Roland TD-303 User manual

!~Roland
ComputerControlled
Bass Line
TD-303 OWNER'S MANUAL

CONTENTS
Page
BATTERY REPLACEMENT AND PRECAUTIONS ....................................... 2
INTRODUCTION
[I] BASS AND THE TB-303 .................................................................. 4
(2] THE BASIC IDEA BEHIND THE TB-303 ................................................ 4
BASIC COURSE
[I] CONNECTION AND INITIAL SETTINGS ................................................ 7
(2] WRITING AND PLAYING A BASS LINE (PART 1) ..................................... 9
INTERMEDIATE COURSE
[I] THE TONE CONTROL SECTION AND TUNING ..................................... 33
(2] WRITING THE LENGTH OF THE NOTES (ALTERNATIVE METHOD) .............. 35
[ill WRITING AND PLAYING A BASS LINE (PART 2) .................................... 38
@] TO WRITE YOUR OWN BASS LINES ................................................. 49
ADVANCED COURSE
[I] USEFUL FUNCTIONS OF THE TRACK ............................................... 69
(2] APPLIED METHOD OF THE TB-303 ................................................... 73
TROUBLE SHOOTING .................................................................. 81
SOUND RANGE TABLE .................................................................. 88
SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................ 89
2

IMPORTANT NOTES
LOCATION:
• Operating the TB-303 near a neon or
fluorescent lamp may cause noise
interference. If
so, change the angle of the
TB-303.
• Avoid using the TB-303 in excessive heat
or humidity or where it may be affected by
direct sunlight or dust.
POWER SUPPLY:
• When using an AC adaptor, use only a
BOSS ACA120 or ACA220, 240 depending
on your country's voltage system.
CLEANING:
• Use a soft cloth and clean only with a
neutral detergent. DO NOT USE
SOLVENTS SUCH AS PAINT THINNER.
BATTERY
REPLACEMENT AND
PRECAUTIONS:
• Replace the batteries with a complete set
of new batteries when the BATIERY
CHECK indicator flashes, signalling a drop
in voltage, or if the sound becomes inferior.
• Replace with four 1.5v dry cell batteries.
• The TB-303 features a non-volatile memory,
which will retain patterns when switched
OFF. It relies on its batteries for a backup
circuit to protect these memories.
• If the batteries are changed within one
minute, the memory will hold the
DATA.
• Be sure to keep the batteries in the
housing, even when using an
AC adaptor.
Then, if the
AC adaptor is disconnected,
operation immediately changes to battery,
allowing continued performance.
3

4
TB-303 INTRODUCTION
The TB-303 is an automatic Bass machine
which can memorize the Bass line of a
musical piece and replay it automatically.
wBASS AND THE TB-303
A musical bass lline involves many complex
factors, such as different pitches and beats,
and consequently
it is a difficult thing to re-
produce automatically. It may vary depending
on the rhythm, chord progression, style of
music and the character of the musician.
Sometimes it can take the role of a low
melody, then
it might outline the chords or
• Bass line example:
c
@=t J ~ J 7 I J
.r J
[2JTHE BASIC IDEA
BEHIND THE TB-303
In order to memorize a Bass line, divide it
into each measure (pattern) and memorize
one pattern at a time.
Each "pattern" can remember various
musical factors, such as 'pitch', 'length of
note' and 'accent', individually. After
memorizing several patterns, these patterns
may
be joined in order to produce the Bass
.r I J
become a strong rhythmic influence in an
ensemble. But overall it is a very important
part of the rhythm section, following the
chord progression, mainly using the root and
fifth note.
(As shown below) Before you enter
the Basic Course, it
is necessary to under-
stnd the idea behind the TB-303
.rl J w"J .r&fi-
line of a musical piece. (Fig. 1 )
The following is a description only of the
operation of the TB-303. For precise
instructions refer to the Basic Course.

Fig.1· ~
i?=cp j v- dl CJ ~ ?r J Id
• •
I ?=c
1 I 2
•Pitch l
I?:c. •
• •
• The length of Note
~?=c n .J .r Jl
• Accents/Slides
i
l?=c J.J ~ ~ i
• •
I ?:c
1 I 2
A. PITCH
1. HOW TO MEMORIZE PITCH
Press the key switches on the panel, in
order, for one pattern.
2. KEY SWITCHES AND RANGE
The key switches have only one octave
on the panel, but actually you can play
four octaves by using the transpose
switches. Then by using these additional
switches, the TB-303 can easily cover
the essential range of
an electric or
acoustic bass.
B. THE LENGTH OF NOTE
• HOW TO MEMORIZE THE
LENGTH OF THE NOTES
By pressing the correct combination of
the switches
labelled} }and :; , the
rhythm for one pattern can
be
memorized.
The use of sixteenth notes ( } ) as the
basic writing tool allows highly technical
I
D
> I
.r
Jj., r
•
3
•
3 I
)p
bass lines to be written into memory,
while slower timings can be achieved by
using combinations of this basic unit
(e.g. J
=iffl ).
NOTE:
"Length of note" in this manual means
Timing Value.
C. ACCENT
After memorizing the pitch and length of
note (rhythm), particular features of BAss
instruments, like accent or portamento
(slide), can be written into memory where
needed.
• HOW TO MEMORIZE ACCENT
OR PORTAMENTO
Whilst calling back the memorized
pattern, place the accent or slide against
the required note by using the switches.
One complete Bass PATTERN has now
been written Into memory.
5

