Roland TB-03 User Manual

TB-03

Owner’s ManualBass Line

English In order to use this device correctly, please carefully read “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (the “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” leaet) before use.

After reading, keep these instructions at hand for immediate reference.

Introduction

The TB-03 is a sound module that uses cutting-edge modeling technology to faithfully model the Roland TB-303 which went on sale in 1982. In addition to its compact size, it allows battery-powered operation and contains a small speaker. You’ll be able to enjoy full-edged TB-303 sound anywhere.

* The TB-03 can operate on batteries or on USB bus power. If you are using batteries, insert four AA batteries,

making sure that the batteries are oriented correctly.

* If you handle batteries improperly, you risk explosion and uid leakage. Make sure that you carefully

observe all of the items related to batteries that are listed in “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (leaet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY”).

* When turning the unit over, be careful so as to protect the buttons and knobs from damage. Also, handle

the unit carefully; do not drop it.

* When the batteries run low, the “Bt.Lo” blinks in the display. Replace the battery as soon as possible.

Using the TB-03 in conjunction with the DK-01 Boutique Dock (accessory)

& For installation/removal/angle adjustment, refer to the DK-01’s Owner’s Manual.

Playing the TB-03 via MIDI or USB

You can also play the TB-03 via MIDI or USB. For details, refer to “Connecting Your Equipment.”

Connecting Your Equipment

* To prevent malfunction and equipment failure, always turn down the volume, and turn o all the units

before making any connections.

Micro USB (O) port

Use a commercially available USB 2.0 cable (A-microB) to connect this port to your computer. It can be used to transfer USB MIDI and USB audio data. You must install the USB driver when connecting the TB-03 to your computer. Download the USB driver from the Roland website. For details, refer to Readme.htm which is included in the download.

& http://www.roland.com/support/

* Do not use a micro USB cable that is designed only for charging a device. Charge-only cables cannot

transmit data.

[VOLUME] knob

Adjusts the volume.

PHONES jack

Connect headphones (sold separately) here.

OUTPUT jack

Connect this jack to your amp or monitor speakers.

MIX IN jack

This is the audio input jack. Sound from the connected device is output from the OUTPUT jack and PHONES jack.

MIDI connectors

You can synchronize the TB-03 with other MIDI device by using a commercially available MIDI cable to make connections.

TRIGGER IN jack *1

You can use a mini-plug (mono) cable to connect this to a device that’s equipped with a TRIGGER OUT jack (such as the TR-09). If a plug is inserted into this jack, the TB-03 is disconnected from its internal clock, so that its steps advance each time a trigger pulse is received at this jack.

CV OUTPUT jack *1

You can use a mini-plug (mono) cable to connect this jack to an analog synthesizer that’s equipped with CV/ GATE input jacks. The pitch that is played by the TB-03 is output from this jack without change. The pitch is output in the range of

-1 V–+7 V. This supports OCT/V (Hz/V is not supported).

GATE OUTPUT jack *1

This jack outputs note-on/o signals. During note-on, +12 V is output.

*1 Do not use a “stereo mini-plug” cable; it won’t work correctly.

A B C D FE

G H I

MIDI INMIDI OUT

TB-03MIDI device

Turning the Power On

[POWER] switch

This turns the power on/o.

* After you’ve made connections correctly, be sure to turn on the power in the order of the TB-03 rst, and

then the connected system. Powering-on in the incorrect order may cause malfunctions or damage. When turning the power o, power-o the connected system rst, and then the TB-03.

* Before turning the unit on/o, always be sure to turn the volume down. Even with the volume turned down,

you might hear some sound when switching the unit on/o. However, this is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.

