound, so
having this directly to hand is a nice
addition – even if some will prefer the
THE SOUND OF A 303
The TB-303’s tone has been the subject of many forum
rants and YouTube videos, and the belief that nothing
matches the real thing has a bearing on the secondhand
price. It could be the simplicity of design and limited
range of tones that makes it so easy to focus on the
subtleties, unlike, for instance, a vintage polysynth. In
both these cases though, the difference between
apparently identical units should not be underestimated
– and don’t expect comparative tests of clones and
digital models at similar parameter positions to deliver
defi nitive results either. That is the nature of analogue.
The TB-03 sounds very good. There are times when it
lacks the original’s magic but others where that bubbling
liquid squelch or hollow tone gets exceptionally close.
THE ALTERNATIVES
Roland TB-303
(used) £2,000+
When a real 303 is
the only option. Very
expensive, and often
hard to fi nd one
without plenty of
battle scars.
www.ebay.co.uk
AudioRealism
Bass Line 3 –
ABL3 £91
A plug-in recreation
of the TB-303 for
those happy with the
convenience of
software and who
don’t need direct
hardware control.
www.audiorealism.
se
Cyclone Analogic
TT-303 Bass Bot
MkII £389
Moving to a less
copyright infringing
design for the MkII,
the TT-303 remains
a great-sounding
analogue alternative
to the original.
www.cyclone-
analogic.fr
Reviews | Roland TB-03 Bass Line
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FMU315.rev_roland.indd 84 1/23/17 3:26 PM