Music Production Is Like an Onion — And You’re Probably Still on the First Couple Layers

Ever opened Ableton for the first time, dropped in a kick drum, and thought, “Cool, I made a beat”—only to later discover how deep the rabbit hole really goes? Music production isn’t a checklist. It’s an evolving craft. Like an onion, it has layers—and the more you peel back, the more your sound (and your curiosity) expands.

So what’s this article about?
This piece is for anyone on the production journey—whether you've just started or you’re stuck in a creative plateau. We’ll break down the layers of music production, from the basics to the often-overlooked psychological and creative processes that define your growth. Each layer represents a stage of learning, and none of them are ‘one-and-done’. Like revisiting an old track with fresh ears, each layer invites you back with new perspective.

Teaching Through the Layers

As a teacher, one of the most important parts of my job is figuring out where someone is in the layers.

Sometimes, students come to me after months—or years—of self-teaching, unsure why their tracks aren’t clicking. Other times, they’re total beginners who’ve just installed Ableton and don’t even know what they don’t know yet.

Either way, I have to meet people where they are—and be honest about what lies ahead.

That means:

• Helping you build confidence in the layer you’re currently in

• Filling in blind spots that might be holding you back

• And guiding you through the next stage without overwhelming you

There’s no shame in being early in your journey. What matters is having someone who knows the map—and can help you navigate it with clarity, momentum, and a sense of fun.

Let’s peel them back.

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Layer 1: Getting Started — Scratching the Surface

At this stage, you’re focused on the fundamentals:

• Loading samples, building loops, playing with Drum Racks.

• Arranging clips in Session or Arrangement View.

• Experimenting with warp modes, EQ Eight, and maybe a few presets.

It’s exciting, but also overwhelming. You’re learning what each button does—not necessarily why you’d use it.

Common mindset: “I’ve made a tune!”
Reality: You’ve built a loop or sketch—great start, but this is only the first rung on the ladder.

Key insight:
Many learners stay here longer than they need to because they don’t realize there is a structure behind what makes tracks sound pro. This is where having guidance speeds up the process massively.

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Layer 2: Structure & Flow

Here’s where things get sticky. You can make great 8-bar loops—but turning them into a track that flows? That’s a different skill set.

In this layer, you learn:

• How to build intros, breakdowns, drops, and outros.

• The art of tension and release using filters, automation, and silence.

• How professional producers use variation to hold attention without overwhelming the listener.

Key insight:
A track should feel like a story. Without structure, your loop becomes repetitive noise. With structure, you create movement—and movement is music.

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Layer 3: Sound Design & FX

Once you’ve nailed structure, your curiosity shifts:
“How do I make my own sounds?”
“How do they get that squelchy bass or that airy pad?”

This is where you dive into:

• Synthesis (Subtractive, FM, Wavetable, etc.)

• Sampling techniques beyond just drag-and-drop

• Effect chains and creative processing with reverb, delay, distortion, vocoders, and more

• Resampling and audio manipulation tricks that give your work character

Key insight:
Preset hunting can only get you so far. This layer is about expressing your sound and understanding why something sounds the way it does.

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Layer 4: Mixing & Space

Now you’re not just thinking about the music—but the sound environment.

You begin to:

• Think in frequency ranges (lows, mids, highs)

• Use EQ surgically—not just “make it sound better”

• Balance elements with volume, stereo placement, compression

• Learn about gain staging, headroom, and reference tracks

• Understand how sounds sit together in the mix vs. in isolation

Key insight:
Mixing isn’t just a technical process—it’s how you shape emotion and energy. Great production sounds simple on the surface because the mix is clean, deliberate, and emotionally intentional.

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Layer 5: The Psychology of Production

This layer is the most overlooked—and often the most important.

Here, you face:

• Perfectionism: “It’s not finished until it’s perfect… so I never finish it.”

• Comparison paralysis: “Why does their mix sound better than mine?”

• Creative fatigue: “I’ve been working on this track for 6 months and I hate it now.”

• The Drop-Off Cliff: “I’ve learned loads… now I’m stuck.”

This is where coaching and community become game-changers.
You don’t need more plugins—you need a better feedback loop, some accountability, and the reminder that fun and momentum matter more than technical mastery alone.

