The TB-303 from Roland is nothing short of legendary. In fact, it’s such an icon that it has its own official day on the calendar, March 3rd (or “3-03”). To celebrate, we’re hosting another 303-themed sound design contest. The top three entries will each win three Content Banks of their choice!
One of the many reasons Phase Plant stands out, besides its phenomenal sound, intuitive workflow, and insane flexibility, is that it gives you everything you need to cook up almost any sound imaginable. That includes all the essential ingredients for that unmistakable 303 flavor, plus so much more. So for this contest, we’re challenging all sound design wizards, whether you’re a Phase Plant pro or trying it for the first time, to create the most mind-blowing “303-inspired” patch you can dream up.
We’re not looking for a perfect TB-303 clone. That would be cool, but we want something original and creative!
We want you to take inspiration from the 303. Capture the spirit of its squelchy, acidic magic, borrow some of its core ideas, and transform them into something fresh, exciting, and uniquely yours.
To get you started, here are some of the key ingredients that go into crafting that classic 303 sound:
- A saw or square wave oscillator as the source signal
- An envelope-controlled low-pass filter
- High resonance (Q) on the filter
- Accents
- Slides
Check out the short video below to see how these elements come together in a simple Phase Plant patch. If you haven’t tried Phase Plant yet, grab the free ten-day trial and give it a try.
To keep things simple, we’ve provided a short MIDI sequence (see the right column) that we’ll use to judge contest entries.
So… are you ready to unleash your inner acid alchemist? Here are the simple rules for our contest:
- Maximum of one entry per person.
- Entry must be a single Phase Plant preset.
- The preset must include a Preset Name and Author Name.
- The preset must use at least three macros.
- A demo WAV file is optional but not required.
- All entries must be submitted by midnight CET on Wednesday, March 6th.
Phase Plant gives you endless ways to shape and evolve your sound. Go crazy with effects, modulation, and processing, but keep a hint of that 303 character so we can hear the inspiration shining through!
Here are some ideas to spice things up:
- Experiment with different filters at various points in the signal chain for unexpected results.
- Layer multiple Generators to add extra depth and character.
- Use Curve modulators and LFO Tables instead of standard Envelopes to create unique movement.
- Add a touch of randomness for evolving, unpredictable acid lines.
- Make the most of macros to dramatically morph your sounds in real time.
- Go wild with effects. Stack them, twist them, and push them to the limit!
The team will judge all entries using the provided MIDI file (see the right column), tweaking macros and scoring based on originality while preserving that unmistakable 303 character.
Ready to enter? Submit your patch using this form. Three winners will be selected and contacted via email to claim their three Content Banks. Winners will be announced on Monday, March 11th, and notified through the email provided in the entry.
We can't wait to hear your creations. Bring the acid and show us what you've got!
Good luck!
