303 style sequencers

 Trying to build a modular 303  is tricky.

The TB 303 is really the sum of many parts.

Everyone goes on about the filter, however without a sequencer which can do accents, ties & slides 

you won't be able to get the real feel.

 

This search really is like a dog chasing its tail.

If you want a real 303 sound, best to get a TB 303. 

Building a modular 303 will make something different -- but that might be a good thing.

 

Accent - extra emphasis(sometimes velocity) on that step

Tie - tying two steps together to create a longer note. 1/8th note tied to 1/8th note = 1/4 note etc.

Slide,glide,legato,portamento - similar to a tie, but slides the pitch from the first note to the second one.

 

 

Slew. You will need to do some work with slewing certain notes to nail the acid sound, while leaving others unaffected. You can do this with a 2-way sequential switch and a slew (e.g. Maths, Function) or you can do it on your sequencer if it supports glide/portamento.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Chronovore, 24HP CV/Gate Sequencer

    Michigan synth works. 

    This really does everything -- Ties, slides, accents

 

2. Acidlab Autobot -

    Works mighty fine with the M303 but also with other modules. Includes accents and slides

    just like the original 303. 

 

 

3. Stepper Acid

     16 step, slide, , swing, 

      Adjustable clock sync input and output
       Includes: 24PPQN (Sync24), 48PPQN, 96PPQN and 4PPQN (one note per pulse)

       https://www.transistorsoundslabs.com/stepper-acid/ 

 

 

 

4.  Seek - copper traces

     64 steps.
     CV/gate sequencer with legato and an accent output. 

     Separate gate and accent outputs with per step legato, accent and rest

 

 

 

5. GMSN  - Pure Sequencer

    8-step sequencer with direction, range, clock in/out, pause, reset, slew and

    has gate outputs per step.

 

 

6.  Klee.

     Over kill ???

     Has glide in abundance.

      

7. Metropolis - Intellijel

    The slide functionality is a constant time portamento very similar to the Roland TB303 

    (unlike most synths/sequencers that use constant rate portamento) which produces a very musical 

    and interesting result. 

 

8. Moog Mother 32

    You can create both Ties (duration) & slides 

9. Erica synths pico SEQ

    Pitch Slide function on selected steps. 16 steps. 

   There is also a step merge function which is similar to a tie I think. ?

   compact- just 3 HP

   Despite the small size it’s easy to program and most importantly – 

   up to 16 patterns can be saved in memory and instantly recalled.

   

10. Bastil - popcorn.

     10Hp 

      Has slides. Just 8 steps

 

11. Super 16             

      per-step glide/portamento

      up to 64 step sequence length

      Tie ??

 

12. Korg SQ-1

      the korg SQ1, has slides and 2 gate outputs, so you trigger also accented notes.

       Only 8 steps if you want to trigger accents.

 

 

13. Black Sequencer- Erica

       ratcheting, step repeat, glide per step, merging steps (ties)

 

14. Beatstep Pro

      can tie/ slide nicely