Roland MC-303 Groovebox

Advantages: Nothing does the job quite as well
Disadvantages: Expensive and tricky to programme, everyone has used it

...This is the machine that is responsible for the fact that dance music is as huge as it is today. Without the squealing sound of the Roland TB-303 acid music would have never existed and 1988 would have been just another dull year. This silver box about the size of a VHS tape is the onlt thing capable of producing that real acid bass sound that, unless you have been living in a sensory deprivation chamber for the last 12 odd years you will have heard on a thousand techno tunes. If you want to know what it sounds like then find a copy of TB resusitation by hardfloor or access by DJ tim and Misjah. For a more commercial idea try Josh Wink's 'Higher state of conciousness' although that was not a real TB303 but was in fact a Novation Basstation overdriven through the mixer. The TB303's 18db/oct filter and resonance is what makes it sound so... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Easy to use, sounds are big
Disadvantages: Not very robust

...The Novation Bass station keyboard is a small and portable multi use synth able to produce not only low bass sounds but also high frequencies (and noises). It has a two octave keyboard scale with two VCO's. It is able to produce some fantastic analogue sub bass sounds similar to the Roland TB303 as well as Moog like synth lead sounds. I have found that some of the control knobs can be a little temperamental but that could be due to lack of use, also I feel that if this synth were to be dropped on the ground, it wouldn't stand much chance of survival. A great feature of this piece of equipment is that you can store up to five sounds which is really useful and very easy to do. Also this works well in live situations, giving ease to tweak the knobs to get a desired sound. This is a small synth with big fat sounds and although not built... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: That kickdrum, Oh Yes! Classic sounds that never sample as well as the real thing
Disadvantages: Very expensive, £900ish

...Along with the Roland TB303 the TR909 is the machine that is responsible for the existence of techno as we know it. The TR909 was released at a time when most drum machines were starting to use digital samples as the basis for their sounds and as a result was not as popular as it deserved to be as only the hi-hats, ride and crash cymbals on the 909 are samples. All the other sounds on the 909 are created using analogue technology and it is this that is responsible for the sheer rib cage destroying power of the 909's kick drum. This kick is possibly the most commonly used sound in the history of electronic music as the vast majority of all techno, trance, garage etc etc tracks feature it in some form or another. Combine this kick with the classic crusty hats and analogue clap, drop in a meaty snare roll and you have the basis of a million... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful