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TB-303 Give-Aways from Propellerheads and d-lusion

slashflood writes "Good news for those of you who are into music synthesizers: Propellerheads has opened its Rebirth Museum and gives away the 'revolutionary' software simulation of the classic Roland TB-303. Interestingly, that happened just a day after the small German company d-lusion released another 'legendary' TB-303 simulator called Rubberduck as a free give-away."

150 comments

  1. Shitty Techno HOOOOOOOO by soupforare · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Even more importantly, they're giving away rebirth mods that were previously only availible to registered users. Go get the SIDstation mod and start making some chiptunes!

    --
    --- Do you believe in the day?
    1. Re:Shitty Techno HOOOOOOOO by eshefer · · Score: 2, Interesting

      yeah the mods are definetly a cool aspect of the program, some of them are frickin amazing. my favorite (and actually the reason I actually got the software) was the Pitch Black mod that came with the software. who needs those pesky 808 and 909s..

      the mod aspect of rebirth is probably the best (and only) good use of skinning that I've encountered over the years (or have a recollection of now) - unlike most other skinnable software that are only eyecandy and add nothing to the software - the "skins" rebirth have actually added real value to the software.

    2. Re:Shitty Techno HOOOOOOOO by Jesus_666 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Okay, normally I wouldn't have cared about this, but the SIDstation mod had me sold. For that I even gave them one of my e-mail addesses and told them that my post code was 31337.

      There just ain't nothing like the sound of a MOS Technologies SID.

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
    3. Re:Shitty Techno HOOOOOOOO by RichardX · · Score: 1

      If you like that you might also want to check out the very cool QuadraSID VST. Basically, a SID emulator in a VST.

      And for those who are a little more Atari leaning, there's also YMVST, which recreates those lovely ST sounds.. and it's free! Looks just like MusicMon2, too :)

      --
      Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
    4. Re:Shitty Techno HOOOOOOOO by soupforare · · Score: 1

      I've been a quadraSID user since its release. I also own a HardSID card, which is excellent.
      I wish they would release a USB HardSID, I would buy it in a second.

      --
      --- Do you believe in the day?
    5. Re:Shitty Techno HOOOOOOOO by electr01nik · · Score: 1
      and when software doesn't blow your hair back anymore...build your own... :-)

      Last I heard, it's back in a pre-order phase, after doing a round of orders (check the forums for some really cool mods to the design). Apparently they're having problems tracking down some of the parts, but they post instructions and parts-needed for everything (including USB interface, IIRC), if you wanted to build your own. (the orders were either for kits, or pre-builts, I don't recall which.)

      I just went to the link, and it doesn't seem to work: Google Cache

      ~electro1

    6. Re:Shitty Techno HOOOOOOOO by electr01nik · · Score: 1

      Come to think of it,

      track down the parts yourself, $150

      fashion your own hardwood case using modifed podium from lecture hall,

      having a chest height 303 on wheels... priceless

      when you can't finish reading the article after skipping out to supper, you can also make an attempt at a witty retort to your own contribution to the discussion (and wonder... in a discussion about software 303s, why would a DIY 303 *REALLY* not respond...) be gentle

    7. Re:Shitty Techno HOOOOOOOO by Afrosheen · · Score: 1

      Well it really comes down to which SID chip you're talking about. One had a cleaner sound and better filters, the other was dry and buzzy.

        I made SID tunes back in the olden tymes and for people to really appreciate them they had to have the same C64 I did to match the chips.

        BTW as a point of trivia, Ensoniq engineered those chips. Probably one of the greatest synth chips ever.

  2. great for tinkering by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I have used rebirth for a while and it is really easy to use, this is in comparison to cubase and reason which are much more complicated but much more featured.
    I would recomend trying rebirth if you like messin around in techno

  3. Re:Simulation? by soupforare · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The refill is mostly to appease registered Mac users who were expecting Rebirth to be ported to OSX.
    Rebirth itself has been released for free. Just register at the museum site and then go to downloads. There's a torrent, ffs, use that.

    --
    --- Do you believe in the day?
  4. The pheads server melt, now they use torrents... by eshefer · · Score: 4, Informative

    propellerhead software originaly released the rebirth ISO as a download from thier site last week. the responce was much bigger then they anticipated and by saturday they pulled the software from the server, and replaced it with torrents..

    PC iso torrent:

    http://81.92.66.41/torrents/rebirth_iso_installati on.zip.torrent

    mac iso torrent:

    http://81.92.66.41/torrents/ReBirth%20RB-338%202.0 .img.zip.torrent

    gentelmen: start your squelchings

  5. Greatest user feedback comments ever! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Wish more companies were brave enough to post user comments like these:

    User feedback was overwhelming, ranging from "the door-bending bass response makes rebirths 303 section sound like a touch tone device" to "fucking brilliant" and the most famous quote which says it all: "it is like fucking a hot hollywood bitch for the price of a corner crack slut".
    1. Re:Greatest user feedback comments ever! by drx · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I don't know ... back in the 90s shareware days i thought this was completely normal.

      Rubberduck was freaky underground software, i used it from versions on that looked like Windows3.1. It was the software to produce the cheapest and best sounding bass; as a bedroom producer you could finally laugh about the people that rent studios or spend huge money on gear and think that is half of the music already done. It started just then.

      Today even GNU stuff looks polished. I think this is boring. I want announcements like "KDE new release with bomb shit doorbending menus comin atcha like cleopatra" or "new version of gnumeric -- coded on bad LSD" or whatever ... but nowadays it is all about konquering the (business) desktop and adapting the same makes-me-yawn language as corporations. Takes some fun out of computing.

    2. Re:Greatest user feedback comments ever! by Heretik · · Score: 1

      There's tons of free software coding with that sort of perspective (ie good old fashioned hacking)

      Yeah, spreadsheet software isn't exactly up there on the list of things you'd want to work on while "on bad LSD". No shit....

