A lot of people e-mailed me because they didn't know how to sync their TB-303 to midi, so I decided to create this page because there are a few way to solve this problem easily.
Here are a few units you can use to sync your 303 to midi :
A small midi to sync converter box does only cost about $120 and features midi in and thru and sync out, it converts the midi tempo from midi in to sync out (with some box you can even select the definition of this conversion) and copy all data from midi in to midi thru.
A good exemple of midi-to-sync box is the DOEPFER MSY-1, with this unit you can internaly select if 1 midi measure = 1 sync measure, or more, or less ...
Hint : the best place to add a midi-to-sync
converter in your midi setup is just after your main sequencer (pc or hardware
sequencer), which is the master for timing, and this to prevent midi-delay on
the 303.
Please note that on some software sequencer (Cubase for exemple) you need to
check the option called 'send midi clock' in the midi setup menu, because by
default some sequencers doesnt send tempo clock and the converter will not work
!
The Roland TR-707 (or TR-727) drum
machine is a real cool tool for syncing stuff (and having a multi-out, step-programming
drumbox as well, of course ...).
It's a cheap box you can use as a master clock because you have both midi out
and sync out working at the same time, and the analog-synth junkies will also
get trigger out as well !
Use it as your master clock, send the midi out to your main sequencer's midi in and slave your sequencer to external midi tempo, send sync out to your TB-303, that's it !
Both Roland MSQ-100 and MSQ-700 are hardware sequencer which convert midi to sync or sync to midi, or send both midi and sync at the same time. They are both cheap and rather easy to find, but not really usable as main sequencer because they are very limited in memory and tracks.
Anyway our interest in syncing : with this box you can have both midi and sync out at the same time (like a TR-707) or you can use midi on and convert the timing to sync out (like a midi-to-sync converter). Dont forget to use the appropriate timing method in the MSQ : internal or midi external.
The recent DrumStation by Novation is quite a killer 1U rack drumbox, with authentic 808 AND 909 sounds with realtime modulation knobs on the front of the unit and multi-outs with built-in distortion effect, woaw !
But you have one more goodie : a built-in midi-to-sync converter which tranforms midi tempo to sync clock, so you can link a 303 and sync without any other tool !
A real cheap box for all those features !
The Tee-Bee is a TB-303 clone synth in 1U rack format, with the same realtime modulation knobs as the 303 (please refer to the Tee-Bee review page for more infos on the synth itselfs).
It also features a mid-to-sync converter, wich convert tempo data from the midi in to sync out (same as the DrumStation).
If you own a TR-808, you already know that you can easily sync your TB-303 on it with the 808 sync plug in output mode. OK.
Now check for the KENTON internal midi-kit, you'll get midi control over your TR-808 (velocity, sound mapping ...) with midi in, out and thru plugs and it adds a big plus : now your TR-808 will act like a midi-to-sync converter because the midi tempo data is converted to sync via the sync plug on the back of the 808 !
I own a midified 808 and use it as sync converter every day !
One big plus of the KENTON midi kit : you can still use the internal 808 sequencer and just slave the tempo to midi clock, while still using the sync out .. woaw ! One of the best midi-kit for the TR-808 on the market...
The TR-909 has only an input sync plug, ok, but here you can use a cool trick to slave all your midi system to the 303 ...
First you have to insert the sync cable in the 303 but only half-way, the sync timing will now get out of your 303 instead of in, then plug your sync cable in the 909 sync in, and slave the 909 to sync tempo. The 909 tempo is now under the control of your 303. Now use one of your 909 midi out to control your main sequencer tempo, YES : the 909 does convert SYNC TO MIDI !
Cool, isn't it ? Of course this trick is a bit dangerous because you have to be carefull of your 303 sync cable, if you touch it while running you could loose your synchronization all over your midi system ! But it works !
Here are some informations about those new midi-to-sync converters, with the continue option !
About the problem TR-606,TR-808,TB-303 non-continue capability. If you buy the NULOGIC MTS-2 MIDI to Sync24 converter, you will be able to Continue your SYNC-24 instrument. The MTS-2 has two different modes, one is called pattern-mode. Pattern mode gives you the re-start capability at any beat-start, (start of beat 1,2,3,4..) with the MIDI continue message. This function will be found on some other equipement supporting SYNC24 Out. But, there is another mode too, called TRACK-mode. In this mode, you have TRUE continue capability of your TB-303,TR-606 and TR-808. Now you can Stop your sequencer anywhere in a song, and Continue exactly from there. This works guaranteed if you use CUBASE as sequencer, other sequencer programs has to be tested to be sure. When using CUBASE and the MTS-2 in Track-mode, this is what happens: Case 1: Sequencer put in Play Sync24 instrument starts playing from the beginning Sequencer Stop Sync24 instrument stops Sequencer put in Play again = MIDI Continue Sync24 instrument continues exactly from where it was stopped ...and so on...or down to case 2... Case 2: Sequencer put in Play Sync24 instrument starts playing from the beginning Sequencer Stop Sync24 instrument stops. Sequencer Stop again, song-position pointer gets to your left locator. Sequencer Start = MIDI Start Sync24 instrument starts playing from beginning. ...and so on...or up to case 1... This works because the Sync24 RUN-pin is held high/active during the above Case1-scenario. But, when as in the Case2-scenario one more sequencer-Stop is pressed, the Sync24-pin is dropped / deactivated. This works very fine if you use the NULOGIC MTS-2 MIDI to Sync24-converter, and Cubase as sequencer. It probably works fine with MTS-2 and other sequencer. Like Notator and such. By the way, the MTS-2 has two Sync24-DIN out, so one doesn't have to make that split cable the first day. To get more info you might look at this web: http://www.algonet.se/~nulogic