11 ms·

Dropping Acid

390 points by wglb 8y ago

tjr225 8y ago
A lot of people, myself included, still love and create acid. The original 303 itself is pretty absurdly (prohibitively) expensive to acquire, and it's a tiny plastic toy and net anywhere from 2000-4000$. A case study in supply and demand - with a little bit of hype, I suppose. There have been a bunch of pretty good software emulations, most notably: https://www.audiorealism.se/abl3.html https://www.audiorealism.se/abl3.html and even some much cheaper physical emulations: https://www.cyclone-analogic.fr/en/34-bass-bot-tt-303-0701980493430.html https://www.cyclone-analogic.fr/en/34-bass-bot-tt-303-070198...
- malvosenior 8y ago
  Roland recently reissued many of their classic synths including an updated 303. Now it’s called the TB-03 and it has a “friendly” step programming option in addition to the original crazy style: https://www.roland.com/us/products/tb-03/ https://www.roland.com/us/products/tb-03/
  - tjr225 8y ago
    The only reason I didn't mention the tb-03 is that it is essentially a digital(software) option, whereas the TT-03 is still analog. I still think it sounds pretty good.
    - malvosenior 8y ago
      Very true. The look and feel of the TB-03 is second to none though. Imho the build quality is much higher than the original 303.
    - bascule 8y ago
      The TB-03 provides a fairly faithful and accurate reproduction of the TB-303's sound. The TT-303, on the other hand, despite being "circuit identical", can sound downright weird at times (as can Roland's other "analog modeling" 303 reproduction, the TB-3) Here is a 4 way comparison of the 4 synths I just mentioned complete with waveform visualizations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8CAEUU_ics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8CAEUU_ics
  - rorykoehler 8y ago
    Behringer are also bringing out a bunch of clones. I think they may have just released a 303 clone. Can't speak to the quality of it though. Always found Behringer kit to have a high noise floor but that was at least a decade ago so things may have changed.
    - stef25 8y ago
      Behringer is generally awful, but check out their Model D. Peter van Hoesen has an excellent review of it. It's almost a crime how good it is, considering how much cheaper it is than the Moog it's copying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWhoakNEoKU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWhoakNEoKU
- bhrgunatha 8y ago
  Any recommendations for modern artists?
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - Piezoid 8y ago
    The mini/micro-brute by Arturia are the new cheap analog bass synths. They combine a minimal amount of monophonic signal nodes while providing quite a lot of possibilities. The Voltage Control IOs are a bridge to Modular Acquisition Systemic Syndrome :)
    - bhrgunatha 8y ago
      Sorry I didn't mean equipment, I meant artist recommendations.
  - philbo 8y ago
    Recondite
  - conqueso 8y ago
    Ceephax Acid Crew - super fun(ny) bangin' acid dance beats Aphex Twin (aka AFX, Polygon Window, Caustic Window, The Tuss and others) - insanely beautiful, engineered yet organic music, has tons of acid tracks (see 'Syro', 'Collapse', 'Analord' (afx) and Rushup Edge (The Tuss) for more recent acid stuff)
  - zrth 8y ago
    Donato Dozzy - Filo Loves The Acid Apehx twin - Analord Universal Indicator - Red
    - tomduncalf 8y ago
      Another Dozzy fan on HN! Also recommend checking his Acid Test releases. Especially Test 3, which is beautiful, but it's all amazing.
- NL807 8y ago
  Have you considered getting a x0xb0x kit? I built one of those a few years back, and the sound was pretty spot on to the original.
  - sschueller 8y ago
    Sadly some of those parts are almost impossible to get.
  - stef25 8y ago
    Xoxbox and the Cyclone ones feel very cheap. Knobs are shitty plastic. The TB-03 feels much better, lots of metal parts. As to the sound of the machines, that's a never ending discussion.
- mollusk 8y ago
  DinSync RE-303 is probably the most impressive. As they say "it's not a clone it's a replica". They painstakingly traced the PCB, used as much original parts as possible, and you can use the original TB-303 CPU to control it (or you can get the RE-303 CPU with their own firmware since the original is proprietary and long since out of production). Meaning you can use the project to revive a real 303 if you have to, or build your own legit 303.
pgreenwood 8y ago
The acid sound is still immensely popular amongst my cohort even after 30 years. And still some great stuff being produced (relatively) recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHIEqdOic9w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHIEqdOic9w
- rorykoehler 8y ago
  True. I recently stumbled across this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkwbCeVT5bA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkwbCeVT5bA ConSequence Vs The Auditor - South London Analogue Movement (Original Mix. )Released this year and very much acid.
- stinos 8y ago
  There's also so-called acidcore, which often has similar basslines but a faster tempo and the kicks like in hardcore. Quite popular around here in the squatting/underground scene. And for me, when the dj or live is the eact thing I like to hear (tracks which basically minute-long buildups into even harder and way more out-of-this-earth soundscapes), it blows me away more than any 'normal' acid track ever did. That stuff gets me in trance in no time.
ghotli 8y ago