      Spreadsheets and desktop software aren't "the bomb shit". They're dull-assed financial and desktop software that corporate types in suits would use.

    3. Re:Greatest user feedback comments ever! by drx · · Score: 2, Funny

      There could still be cool templates in spreadsheets. Like how many hoes Snoop Dogg had calculated from his record sales.

  6. WOOOOOOHOOO! Music stuff on /.! by duguk · · Score: 1, Funny

    WOOHOO! Something useful in my music on /. at last! Never thought I'd see it! Thanks slashflood! I really like PropellerHeads software (Reason) but I still like Fruity Loopz too :D Dug

    1. Re:WOOOOOOHOOO! Music stuff on /.! by DyslexicLegume · · Score: 5, Informative

      Semi-Offtopic, but there's a nice alternative to Fruity Loops for Linux users...still in Beta, but:
      http://lmms.sourceforge.net/

      It's pretty good.

      Anyways, I'll be sure to pick this one up.

    2. Re:WOOOOOOHOOO! Music stuff on /.! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *dribbles*

      WOW!! Looks good!

      Thanks DyslexicLegume! This is great! Been looking for something to compile my various samples into music!

      Even if it was offtopic, I'm glad you posted it :D

      Just wgetting and compiling now ;)

      DugUK

    3. Re:WOOOOOOHOOO! Music stuff on /.! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Damn straight. You'd think we'd see heaps more music technology articles on here given both music and tech are traditionally "nerdy" pursuits. I'd love to hear more about the latest synthesis stuff, cool effects, home recording without talking about Apple etc. Let's petition for a dedicated music section! :-)

    4. Re:WOOOOOOHOOO! Music stuff on /.! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      man, I feel like a complete and monster douche. I actually /bought/ ReBirth a few months ago for no small amount of money because I figured that I would finally go legit after years of using (now that I have a real job and make real money). Way to be honest :-/

  7. WRONG! mod perant down. by eshefer · · Score: 3, Informative

    the perant poster is wrong on OH so many levels...

    the meaning of the announcemnt is that propellerheads have discontinued rebirth developemnt sales and support, and now are giving it for free.

    the refill for reason is another differant thing entirly.. and it's not really free at all.. it's free if you paid 400$ for reason and registered..

    1. Re:WRONG! mod perant down. by TCM · · Score: 0

      Right, I was wrong.

      --
      Of course it runs NetBSD. BTC: 1NT7QvbetmANwaMzhpVL6
    2. Re:WRONG! mod perant down. by theblackdeer · · Score: 0

      Gracefully accepted. It's rare to see that. Keep it up.

      ralphhogaboom

    3. Re:WRONG! mod perant down. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OH - Very punny.

      cl cl cl

      bd bd cy!

  8. Product blurb by Mercedes308 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Gotta love the D-lusion website Rubberduck product blurb "It is like fucking a hot hollywood bitch for the price of a corner crack slut"

    --
    And no, I couldn't give a shit what my karma is.
  9. TB-303/MC-202 by caluml · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I had an MC-202 - similar in sound output, but not "cool" like the 303. Wish I still had it... :(

  10. Propellerhead did not remove copy protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Propellerhead made it free without having the sense to remove the copy protection. That's why you have to download a huge 500MB ISO instead of a 16MB application. The music gear website MusicThing has all the info on this.

  11. Any one try downloading the torrent yet? by reactor451 · · Score: 0

    I'm not able to connect to any peers after downloading the torrent. Anyone else getting the same thing? has it been /.'d already?

    1. Re:Any one try downloading the torrent yet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      weird, i see over 50 seeds but only connected to one.

      another thing, if you could connect to the tracker, there can't be any slashdotting. more peers would mean even faster speeds.

    2. Re:Any one try downloading the torrent yet? by meatflower · · Score: 1

      This is bizarre, seeing 80 seeds and 700 peers but I'm only connected to one seed. Had it on for 10 minutes now, surely it should have connected to more. I'm using Azureus, gonna try anoter BT client.

    3. Re:Any one try downloading the torrent yet? by u2pa · · Score: 0

      same here.. odd

      --
      Officially: "No comments"
    4. Re:Any one try downloading the torrent yet? by The+Mgt · · Score: 1

      Connected to 1 seed [81.92.66.41] and 0 peers.
      Not really saving themselves any bandwidth are they :\

    5. Re:Any one try downloading the torrent yet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah, it's like getting 30 passengers over the atlantic in an airbus, one at a time.

      seriously, wtf is wrong here? if my client shows me 200 seeds and 700 peers, this must mean that the tracker sent info about those peers to my client. why doesn't my client connect to them? it looks like the tracker doesn't report _which_ clients it knows, only that it knows several hundred. but this completely defeats the purpose of bittorrent.

      could this be some backward thinking by propellerhead that only they may distribute the program and everyone else is forbidden to do so? is there a switch in the bittorrent tracker they use that could enforce such a policy?

      it's really annoying, leeching several hours on 250M because they fucked up some setting or didn't understand bittorrent or whatever.

    6. Re:Any one try downloading the torrent yet? by u2pa · · Score: 0

      looks like its been fixed, connected to 76 seeds, and 4 peers now

      --
      Officially: "No comments"
  12. Discount upgrade to Reason 3.0 for ReBirth owners by Andy_R · · Score: 3, Informative

    If (like me) you own ReBirth, Propellerheads are offering massive discounts on upgrading/crossgrading any version (even the 8 year-old v1.0 that I had) to the latest Reason v3.0 - they even threw in a free ReBirth R.I.P. t-shirt because I was in the first 450!

    If you only want Reason, it's probably cheaper to search out an end-of-line ReBirth in your local music shop and then upgrade.

