# Has the TB303 in 3.1 been changed?

**URL:** <https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676>\
**Category:** Development \[obsolete\]\
**Created:** [January 29, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676 "2018-01-29T16:05:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Eli](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/eli/32/116_2.png) [@Eli](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/Eli)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676/1 "2018-01-29T16:05:19Z")

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Hi all,

Here’s a track written in 2.11 SP and posted to Soundcloud  
some months back. The TB303 is quite distinctive, low and  
fruity like a 303 should be…

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=false&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F347681971&show_artwork=true&maxheight=166

This is the exact same code, lifted out of the original .rb file.

Play it for yourself in 3.1, and you can hear a significant change  
in the 303…

If you drop the ’ use\_synth\_defaults cutoff: 85’ down to about 50,  
it starts to sound similar to the originial, but with an annoying click  
in it.

Eli…

```ruby
use_bpm 90
ripple = (ring, 0,1,)
ripple1 = (ring, 0,1,2)

live_loop :beats do
  sleep 4
end

live_loop :bar do
  sleep 1
end

with_fx :reverb do
  live_loop :bass1 do
    if one_in(4) then
      sleep 4
    else
      sync :bar
      use_synth :tb303
      use_synth_defaults cutoff: 85, release: 0.15, attack: 0.05, decay: 0.05,
        sustain_level: 0.3, cutoff_sustain_level: 0.7, sustain: 0.1, res: 0.6, amp: 0.2
      4.times do
        play (ring, :c2, :c2, :as1, :f2, :ds2).tick + 0.5, wave: ripple.look+1
        play (ring, :c2, :c2, :as1, :f2, :ds2).look + 0.5, wave: ripple1.look
        sleep (ring, 0.75, 0.75, 0.75, 0.75, 1).look
      end
    end
    ripple.tick
    if one_in 2 then
      ripple1.tick
      sleep 1
    end
  end
end
```

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**Author:** ![samaaron](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/samaaron/32/7_2.png) [@samaaron](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/samaaron)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676/2 "2018-01-29T19:46:55Z")

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Super Weird!

Looking at the code diffs, the design hasn’t changed since it was initially created and added to Sonic Pi.

However, I did recompile the synths to make them compatible with v3.9 of SuperCollider - perhaps something weird happened there. Also, it’s very possible that changes in SuperCollider have resulted in this timbral change.

I’ll do what I can to revert this!

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**Author:** ![samaaron](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/samaaron/32/7_2.png) [@samaaron](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/samaaron)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676/3 "2018-01-29T20:06:31Z")

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Hi there,

I can confirm that somehow in re-compiling the synthdefs for SuperCollider v3.9, the tb303 synth changed and regressed to what you hear in v3.1.

I’ll ensure this is fixed for the next release. I’ll also look into a work-around for the interim. However, please be assured that this is fixable 🙂

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**Author:** ![Eli](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/eli/32/116_2.png) [@Eli](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/Eli)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676/4 "2018-01-29T21:40:40Z")

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Hi Sam,

Thanks for the prompy reply. I know how tight your time and resources are, so  
when it gets fixed, it gets fixed.

Eli,

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**Author:** ![kniknoo](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/kniknoo/32/146_2.png) [@kniknoo](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/kniknoo)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 7:35am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676/5 "2018-02-18T07:35:38Z")

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Thank you both, I was just coming here to ask this as well.

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**Author:** ![0m1k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/54ee81/32.png) [@0m1k](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/0m1k)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 4:32am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676/6 "2022-12-30T04:32:58Z")

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As support for my Mac is dropped I‘m stuck with Sonic Pi 3.1. Was there ever the mentioned work around? Clicking 303 is really bad for the ears.

Ps I‘m writing from my iPhone because not even the forum supports my Mac and I might not be able to write again because support for my iPhone is being dropped in two days as well, as I was told 😕

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**Author:** ![robin.newman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@robin.newman](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/robin.newman)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676/7 "2022-12-30T11:55:14Z")

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HI Om1k  
I have sent you a message containing details of how you can download and replace the compiled synth file and replace the one in your existing Sonic Pi application on your Mac.

Let me know if it works or you have further questions.

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**Author:** ![robin.newman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@robin.newman](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/robin.newman)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 12:08pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/has-the-tb303-in-3-1-been-changed/676/8 "2022-12-31T12:08:47Z")

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Glad it worked for you!