For awhile when I was younger I played the game of listen to an album then look up who influenced it, rinse and repeat. Found real gems this way, but along these lines I never found the track in this article. It's really good and it reminds me of E2-E4 [1] [2] by Manuel Göttsching. Which I found because the guy from LCD Soundsystem is quoted in the wikipedia article that when he did 45:33 that he wanted to make something like "E2-E4". [3] [4] Neither of which sound like A Love Supreme [5] [6] by John Coltrane but I always associated them in my mind as a kind of their own kinda thing in music's past. Posting for no other reason than that maybe you'll like these too. [1] https://youtu.be/ys0HyevZpQg https://youtu.be/ys0HyevZpQg [2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/E2-E4 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/E2-E4 [3] https://youtu.be/72-ebRSMJdE https://youtu.be/72-ebRSMJdE [4] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/45%3A33 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/45%3A33 [5] https://youtu.be/ll3CMgiUPuU https://youtu.be/ll3CMgiUPuU [6] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Love_Supreme https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Love_Supreme
- pugworthy 8y ago
  Is this representative of what's on that play list? I really don't want to sign up for "yet another thing" to hear the original link.
  - lfam 8y ago
    No, none of that music sounds like acid house.
  - voltagex_ 8y ago
    DRM free - https://traxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lidell-townsell https://traxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lidell-townsell
- neom 8y ago
  Seems like you really know your house. Not sure if you're musically inclined but if so the OP-1 is a great tool[1][2]. If you ever make it to nyc hit me up, I know James well and I'm sure he'd enjoy your thoughts around E2-E4. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDqThYqldBI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDqThYqldBI [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umatbZ0n4mE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umatbZ0n4mE
pugworthy 8y ago
For those just wanting to play a bit, a web based TB-303... http://errozero.co.uk/acid-machine/ http://errozero.co.uk/acid-machine/
- cpeterso 8y ago
  Also check out "Acid Defender", a simple web game that uses WebAudio to create acid house tunes as part of the game play. http://cappel-nord.de/webaudio/acid-defender/ http://cappel-nord.de/webaudio/acid-defender/
llamataboot 8y ago
As a Midwestern raver in the 90s that was regularly in Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis, I love this little history and philosophy piece. I can't quite explain the feeling of the midwestern rave scene in the 90s, but it was very racially diverse, utopian, punk, looking somehow back and forward in time at the same time enmeshed in psychedelics and psychedelia but somehow also part of both machines and cultures far older than machines. A super important part of my history. Cyberia by Rushkoff comes closest to capturing parts of it from an anthropology perspective I think.
- otisfunkmeyer 8y ago
  yah I agree those were definitely good times ;)
  - llamataboot 8y ago
    I was at some raves with YOU :)
    - technonerd 8y ago
      Someday ill make it out to even furthur. Don't forget Intellephunk, future classic and system parties and everything in between :) The mpls scene is like the classier version of Detroit.
- stef25 8y ago
  Even Furthur?
  - llamataboot 8y ago
    Yes, and it's back!
jim-jim-jim 8y ago
Newcleus' "Jam On It" is one a the few pre-acid songs I can think of that tries to find a use for the 303. They also didn't bother attempting to emulate a bass with it.
- grosun 8y ago
  Shannon - "Let The Music Play" also used it the year before https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-0sUuGufmw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-0sUuGufmw & has more of a squelchy what-you'd-think-of-as-303 type bassline sound, but the sound isn't tweaked through the tune, just constantly resonant.
zamalek 8y ago
It's amazing that the iconic dance/trance clap (the clap after 1:15 in Acid Tracks) was forged alongside the 303. This exact sample (or an unbelievably similar one) could be heard throughout the late 90's and still features in many tracks today. It's the Wilhelm Scream of EDM. Acid eventually resulted in liquid trance, which eventually became psytrance. Liquid was a fantastic exploration of the nature of sound, with many types of dynamics for a single instrument. EDM receives as lot of criticism for its lack of humanity and skill (regarding playing an instrument), but the same could be said of Beethoven or Bach: they were merely creating scores for an orchestra to play. EDM can be the same type of approach, only we now have ways to explore sound that simply weren't available to the great composers.
- ta7687 8y ago
  My inner pedant compels me to point out that Beethoven and Bach were both virtuosos, though your point still stands.
  - scns 8y ago
    I do not think you are being pedantic at all. I am trying to come up with kind words, but the line "they were merely creating scores" is absolutely ridiculous IMO.
- dylan604 8y ago
  We used sit around and joke about the type of music that Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc would do with studio equipment from today, but without letting them hear anything produced with them. Would they create similar compositions just with new voices? Seems logical as that's what they "knew". Or would the new eventually end up completely changing styles with the capabilities of the new instruments. Yes, we'd conveniently ignore the fact most of this gear benefits from computers/sequences, but just a synth and the different sound devices. Here's some keys, knobs, buttons and flashy lights. Go to it!
  - eru 8y ago
    The Well-Tempered Clavier was a novelty in JS Bach's time. He did write new music just for it.
kaycebasques 8y ago
Beautiful site! Great performance, too.
praptak 8y ago