    --
    A pizza of radius z and thickness a has a volume of pi z z a
  13. Correction by slashflood · · Score: 4, Informative

    They are called Propellerhead (without the trailing 's') and there is also a small note over at O'Reilly. d-lusion is considering to release the source code and maybe a Linux version. There is a discontinued open source project, called Reborn.

    1. Re:Correction by psergiu · · Score: 1

      Mod parent UP for mentioning ReBorn.
      It was free, it ran on Linux and its interface was WAY more usable that ReBirth's one.
      But Propellerhead threatened to SUE the guy because the interface looked like theirs - both of the interfaces being a IMAGE OF THE 303 !
      Fsck Propellerhead and their sh*tty software.

      --
      1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
    2. Re:Correction by mu-sly · · Score: 1

      So now that ReBirth is being given away for free, what are the chances of this guy being able to continue the ReBorn project? I want to email him and ask, but can't find an email address. Gonna try and track down the ReBorn sources anyway, so thanks for letting me know about a cool Open Source audio project I hadn't heard of before.

    3. Re:Correction by slashflood · · Score: 1

      I think it doesn't make sense to try to convince the author of ReBorn to continue his project. I've never seen any source and I guess it was a closed-source project.

      If you're looking for open-source audio, MIDI and sound software, you should take a look at this site (jack applications) and also this one.

  14. ReBirth is awesome... Enjoy! by dzfoo · · Score: 5, Informative

    I bought ReBirth-338 a few years ago (1998 or 1999, I think) and was very impressed by it. It not only has a TB-303 emulator, it has two of them! Along with a TR-808 (w00t!) and a TR-909 (woo-hoo!!!) beat-boxes emulators, all in there.

    It also has a simple, yet effective, sequencer for all the synthesizers, a few effects (distortion, delay, compression), and a nice Pattern Controlled Filter. In short, everything you need for swooping, hypnotic, techno tracks, or classic Freestyle Electro!

    The first time I used it I was overwhelmed by the memories of DJ'ing back in the 80s.

    Propellerheads, thanx for the memory trip, and the very cool software!!

              -dZ.

    --
    Carol vs. Ghost
    ...Can you save Christmas?
    1. Re:ReBirth is awesome... Enjoy! by Koiu+Lpoi · · Score: 1

      It's amazing - if only you could feed MIDI straight in to it to control the 303...

    2. Re:ReBirth is awesome... Enjoy! by dzfoo · · Score: 1

      As far as I know, it supports MIDI synchronization. However, I never used it. I do remember once trying it out, and I needed to install some special drivers or something.

              -dZ.

      --
      Carol vs. Ghost
      ...Can you save Christmas?
    3. Re:ReBirth is awesome... Enjoy! by scum-e-bag · · Score: 1

      I think it can be controlled via midi if you use the rewire function of Reason through cubase. Not very helpfull on its own though :(

      --
      Does it go on forever?
  15. Only The REAL Thing Counts... by Black-Man · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Please... no software simulation touches the real Roland TB-303. Anyone who believes otherwise is fooling themselves.

    1. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by dzfoo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      True, but since to most of us getting a real TB-303 or TR-808 box is out of reach, ReBirth offers a more than acceptable facsimile.

                -dZ.

      --
      Carol vs. Ghost
      ...Can you save Christmas?
    2. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by RexRhino · · Score: 0

      Except that the whole acid 303 sound has been crazy played out for about 10 years now. Anyone who believes otherwise is fooling themselves.

    3. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That argument of yours is true. Anyway, if you still nowadays want to make music with old analog (or digital) outboard gear then you are as lost. Period. Go for Logic, forget the amateur software!

    4. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by mr_angry · · Score: 2, Informative

      or the x0xb0x i think the site is down today but will mos tlikely be back online soon : www.ladyada.net/make/x0xb0x/ Otherwise a Future-Retro Revolution is supposed to be close to the 303 sound.

      --
      100% of statistics are wrong.
    5. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by Andy_R · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Speaking as a TB-303 owner, who spent quite a while a/b testing ReBirth, it does come remarkably close.

      I've been fooled from time to time, and I've had exactly that sort of 'you can tell it's real' comment from people who know I own the real thing, about tracks I've used purely ReBirth on.

      --
      A pizza of radius z and thickness a has a volume of pi z z a
    6. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by Renaud · · Score: 1

      Well, if as a 303 owner you were fooled by Rebirth, be prepared to drop your jaw as you hear Audiorealism Bassline

      It's taken a long time, but this is finally one that steals Rebirth's crown and gets you the real 303 guts (no I'm not related to the author)

    7. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      And guitars or (insert an instrument here) have been played since they were introduced. There's a reason some sounds/instruments will continue to be used - they sound good.

    8. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by MP3Chuck · · Score: 1

      As if it REALLY matters when you'd be hard pressed to have that many people know what a TB-303 is, nevermind what a "real" one sounds like.

    9. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by RexRhino · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yes, but there is musical innovation happening with guitars. People are constantly doing new things with guitars.

      Where as the 303 sound has totally stagnated. The 303 was remarkable because it was this cheap little synth that cats could buy for next to nothing and create sounds that the makers of the 303 never intended. It was part of the whole philosophy of black urban youth taking this discarded technology and turning into something remarkable, a kind of metaphor for discarded Urban areas like Detroit and Chicago that spawned Techno and House music respectivly.

      But now the 303 isn't a cheap synth for underground producers... it is an expensive synth for collectors that creates a sound that stopped being innovative ten years ago. It is not the instrument that the Juan Atkins or Derek May of the 21st century is going to use, it is for pretensious wankers... it is like collecting a Stratovarius.

    10. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by zoeblade · · Score: 1

      Please... no software simulation touches the real Roland TB-303.