Key insight:
Your mindset determines your output. You’re not just learning how to use Ableton—you’re learning how to stay inspired over the long term.

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Layer 6: Mastery — Understanding Sound as Material

At this depth, you’re no longer just arranging sounds. You’re shaping energy.
You’ve moved past workflows, past tricks, past templates—and now you’re listening differently.

This is where music production becomes less about tools and more about material intuition. Like a blacksmith working steel, you begin to understand sound as something you can feel and bend with intent.

You start to ask:

• Why does this harmonic cluster feel tense?

• How can microtonal shifts evoke entirely new emotional shades?

• What frequencies aren’t being heard, but are still being felt?

Here, you’re working with:

• Resonance, dissonance, and harmonic structure

• Psychoacoustics and how the ear prioritises frequencies

• Microtonality and alternative tuning systems

• Shaping sound based on feeling and flow, not just meter or key

Key insight:
This layer isn’t about showing off technical mastery. It’s about removing friction between what you hear in your head and what comes out of your speakers. It’s the point where production feels less like construction—and more like channeling.

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Final Thoughts: You Don’t Just Learn Music Production—You Grow With It

Each layer builds on the last—but none of them are truly ‘finished’.
You’ll revisit them all as your skills evolve, sometimes looping back to the basics with new eyes and ears.

My main advice here would be to never stop learning, never stop digging into each layer and discovering new techniques and ideas. The music production learning journey is long and winding and it is there to be enjoyed.

I would also like to add that great music can be created with only the first few layers peeled back - limitation is often the source of creativity and it is true that the more you know, the harder it can be to decide what direction to take. However, the deeper you go, the more personalised your sound will become, the more intentional your decisions will be, and the more technical your production techniques will be.

Ready to start peeling back your own layers?
Book a free 30-minute intro session and let’s map out your ideal learning path:
👉 Start Your Journey WITH A FREE ONE ON ONE SESSION.

How to Stop Losing Ableton Projects: Folder Setup, Backups & Sample Management

How to Organise, Back Up, and Bulletproof Your Ableton Work

If you’ve ever opened an Ableton project and been greeted by “Media Files Missing” — or worse, lost entire sessions to a failed hard drive — you know how painful it can be. The good news? It’s completely avoidable.
This guide walks you through a bulletproof system to organise your files, safeguard your work, and future-proof your music production setup.

I personally have had some complete nightmares when it comes to losing Ableton projects, and until it happens to you (unless it already has) then you can not fathom the absolute pain knowing your work is lost forever. One time I had a harddrive failure and I lost 2 EPs that were ready for a label along with a remix. No joke, I couldn’t face opening Ableton for MONTHS after this - I was devastated.

I have also witnessed, and regularly have to fix many students filing systems in order to prevent such a headache happening to them. As we should all know by now with technology, if it can go wrong eventually it will go wrong.

So today I present a fool proof way to sort your stuff out and never lose a project, sample or preset again.

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🛠 Step 1: Use a Dedicated Hard Drive for Music Production

Let’s start with the foundation. If you’re producing regularly — especially with sample packs — your internal hard drive will fill up fast. That’s where a dedicated external hard drive becomes a game-changer.

Think of it as your production hub. Everything Ableton-related lives here:

• Projects

• Samples

• Presets

• User Library

This keeps your system clean, makes backups easier, and lets you take your entire setup anywhere. I recommend an SSD especially if you are going to be taking the harddrive with you and moving it around. (The story above of mine was due to the mechanical failure of a disk hard drive.

Recommendation - Samsung T7

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📂 Step 2: Locate and Move Your Ableton User Library

Ableton creates the User Library automatically when you install the software — this is where it stores your custom presets, samples, effect racks, and more.

To move it to your external drive:

1. In Ableton’s left sidebar, locate the User Library under “Places”

2. Right-click it and select “Show in Finder” (Mac) or “Show in Explorer” (Windows)

3. Drag the entire User Library folder into your newly created /Ableton Master folder on your external hard drive

4. Now go to Ableton > Preferences > Library

5. Under Location, click “Change” and point it to the new User Library location on your external drive

✅ This keeps your custom content in one place and prevents Ableton from creating duplicates across your system.

1&2: Locate your User Library

3. Drag the User Library to your Master Folder.

4 & 5: Point Ableton to the correct User Library.