If you are interested in this, Synthmania YouTube channel has pretty detailed reconstruction/deconstruction of beats from those times, mostly using the original gear.
- sireat 8y ago
  Synthmania is a treasure! He has an amazing collection of synths/drum machines/other audio gear PLUS he can showcase them in styles from 70s funk, to 90s techno and everything in between(italo, house etc etc).. Some house related videos of his: TB-303: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ZUIkaQ7Kw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ZUIkaQ7Kw House and Techno Patterns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ3Y0oVaXX4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ3Y0oVaXX4 The new Roland digital machines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84ag_yvj9cw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84ag_yvj9cw Finally the infamous "I don't have an Aira" video which was meant in jest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FirM3sy5YvY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FirM3sy5YvY My personal favorite of his is House done by multilayering a single Microbrute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlmI-gvdZ6o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlmI-gvdZ6o
- stef25 8y ago
  The guy's a genius with amazing passion. His kids are very lucky!
shellac 8y ago
Although weirdly preempted by an Indian record 'Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat' in 1982: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB4RYBpwV0A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB4RYBpwV0A This is what "the TB-303 bass synthesizer uses [the artist] to reproduce itself" means - you really couldn't use these tools without producing this music.
- coldtea 8y ago
  >you really couldn't use these tools without producing this music Well, you can use the TB-303 very consevatively, for it's original intended purpose, and it will just sound like a badly immitated regular bass guitar.
  - shellac 8y ago
    I did try that once, and found it quite a challenge. It feels like all the controls go well beyond '11' for the intended (bass line) use.
  - bascule 8y ago
    That's more or less how it was used in one of the first popular tracks to use the 303, Orange Juice - Rip it Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESy-Z8vqMrE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESy-Z8vqMrE
- yumraj 8y ago
  Very cool. From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charanjit_Singh_(musician) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charanjit_Singh_(musician) Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat, an album of original electronic disco compositions Singh recorded in 1982, was a commercial failure at the time of its original release, but its re-discovery in 2002 and re-issue in early 2010 garnered attention due to its pioneering of a new style of dance music later known as the acid house genre of the late 1980s. Since then, certain commentators in the music press have recast Singh as an originator of acid house music. He also used the same drum machine and synthesizers for his experimental electronic calypso record, Experiments in Calypso.
stef25 8y ago
Ah acid ... the sound of the 303 has been with me ever since I got a copy of ReBirth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBirth_RB-338 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBirth_RB-338 from Propellerhead Software back in the 90s. It's a software emulator of 2x TB303, a 909 and an 808 with distortion and delay effects. These instruments were basically the corner stone of dance music in the 80s and 90s and the software was just incredible at the time. Before that I was using trackers on my dad's amiga but this was something different all together. I spent so many hours playing with this software and even got a Phatboy http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/phatboy.php http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/phatboy.php external midi controller with knobs. This was cutting edge stuff back then. What's funny is that I discovered the software before I actually started listening to this kind of music, which wasn't easy to find during this time. When I started going out and then discovered acid house and psytrance, recognising the 303 sounds as what came out my little ReBirth program was amazing. A little know fact is that an Indian artists may have actually "discovered" acid house before Pierre and all those guys did. "Charanjit Singh - Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat" is from 1982: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN8M2irJVJA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN8M2irJVJA The sound of a 303 is absolutely fascinating, timeless and unique and the "acid" genre is still a live as ever. Some essential acid tracks Bam Bam, where's your child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyxyRcZWBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyxyRcZWBA, supposedly just 1x 303 is used here and the pattern is pretty intricate. Jesus loves the acid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhSB_6EQ0DM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhSB_6EQ0DM, apparently it's a 101 being used here, not a 303 Fuse, substance abuse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JonuLqgoQI8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JonuLqgoQI8 Hardfloor, Acperience (Live on MTV!)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgFGHz5dR7k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgFGHz5dR7k System 7 Alphawave, Richie Hawtin rmx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWOtCXu6dCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWOtCXu6dCE And here's a full length mix of classic acid tracks https://soundcloud.com/abbeloosolivier/classic-303-acid-patterns-part-1 https://soundcloud.com/abbeloosolivier/classic-303-acid-patt...