      Yeah, the virtual buttons on software just don't stick like the real thing. It used to take me a long time to program a patch on my old TB-303 because it would think I'd pressed a note twice when I hadn't. That and I needed to use an adapter to connect it to my MIDI set-up. The TB-303 is old and overrated, and can do with updating, in my opinion.

    11. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by TractorBarry · · Score: 1

      Speaking also as a TB303 owner there's another thing that computer simulations of analogue gear just cannot compete with. Twiddling multiple knobs in real time.

      For example I once did a track with a couple of mates where we were using a TR909, a MIDId TR808, two TB303s (one of which was also driving an SH101 via its CV outputs) plus some pad sounds from a couple of Korg Wavestations and a Juno 106.

      The track actually consisted of several repeating patterns (of different lengths) all overlaid with each other and whilst this was going on we were busy moving sliders, knobs, pitch wheels (one of which was controlling a Roland R-8 module for some wicked "monged" drum effects")

      Coupled with the fact that we were also playing with effects settings and the desk itself (moving faders, muting & unmuting channels) in real time and we came up with something that simply could never be created using digital parameter access.

      Yes theoretically you can get close with some programmable MIDI fader boxes but this is nothing like "playing the entire studio" In real time whilst letting the ideas bounce off other musicians whilst you're "in the flow".

      Viva analogue. Digital parameter access is piss poor in comparison (and quite how anyone can mix using a digital desk with only only channels controls available at any one time) is beyond me...

      --
      Sky subscribers are morons. They pay to be advertised at !
    12. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by slim · · Score: 2, Interesting


      Yes, but there is musical innovation happening with guitars. People are constantly doing new things with guitars.

      Where as the 303 sound has totally stagnated.


      The 303 is totally capable of making sounds other than the cliched "303 sound"; indeed I suspect that the 303 designers never expected users to turn the resonance up quite so high, to use the upper pitch range so much, to make those frequency sweeps, etc.

      Remember the "TB" stands for "The Bass": they expected it to be used as a stand-in for a bass player. However, it just so happens to turn out that if you don't know what you're doing and you fiddle with a 303, you get stuff that approaches the "303 sound", and if you do know what you're doing you can make it sound very nice indeed (if still cliched) in no time at all.

      But that doesn't mean people aren't using it (or its emulators) in innovative ways today. If you use a 303 in an innovative way, it won't have *that* sound, and most of us probably wouldn't recognise it as a 303.

      Then again, *that* sound is cropping up in places you wouldn't expect it, which is in itself innovation.

      "I Like You" from Morrissey's "You Are the Quarry" is an uptempo Smiths-y guitar driven song with a 303 twittering away halfway up the mix to fill up the sound and make it a bit more modern.

      Super Furry Animals never cease to innovate, but they make frequent use off 303 (or similar noises). Try the current single "Lazer Beam" (from "Love Kraft").

    13. Re:Only The REAL Thing Counts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The TB in TB-303 doesn't stand for "The Bass," it stands for Transistor Bass, as it was an assistant to the TR-606, in which the TR stood for Transistor Rhythm.

  16. Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut down by t0qer · · Score: 3, Insightful

    somewhere? I can't recall exactly when, maybe 3-4 years ago, but I seem to recall another open source 808 emulator being shut down by propellerheads and then pulled from sourceforge for being "too close" in UI design to rebirth.

    Not that it isn't a good thing propellerheads is doing by giving it away for free, but shutting down open source projects (this was even mentioned on slash) is a bad thing for everyone in the long run. How about releasing your source propellerheads? Re-birth is about as old as Quake3, if Id can do it, so can you.

    Anyways, end rant.

  17. No support to Propellerheads! by reclusivemonkey · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yah boo sucks to Propellerheads; when someone tried to make a Linux version of rebirth, out came the lawyers.

    http://www.deadvirgins.org.uk/reborn/index.html

    Shame, shame ScuttleMonkey, we know your name...

    1. Re:No support to Propellerheads! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ugh, yeah, Reborn was real great, other than the 100ms+ latency, aliasing oscillators, playskool FX, and terrible GIMP interface.

      Propellerhead went and got permission from Roland. This Linux nimrod didn't.

      He could have changed the graphics, but no, it's easier to be a whiny bitch and pull the plug.

      Any questions?

  18. Great MInds.. by sammykrupa · · Score: 1

    "Interestingly, that happened just a day after the small German company d-lusion released another 'legendary' TB-303 simulator called Rubberduck as a free give-away."

    So, great minds do think alike.

  19. Bah! by Bender+Unit+22 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Give me my C64 and "The Drum"!

  20. RubberDuck still have bundled spyware? by abandonment · · Score: 0

    Last time i checked out rubberduck is came bundled with adware / spyware...

    Does it still come with this?

    1. Re:RubberDuck still have bundled spyware? by slashflood · · Score: 4, Informative

      Last time i checked out rubberduck is came bundled with adware / spyware... Does it still come with this?

      There has never been spyware in Rubberduck and the "ad technology" has been removed in the free download version.

  21. time to get out your magnifying glasses by GoatPigSheep · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Wait until you see what a program hard wired to 800 x 600 looks like on your 23 inch dell lcd...

    Still the program was quite revolutionary back in the day...

    --
    GoatPigSheep, the 3 most important food groups
  22. PlanetCCRMA? by M1FCJ · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Bah.. Who cares about Windows and obsolete software... Come back when FC4 version of PlanetCCRMA is announced.

  23. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by alan_dershowitz · · Score: 1

    I'm getting zero connected seeds on the Windows version, anyone else having problems with it? I registered and all, but I don't think that matters here.

  24. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by alan_dershowitz · · Score: 1

    OK, within minutes of posting this, a seed has connected. Thanks, whoever you are.

  25. TB-303 == Ubiquitous Sound of All Time by Black-Man · · Score: 1

    And a one trick pony at that. What is truly disgusting though, is to look at the new Roland stuff with preset after preset of 303 emulations.