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🗃 Step 3: Create a Folder for All Your Projects

Still inside your /Ableton Master folder, create a new folder called /Projects.
From now on, every .als file you create should live here.

This keeps your Project Files for every project you start. If you have projects randomly located around your computer then find them and drag them into this.

Bonus Advice - Organise your Projects by year, and genre. So have a folder inside your Projects folder called “2025”. This will allow you to go back and find projects down the line with ease as trust me, you will have a lot of projects after a year or two using Ableton.

My own filing system for my Live Projects - each year also has sub-folders of each genre as I make and teach many different styles

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🎛 Step 4: Keep All Samples Inside the User Library

Dragging in samples from random folders? That’s a recipe for disaster.
Instead:

• Manually place new samples into /User Library/Samples/Imported

• Or, drag them into that folder from within Ableton’s Browser

This ensures:

• Everything you use stays within your Master Folder

• No broken sample paths

• Clean project loading, every time

This is the User Library Sample folder inside of Ableton - this will have all your samples so you can drag them into your project.

In order to add samples to the folder - add them by dropping them directly into the folder on your hard drive. They will then show inside of the Ableton Sample folder.

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💾 Step 5: Use “Collect All and Save” (At Key Points)

Even with a tidy setup, samples from outside folders can sneak into your projects.

Use File > Collect All and Save when:

• You’re finishing a track

• You’re about to collaborate or send the file

• You’re archiving or backing it up

This pulls all external samples into the project folder — fully self-contained and portable.

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☁️ Step 6: Back It All Up to the Cloud

Even external drives can fail. The final line of defence is a real-time cloud backup.

I use and highly recommend Dropbox due to the ability to back up multiple devices in real-time.

Sync your entire /Ableton Master folder, so:

• Every project and sample is backed up continuously

• You get version history (rollback if needed)

• You can work across machines with zero friction

If the worst case happens and you do lose your hard drive then all you need to do is download your backed up Master Folder and put it on your new hard drive.

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✅ Summary: Your Bulletproof Ableton File System

1. Use a dedicated external hard drive

2. Move your User Library into a central Master Folder

3. Save all projects into a /Projects folder

4. Store all samples in the User Library

5. Use Collect All and Save at milestones

6. Set up cloud sync for real-time, off-site backup

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🎓 Ready to Take Your Music Further?

You’ve just sorted your folders — now let’s sort your sound.
At Decloak Music, we offer one-to-one online lessons in:

🎛 Ableton Live – From absolute beginner to advanced production
🔊 Synthesis & Sound Design – Create your own signature sounds
🧠 Workflow & Creative Coaching – Get unstuck and finish more music

All tailored to your genre, your goals, and your schedule.

👉 Book your free 30-minute intro session and start making real progress with your music today.

Thinking of Starting with Ableton Live? Answers to the Most Common Beginner Questions (2025 Guide)

If you’ve ever wanted to make your own music but had no idea where to begin, Ableton Live is one of the most powerful — and beginner-friendly — tools you can learn. But starting out can feel overwhelming. What version do you need? Is it hard to learn? What equipment is essential?

In this guide, we answer the most common beginner questions about starting with Ableton Live. Whether you’re a total novice or switching from another DAW, this article will give you a clear, confident path forward — with expert advice drawn from over a decade of teaching experience.

Take a look at the most questions below and if you still have any others then feel free to contact us! We are always happy to help.

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Do I need any music production experience to start Ableton Live?

Not at all. Ableton Live is designed to be accessible to complete beginners while still offering deep creative power for pros. If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll benefit from learning the core tools, basic music structure, and how to turn your ideas into finished tracks — which is exactly what our beginner course is built for.

What version of Ableton should beginners use?

For most beginners, Ableton Live Intro is a great place to start — it’s affordable and includes all the essentials. If you’re ready to dive deeper or want access to more instruments and audio effects, Ableton Live Standard offers a great balance. We don’t usually recommend going straight to Suite unless you know you’ll be using Max for Live or advanced sound design tools.

What equipment do I need to get started?

To get going with Ableton Live, you’ll need:

• A computer (Mac or Windows)

• Headphones or speakers

• Ableton Live (Intro, Standard, or Suite)

Optional but not essential gear:

• A MIDI controller (great for hands-on control)

• An audio interface (if you want to record vocals or instruments)

• An external hard drive (helpful for storing samples if your laptop is limited on space)

What kind of music can I make with Ableton Live?