6
D. COMPLETING THE BASS
LINE
After memorizing several patterns,
complete the Bass line for a piece of
music by combining these patterns.
• HOW TO MEMORIZE THE
BASS LINE
To memorize the Bass line, simply select
each measure, in turn, and write them
into the memory. One pattern can
be
chosen several times, and can also be
transposed into any other key.
Consequently, if the Bass line is simply a
repetition
of· one pattern, or only a
transposition of that pattern, then you
only need to write one pattern into
memory (Fig.
2).
One complete Bass Line has now been
written Into memory.
Fig. 2 c
f):aJ
F, I
Memorize this parttem only.
• • • F
I
E. CREATING A SOUND
The TB-303 cannot memorize the tone
colour, but can make a Bass sound, just
like a synthesizer, by using the TONE
CONTROL SECTION. In this way, the
TB-303 can create an appropriate Bass
sound for the Bass line you have written.
F. HOW TO USE THIS
MANUAL
The switches and control knobs have
several functions, so operating the
TB-303 may seem a little complicated.
You may find difficulty using the TB-303
at first, because it is so different from a
Bass Guitar or a keyboard instrument.
Therefore, this manual includes a Basic,
Intermediate and Advanced Course to
help you understand these operations,
step by step. However, each individual
operation is quite simple, so take your
time and master each step.
I T I
• Shifting up a perfect
fourth
• Shifting up a perfect
fifth

BASIC COURSE
mCONNECTIONS AND INITIAL SETTINGS
A. CONNECTIONS
AC Adaptor Jack
•Connect an AC adaptor to this jack
euse only a BOSS ACA-100 or equivalent
Guitar Amplifier
SP Audio Amplifier SP
I
_ _j
Note:
(When using headphones, do not connect
anything to the output jack).
• Use stereo headphones (impedance
80-300)
Firstly, we should mention that when
monitoring a bass sound through head-
phones, quite often the pitch will appear
incorrect. This occurs whenever a bass
sound
is produced so close to the eardrum.
To avoid this you might try altering the TONE
CONTROLS, otherwise you will have to use a
loud speaker.
7

8
B. INITIAL SETTINGS
G) Complete the connections as instructed in
A CONNECTIONS on page 7.
@Turn on the POWER SWITCHNOLUME
CONTROL (clockwise).
One the SELECTOR
SWITCHES B to Ell
flashes.
@Set the cotrol knobs on the panel as shown below.
IMPORTANT NOTES
When pressing the button, do not fail to release
it once, and go on to the next operation, except
for the cases that it
is specifically instructed to
keep the button pressed.
(The TB-303 does not
function properly if you go
on to the next
operation without releasing the button.)
In some
cases the "Results" written
in the owner's
manual are not obtained when you press the
button, but it
is obtained as soon as you
release the button.

2 WRITING AND PLAYING A BASS LINE (Part 1}
A. Operation ...... Operate whilst looking at the Procedure Table
as an appendix.
The TB-303 can memorize the Bass line into
a computer memory by using switches, and
we call this process PATIERN WRITING.
c A,
Let's begin by writing the following simple
four bar Bass line.
/)'1'1
4'-;z
••
Sample
Score
?=c
J.
F'
F I
J.
J.
rI
r·
r·
r I
r· I
A
-c
I PITCH c E G
til
E
Writing Table~~ ====:=============~
TIME jeooooo eooooo eoooj jeooooo~eooooo:eoooj
Operation
Result
Operation Notes
Set the TB-303 according to the instructions Make sure the TB-303 is not
1
in INITIAL SETIINGS (page 8).
running. (the BATIERY CHECK/RUN
indicator button Q) is OFF).
Set the MODE SELECTOR @ to The TB-303 is now ready to write
PATIERN
WRITE.
a Bass pattern.
MODE
2
~-"'~
TRACK
• PLAY
• PLAY
WRITE}
PATTERN
9