    Isn't there a word for emulating yourself? ;-)

    1. Re:TB-303 == Ubiquitous Sound of All Time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The reason we are still getting TB-303 emulations 20 years after the first acid tracks broke onto the scene is because it's truly a classic sound. Even now it still gets people going nuts on the dancefloor, it still does amazing things to people's minds and bodies. Certainly there will be those who think it's "played out" or "cliche", but it's never going to go away - it's as classic as a Fender Strat through a Marshall stack.

    2. Re:TB-303 == Ubiquitous Sound of All Time by AlphaSys · · Score: 1

      Many would argue that Strats sound best through vintage Fender amps and that Les Pauls and the lot are better though the Jim Marshall kit. I'm in that camp.

      --
      Can I bum a sig? I left mine at the office.
    3. Re:TB-303 == Ubiquitous Sound of All Time by reverius · · Score: 1

      masturbation?

  26. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by TCM · · Score: 1

    That one seed is probably Propellerhead themselves. I am seeing over 80 seeds and nearly 700 peers but no connection to _any_ of them except for Propellerhead's seed. Something is messed up.

    PS: I am connectable and all. Downloading other torrents works just fine.

    --
    Of course it runs NetBSD. BTC: 1NT7QvbetmANwaMzhpVL6
  27. I still got the original... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    TB-303. Picked it up many moons ago from a rocker dude in California (I'm in Canada) for $100.00. I rarely use it anymore, but it's such a neat little box and for the price I paid for it... it would be difficult to part with.

  28. Re:Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut d by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yes, Reborn. Wonder if this will affect the status of this project that Propellerheads shut down.

  29. x0xb0x kit synthesizer by morcheeba · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you want to build your own hardware TB-303 clone (and plus some), check out Ladyada's open-source x0b0x kit. (cached). The documentation is excellent, even for a beginner builder. And, they've gone and painstakingly measured all the transistors from an original TB-303 to accurately recreate the sound. It's a steal at $300.

  30. Re:Is it too much to ask - by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe you didn't notice the links to the Mac versions all over the site? ;)

  31. Re:Is it too much to ask - by eshefer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "is it too much to ask that closed source, Windows-only software be labelled as such in the story?"

    Thats a good point.

    (and the mac version is MacOS9)

    "but is slashdot going to put every piece of Windows-only closed source freeware on the front page?"

    rebirth in the electronic music scene is somewhat akeen to Doom in the gaming scene - this perticular software had an enormous effect both from a user interface and technological aspect on the shape of the computer virtual instrument sceene that developped.

    "In theory, this kind of software could enable a hundred Vince Clarkes - in practice I don't see any. Any suggestions?"

    develop ReClark. that might work.

  32. Re:Is it too much to ask - by cornface · · Score: 4, Funny

    When the technology was rare and expensive, it was used to create awesome catchy, melodic, intelligent pop (80's). Now that it's cheap and ubiquitous, it's used to make depressingly boring, repetitive, deeply lazy music.

    Go to hell you elitist twat.

    Should we ban paintbrushes because someone other than Picasso or Michelangelo might pick one up and paint something that offends your exquisitely developed taste. How about pens? Should we get rid of those too, just in case someone draws something you don't like? While we're getting rid of the instruments, you probably should go to guitar center and burn the cheap guitars and keyboards....why, any idiot with fingers might be tempted to pick one up and learn to hammer out something that isn't...80's pop???

    Hey, about we lock up the computers too so brainless numbskulls can't engage in self-congratulatory forum masturbation.

    Hand over the keyboard, douche.

    Thanks.

  33. Re:Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut d by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    There was reborn http://www.deadvirgins.org.uk/reborn/index.html which was already pretty good in 2001 and an awesome linux audio app but propellorheads killed it because the ui was too similar to rebirth.

    Given that they were copying the TB-303 808 and 909 interfaces I dont see how they could own the concept of putting them on a computer screen but there you go, like they say in TFA:

    "The spirit of sharing was a vital part of the ReBirth Community. People who shared ideas, who offered their expertise, and who contributed music, inspired others to do the same in an ongoing cycle of creativity."

    NOT!

  34. Rebirth - Good for it's time...No longer by davidmcg · · Score: 1

    The reason Propellerheads are giving away rebirth for free is that it has been superseeded by better simulations on the TB303. I never found rebirth that good at simulating the 303. The distortion was crap. Bassline gives a much better sound than rebirth. I respect Propellerheads as much as everyone else, but, I've never been such a big fan of rebirth. As soon as I found Bassline, I never looked back...

    1. Re:Rebirth - Good for it's time...No longer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Care to post a link to Bassline???

    2. Re:Rebirth - Good for it's time...No longer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    3. Re:Rebirth - Good for it's time...No longer by BoneFlower · · Score: 1

      I actually prefer Rebirths sound(though I'll grant that Bassline is a more accurate emulation of the original)... what puts Bassline on top for me is the ease of sequencing. ReBirth is a *bitch* to program and sequence, especially if there is any possibility of changing the instrumentation. If I were to do a bassline in ReBirth, and changed my mind and wanted to throw it on my Electribe, that would be a serious pain in the ass. With Bassline, all I have to do is redirect the MIDI messages for that part. Much easier.

  35. Reborn for Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    There was a version of Rebirth for Linux called Reborn that looked identical and sounded a little better.
    The developers had to stop distributing it after the Propellerheads sued them.
    It was free for download, but the source was never released.
    I wonder if the Propellerheads would let them distribute it now?

    1. Re:Reborn for Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep. Other than the 100ms+ latency, aliasing oscillators, playskool FX, and terrible GIMP interface, you're 100% correct.