- kieckerjan 8y ago
  Ah yes, ReBirth! Had a lot of fun with that. A friend of mine once threw a party where ReBirth was the only source of music. The whole night was basically one long communally made acid track. Guests would stroll up to the computer, fiddle with the knobs a bit and the music would slightly change. Good times.
artur_makly 8y ago
Lets also not forget the unique choreography that its also produced : warning : this video in particular is on the fringes of acid. enjoy https://www.facebook.com/MixmagMagazine/videos/470330406814812/ https://www.facebook.com/MixmagMagazine/videos/4703304068148...
new_here 8y ago
I really love how an obscure topic like Acid House can trend on HN and then a whole bunch of people who've been fans of that topic for years just emerge in the comments out of nowhere. It's really testament to the diversity and quality of the HN community.
- gpderetta 8y ago
  And from the title I though this was about NoSQL...
  - greenrobot 8y ago
    Yeah, me too.
  - kiliantics 8y ago
    I figured microdosing
    - malmsteen 8y ago
      Or even macro
- elboru 8y ago
  I've always loved that about HN, it doesn't matter how obscure the topic is, there will always be someone with first hand exposure to it, they will always add a plus to the article.
empath75 8y ago
If you like this style of writing and topic, you should enjoy Energy Flash by Simon Reynolds
yoran 8y ago
I moved to Chicago a few years ago. I'm a big fan of electronic music and it therefore really surprised me that people are not aware of the rich house music heritage the city has. I'm really happy to see initiatives such as the lunch-break DJ sets on Daley Plaza during summer or the House nights at the Shedd Aquarium. One of my business ideas is to actually organize a "House Music Heritage" walking tour in Chicago.
- cmrdporcupine 8y ago
  Dance Mania FTW. My favourite label out of Chicago, so many great gems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U_BUIT1axg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U_BUIT1axg
- TimJYoung 8y ago
  Not just house - Wax Trax! Records was very much responsible for exposing quite a few people to industrial music in the 80s, also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_Trax!_Records https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_Trax!_Records Chicago often doesn't get the cultural recognition that it deserves. My wife and I love it there, and visit as often as possible.
haywirez 8y ago
Nice to see this topic up here! Check out Acid Defender, a super fun 303 web audio game I came across a few days ago: http://cappel-nord.de/webaudio/acid-defender/ http://cappel-nord.de/webaudio/acid-defender/
- rorykoehler 8y ago
  This is awesome. It's essentially reverse acid "guitar hero".
theonefoo 8y ago
For anyone that's interested in reading more about the history of acid house, Soul Jazz Records released a compilation titled "Acid: Can You Jack? (Chicago Acid And Experimental House 1985-95)" [1] which includes a booklet on the topic's history by Tim Lawrence. The contents of the booklet are free to read on Lawrence's website [2]. [1] https://www.discogs.com/Various-Acid-Can-You-Jack-Chicago-Acid-and-Experimental-House-1985-95/release/466567 https://www.discogs.com/Various-Acid-Can-You-Jack-Chicago-Ac... [2] http://www.timlawrence.info/articles2/2013/7/16/acid-and-experimental-chicago-house-soul-jazz-records-2005-21-may-2009-re-released-2013 http://www.timlawrence.info/articles2/2013/7/16/acid-and-exp...
brianzelip 8y ago
Great article. Where’s the write up on the TR-808?!
- stef25 8y ago
  808 got an entire movie!
SonicSoul 8y ago
I still have my future retro 777 I acquired during college years. I expected to keep it as collector item but considering parting with it for the right person that would put it to good use in NYC! Hit me up if you’ve been looking for it.
- guggle 8y ago
  That's one dope box. Goes way beyond what a 303 does. FM is crazy.
creaghpatr 8y ago
I got to see Juan Atkins a couple months ago at a warehouse show- found out the night of, I'm amazed that he's still out there doing his thing after 25 yrs or so. He played until 5am too!
Sam_Harris 8y ago
" Though the wave looks like a square, it is in fact produced by a series of sine waves, embedded like a fractal set." No.
stinos 8y ago
So we was just sitting there for thirty, forty minutes, just turning knobs, going “I like that, I like that! There is indeed something about turning an actual hardware knob (even if it's only to midi-control a software instrument) which can do that. Much less for dragging buttons with a mouse, it seems. The day I got my first synth I spent an entire evening and night like that. Get some sound going, play some notes until satisfied with the melody, then repeat endlessly while lossing yourself in truning each knob available.
- kostadin 8y ago
  Indeed, it hardly gets better then the feel of turning hardware knobs in machine interfaces. Some distant resemblance to [0] perhaps? [0] http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/misc/nipple.html http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/misc/nipple.html
crag 8y ago
I remember music like this being played at the [gay] circuit parties in NYC (and beyond) in the early 90's. Sure the DJ's played favorites, but at like 3AM, these type of tunes played. Trance, I think it was called. Been a while.
oleics 8y ago
Investigating some Unique aspects of the TB-303's sound [...] Human listeners - and probably a few furry quadrupeds - interpret this output of increasingly high pitched audio signals as sounding like the cry of a living creature becoming increasingly distressed, apparently in response to quickly repeated bursts of stimulus. from: http://www.firstpr.com.au/rwi/dfish/303-unique.html http://www.firstpr.com.au/rwi/dfish/303-unique.html

