The original MAM MB33 came in two models, both 1U rack mounting, the standard model recieves midi note data, and the Mk-2 model has controller send/recieve added for realtime control of all the pots, plus distortion control. It was at the time a reasonably close 303 clone, pretty much as good as any clone on the market of that era.
The advertising blurb says that the MB33 has been designed to have to closest sound possible to the original TB303.... well there ya go...... it's as i said as close as any of the clones, none of which really get there, but in most situations, the better clones are almost indistinguishable from a real 303 depending on the programme material once it's in the mix..... anyway, honestly, no two real 303's sound the same either.... there can be quite alot of variation between different units..... usually not that much, but there can be a difference.
Standard 303 controls are duplicated, with the addition of a fader pot to fade between saw & square wave, the same as on the FAT Freebass unit which is a re-branded version of this MB-33 basically.... both were excellent value for money at the time. Accent on this unit is switched in via midi velocity control over 120, and the slide is automatic when you play legato mode... here's the spec's:
- VCO: Analogue VCO with sawtooth and square waveforms
- FILTER: Analogue 24bB filter with variable resonance
- ENV: Envelope has variable decay and is used to modulate the filter cut-off. There is a separate preset envelope for the VCA (as with the TB303)
- ACCENT: Notes will be accented when a velocity level over 120 is played
The back of the unit has audio out, midi in (the pots don't send any MIDI data on this version), and also an audio input to process external audio signals..... there is also some dip switches to set the midi channel..... As i said..... there is a second more expensive model, which add's full midi control for all the control knobs, plus distortion control.
The MAM MB-33 is still sold today in a revised tabletop format by MAM Germany.
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