Select GROUP I by using the
PATTERN GROUP SELECTOR @.
!TRACK! PATT.GROUP
3 ~~- ·rn:-~
~-~-~
Lffi·~
4
5
10
Select PATTERN SECTION A by
pressing the SELECTOR SWITCH @
marked A .
0 ~ 0
DCD
J'J')
L3.J
Iii
~
PATT SECTION
Select PATTERN 1 by pressing SELECT-
OR SWITCH @ marked- .
The indicator lights up.
The indicator starts
flashing.
Refer to "SELECTING THE
WRITING SWITCHES" on the
next page.
Refer to "SELECTING THE
WRITING SWITCHES" on the
next page.
Writing switches are selected from
the Selector switches @ • to Ill

6
Whilst holding the SELECTOR SWITCH
@ marked • down,press the
PATTERN CLEAR button CD. This
clears the chosen memory position of
any previous data.
ID.c.ll BAR RESET I
PATTERN CLEAR
RUNQ BATTERY
RUN/STOP
Refer to the operating
note.
.SELECTING THE WRITING SWITCHES
1 ······································· 8
A new Bass pattern can be written.
Other
LED indicators will light up to
show that the pattern has been
cleared from memory.
Also, irrelevant indicators may light
up regardless of the actual
operations, but it is not the sign of
the machine trouble.
~1 1:1:1:1:1:1:1:1~1:j~
e PATIERN GROUP
selector ©
(Selectors PATIERN
GROUPS
I, II, Ill, IV)
I I I I I
I I I I I
.. UIDEIHIDIIDIEI
• Selector switches@
marked • to Ell (Select
memory positions)
• Write the patterns into u signs.
(There are 64 patterns altogether.)
Select one pattern by operating 3 switches.
(Select *sign from page 1 0)
eWhen the PATTERN GROUP selector is
between two levels, you can set the knob
to either position
(as shown beside).
,-----....,
e SELECTOR switches
marked
A, 8
(Select PATIERN
SELECTIONS
A, 8 )
ITRACKI PATT.GROUP
~~- ·~;J
ex©·~
11

7
8
12
Press the PITCH MODE button (8)
PITCH MODE
*
1~1
According to the "WRITING TABLE" for
IPITCHI , press the key-switches
representing the notes,
in order, from
left to right. (Refer to "How to Use the
Table")
PITCH
c E G
The PITCH MODE
indicator@
lights up.
The sound is heard
and the indicator
illuminates.
The TB-303 is ready to accept
the pitches.
e HOW TO USE THE WRITING TABLE
FOR
I PITCH I c E G
• The letters in the table show the
pitch of the notes.
• There are two 'C' keys on the
keyboard, the upper 'C'
is marked
~'C'''.
• The pitches line up, in the order of
playing, from left to right.
If you press the wrong switch,
and
a) wish to begin again -repeat the
operation from
7.
b) only need correct one note -
press the BACK button @ to go
back one step, then press the
correct pitch.

9
10
11
Press the FUNCTION button (b).
• HOW TO USE BACK BUTTON
In case of correcting the
mistaken sound, press the BACK
button @ after pressing the
wrong key-switch. When pressing
the BACK button, the TB-303
backs up one step, and allows
you to write the correct pitch in
that place.
The NORMAL MODE
indicator ~ lights up.
. ,tciNG .tt:tl PITCHES (This can be omitted)
'" '«',;' ', ,,, ,', ', ,, '' ,,
Press the PITCH MODE button (8)
PITCH MODE
*
1~1
Press the TAP button ®slowly three
times.
,.....-;;]
~
[J]
IWRITE/NEXTI
TAP
[ RIGHT PITCHES J
The PITCH MODE indi-
cator @ lights up.
The indicators light up
to show the written
pitch. The notes are
heard
in order
[ WRONG PITCHES l
Go ahead to .
operation 12 on Repeat the operat1on
the next page. from 1
The pitches have now been written
into memory, and the TB-303 is
in its
NORMAL MODE.
Whenever you press the TAP button,
the sound
is heard.
• In this case, you must press the
button three times because you
have written three pitches. If you
press the button more than three
times, you will hear a random
selection of notes.
• If you wish to check it again,
repeat the operation from
10.
• Be sure not to press the key-
switches this time, otherwise the
pitch you have written will
change.
13

Press the FUNCTION button (b).
12 c
-
Press the TIME MODE button® .
14
The NORMAL MODE
indicator @ lights up.
The TIME MODE
indicator @ lights up.
Once again the TB-303 is in
NORMAL MODE.
The length of note can be written.