390 points by wglb 8y ago

A lot of people, myself included, still love and create acid. The original 303 itself is pretty absurdly (prohibitively) expensive to acquire, and it's a tiny plastic toy and net anywhere from 2000-4000$. A case study in supply and demand - with a little bit of hype, I suppose. There have been a bunch of pretty good software emulations, most notably: https://www.audiorealism.se/abl3.html https://www.audiorealism.se/abl3.html and even some much cheaper physical emulations: https://www.cyclone-analogic.fr/en/34-bass-bot-tt-303-0701980493430.html https://www.cyclone-analogic.fr/en/34-bass-bot-tt-303-070198...

malvosenior 8y ago
Roland recently reissued many of their classic synths including an updated 303. Now it’s called the TB-03 and it has a “friendly” step programming option in addition to the original crazy style: https://www.roland.com/us/products/tb-03/ https://www.roland.com/us/products/tb-03/
- tjr225 8y ago
  The only reason I didn't mention the tb-03 is that it is essentially a digital(software) option, whereas the TT-03 is still analog. I still think it sounds pretty good.
  - malvosenior 8y ago
    Very true. The look and feel of the TB-03 is second to none though. Imho the build quality is much higher than the original 303.
  - bascule 8y ago
    The TB-03 provides a fairly faithful and accurate reproduction of the TB-303's sound. The TT-303, on the other hand, despite being "circuit identical", can sound downright weird at times (as can Roland's other "analog modeling" 303 reproduction, the TB-3) Here is a 4 way comparison of the 4 synths I just mentioned complete with waveform visualizations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8CAEUU_ics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8CAEUU_ics
- rorykoehler 8y ago
  Behringer are also bringing out a bunch of clones. I think they may have just released a 303 clone. Can't speak to the quality of it though. Always found Behringer kit to have a high noise floor but that was at least a decade ago so things may have changed.
  - stef25 8y ago
    Behringer is generally awful, but check out their Model D. Peter van Hoesen has an excellent review of it. It's almost a crime how good it is, considering how much cheaper it is than the Moog it's copying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWhoakNEoKU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWhoakNEoKU
bhrgunatha 8y ago
Any recommendations for modern artists?
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- Piezoid 8y ago
  The mini/micro-brute by Arturia are the new cheap analog bass synths. They combine a minimal amount of monophonic signal nodes while providing quite a lot of possibilities. The Voltage Control IOs are a bridge to Modular Acquisition Systemic Syndrome :)
  - bhrgunatha 8y ago
    Sorry I didn't mean equipment, I meant artist recommendations.
- philbo 8y ago
  Recondite
- conqueso 8y ago
  Ceephax Acid Crew - super fun(ny) bangin' acid dance beats Aphex Twin (aka AFX, Polygon Window, Caustic Window, The Tuss and others) - insanely beautiful, engineered yet organic music, has tons of acid tracks (see 'Syro', 'Collapse', 'Analord' (afx) and Rushup Edge (The Tuss) for more recent acid stuff)
- zrth 8y ago
  Donato Dozzy - Filo Loves The Acid Apehx twin - Analord Universal Indicator - Red
  - tomduncalf 8y ago
    Another Dozzy fan on HN! Also recommend checking his Acid Test releases. Especially Test 3, which is beautiful, but it's all amazing.
NL807 8y ago
Have you considered getting a x0xb0x kit? I built one of those a few years back, and the sound was pretty spot on to the original.
- sschueller 8y ago
  Sadly some of those parts are almost impossible to get.
- stef25 8y ago
  Xoxbox and the Cyclone ones feel very cheap. Knobs are shitty plastic. The TB-03 feels much better, lots of metal parts. As to the sound of the machines, that's a never ending discussion.
mollusk 8y ago
DinSync RE-303 is probably the most impressive. As they say "it's not a clone it's a replica". They painstakingly traced the PCB, used as much original parts as possible, and you can use the original TB-303 CPU to control it (or you can get the RE-303 CPU with their own firmware since the original is proprietary and long since out of production). Meaning you can use the project to revive a real 303 if you have to, or build your own legit 303.

pgreenwood 8y ago

The acid sound is still immensely popular amongst my cohort even after 30 years. And still some great stuff being produced (relatively) recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHIEqdOic9w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHIEqdOic9w

rorykoehler 8y ago
True. I recently stumbled across this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkwbCeVT5bA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkwbCeVT5bA ConSequence Vs The Auditor - South London Analogue Movement (Original Mix. )Released this year and very much acid.
stinos 8y ago
There's also so-called acidcore, which often has similar basslines but a faster tempo and the kicks like in hardcore. Quite popular around here in the squatting/underground scene. And for me, when the dj or live is the eact thing I like to hear (tracks which basically minute-long buildups into even harder and way more out-of-this-earth soundscapes), it blows me away more than any 'normal' acid track ever did. That stuff gets me in trance in no time.