Playing/Recording a Pattern

2 3 4 5 76 8 9 10

21 22 23 24

Adjusting the Sound

Controller Explanation

[WAVEFORM] switch

[TUNING] knob Tuning

[CUT OFF FREQ] knob Filter cuto (brightness of the sound)

[RESONANCE] knob Filter resonance (distinctive character)

[ENV MOD] knob Envelope modulation (tonal change)

[DECAY] knob Decay (duration of the sound)

[ACCENT] knob

[OVERDRIVE] knob

DELAY [TIME]/ [FEEDBACK] knob

: Saw wave, : Square wave

Strength of accents you’ve input in the pattern

Adjusts the overdrive. Turning this knob fully left turns it o. The overdrive type can be selected in the system settings. Sets the delay time and feedback. Turning the [FEEDBACK] knob fully left turns it o. The delay type can be selected in the system settings.

* When reverb is selected, these knobs adjust the “reverb time” and “dry:

wet.” Turning the [FEEDBACK] knob fully left turns it o.

Pattern Playback

What are patterns and tracks?

A “pattern” is performance data that divides a measure into 16 steps.

The TB-03 has 96 “patterns” and seven “tracks” in which patterns can be arranged.

Selecting PATTERN PLAY mode

1. Turn the

Selecting a pattern

1. Use the

2. Use the

3. Use the

Playing patterns consecutively

Playing a pattern

1. Press the

Pattern transpose

1. Hold down the

Setting the tempo

In pattern play mode, the display shows the tempo.

You can press the

You can use the

Setting the shue

If you long-press the 13[TEMPO] button, the shue value is displayed.

You can set the shue setting by holding down the (-50–0–50, 0=Shue o).

Temporarily changing the number of steps in a pattern

Hold down the 20[TIME MODE] button and turn the 14[VALUE] knob to change the number of steps in the pattern (1–16).

* This change in the number of steps is temporary; it is not saved. If you want to save the change, change the

What is “step”?

[MODE] knob to set to “PATTERN PLAY.”

[PATT. GROUP] knob to select a pattern group (I–IV).

Pattern group “I” is selected regardless of whether you select numbers 1 or 2.

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B, C).

You can press the [A] and [B] buttons simultaneously to select C (both [A] and [B] are lit).

When selecting a pattern, you can select multiple patterns by pressing two buttons at the same time. The patterns you’ve selected will play consecutively. The currently-playing pattern blinks.

number of steps in “pattern write” mode.

Each pattern is divided into 16 grid locations called “steps.” One step is a 16th note long (

PATT. SECTION [A][B] buttons to select a pattern section (A,

PATTERN [1]–[8] buttons to select a pattern.

[RUN/STOP] button to play/stop a pattern.

[PITCH MODE] button and then press the 19keyboard button.

[TEMPO] button to see the two digits of the tempo value below the decimal point.

[VALUE] knob to adjust the tempo.

[TEMPO] button and turning the 14[VALUE] knob

Pattern Write (TB-303 Original Mode)

Original mode and step recording mode

The TB-03 has two pattern write modes. “Original mode” reproduces the pattern write operation of the TB-303, and “step recording mode” is newly added on the TB-03. You can use the system setting “Step Recording Mode” to switch between these modes.

Selecting PATTERN WRITE mode

1. Turn the

Selecting a pattern

& Refer to “Pattern Playback”–”Selecting a pattern”

Setting the tempo

In pattern write mode, the display shows the step number, but you can press the 13[TEMPO] button to make the tempo appear for three seconds.

While the tempo is shown, you can press the 13[TEMPO] button to see the two digits of the tempo value below the decimal point.

While the tempo is shown, you can use the

Setting the shue

& Refer to “Pattern Playback”–”Setting the shue”

Clearing a pattern

1. Hold down the

To use a triplet grid

By default, each step is a 16th note, but by holding down the 17[FUNCTION] button and pressing the 22[ ] button you can use a triplet grid (each step is an 8th note triplet).

Changing the number of steps in a pattern

1. Hold down the [FUNCTION] button and press the

* You can also change the number of steps in the pattern by holding down the

Entering the pitches

In TB-303 original mode, you enter the notes of a pattern using separate operations to specify the pitch and the timing. Enter the pitches rst.