Anything — from house, techno, and drum & bass to hip-hop, ambient, pop, or even film scoring and experimental sound design. Ableton Live is genre-agnostic. At Decloak Music, we tailor every course to your musical taste so you’re always learning in a style that excites you.

How long does it take to learn?

Most students start making full tracks within a few weeks, but mastering the software and refining your sound can take months or years — depending on your pace, experience, and goals. Our structured courses are designed to dramatically accelerate your learning curve, with clear progress each session.

How Much Time a day / week / month do I need to spend on Ableton Live to get good?

This varies from person to person — and it depends on what “good” means to you. Music production involves many skills: beat-making, sound design, sampling, arrangement, mixing, and more. You don’t need to master everything at once to make something that sounds great — but consistency is key.

We recommend aiming for at least 4 hours per week to build real momentum. That gives you time to absorb new techniques, practice hands-on, and gradually build confidence.

When students take our courses, we suggest spending 4+ hours between each lesson to revisit what was covered, apply the techniques, and develop a track to bring back. This habit leads to faster results — because nothing beats putting the time in.

What’s the best way to actually learn Ableton Live in 2025?

The best way is one-to-one tuition with an experienced producer who tailors the lessons to your goals. Paired with hands-on practice, this approach beats any YouTube binge or pre-recorded course. Whether you’re learning beat-making, arrangement, or advanced mixing, our Ableton Live courses are built to get you there — faster, clearer, and with full support.

What if I have no idea what kind of music I want to make?

You don’t need to decide right away. One of the best parts of learning music production is discovering what excites you. We encourage beginners to explore a few different genres — from house and techno to ambient or experimental — until something clicks. At Decloak, we tailor each session to your taste, so you can evolve naturally without pressure to “pick a lane” too early.

Can I use Ableton Live for DJing or live performance?

Yes — Ableton Live is one of the most powerful tools for live performance and DJ-style sets. Its unique Session View lets you launch loops, samples, and full tracks on the fly, making it perfect for hybrid DJ sets, live remixing, or even jamming with instruments. We teach you how to build flexible, performance-ready sets that reflect your style.

Can I record vocals or instruments in Ableton Live?

Absolutely. Ableton Live is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) that makes recording vocals, guitars, synths, or any instrument easy. You’ll need an audio interface and microphone (we’ll help you choose), and we’ll show you how to set levels, record clean takes, and even layer harmonies or effects.

Can I make professional-sounding music without expensive gear?

Yes — many producers create fully released tracks with nothing more than a laptop and headphones. Ableton Live comes with built-in instruments and effects that are more than enough to start sounding polished. With the right techniques, creativity beats gear every time — and we’ll teach you how to get the most from what you have.

Can I use Ableton to make remixes or mashups?

Yes — and it’s one of the most fun ways to learn. Ableton Live’s Warping tools make it easy to sync up different tracks, chop vocals, and blend elements from multiple songs. Whether you’re remixing a friend's tune or mashing up two classics, we’ll guide you through the creative and legal side of remixing.

Do I need to know music theory to start producing?

No — music theory can help, but it’s not a barrier. Ableton Live includes tools like scale modes, MIDI effects, and clip quantization that make writing musical ideas easier, even if you don’t read sheet music. We’ll teach you creative shortcuts and, if you’re curious, introduce basic theory concepts as you go.

Should I buy a full keyboard and learn piano to start in Ableton Live?

Not at all. You can draw in notes with your mouse or play them using your computer keyboard. A small MIDI controller (25–49 keys) can help if you prefer hands-on input, but it’s optional. Learning piano can help later on, but you don’t need to study it before making music. Our courses focus on practical creativity — not classical training.

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Conclusion

Still unsure where to begin?

At Decloak Music, we specialise in teaching music production one-to-one using Ableton Live — with lessons tailored to your goals, your music taste, and your current experience level.

If you're just starting out and feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. That’s why we offer a free 30-minute intro session where we’ll walk you through how our lessons work, assess where you're at, and help you map out the best route to reach your musical goals — whether that’s making your first track, understanding music theory, or preparing for release.

There’s no pressure and no obligation — just real advice from experienced producers who’ve helped hundreds of beginners get started.