14
According to the Writing Table foriTIMEI,
press the switches. (Refer to "HOW TO
USE THE WRITING TABLE")
Press the TIME MODE
button®.
The appropriate indicators
light up, as you press
each switch.
After pressing the
switches 16 times, the
NORMAL MODE
indicator @ lights up.
e HOW TO USE THE WRITING TABLE
FOR ITIMEI
I TIME jeooooojeooooojeoooi
e ......Press the SELECTOR switch
marked).
0 ...... Press the SELECTOR switch
marked_)
.Press the SELECTOR switch
marked
:{ (not used in this
example).
Each sign has been drawn in order,
from left to right. When writing
in the
TIME MODE, no sound is produced.
• Should you fail to press a switch,
repeat the operation from
13.
• When you have finished writing
the length
of note, the TB-303
automatically changes to the
NORMAL MODE.
(This can be omitted)
The TIME MODE
indicator @ lights up.
15

Press the TAP button ® slowly 16
The indicators illuminate Remember,
no sound is produced in
the TIME MODE.
times.
in the appropriate order. After pressing
16 times, it
16
I[I5l
automatically changes to the
NORMAL MODE.
If you wish to check it again,
repeat the operation from
15.
The indicators light
I I
up in the correct
WRONG
order.
Go ahead to Repeat
from
Operation 17.
the operation
13.
PLAY··
.~ •. ~ .·4111
.. ffl()lar,(J
"'*/STOP
Press the RUN/STOP button @. The BATIERY Use the
TEMPO control knob @
RUN *BATTERY
CHECK/RUN indicator and
POWER SWITCH/VOLUME
0 lights up and the control knob ® to adjust tempo
[L.J
Bass pattern will play and volume.
repeatedly.
17 -
RUN/STOP
.J
16

[
[
18
1
e HOW TO CORRECT
IS THE BASS PATTERN CORRECT?
l
~ If there were errors In both the
pitch and length of note:
a) stop the TB-303@ pressing the
RUN/STOP button
CORRECT l [ WRONG l
b) repeat operation from 7.
~ If the error was In the pitch only:
a) stop the TB-303@ pressing the
RUN/STOP button
Press the RUN/STOP button ®
*The BATIERY
b) repeat operation from 7 to 9.
CHECK/RUN indicator
c) then go to operation 17.
RUNQ BATTERY light
Q)goes out.
~If the error was only In the
[J]
length of note:
a) stop the TB-303@ pressing the
* The TB-303 stops
RUN/STOP button K
RUN/STOP
immediately
b) repeat operation from 13.
You have now correctly entered one Bass PATTERN.
Operation
Make sure the control knobs and
indicators are as shown below.
Result
Operation Notes
17

2
3
4
18
Press the SELECTOR switch @
marked B.
The ir:Jdicators of B
flashes
0 • * 0 0 0 0 0 0
[] g [] [] [] [] [] []
1 2 3 4 56 7 8
~-----
Holding the SELECTOR switch @
marked 1111 down, press the
PATTERN CLEAR button CD.
ID.C.II BAR RESET I
PATTERN CLEAR
Press the PITCH MODE button (8) .
PITCH MODE
*
1-1
-
The indicator lights up.
Select the SELECTOR switch
marked 1111 (PATTERN GROUP-I,
PATTERN SECTION-A).
(As the PATTERN GROUP-I and
PATTERN SELECTION-A have
already been selected in the
previous example, this need not be
changed)

5
6
7
Whilst holding down the SELECTOR
switch ® marked DOWN, press the
"A" key-switch. (Refer to
"TRANSPOSE")
0 0
[] []
5 6 7 8
PITCH I A
-
According to the Writing Table for
I PITCH I, press the key-switches
in order.
·:6: I 0
. ,•
·:6:-
0
c
0
Indicator "DOWN"
lights up. The sound A,
which is one octave
lower, will be heard.
:d.
- - 0
cD
STEP
J'J')
LJ.J
a Iii
E
0 0 0
g [] Q [] [] [] [] []
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
RQimiiDdR
PITCH
A
-c E
Press the FUNCTION button (1).
g
-19

9
20
.TRANSPOSE
When writing a pitch one octave down (or up)
from the keyboard range, press the
SELECTOR switch @ marked DOWN
(TRANSPOSE DOWN) or UP (TRANSPOSE
UP) for moving the range of the keyboards,
then press the appropriate key-switch.
The first
"A" sound of the second measure is
one octave down from the keyboard on the
panel.
Press the PITCH MODE bl,ltton C8) .
PITCH MODE
*
1~1
Press the TAP button ® for confirmation.
ID.s.l
n:TI
I WRITE/NEXT I
TAP
Press the FUNCTION button (Q.
c
-
HOW TO USE THE WRITING TABLE FOR
TRANSPOSE
A(black bar under the pitch letter)
.. represents a note one octave down.
...... holding the SELECTOR switch marked
DOWN down, press the key-switch.
A (black bar over the pitch letter)
...represents a note one octave up.
......
holding the SELECTOR switch marked
UP down, press the key-switch,