D16 Group Users Forum

Opinions of the new 1.8.0 sound - Is it really improved and in what ways - I'd be interested to hear opinions both in relation to 303 realism and as an instrument in itself.
Cheers

I've compared its sound with 1.6 and its different. I don't own a 303 but I'd say that it 1.8 sounds closer to abl (and I don't know if abl sound close to a real 303). Anyway both sound pretty similar to 303 samples, mp3 and videos.

One thing I noticed is that Phoscyon decay now sounds pretty cool when you tweak it, really cool.

I'd like a few A/B demos of the new sound.

There are plenty of pages like that in the net.
Comparing a TB303 to a handful of clones and ABL and Phoscyon.
So far it wins hands down.
It even sounds better than the Revolution on my desk.

Comparison of the first Audio Unit beta (based on version 1.6.5?) and the 1.8.0

Sample .WAV (15 MB)
No distortion 1.6.5, no distortion 1.8.0, distortion 1.6.5, distortion 1.8.0, original TB303, ABL 2.0 dist / no dist
Cutoff automated linearly from 50% to 80% in all cases

My impression: 1.8.0 has a sharper VCA attack, and the accented filter decay sounds sharper as well
One thing to notice, though: Phoscyon doesn't have as dominant 4th and 5th overtones as both Solar Quest's TB303 and ABL... In the pattern repeated above, you should be able to discern three B overtones followed by two G# overtones. You can hear it in Phoscyon, but it's not as easy to hear as in the Solar Quest and ABL clips.

I'm still wondering whether to get an x0xb0x or a revolution or just stick with software for 303. The Rev would be nice to sequence my future retro XS but I probably don't need it.

hi there.. i downgraded to 1.6.0 because of the sound and other issues. will there be an bugfix update to 1.8?
HAd the immage that it is not working as solid and round as 1.6 ..

it would be nice if booth version of phosicon could be used simultaniously because they sound very different.

and regarding the sound..

1.8 has in many areas optimisations that make it closer to a real 303 and seems to have a cleaner sound in general but in some areas it falls behind 1.6.. with 1.6 you get the filter at least a bit screaming..and the env mod on the filter is maybe not as pronounced as in the real 303 but in the direction..


i would say 1.8 sounds better technicaly...but dont feels as 303ish as the 1.6 version with t the whole soundimage and interaction with the knobs. That is a bit more solid and charaterfull on 1,6..

actually i cant really decide .. 1.6 brings more fun on tweaking knobs.. booth dont really sound like a 303 when we want to make it scream.. but in this department the older version has more of the 303 squelsh somehow..

maybe its just some finetuning here that makes the different.. theoretical v 1.8 should sound closer to a real 303.. and maybe it really does on static sounds ..but on moving knobs the 1,6 feels closer somehow.. like a real 303 that has only 2/3 of the knob ranges somehow..

would be maybe a nice user prefference or additional parameter to be able to get the Env mod more pronounced in theese special 303..bipolar fashion.. many hardware 303´s out there are modded for a bigger env mod range