👉 Book your free intro session now and take your first step into music production with confidence.

Ableton Live 11.3 is now available.

Ableton Live 11.3: Introducing Exciting New Features

Ableton Live 11.3 has been released, offering a range of enhancements and exciting additions to its already powerful music production software. This update brings significant improvements and new capabilities that will delight musicians and producers alike. Let's explore the key features introduced in Ableton Live 11.3.

Drift: A New Synth for All Editions of Live 11

One of the highlights of Live 11.3 is the introduction of Drift, a brand-new synthesizer compatible with all editions of Live 11, including Live Lite. Drift is a versatile and MPE-capable synth that opens up a world of possibilities for sound creation. Its minimal layout and user-friendly interactive controls make it accessible for musicians new to synthesis, while experienced sound designers will appreciate its ability to expand their sonic palette. Drift draws inspiration from classic hardware and modern synths, delivering exceptional sound quality effortlessly.

Improved Auto-Warping

Live 11.3 enhances the auto-warping feature, offering improved accuracy when warping imported audio files. With this enhancement, users will spend less time manually adjusting warp settings and have greater ease in making adjustments when needed. The result is a streamlined workflow that allows musicians to focus more on their creativity and less on technical adjustments.

More MPE-Capable Instruments

This free update to Live 11 brings MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) capability to several instruments. Analog, Collision, Electric, and Tension now support MPE, providing musicians with more expressive control over their music. MPE enables nuanced and dynamic performances, adding a new dimension to musical expression.

Enhanced Expressive Control of Your Music

Live 11.3 introduces various updates that support MPE, empowering musicians to have more expressive control over their compositions. The MPE Control device gains added functionality, an updated user interface, and reduced CPU load, allowing for seamless integration into the creative process. Note Echo now supports MPE and offers feedback controls for each dimension, enabling creative modulation changes over time. Additionally, the updated Core Library in Live 11.3 includes expressive content that enhances the musical possibilities within the software.

Full Push Functionality

Live 11.3 provides full functionality for the new Push hardware. Owners of a Push with a processor installed will receive a prompt to update to the latest version of Live directly from the Push start menu. This ensures a seamless and optimized experience for Push users, further enhancing their music-making capabilities.

Get the Latest Update

To experience the exciting new features and enhancements in Ableton Live 11.3, simply download the free update. If you already own a Live 11 license, the Live 11.3 update is available to you at no additional cost.

For more detailed information, consult the release notes for Ableton Live 11.3. Please note that the release notes are currently available only in English.

Upgrade your music production experience with Ableton Live 11.3, and unlock new creative possibilities and enhanced control over your compositions. Download the free update now and unleash your musical potential.

Educate Yourself - A Brief History Of The Roland TB-303

The Roland TB-303 (TB standing for "Transistor Bass") is a synthesizer and sequencer released by the Roland Corporation in 1982. Its unique  "squelchy" sound has resulted in the creation of numerous genres, implanted itself as a part of cultural subconscious of the 1990’s and the rise of rave culture and is still to this day a prime choice to have in any producer's studio.

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The intention

Despite being intended for use as a bass synthesizer with the purpose of filling in for bass guitar players, the TB-303's unique sound quickly gained popularity with electronic music producers and became a staple in genres such as acid house and techno - where the resonance from its built in filters were pushed to give the signature squelchy melodies we now just know as “ACID”.

An Early Advertisement for the TB-303 and TR-606 from the Roland Corporation.

Not many synths have had such a significant impact on the history of electronic dance music than Roland’s TB-303. It initially was marketed as a tool to create bass guitar lines, but it quickly gained a following among producers and DJs. The TB-303's unique, futuristic design and simple interface made it accessible to a wide range of musicians.

The TB-303 was designed to be used in conjunction with a Roland TR-606 drum machine. The two devices could be connected via a DIN sync cable (Pre-MIDI!), allowing the TB-303 to play in time with the TR-606. The TB-303's sequencer allowed users to input notes and adjust various parameters, such as pitch and duration, to create patterns. The TB-303's sound was produced by an oscillator that generated sawtooth and square waves, which could be filtered and modulated to create a wide range of sounds.

A Roland TR-606 above the TB-303.

