Some of the most recent synthesizers and expanders have various 303 sounds samples in roms or are able to create similar sounds, here is a list of the few ones I tried ...
The basic version of the QUASAR has various 303 samples in rom (5-6 sounds) sampled with various configuration of resonance and frequency. The samples are named "Bassline", "TB-303", "Hardcast", "AcidBass", "303Lead" and so on...
On the 'Hardcore' rom board you'll get about 20 more 303ish sounds , covering more various and typical 303 configurations : for real basslines or for the acid stuff.
The sounds quality is good but I think there is too much background noise and the samples are a bit short to really enable slide emulation with portamento or pitchbend.
The main problem : the filters are really piss poor !!! If you increase the resonance then the sound get low in volume and you are unable to listen to it until you reach the so-called 'self-oscillation' (if you compare to analog self oscillation, you'll laugh ... or maybe cry ?!!!).
With the QUASAR you can emulate lines like if you had a 303 without knobs, I mean you cant change the sound realtime, but if you want a standard bassline in the background, then it's OK.
By the creators of the 303 comes the JV-1080, it's one of the latest Roland expander with the XP-10 and XP-50.
If you purchase the basic version
of the 1080 you'll get some 303 sounds in patch mode, for exemple the "Auto-303"
where the frequency cut-off is linked to the LFO.
In performance mode you'll get an acid-set (16 channels of various acid-orientated
sounds like analog drumkit, bleeps, acid pads ...).
The filters are really powerfull
and resonant, I would say exceptionally good for a digital machine. The samples
are high in quality and noiseless, but far away from the 303 sound. Even on
the additional 'vintage' rom card the one and only TB-303 wave file is poor
!
The question is : do they still have a 303 to sample at Roland's ??? I dont
know ...
Anyway you have quality samples of SH serie, SYSTEM 100 & 700 serie, so you can build your own emulation without problems (I used various SH and Juno waves) because you can have 4 waves together creating 1 patch.
For the real time filtering you need external midi controlers to drive the frequency cut off and resonance via midi (for exemple modulation and pitchbend wheels of your masterkeyboard).
A nice machine, plenty of usefull sound and not so hard to program ...
Yeeeessss !!!! Here's the longawaited machine of the future ! Virtual synthesis at its best !
A very nice monosynth packed in a silver (?!!) plastic futuristic design.
If you have 1 hour left, then run to your favorite synth shop and ask for a try. This is one of the most impressive machine of the last 5 years. Try patch 01 ("Prophetic ...") and play with the wheels !
But wait ... you have 2x 303 programmed patch, 1 in bank A (near the end), a classic 303 with full realtime control over the resonance, frequency ... with the 3 wheels and the 5 knobs under the display window. The other patch is in the middle of bank B, its more like a screaming 303 boosted by overdrive effect (HARDFLOOR where are you ?), GOD it's really EXCELLENT !!!
The sound is clean, the controls are very intuitive, nice arpegiator, stereo output, build-in effects ... The arpegiator's user patterns are really 303 orientated : you can set which note you play, the amount of gate and velocity for each step and the timing : note's groove and sequence's restart point.
Negative point : the price ... A bit high for a mono synth, but at least cheaper than the NorthLead, and you are able to create more interesting sounds (and it's less and less expesive these days)... It's a bit hard to program 'coz you have a lot of combinations.
I didn't try a 303-like sequence on it but with the arpegiator the feeling of the silver box was here at 80% ... It's even syncable to external midi clock. Try it now !!!
Note that the Moog emulation is excellent as well.