ghotli 8y ago

For awhile when I was younger I played the game of listen to an album then look up who influenced it, rinse and repeat. Found real gems this way, but along these lines I never found the track in this article. It's really good and it reminds me of E2-E4 [1] [2] by Manuel Göttsching. Which I found because the guy from LCD Soundsystem is quoted in the wikipedia article that when he did 45:33 that he wanted to make something like "E2-E4". [3] [4] Neither of which sound like A Love Supreme [5] [6] by John Coltrane but I always associated them in my mind as a kind of their own kinda thing in music's past. Posting for no other reason than that maybe you'll like these too. [1] https://youtu.be/ys0HyevZpQg https://youtu.be/ys0HyevZpQg [2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/E2-E4 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/E2-E4 [3] https://youtu.be/72-ebRSMJdE https://youtu.be/72-ebRSMJdE [4] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/45%3A33 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/45%3A33 [5] https://youtu.be/ll3CMgiUPuU https://youtu.be/ll3CMgiUPuU [6] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Love_Supreme https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Love_Supreme

pugworthy 8y ago
Is this representative of what's on that play list? I really don't want to sign up for "yet another thing" to hear the original link.
- lfam 8y ago
  No, none of that music sounds like acid house.
- voltagex_ 8y ago
  DRM free - https://traxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lidell-townsell https://traxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lidell-townsell
neom 8y ago
Seems like you really know your house. Not sure if you're musically inclined but if so the OP-1 is a great tool[1][2]. If you ever make it to nyc hit me up, I know James well and I'm sure he'd enjoy your thoughts around E2-E4. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDqThYqldBI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDqThYqldBI [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umatbZ0n4mE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umatbZ0n4mE

pugworthy 8y ago

For those just wanting to play a bit, a web based TB-303... http://errozero.co.uk/acid-machine/ http://errozero.co.uk/acid-machine/

cpeterso 8y ago
Also check out "Acid Defender", a simple web game that uses WebAudio to create acid house tunes as part of the game play. http://cappel-nord.de/webaudio/acid-defender/ http://cappel-nord.de/webaudio/acid-defender/

llamataboot 8y ago

As a Midwestern raver in the 90s that was regularly in Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis, I love this little history and philosophy piece. I can't quite explain the feeling of the midwestern rave scene in the 90s, but it was very racially diverse, utopian, punk, looking somehow back and forward in time at the same time enmeshed in psychedelics and psychedelia but somehow also part of both machines and cultures far older than machines. A super important part of my history. Cyberia by Rushkoff comes closest to capturing parts of it from an anthropology perspective I think.

otisfunkmeyer 8y ago
yah I agree those were definitely good times ;)
- llamataboot 8y ago
  I was at some raves with YOU :)
  - technonerd 8y ago
    Someday ill make it out to even furthur. Don't forget Intellephunk, future classic and system parties and everything in between :) The mpls scene is like the classier version of Detroit.
stef25 8y ago
Even Furthur?
- llamataboot 8y ago
  Yes, and it's back!

jim-jim-jim 8y ago

Newcleus' "Jam On It" is one a the few pre-acid songs I can think of that tries to find a use for the 303. They also didn't bother attempting to emulate a bass with it.

grosun 8y ago
Shannon - "Let The Music Play" also used it the year before https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-0sUuGufmw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-0sUuGufmw & has more of a squelchy what-you'd-think-of-as-303 type bassline sound, but the sound isn't tweaked through the tune, just constantly resonant.

zamalek 8y ago

It's amazing that the iconic dance/trance clap (the clap after 1:15 in Acid Tracks) was forged alongside the 303. This exact sample (or an unbelievably similar one) could be heard throughout the late 90's and still features in many tracks today. It's the Wilhelm Scream of EDM. Acid eventually resulted in liquid trance, which eventually became psytrance. Liquid was a fantastic exploration of the nature of sound, with many types of dynamics for a single instrument. EDM receives as lot of criticism for its lack of humanity and skill (regarding playing an instrument), but the same could be said of Beethoven or Bach: they were merely creating scores for an orchestra to play. EDM can be the same type of approach, only we now have ways to explore sound that simply weren't available to the great composers.

ta7687 8y ago
My inner pedant compels me to point out that Beethoven and Bach were both virtuosos, though your point still stands.
- scns 8y ago
  I do not think you are being pedantic at all. I am trying to come up with kind words, but the line "they were merely creating scores" is absolutely ridiculous IMO.
dylan604 8y ago
We used sit around and joke about the type of music that Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc would do with studio equipment from today, but without letting them hear anything produced with them. Would they create similar compositions just with new voices? Seems logical as that's what they "knew". Or would the new eventually end up completely changing styles with the capabilities of the new instruments. Yes, we'd conveniently ignore the fact most of this gear benefits from computers/sequences, but just a synth and the different sound devices. Here's some keys, knobs, buttons and flashy lights. Go to it!
- eru 8y ago
  The Well-Tempered Clavier was a novelty in JS Bach's time. He did write new music just for it.

