Lesson 2

How to use a Roland TB303 with cv gates

NOTE.... * DENOTES WHERE THINGS CAN BE FOUND ON YOUR SEQUENCER

Table of Contents

1. How do I get the correct voltages ... ?
2. Where can I find cv scale/fine tune... ?
3. Why is it not in key... ?
4. How do I control the slide & accent ... ?
5. How do I control the cut off frequency  ... ?
6. Example ... ?

How do I get the correct voltages ... ?

Please note this information is for retro fitted TB303, the cv & gate on the original TB303 are for output only.

[Go to the manual of both your TB303 & Control Voltage converter see if there is any information you can use . The TB303 uses 1volt per octave cv & gate.

Set your cv box to the MIDI channel you wish to use for the notes ONLY, then set the MIDI channel you wish to use for the AUX controllers e.g. notes on ch 4 controllers on ch 5. Why do this? When you come to composing your track all the pitch bend & slide cut off & accent will be on an independent track so you can copy it and filter it and then overlay it on to another track.

Most Roland synths use either gate V-Trig 5v pull-up or gate V-Trig 15v pull-up, the TB303 is 5v pull-up but always double check with your cv retrofit manual and cv to midi converter box manual.]

Back to Top

Where can I find cv scale & fine tune... ?

[These are situated in the cv converter box and are used to control where the octaves/notes start from eg matching the midi notes to the sounds (frequencies) so that the Bottom C and Top C are actually the frequency associated with the note of C. Sounds complicated but it's very easy to do, just decide what note you want to start your TB303 range on and then tune each octaves C so that it is a C & does not drift when you play the Top C.

]

Back to Top

Why is it not in Key... ?

[You have to tune each octave using the scale facility and fine tune function, each synth is individual so there are no set numbers for this just good ears or a digital tuner ]

Back to Top

How  do I control the slide & accent... ?

[Link your aux sources through the cv box so that they correspond to the channel A cv&gate that you are using.

Slide & accent use the aux of the cv box so set the aux midi ch and then set the aux range 0 minimum = off 50 maximum = on for the slide. SET the controller that you wish to control the on and off.

For accent choose another aux and another midi channel and SET the controller you wish to use to control the accent, minimum 0 maximum 50.

]

Back to Top

How do I control the cut off frequency... ?

[Once again use an aux SET the controller the midi channel and the minimum and maximum range on the cv to midi converter box. Minimum 0 maximum 127 with reset at 0 to prevent hang.

]

Back to Top

Example ... ?

[Channel A on midi to cv box with 3 aux = 5 socket retrofit.

Channel A cv&gate = midi channel 1 on your sequencer

Channel A aux1 controller 1(modulation) = midi channel 4 on your sequencer

Channel A aux2 controller 9(undefined) = midi channel 5 on your sequencer

Channel A aux3 controller 65(portamento) = midi channel 6 on your sequencer.

For an older cv box like the Kenton PRO2 click here Guide to ROLAND TB303]

Back to Top

Back to the INDEX
Copyright bagse.com © bagse.co.uk. All rights reserved.
Revised: September 13, 2005 .