1. Press the

2. Use the

3. Press the

Entering octave-up or octave-down pitches

Checking the pitches

1. Press the

2. Press the

3. Press the

* Note that when you re-enter the pitches, the accent and slide data you entered are lost.

Entering the timing

1. Press the

2. Use the note selector

Checking the time

1. Press the

2. Press the

[MODE] knob to set to “PATTERN WRITE.”

[VALUE] knob to adjust the tempo.

button.

to specify.

Example: If you want there to be eight steps, press the button eight times. The display shows the number of steps.

turning the

You’re in pitch entry mode.

Example: In the case of the following notes, enter pitches in the order “C, C, D#, C…”

PATTERN [1]–[8] button that you want to clear, and press the 15[PATTERN CLEAR]

[STEP] button the number of times that you want

[VALUE] knob (1–16).

[PITCH MODE] button so it’s lit.

keyboard buttons to enter the pitches.

[TIME MODE] button and

C C D C C G F D

The display shows a number (1, 2, 3…) in the order of the notes that you enter; you can use the 14[VALUE] knob to select a number.

[FUNCTION] button.

Shift the octave up or down by pressing (or holding down)

then press a 19keyboard button (Lit: ± 1 octave, Blink: ± 2 octaves).

[PITCH MODE] button so it’s lit.

[TAP] button to check the pitch of each note.

If the pitches were not entered as you intended, re-enter them starting with step 1 of “Entering the pitches.”

You’re in time entry mode.

Example: In the case of the following notes, enter “7, 6, 7, 6…” in that order.

[FUNCTION] button.

[TIME MODE] button so it’s lit.

[7](note), 22[6](tie), and 23[—](rest) buttons to enter the timing.

[TRANSPOSE UP] or 21[TRANSPOSE DOWN],

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

The display shows the step number; you can use the 14[VALUE] knob to select the step.

When you’ve nished entering all of the steps (16 steps by default), the

[TIME MODE] button so it’s lit.

[TAP] button to check the data of each note.

[TIME MODE] button goes dark.

3. Press the

* You can also check by pressing the

[FUNCTION] button.

If the notes were not entered as you intended, re-enter them starting with step 1 of “Entering the timing.”

[RUN/STOP] button to play/stop the pattern.

Entering accents and slides

1. Press the [PITCH MODE] button

2. Press the

3. Press the

button and press the

and press the 24[SLIDE] button.

[TAP] button to check each note. If you want to add an accent, hold down the 26[TAP]

[FUNCTION] button.

so it’s lit.

[ACCENT] button. If you want to add a slide, hold down the 26[TAP] button

Tap Write (Entering Timing in Real Time)

* Before you continue, complete the steps for “Entering the pitches.”

1. Press the

2. Press the

3. Press the

4. In time with the sound of the metronome, press the

* Entering the TIE: Hold down one of the

[FUNCTION] button.

[RUN/STOP] button.

The metronome sounds.

to enter the notes.

When you nish entering the rst measure, the metronome stops and the pattern plays as a loop. If the timing was not entered as you intended, re-do the procedure from step 3.

[PATTERN CLEAR] button.

[TAP] button at the timing at which you want

[1]–[8] buttons and tap the 26[TAP] button.

Pattern Write (Step Recording Mode)

This is the step recording mode that was newly added on the TB-03. You’ll enter notes, rests, accents, and slides/ties while watching the step number in the display.

Select “step recording mode” in system settings

1. Hold down the

2. Release the

3. Use the

4. Press the

Selecting PATTERN WRITE mode

1. Turn the

Selecting a pattern

& Refer to “Pattern Playback”–”Selecting a pattern”

Clearing a pattern

1. Hold down the

button.

Step recording

1. Press the

You’re in step recording entry mode.