kaycebasques 8y ago

Beautiful site! Great performance, too.

praptak 8y ago

If you are interested in this, Synthmania YouTube channel has pretty detailed reconstruction/deconstruction of beats from those times, mostly using the original gear.

sireat 8y ago
Synthmania is a treasure! He has an amazing collection of synths/drum machines/other audio gear PLUS he can showcase them in styles from 70s funk, to 90s techno and everything in between(italo, house etc etc).. Some house related videos of his: TB-303: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ZUIkaQ7Kw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ZUIkaQ7Kw House and Techno Patterns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ3Y0oVaXX4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ3Y0oVaXX4 The new Roland digital machines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84ag_yvj9cw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84ag_yvj9cw Finally the infamous "I don't have an Aira" video which was meant in jest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FirM3sy5YvY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FirM3sy5YvY My personal favorite of his is House done by multilayering a single Microbrute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlmI-gvdZ6o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlmI-gvdZ6o
stef25 8y ago
The guy's a genius with amazing passion. His kids are very lucky!

shellac 8y ago

Although weirdly preempted by an Indian record 'Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat' in 1982: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB4RYBpwV0A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB4RYBpwV0A This is what "the TB-303 bass synthesizer uses [the artist] to reproduce itself" means - you really couldn't use these tools without producing this music.

coldtea 8y ago
>you really couldn't use these tools without producing this music Well, you can use the TB-303 very consevatively, for it's original intended purpose, and it will just sound like a badly immitated regular bass guitar.
- shellac 8y ago
  I did try that once, and found it quite a challenge. It feels like all the controls go well beyond '11' for the intended (bass line) use.
- bascule 8y ago
  That's more or less how it was used in one of the first popular tracks to use the 303, Orange Juice - Rip it Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESy-Z8vqMrE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESy-Z8vqMrE
yumraj 8y ago
Very cool. From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charanjit_Singh_(musician) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charanjit_Singh_(musician) Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat, an album of original electronic disco compositions Singh recorded in 1982, was a commercial failure at the time of its original release, but its re-discovery in 2002 and re-issue in early 2010 garnered attention due to its pioneering of a new style of dance music later known as the acid house genre of the late 1980s. Since then, certain commentators in the music press have recast Singh as an originator of acid house music. He also used the same drum machine and synthesizers for his experimental electronic calypso record, Experiments in Calypso.

stef25 8y ago

Ah acid ... the sound of the 303 has been with me ever since I got a copy of ReBirth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBirth_RB-338 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBirth_RB-338 from Propellerhead Software back in the 90s. It's a software emulator of 2x TB303, a 909 and an 808 with distortion and delay effects. These instruments were basically the corner stone of dance music in the 80s and 90s and the software was just incredible at the time. Before that I was using trackers on my dad's amiga but this was something different all together. I spent so many hours playing with this software and even got a Phatboy http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/phatboy.php http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/phatboy.php external midi controller with knobs. This was cutting edge stuff back then. What's funny is that I discovered the software before I actually started listening to this kind of music, which wasn't easy to find during this time. When I started going out and then discovered acid house and psytrance, recognising the 303 sounds as what came out my little ReBirth program was amazing. A little know fact is that an Indian artists may have actually "discovered" acid house before Pierre and all those guys did. "Charanjit Singh - Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat" is from 1982: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN8M2irJVJA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN8M2irJVJA The sound of a 303 is absolutely fascinating, timeless and unique and the "acid" genre is still a live as ever. Some essential acid tracks Bam Bam, where's your child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyxyRcZWBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyxyRcZWBA, supposedly just 1x 303 is used here and the pattern is pretty intricate. Jesus loves the acid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhSB_6EQ0DM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhSB_6EQ0DM, apparently it's a 101 being used here, not a 303 Fuse, substance abuse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JonuLqgoQI8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JonuLqgoQI8 Hardfloor, Acperience (Live on MTV!)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgFGHz5dR7k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgFGHz5dR7k System 7 Alphawave, Richie Hawtin rmx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWOtCXu6dCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWOtCXu6dCE And here's a full length mix of classic acid tracks https://soundcloud.com/abbeloosolivier/classic-303-acid-patterns-part-1 https://soundcloud.com/abbeloosolivier/classic-303-acid-patt...

kieckerjan 8y ago
Ah yes, ReBirth! Had a lot of fun with that. A friend of mine once threw a party where ReBirth was the only source of music. The whole night was basically one long communally made acid track. Guests would stroll up to the computer, fiddle with the knobs a bit and the music would slightly change. Good times.