  36. Re:Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut d by Osiris+Ani · · Score: 1
    Given that they were copying the TB-303 808 and 909 interfaces I dont see how they could own the concept of putting them on a computer screen
    Propellerhead actually went through the process of getting explicit permission from Roland to copy the interfaces of the 303, 808, and 909. Regardless, David Singer (the author of ReBorn) simply doesn't feel like fighting a copyright lawsuit, even if it appears to be one he could win based on precedent alone.
  37. Damnit.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And I just warezed a copy of this..

  38. Random Data Bandwidth Waste by _aa_ · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Check out this post from musicthing.

    "The app installer itself is only 16 MB, ReBirth uses a copy protection scheme which involves a 128 MB data file on the CD. It's actually a nonsense file that contains just random data, but ReBirth won't boot without it. The rest of the CD isn't really necessary, but includes a Mac partition (which has roughly the same files including another instance of the 128 MB data file), and lastly there are 3 audio tracks that showcase ReBirth if you put it in a CD player."

  39. /. Dedicated Music Section by duguk · · Score: 1

    That's actually a really good idea.

    Its just a shame they have a Music section http://slashdot.org/search.pl?topic=141 - its just filled with DRM, RIAA and various iPod crap. I guess its 'music'....

    I'd like to see more stuff like the Coward said above! Yeah, and not just Mac apps like damn GarageBand! (tho what i've used of it does seem good)

    Great idea :D

    DugUK

    1. Re:/. Dedicated Music Section by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Amen to a real Music section. Actually, they should call it Music Technology or something to keep all of the consumer-rights stuff from turning it into a YRO mirror.

  40. Re:Is it too much to ask - by crucini · · Score: 1

    I seem to have trod on your sensitive spot. Please be assured that I'm not looking to ban any kind of creative tools. If you enjoy making house music with a 303 emulator, I'm happy that you're happy.

    It doesn't seem very logical to call an 80s music fan an "elitist" with "exquisitely developed taste". It might be more accurate to say a nostalgist with an ossified musical taste.

  41. Did they release any CDs? by mh101 · · Score: 1

    Just wondering if these are the same guys who made this CD, or are Propellerheads the band and Propellerhead Software totally unrelated other than the name?

    --
    Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
    1. Re:Did they release any CDs? by mardoen · · Score: 1

      That was just an unhappy coincidence. And the names are slightly different: Propellerhead (Swedish company) v.s Propellerheads (British musicians). See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propellerheads

    2. Re:Did they release any CDs? by Witchblade · · Score: 1

      Totally unrelated except for the name. If I recall correctly they both had explantions for that on their respective websites, back in the day. Essentially it was just two separate groups of nerds thinking of the same name for themselves at the same time.

    3. Re:Did they release any CDs? by smallguy78 · · Score: 4, Funny

      it's just history repeating itself

      --
      Nothing costs nothing
    4. Re:Did they release any CDs? by The+Grassy+Knoll · · Score: 1

      Nice one. Shame none of the mods are clued up enough to spot the reference.

      --
      They will never know the simple pleasure of a monkey knife fight
    5. Re:Did they release any CDs? by eshefer · · Score: 1

      yeah. the chance that a mod would be clued enough to get THAT referance is a bout the same as one of the mods knowing about correct microphone placement technics.

    6. Re:Did they release any CDs? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Maybe if I hustled my way in?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  42. Everybody Needs a 303... by ZorroXXX · · Score: 1

    ... at least according to Fatboy Slim.

    --
    When you are sure of something, you probably are wrong (search for "Unskilled and Unaware of It").
  43. Re:Is it too much to ask - by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    is slashdot going to put every piece of Windows-only closed source freeware on the front page?

    Why not? Those of us who don't have such a stick up our butts about closed source software have to deal with the endless ravings of the open source community everytime Linus opens his cake hole or breaks wind.

  44. Re:Is it too much to ask - by karnal · · Score: 1

    How about just not calling anyone anything at all? We geeks really like to call people names, it seems....

    oh wait. I just called us geeks. Shoot me now.

    --
    Karnal
  45. Re:Is it too much to ask - by cornface · · Score: 1

    It doesn't seem very logical to call an 80s music fan an "elitist" with "exquisitely developed taste".

    Yes, it's not very logical. That's because I was making fun of you.

    Kissy kissy.

  46. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    am seeing over 80 seeds and nearly 700 peers but no connection to _any_ of them except for Propellerhead's seed

    Is this due to bittorrent poisoning techniques used by the RIAA/MPAA? Same thing they do on Kazaa and other P2P systems?

  47. Demo Songs by Retrospecter · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you download Rebirth and want to hear what it can do, listen to "A Taste of Haste" in the demo songs folder (because I wrote it and therefore it is good).

    1. Re:Demo Songs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, the only people who are good are the ones going around saying they still suck.

      I learned this from artists.

    2. Re:Demo Songs by Retrospecter · · Score: 1

      Self deprication is so 90's.

    3. Re:Demo Songs by Psiven · · Score: 0

      (laffs)

  48. Re:Is it too much to ask - by Koiu+Lpoi · · Score: 1

    And I'm sorry it had such an effect on interfaces. Why is it such a paradigm that we need to copy hardware interfaces into software? Why can't software have its own, unique, intuitive interface?

    Like FL Studio?

  49. And to you sir I say... by squidsoup · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bloop Scwahump Wah Wah WEEEEEEEE

  50. Re:Is it too much to ask - by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about you lurk for a while before posting?

    Who said anything about banning? This guy was stating an observation, nothing more.

    Really, children should not be allowed on here. Please let your parents know you're on this forum.

    Thanks.

    Kissy Kissy

  51. The reason the torrent is not working by reactor451 · · Score: 0
    Looks like the problem may be on their end.
    There's a problem with a firewall that's out of my reach. This will be solved tomorrow morning around 9:00 (CET). Until then everyone in the queue will be served one at a time. But with full line speed. No one will be able to upload anything to the others in the meantime, thus rendering the BitTorrent protocol rather meaningless. But you'll still get the files. Hang in there. We're sooo close now :)
    http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/board/index.cfm?fusea ction=displayMsg&displayMsg=248950
  52. Re:Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut d by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, Reborn was real great, other than the 100ms+ latency, aliasing oscillators, playskool FX, and terrible GIMP interface.

    Let's not search for reasons to attack a 'decent' company. They're not Sony, buying and then bastardizing Sound Forge.

  53. Re:Is it too much to ask - by cornface · · Score: 1

    How about you lurk for a while before posting?

    Hey, how about you blow me?

    Thanks.

  54. Re:Is it too much to ask - by Nick+of+NSTime · · Score: 2, Insightful
    In theory, this kind of software could enable a hundred Vince Clarkes - in practice I don't see any. Any suggestions?

    Vince Clarke is who he is because he's Vince Clarke, not because he has the equipment. My friend Jabwai makes music using Reason. He is signed by a few techno-oriented labels and performs regularly here in Dallas. Maybe you should give his stuff a listen and decide if he's "Vince Clarke-enabled."

  55. Re:Is it too much to ask - by NeoBeans · · Score: 1

    It's not Windows-only. It runs fine on my Mac.

  56. Re:Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut d by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ugh, yeah, Reborn was real great, other than the 100ms+ latency, aliasing oscillators, playskool FX, and terrible GIMP interface.

    Propellerhead went and got permission from Roland. This Linux nimrod didn't.

    Instead of changing some graphics, he pulled the plug. Gee, sounds like every overreactive geek on slashdot! What a maroon.

    Any questions?

  57. Open source alternatives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What are the open source alternatives?

    Here are some that I know:

    Beast

    Buzztard, a clone of the orphaned, closed source but free as in beer Buzz

    Psycle

  58. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by bruthasj · · Score: 1

    Any resolution to this?! I can only get one seed as well.

    Download in 61 hours... :(

  59. Please use standard widgets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Concentrate on the functionality first, and do the skins last, if at all.

    Too many music projects die after getting skins and nice UI done. I hope this won't.

  60. Re:Is it too much to ask - by lisaparratt · · Score: 3, Funny

    When you're up to your eye balls in MDMA, what you call depressingly boring, repetitive, deeply lazy music just happens to be the best music in existance.

    This is why it's so popular!

  61. Re:Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut d by tagew · · Score: 3, Informative

    Speaking as an official Propellerhead _and_ a /. reader: The reason we acted on the reborn project (which wasn't open source I think - just a Linux product) wasn't that it was too close in UI design. It was because it was our UI - they used our graphics. We told them we didn't mind competition, but that they'd have to make their own UI instead of stealing our bitmaps. Apparently they didn't feel like doing that and blamed us for shutting them down, which we never did. /tage widsell propellerhead software

  62. Re:Is it too much to ask - by marmotte · · Score: 1

    maybe it's just too late and this is just nostalgia software..

  63. Re:Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut d by eshefer · · Score: 2, Informative

    "Speaking as an official Propellerhead _and_ a /. reader: The reason we acted on the reborn project (which wasn't open source I think - just a Linux product) wasn't that it was too close in UI design. It was because it was our UI - they used our graphics. We told them we didn't mind competition, but that they'd have to make their own UI instead of stealing our bitmaps. Apparently they didn't feel like doing that and blamed us for shutting them down, which we never did. /tage widsell propellerhead software"

    this conversation from linux-audio-dev confirms this.

  64. Re:Wasn't there an open source 808 emulator shut d by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "100ms+ latency, aliasing oscillators, playskool FX, and terrible GIMP interface"

    That's the third time you've posted that comment.
    The interface was literally identical, down to the same bitmaps, which is why the propellerheads shut it down.
    Latency is irrelevent as you do not use an external midi keyboard to play the sounds live.
    It sounded fine, no more significant aliasing than the propellerheads attempt.

  65. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by sn0wflake · · Score: 1

    I had the same problem until I found this page at The Pirate Bay. Don't know why this edition is four times bigger than the Torrent at the official site.

  66. and the link: by eshefer · · Score: 1

    the relevant linux-audio-dev thread.. here

  67. Real one for sale by Lispy · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Hi,
    in case someone want a real, physical one. I am selling mine on e-bay right now:
    7348497421

    Sorry if this looks like a shameless attempt to push my auction, in fact it is. :)

    But maybe someone is interested...

    cheers,
    Marcus

  68. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by LordSnooty · · Score: 1

    I got 633 seeds, 14 connected to me. Your BT client is broke.

  69. Time to sell all this old gear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmmm...I guess it's time to sell my TR-909, TR-606 and my...TB-303. No more external wires, sync problems, etc.

  70. Hydrogen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Recently I heard about a software called Hydrogen, it is an advanced drum machine with pattern based sequencer.
    It is under the GNU GPL.

    http://www.hydrogen-music.org/
    If anyone is interested...

  71. Reason = death of the Akai sampler by cerebralpc · · Score: 1
    Audio colleges no longer train audio newbs in Akai samplers - its all Reason now.

    Personally I use an Akai sampler - I find hardware works much better. Plus the AD/DA conversion is much better - plus the lantency is better - plus my Akai sampler JUST WORKS!!! everytime.

    1. Re:Reason = death of the Akai sampler by ratpack91 · · Score: 1

      How about NI Kontakt = death of the Akai sampler Reason lowers the cost of entry, Kontakt raises the bar for samplers.

    2. Re:Reason = death of the Akai sampler by Marc2k · · Score: 1

      For the price of an MPC1000, I can buy NI Kontakt (as someone mentioned), a very decent interface box (far surpassing the conversion and latency of the Akai box), and a MIDI knob box and a 4x4 set of pads.