2. Use the buttons and the

The display shows the current step number (1–16). You can also use the 14[VALUE] knob to move to a dierent step.

* Even during step recording, you can play back the pattern by pressing the

Controller Explanation

3. To exit the step recording, press the

* For details on the following operations, refer to “Pattern Write (TB-303 Original Mode).”

5 Using a triplet grid

5 Changing the number of steps in the pattern

[FUNCTION] button and turn the 14[VALUE] knob to select “NoDE.”

[FUNCTION] button.

[VALUE] knob to select “StEP.”

[FUNCTION] button.

[MODE] knob to set to “PATTERN WRITE.”

PATTERN [1]–[8] button that you want to clear, and press the 15[PATTERN CLEAR]

[PITCH MODE] button so it’s lit.

[VALUE] knob to enter performance data into the steps.

[RUN/STOP] button.

[VALUE] knob Moves between steps.

Keyboard buttons Enter a note and proceed to the next step.

[DOWN] button

[UP] button

[TIME MODE] button

[TIME MODE] +

[ACCENT] button Enters an accent on/o (the step does not advance).

[SLIDE] button Enters a slide on/o (the step does not advance).

[UP] button

[ACCENT] button

Shift the octave up/down.

Lit: ± 1 octave Blink: ± 2 octaves

While you hold down this button, the note, tie, and rest are shown by the lit buttons.

Enters a tie and proceeds to the next step.

Enters a rest and proceeds to the next step.

[FUNCTION] button.

Note

Rest

Tie

Playing/Editing a Track

You can arrange patterns to create a track for a song.

2 3 4 5 76 8 9 10

21 22 23 24

Track Playback

Selecting TRACK PLAY mode

1. Turn the

[MODE] knob to set to “TRACK PLAY.”

Selecting a track

1. Use the

[TRACK] knob to select a track (1–7).

The display shows the measure number.

Playing a track

1. Use the

2. Press the

[BAR RESET] button to return to measure 1.

[RUN/STOP] button to play/stop a track.

Playing tracks consecutively

If you use the consecutively after the last measure (D.C. measure) of the track has played.

[TRACK] knob to select a track (1–7) while a track is playing, the next track is played

Functions in Track Mode

You can use the following functions in either track play or write mode.

Recalling a measure number

1. Turn the

Using the [FUNCTION] button to recall a measure number

1. Hold down the

*1 When you press the [FUNCTION] button, the lit or blinking state of the numeric buttons indicates the

Setting the tempo

In track play/write mode, the display shows the measure number, but you can press the 13[TEMPO] button to make the tempo appear for three seconds.

While the tempo is shown, you can press the below the decimal point.

While the tempo is shown, you can use the 14[VALUE] knob to adjust the tempo.

Setting the shue

& Refer to “Pattern Playback”–”Setting the shue.”

Indication of D.C. (Da Capo/last measure)

What is D.C. (Da Capo)?

1. Hold down the

What are D.S. (Dal Segno) and (S egno)?

1. Hold down the [FUNCTION] button and press the

Viewing the transpose setting

Regardless of whether you are playing back or stopped, pressing the 18[PITCH MODE] button makes a keyboard button light to indicate the transpose setting of the current measure.

[VALUE] knob to specify the measure number.

the measure number.

Example setting:

Measure number 131 55 101

current measure number.

5 The 10s and 100s places are lit, and the 1s place is blinking. 5 If the measure number consists of repeated digits such as 55 or 33, the lit and blinking states alternate at

each beat.

When playback reaches the end of the measure that is specied as D.C., playback returns to the rst measure of the track.

The number of the measure specied as D.C. is displayed.

[FUNCTION] button and use the numeric buttons ([1]–[9], [0], [100], [200]) to specify

Order to press numeric buttons

[100] 0 [3] 0 [1] [5] 0 [5] [100] 0 [1]

[FUNCTION] button and press the 15[D.C.] button.

