MB 33

The MB 33 is a rack-mounted TB-303 clone released in the mid-nineties by German synth maker MAM (Music And More). It's basically identical to the Freebass 383 (which had a different front-panel design). It is a true analog monophonic bass synthesizer with MIDI implementation so you can create 303-like bass lines from your sequencer. Its single VCO offers the same two basic waveforms as the TB-303: a sawtooth and square wave. But in the MB 33 they can be mixed together for a more interesting tone than the 303 could originally produce.

Additional knobs control the VCO tuning, filter frequency cutoff, resonance, envelope mod amount, envelope decay time and accent intensity - the same controls found on the TB-303! The 24dB lowpass filter can also produce the characteristic sound of the 18 dB filter used in the original 303. There's also an auto-slide function (4 octave range) for producing those 303-style slides and a separate input for filtering external signals through it. Unfortunately there is no program storage.

MB 33 mkII

The MB 33 mkII (pictured above) released in 1998 adds a few more features. The 24dB filter has been replaced by an 18dB filter just like the original TB-303 used. A new sub-oscillator was added and can be mixed with the other two waveforms for even meatier mono-bass sounds. A new distortion effect is also present and can be dialed-in to dirty things up - sounds great when resonated at high frequency cut-offs! MIDI can send/receive controls for the cutoff, resonance, ENV mod, accent, decay, distortion, and autoslide on/off.

Whereas the original MB 33 and Freebass 383 before it sounded very much the same as the TB-303, the newer MB 33 mkII adds even more possibilities for creating your own unique 303-like sounds - and at a fraction the cost of an original 303!

10 VISITOR COMMENTS

Brian One

October 19, 2011 @ 9:25 pm

Cant believe how cheap these are going (the mk2 model) considering how good they are. 85% 303 sound with 200% of the sound capabilities, midi cc for most parameters, small footprint & knobs per function. win win win!

Peter

May 10, 2011 @ 5:33 am

IT IS NOT A re-packaged Freebass 383. The FAT Freebass is a repack made to Turnkey UK by MAM! MAM germany is the original firm behind all MAM and Freebass items.

Denizen

April 24, 2011 @ 2:54 am

picked one up about 2 years ago... I have really only used it for bass... which it is great for indeed.The sub octave mix and env PWM give it some variety on timbre. With the filter open and resonance up sounds tweezy doesn't give the same squelch as a tb303 even with that screwdriver adjustment, but on anything from lows to mids I can get it to do something I'll agree with. The distortion is ok up to about 50%, then it starts stealing all the low end grunt, but in bits and pieces it helps sculpt the sound. Glad I own it as it does have its own character.

Jasper

August 27, 2010 @ 6:01 am

I have the MB33 1 and i like it sounds good but it's not a 303 clone you could sequense it so it sound like it. but that's not so easy if you aren't in to software. i payed 90 euro for it.

Benny

July 29, 2010 @ 1:15 pm

First of all, those of you looking for the truest 303 sound possible will be disappointed, but don't dismiss it just yet! If you're looking for an affordable monosynth that's remarkably versatile, give it a try! The MB33 II (which I own), has a few extra goodies (sub-oscillator, adjustable PWM, distortion), they all sound and work great and widens its sonic versatility beyond being a simple 303-wannabe. it does a decent impression of a 303 but it won't fool the purists the accent especially as Mik mentioned is very different, but what this synth really excells at is bass. Ballsy, fat and gritty, don't underestimate it, it can move some serious air to the point that the walls rattle when you crank this rude-boy up :) Final words? A trusty, simple, no-bull [beep] synth which will always have something to say in your tracks, if you find one, buy it before someone else does!

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