artur_makly 8y ago

Lets also not forget the unique choreography that its also produced : warning : this video in particular is on the fringes of acid. enjoy https://www.facebook.com/MixmagMagazine/videos/470330406814812/ https://www.facebook.com/MixmagMagazine/videos/4703304068148...

new_here 8y ago

I really love how an obscure topic like Acid House can trend on HN and then a whole bunch of people who've been fans of that topic for years just emerge in the comments out of nowhere. It's really testament to the diversity and quality of the HN community.

gpderetta 8y ago
And from the title I though this was about NoSQL...
- greenrobot 8y ago
  Yeah, me too.
- kiliantics 8y ago
  I figured microdosing
  - malmsteen 8y ago
    Or even macro
elboru 8y ago
I've always loved that about HN, it doesn't matter how obscure the topic is, there will always be someone with first hand exposure to it, they will always add a plus to the article.

empath75 8y ago

If you like this style of writing and topic, you should enjoy Energy Flash by Simon Reynolds

yoran 8y ago

I moved to Chicago a few years ago. I'm a big fan of electronic music and it therefore really surprised me that people are not aware of the rich house music heritage the city has. I'm really happy to see initiatives such as the lunch-break DJ sets on Daley Plaza during summer or the House nights at the Shedd Aquarium. One of my business ideas is to actually organize a "House Music Heritage" walking tour in Chicago.

cmrdporcupine 8y ago
Dance Mania FTW. My favourite label out of Chicago, so many great gems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U_BUIT1axg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U_BUIT1axg
TimJYoung 8y ago
Not just house - Wax Trax! Records was very much responsible for exposing quite a few people to industrial music in the 80s, also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_Trax!_Records https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_Trax!_Records Chicago often doesn't get the cultural recognition that it deserves. My wife and I love it there, and visit as often as possible.

haywirez 8y ago

Nice to see this topic up here! Check out Acid Defender, a super fun 303 web audio game I came across a few days ago: http://cappel-nord.de/webaudio/acid-defender/ http://cappel-nord.de/webaudio/acid-defender/

rorykoehler 8y ago
This is awesome. It's essentially reverse acid "guitar hero".

theonefoo 8y ago

For anyone that's interested in reading more about the history of acid house, Soul Jazz Records released a compilation titled "Acid: Can You Jack? (Chicago Acid And Experimental House 1985-95)" [1] which includes a booklet on the topic's history by Tim Lawrence. The contents of the booklet are free to read on Lawrence's website [2]. [1] https://www.discogs.com/Various-Acid-Can-You-Jack-Chicago-Acid-and-Experimental-House-1985-95/release/466567 https://www.discogs.com/Various-Acid-Can-You-Jack-Chicago-Ac... [2] http://www.timlawrence.info/articles2/2013/7/16/acid-and-experimental-chicago-house-soul-jazz-records-2005-21-may-2009-re-released-2013 http://www.timlawrence.info/articles2/2013/7/16/acid-and-exp...

brianzelip 8y ago

Great article. Where’s the write up on the TR-808?!

stef25 8y ago
808 got an entire movie!

SonicSoul 8y ago

I still have my future retro 777 I acquired during college years. I expected to keep it as collector item but considering parting with it for the right person that would put it to good use in NYC! Hit me up if you’ve been looking for it.

guggle 8y ago
That's one dope box. Goes way beyond what a 303 does. FM is crazy.

creaghpatr 8y ago

I got to see Juan Atkins a couple months ago at a warehouse show- found out the night of, I'm amazed that he's still out there doing his thing after 25 yrs or so. He played until 5am too!

Sam_Harris 8y ago

" Though the wave looks like a square, it is in fact produced by a series of sine waves, embedded like a fractal set." No.

stinos 8y ago

So we was just sitting there for thirty, forty minutes, just turning knobs, going “I like that, I like that! There is indeed something about turning an actual hardware knob (even if it's only to midi-control a software instrument) which can do that. Much less for dragging buttons with a mouse, it seems. The day I got my first synth I spent an entire evening and night like that. Get some sound going, play some notes until satisfied with the melody, then repeat endlessly while lossing yourself in truning each knob available.

kostadin 8y ago
Indeed, it hardly gets better then the feel of turning hardware knobs in machine interfaces. Some distant resemblance to [0] perhaps? [0] http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/misc/nipple.html http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/misc/nipple.html

crag 8y ago

I remember music like this being played at the [gay] circuit parties in NYC (and beyond) in the early 90's. Sure the DJ's played favorites, but at like 3AM, these type of tunes played. Trance, I think it was called. Been a while.

oleics 8y ago

Investigating some Unique aspects of the TB-303's sound [...] Human listeners - and probably a few furry quadrupeds - interpret this output of increasingly high pitched audio signals as sounding like the cry of a living creature becoming increasingly distressed, apparently in response to quickly repeated bursts of stimulus. from: http://www.firstpr.com.au/rwi/dfish/303-unique.html http://www.firstpr.com.au/rwi/dfish/303-unique.html