Display *1

Lit: [100], [3], Blink: [1] Lit/Blink: [5] Lit: [100], Blink: [1]

[TEMPO] button to see the two digits of the tempo value

(Segno) indication

If you press the the playback jumps to the measure that is specied as (Segno).

(Segno) button.

The number of the measure specied as

[D.S.] (Dal Segno) button during playback,

(Segno) is displayed.

[ ]

D.C.1

Track Write

Selecting TRACK WRITE mode

1. Turn the

[MODE] knob to set to “TRACK WRITE.”

Selecting a track

1. Use the

[TRACK] knob to select a track (1–7).

The display shows the measure number.

The pattern group that can be written to a track

The pattern group that can be written to a track is the group that is selected by the [TRACK] knob. For example in the case of tracks 1 and 2, the pattern group is “I.”

Writing a track

1. Use the

2. Press the

3. Use the

4. Press the

[BAR RESET] button to return to measure 1.

Loop-playback occurs during track write. The pattern that plays at this time is the pattern that was written into measure 1.

that is entered at measure 1.

If you want to write with transposition, hold down the button to specify the transposition key.

The pattern is entered, and you proceed to measure 2.

[RUN/STOP] button.

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PATT. SECTION [A][B] buttons and the 19PATTERN [1]–[8] buttons to select the pattern

[PITCH MODE] button and press a 19keyboard

[WRITE/NEXT] button.

5. Repeat steps 3–4 to enter up to one measure before the last measure.

6. Select the pattern for the last measure.

7. Press the

8. Press the

D.C. (Da Capo) is entered.

[D.C.] button, and then press the 26[WRITE / NEXT] button.

[RUN/STOP] button to exit the track write.

Making Corrections

If you entered something by mistake, you can correct it as follows.

1. Turn the

[MODE] knob to set to “TRACK WRITE.”

2. Recall the measure number as described in “Recalling a measure number.”

3. Press the

4. Use the

Entering D.C. (Da Capo)

Entering

5. Press the

6. Press the

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Pressing the

[RUN/STOP] button.

PATT. SECTION [A][B] buttons and the 19PATTERN [1]–[8] buttons to re-select the pattern.

[D.C.] button enters D.C. (Da Capo) at the current measure.

(Segno)

[ ] (Segno) button enters (Segno) at the current measure.

[WRITE/NEXT] button.

[RUN/STOP] button.

Delete

Here’s how to delete one measure from the patterns in the track.

1. Turn the

2. As described in “Recalling a measure number,” move to the

3. Hold down the

[MODE] knob to set to “TRACK WRITE.”

measure that you want to delete.

[DELETE] (C #) button.

[FUNCTION] button and press the

Insert

You can insert patterns into the track.

1. Turn the

2. As described in “Recalling a measure number,” move to

3. Hold down the

4. Press the

5. Use the

6. Press the

7. Press the

[MODE] knob to set to “TRACK WRITE.”

the measure at which you want to insert.

Example: If you select measure 4, the pattern is inserted between measure 3 and measure 4.

you want to insert.

[FUNCTION] button and press the 19[INS] (D#) button.

[RUN/STOP] button.

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PATT. SECTION [A][B] buttons and 19PATTERN [1]–[8] buttons to select the pattern that

[WRITE/NEXT] button.

[RUN/STOP] button.

Main Specications Roland TB-03: Bass Line

Power Supply Rechargeable Ni-MH battery (AA, HR6) x 4, Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 4, USB bus power Current Draw 500 mA (USB bus power) Dimensions 308 (W ) x 130 (D) x 52 (H) mm 12-1/8 ( W) x 5-1/8 (D) x 2-1/16 (H) inches

Weight

Accessories

* This document explains the specications of the product at the time that the document was issued. For the

latest information, refer to the Roland website.