      For the price of an MPC3000, I can get the same software, Apogee conversion, build a new PC, and buy any set of control surfaces I feel like.

      Granted, I do like the immediacy of physical samplers, but at the same time..it's really hard for me to justify the extra cost; especially for one of the larger units, where I could be getting top-of-the-line convertors which aren't tied to just sampling.

      --
      --- What
    3. Re:Reason = death of the Akai sampler by object88 · · Score: 1

      For the price of an MPC3000, I can get [NI Kontakt], Apogee conversion, build a new PC, and buy any set of control surfaces I feel like.

      But if you're touring, there's the unfortunate two-part trade-off of having 1) less-roadworthy components, and 2) many more seperate pieces to keep track of. Everything is a compromise in one way or another.

      You mentioned latency in the Akai MPC1000. Are you talking about the pads? I've never heard anyone complain about delays with those... or any other aspect, for that matter.

    4. Re:Reason = death of the Akai sampler by Marc2k · · Score: 1

      This is long after the fact, and you're probably not going to read this, but hey.

      Your first point is well taken, really nothing to say there, everything really is a compromise.

      The original poster mentioned Akai samplers v Reason, and mentioned the a/d and d/a, as well as latency, being so much better; I was really just calling bullshit on that. The great thing about computer software obviously is that you can almost always upgrade your hardware pretty easily (on supported platforms). I've never heard of latency problems with the MPC1000, either.

      I suspect the parent poster was talking about playback latency in Reason using a MIDI controller (of any sort) on a shitty commodity PC. Well, sure, ok, that's going to suck, but it's also a lot cheaper than a decent Akai sampler. One time I ran Reason 2.5 on the onboard soundcard of an Intel D865PERL motherboard with an M-Audio Radium 49, and yeah..there was a system latency of about 0.6 seconds (which is literally unusable if you're doing pretty much anything), that could be isolated to the soundcard having that much of a delay. My point was that even a $100 converter card would make the latency and A/D D/A specs about the same, and that you could get even better convertors for the price, not that there were any particular latency issues with the MPC series. Of course, in a live setting, that really doesn't matter, any clarity gains and jitter minimization are lost on a shitty PA.

      Personally, I'd really, really like an MPC, but for right now, I can't justify the cost.

      --
      --- What
  72. Not a real big deal... by dbmasters · · Score: 1

    I have been making music for years, ReBirth I always found fun to play with, show friends that are not musicians and they go "wow, cool" but I was never able to make it a productive part of my music making process...there are sooooooo many 303 sims as well as many better synths...the softsynth industry has gotten so big and over-saturated with products, there was justnot room for the ReBirth any more...it was fun in it's day, but technology moved past it.

    --
    dB Masters
  73. Used to be cool software by chrisnewbie · · Score: 1

    Rebirth used to be a cool software when it was not popular 10 years ago! when the rave scene wasnt so big aNd commercial! Now it's just another software! was fun but soon discovered that it didnt take much brains to create acid music so now i listen to more intelligent electro.

  74. Other 303 Emulations by double_h · · Score: 1

    It's not free, but I wanted to toss out AudioRealism Bassline as another great 303 emulation, which I generally prefer to Rebirth -- it has a larger interface, and more importantly it's a standard VST so it integrates easily with whatever production/DAW software you happen to be using (it sounds great too).

    I'm still pretty interested in Rebirth for the 808/909 emulations, though; I haven't seen any other program that does as good a job reproducing the tweakability of those drum boxes.

    Also am way excited about the rerelease of Rubber Duck -- to this day, it remains one of the best-sounding software synths I've heard.

    1. Re:Other 303 Emulations by dbmasters · · Score: 1

      I have not used RubberDuck, I'll have to give it a go. There are sooooo many of these things out there now in all prices ranges from free to hundreds of dollars, each having their strong points and weakpoints...even good ol' FruityLoops has it's place and it's highly tweakable, Cakewalk's Project5 has some great sounds and it's new Dimension synth uis incredible, Native Instruments makes some great digital synths, AbSynth is amazing...can't really throw a stone without hitting a softsynth.

      --
      dB Masters
  75. Re:Discount upgrade to Reason 3.0 for ReBirth owne by CDarklock · · Score: 1

    I bought 1.0 in a store about a month after 2.0 came out. Seeing that there was no version information on the box, I contacted Propellerheads beforehand to make sure I could upgrade for free if it was the 1.0 version, and they told me I had to do so through Steinberg. Steinberg assured me it would be upgraded at no cost to me, except a small handling charge, and all I had to do was send them the receipt.

    Steinberg subjected me to an utter customer service nightmare for over a year before I gave up. Their greatest concern wasn't that I had bought an old version of the software in a retail outlet, or that I felt I deserved the 2.0 upgrade, but that SOFTWARE PIRACY IS EVERYWHERE!

    They observed from day one that I could get a substantial discount on the 2.0 upgrade from their web site, but apparently the idea that I shouldn't have to pay for an upgrade to software I just bought is too similar to the idea that I shouldn't have to pay for the software at all.

    --
    Microsoft cheerleader, blue flag waving, you got a problem with that?
  76. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by iainl · · Score: 1

    My 2Mb/sec connection is maxed out, too. Something funny going on with those people.

    --
    "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
  77. Re:The pheads server melt, now they use torrents.. by I(rispee_I(reme · · Score: 1

    Because the one at the Pirate Bays is measured in MiB, as opposed to MB.

  78. Good Analogy!!! by Black-Man · · Score: 1

    And that is exactly why I thought people went to synthesizers to begin with... to get away from that cliche sound of guitar thru a fender twin to something with a much wide variety of tonal capabilities.

    Even the 303 has the possibility. But let's face it, the 303's strength is that resonating filter. It's the filter!