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The rise of house & techno

Although not initially successful, the TB-303 gained a cult following in the early 1990s when DJs and producers started using it to create the now house-hold "acid" sound.

Chicago DJs such as DJ Pierre and Phuture began using the TB-303 to produce a new style of house music. This genre was characterized by repetitive, pulsating beats and the distinctive, "squelchy" sound of the TB-303.

Over the pond in the U.K. in the summer of 1988, this sound was to be adopted by the clubs, warehouses and illegal raves that were springing up all over a country that was just discovering ecstasy. British Producers like 808 State and A Guy Called Gerald doubled down on the Acid sound in their productions and this style of House music was dubbed “Acid House” and cities like Manchester with clubs such as the infamous Hacienda became a catalyst for a cultural and musical explosion that is still being felt today.

Hacienda, Manchester 1989

Combined with some of Roland’s other stalwart machines such as the 707, 808 and 909 drum machines, this Chicago sound would be adopted further by European producers who would use faster, driving beats that their American counterparts, leading to what we now know as Acid Techno.

In the US during this time in cities like Detroit however, the already established techno scene saw a wave of producers come to light with tracks that featured heavily the squelchy tones of the TB-303.

One of the most recognisable classics of this era is Higher State of Consciousness by Josh Wink, highlighting another genre spawning from the 303s circuitry, Acid Breakbeat.

The TB-303's simple design and affordable price made it accessible to a wide range of musicians, and it has been used on countless tracks in a variety of genres. It has been used by artists such as The Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, and Daft Punk, and became an essential part of every producers set-up.

Credit: We Rave Magazine

Despite its popularity, the TB-303 is not without its limitations. Its sound is relatively simple and can become repetitive if overused. It also has a limited range of controls, which can make it difficult to create more complex sounds.

The TB-303 was in production from 1982 to 1984 and was not a commercial success at the time of its release. However, after the emergence of acid house and other electronic dance music genres in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the TB-303 became highly sought after by collectors and musicians. The demand for the TB-303, combined with its relatively low production numbers, has made it a collector's item and has driven up its price on the secondhand market.

Its popularity had waned by the late 1990s, but it experienced a resurgence in the 2000s, with many electronic musicians continuing to use it in their music. Today, the TB-303 is considered a classic synthesizer and an important part of electronic music history.

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The Legacy

In more recent years, Roland have released a number of successor to the device that are influenced by the original TB-303, such as the Roland TB-03 and the Roland AIRA TB-3. These instruments are designed to capture the essence of the TB-303's sound while offering additional features and functionality.

The Aira TB-3 released back in 2016 by Roland.

These reissues have allowed newer generations of musicians to experience the classic TB-303 sound and have helped to keep the legacy of the TB-303 alive.

We have also seen the release of many budget friendly, yet fully convincing “boutique” versions over this past few years such as…

Despite its age, the TB-303 remains a popular and sought-after instrument, with vintage models fetching high prices on the used market.

In conclusion, the Roland TB-303 is a classic synthesizer and sequencer that has had a significant impact on the history of electronic dance music. Its simple design and affordable price have made it accessible to a wide range of musicians, and it continues to be used by artists and producers today. Its distinctive sound has helped to define the sound of various genres and has had a lasting influence on the music industry.

The 303 is an essential for any studio that is pumping out electronic music.

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Some other Notable 303 featuring bangers

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Want your own 303?

If you want to grab one yourself today getting your hands on an original Roland TB-303 could set you back over £3000! However, fear not as there are many options for every budget and here are a few recommendations;

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BEST REPLICA

Roland Boutique TB-03

For hardware, check out the Roland Boutique TB-03 Bass Line. This is the direct successor to the TB-303 and its controls and their arrangement correspond exactly to the original in the new edition.  

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BUDGET

Behringer TD-3

For those on a budget there is the Behringer TD-3 which you can bag for just £120. This does a fantastic job at recreating the originals circuitry and some even claim for this budget iteration to do a better job at sounding “303” than the TB-303! 

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VIRTUAL SYNTH

Roland Cloud TB-303

For those looking for a like-for-like virtual instrument version then there is no better than the one from Roland themselves! The Roland Cloud TB 303 was released a few years back along with the majority of all the other Roland machines in digital format. This was initially released as a monthly subscription, however you now can purchase just the 303 for the one-off price £130.