940 g (including batteries, excluding Boutique Dock) Boutique Dock: DK-01, Owner’s Manual, DK-01 Owner’s Manual, Leaet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY,” Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 4

2 lbs 2 oz

System Settings

Hold down the 17[FUNCTION] button and turn the 14[VALUE] knob to select a parameter.

When you release the displayed.

2. Use the

3. Press the

Display Parameter Value Explanation

MIDI Channel

MIDI Clock

SYnC

Source

Soft Thru

thrv

Auto O

A.OFF

LED Demo

dENO

Step Recording

NoDE

Mode

Overdrive

Type

Delay Type

D. Typ

Delay Tempo

d. SnC

Sync

[FUNCTION] button, the parameter is nalized and the value is

[VALUE] knob to set the value.

[FUNCTION] button, to exit the system settings.

1–16, OFF

AutO

Int

NiDi

USB

Off, On

OFF

30 (min)

OFF 1 (min) 3 (min) 10 (min)

OrG

StEP

1 2

Tape diGi Rev OFF SynC

Species the MIDI transmit/receive channel.

If MIDI clock is input from the MIDI IN connector or the USB port, the tempo automatically synchronizes to MIDI clock (default). If MIDI clock is input simultaneously from the MIDI IN connector and the USB port, the USB port takes priority.

The tempo operates according to the TB-03’s own setting. Use this setting if you don’t want to synchronize with an external device.

The tempo synchronizes to MIDI clock being input from the MIDI IN connector.

The tempo synchronizes to MIDI clock being input from the USB port.

Species whether data received from the MIDI IN connector will be retransmitted from the MIDI OUT connector (On: default) or will not be retransmitted (OFF).

The power does not turn o automatically. The power turns o automatically after 30 minutes (default).

* Auto O does not occur while USB-connected.

Species the time until the LED DEMO is shown (default: 3).

This is original mode, which reproduces the TB-303’s pattern write operation (default setting). This mode uses a unique concept in which pitch and timing (time) are entered using separate processes, and requires practice in order to enter the phrase that you intend. Although this mode requires complex operation, it can result in some remarkable phrases being created by accident, so please try using it. This is step recording mode, which was newly added on the TB-03. You can enter notes while watching the step number in the display. Compared with original mode, this mode makes it easier to enter the phrase that you intend. We recommend that beginners start by learning this mode. This is the high-gain overdrive sound of the BOSS OD-2.

This gives a basic, traditional distortion sound.

Produces a distortion sound with both the smoothness of an overdrive along with a deep distortion.

Tape Echo

Digital Delay

Reverb

Delay time is synchronized to the tempo (default: o).

Restoring the Factory Settings (Factory Reset)

Here’s how to return the TB-03 to its factory-set state.

1. While holding down the

The

[TAP] button blinks.

If you decide to cancel the factory reset, turn o the power.

2. Press the

[TAP] button to execute the factory reset.

[2] button, turn on the power.

3. When all buttons blink, turn the TB-03’s power o, then on again.

Data Backup/Restore

Backup

1. Connect your computer to the TB-03’s USB port via USB cable.

2. While holding down the

[RUN/STOP] button, turn on the power.

3. Open the “TB-03” drive on your computer.

The backup les are located in the “BACKUP” folder of the “TB-03” drive.

4. Copy the backup les into your computer.

5. After copying is completed, eject the USB drive and then disconnect the USB cable.

Windows

Right-click on the “TB-03” icon in “Computer” and execute “Eject.”

Mac OS

Drag the “TB-03” icon to the Trash icon in the Dock.

6. Turn the TB-03 power o.

Restore

1. As described in the procedure for “Backup” Step 1–3, open the “TB-03” drive on your computer.

2. Copy the TB-03 backup les into the “BACKUP” folder of the “TB-03” drive.

3. After copying is completed, eject the USB drive and then press the

[TAP] button.

4. After the LEDs have completely stopped blinking, turn o the power.

Roland TB-03 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual