Find the free download at the bottom of this page.
**This Instrument Rack was created for the Techno Fundamentals workshop as part of the weekly Side Brain’s Study Group***
Check out the first 20 minutes of the workshop. For the full workshop, click HERE.
About the 303
The TB-303 is a legendary analog bass synthesizer created by Roland in the early 1980s. Originally designed as a bass accompaniment for guitarists to use during rehearsals when the bass player can’t make it, But it sounded horrible for what it was designed for. it gained fame in the 1980s and ’90s for its distinctive, squelchy, and resonant sound used predominantly in electronic music genres like acid house, techno, and various forms of dance music.
Introduced in 1982, the TB-303 was not initially well-received for its intended purpose and was discontinued by Roland shortly after its release. However, it found a new life and popularity among musicians who discovered its unique sonic capabilities for creating hypnotic basslines, thanks to its unconventional and somewhat unpredictable sound generation.
As electronic music genres evolved, the TB-303 became synonymous with the “acid” sound due to its use of resonant low-pass filters and squelchy, modulated tones. Artists like Phuture and DJ Pierre were among the early adopters who helped popularize the TB-303, particularly in the emerging acid house scene of Chicago.
Despite its brief commercial run, the TB-303’s impact on music was significant. Its sound became iconic in the electronic music landscape, and its scarcity in the market led to high demand and inflated prices for original units. Roland eventually recognized its cult status and influence, reissuing updated versions and software emulations to meet the continued demand and preserve its legacy in modern music production.
Still today we can hear it being used heavily in the Techno scene.
I’ve created a custom 303 Instrument Rack for Ableton. This Instrument is extremely versatile as it offers an extra gritty sub layer to intensify the sound between different sections of our track.
It also includes the free Sting from Iftah which is a Acid Bassline generator so you don’t even have to create a clip it will generate the basslines for you! Need a new pattern? Just turn down and back up the Generate! Macro.
Scroll down for the free download.
Macros
Generate! – Turn up & Down to create a new Acid Bass Pattern
Cutoff – Low Pass Filter Cutoff
Reso – Filter Resonance
Filter Env – Filter Envelope Amount
303 – Volume of the 303 layer
Sub – Volume of the distorted sub layer
Space – Texture Reverb Amount
Release – Turn down to create a tighter sound
Tutorial & Sound Demo
Requirements
– Latest version of Ableton Suite
– Creative Extensions (Free)
– Sting by Iftah (Optional but Free)
INSTALLATION
1. After Download – Double click on the file to open it up in Ableton Live. (Bug – If the file extension is missing, rename the file manually to end with “.adg”)
2. Click on the Save button at the top right corner of the device to save to your User Library
DOWNLOAD
This rack is part of Compostion Power Tools
