Behringer TD-3: SECRET OSCILLATOR OFF MODE 🤫👀 (I didn't know it could do that 🤯)

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#behringer #td3 #howto

[@Imetalman2000]

The 303 is the happy accident machine. I feel like every iconic 303 line was a random happy accident.

[@KPsTboy]

'Scratchy and noisy because it's old'. OLD??! This shouldn't be noisy this fast.

[@johnnyhawk]

mine is scratchy too, the pots are crap

[@KPsTboy]

@@johnnyhawk I have the MO on my list. It's good to know this and have some spare, better quality potentiometers ready.

[@christopherfarrell-artist3557]

It costs £90-£120, so the production cost is way less....I am guessing £30 per unit...so yeah, it might not be well spec'd on the component side.

[@Xakutor]

Typical disposable trash Behringer product to fill our already overfull garbage dumps.

[@JH-lo9ut]

I've had mine for about three years and I haven't had any issues with scratchy pots. I have used mine quite a lot, and I don't know if that wears the pots out or if it helps keeping them from corroding. Anyway, it should be fairly easy to replace the pots if they get too noisy. They are surface mounted on the pcb but it looks like it shouldn't be too hard to de-solder them.

[@RegebroRepairs]

You know it has a random function, right? You don't even need to key-smash. :-D

[@CHAYsounds]

Totally, it’s good for being totally random but you do get a bit more control with the key smashing approach.

[@skinnyhastrup4614]

Random is always a full 16/16 bar which is pretty boring.

[@RegebroRepairs]

@@skinnyhastrup4614 That's a good point.

[@outaspaceman]

@@skinnyhastrup4614err… I’m not sure about that.. I’ve had 12, 7, & 9 note patterns turn up.. Couldn’t do much with them, but..😬👍

[@mode7beats]

Well I know what I’m doing when I get home!

[@McBobAgain]

This is very cool. I have the TD-3-MO and the wave switch is mounted vertically with an actual off switch in the center, I wonder if they just used the same switch for both versions. Also some electrical contact cleaner on your pots will help with the crackling.

[@VintageGearFreak]

Interesting! I knew about setting the VCO switch to inbetween but never tried routing the output to the input. Will definitely be trying that when I get into the studio

[@christdolphin69]

synths generally have individual osc gain per osc and filter cutoff keytracking so you can play the resonance like a sine wave. also used for pinging to make drum synth sounds like toms, perc, or even kicks

[@stefannusperling5587]

As far as I know, that is how the Volca Kick is designed. It doesn't have any oscillators only the self-oscillation of the filters is creating the sound.

[@jjaffee]

I’m with you brother! Just keep on doing what you’re doing. Great work exploring and having fun and using this to express yourself

[@reardondearborn]

That was very informative and enjoyable! Thanks!

[@mrnobones01]

Especially useful for routing an external source through the filter

[@quantum_ocean]

Your videos are very inspiring. I need to get out of the “planning” mindset and more in the tinkering zone. Thank you. 🎉❤😮

[@idealistamatto2055]

I don't have this Synth. But I think you are listening the filter (VCF) with high resonance. All the synths I've played with the oscillators turned off, if you raise the resonance of the filter you can hear the filter playing. Only thing: you can't change the pitch of the note

[@idealistamatto2055]

scusate: scritto con google translate

[@RandomMalfunction]

If the synth's filter has it, try turning on "keyboard tracking" and the pitch of the self-oscillation is likely to change. Some even have 0/50/100% keyboard tracking switch. Also playing with the amount of resonance is likely going to change the pitch (slightly).

[@bromy2251]

Damn, i clearly have not realized the full potential of this machine. nice video

[@CHAYsounds]

It can do a lot. Even just as a distortion/filter unit with the oscillator off

[@EarlyMist]

Sounds like Sooty and Sweep sometimes 😂

[@sambhogakaya2492]

Why keysmash when you can make random sequense by pressing clear+start/stop?

[@crasheffort]

If you want to get rid of the pops when twisting the knobs pull off the cap and spray deoxit spray into it and twist the pot stem around to work it in.

[@emssej]

Not a very good idea… it dissolves the grease on the potentiometers, thus making its movement less smooth. I ruined a bit of equipment doing that. I think the only viable way of removing crackle is either taking apart a potentiometer (a lot of risk involved) or twisting it back and forth a lot with differing pressure on the stem, which did work for me.

[@crasheffort]

@@emssej You shouldn't go overboard with deoxit since it is a solvent. It should be just enough to remove the oxidation on the connections. Taking apart a behringer pot would be pretty risky since they are soldered directly on the board and would likely need to be desoldered from it to disassemble it. When you twisted it to get rid of the pops, did it get rid of it permanently, or did it come back next time you used it?

[@ozzy3ml]

Deoxit DL100 is more gentle than the regular one

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@emssejthe real solution is to just apply a little bit of fader grease afterwards. (That said, I only clean knobs and faders that don’t clean up after a quick twiddle. So I certainly agree with that as the first port of call!)

[@CHAYsounds]

I’ve been debating whether I should or not. I kinda like it for happy accidents and if I push the right way it doesn’t happen.

[@boriscat1999]

Fantastic demo. I can imagine having a second or third TD-3 just to do wacky effects on top of everything else.

[@timpayne7676]

Sick ❤

[@wes2819]

very good vid, thnx for sharing!

[@precarious333music]

Cool trick. Resonance is actually feedback in the filter so sending headphones out back in multiplies the feedback/resonance.

[@angelomedi]

this is great thanks

[@DocBolus]

Time to crack out the TD-3 for some sound design fun.

[@CHAYsounds]

Have fun!

[@cosmicwav]

Cool! I'll try it next time

[@twoHRdrive]

hey man thanks for the video. That trick is awesome. I just wanted to ask, because I can't seem to find a solution anywhere.... Do you need any kind of pre-amp for either your main or your headphones output? I just bought a TD-3 (yellow) second-hand, but it's audio signal coming out is pretty weak. I really have to crank the volume knob to get something semi-usable. On headphones, it is still too quiet. Plugging the main out to a bass guitar amp got me going pretty loud, thanks to the amplifier in the bass amp, though...

[@JH-lo9ut]

Mine is fairly quiet too compared to most of my other gear. I usually have the volume knob all the way up. I give it a bit of gain and a bit of compression on the mixing console, wich also provides a bit of extra crunch. Nice! Now, what I've noticed is that the on-board distortion cirquit on the TD-3 will lower the volume quite a bit. You may want to crank up the "level" knob on the distortion section.

[@francesco5482]

sick man!

[@adamb2987]

nice discovery! thanks for sharing

[@JH-lo9ut]

Yeah, that's how you do it. You can now send any sound in through the filter-in. The sequencer is still active though, so you won't hear anything exept when you have an open gate. Filter envelope is also triggered by the sequencer (obviously). It is a very strange feature, that they put a filter-in port on the synth with no obvious way of disabeling the oscillator. I guess you are supposed to use the cv+gate to control a eurorack oscillator module and then send that signal back to the td-3 for a sub oscillator or something? Still, there is no mixer on the TD-3 so you have very little control of it. Weird, but fun.

[@Maximdriesen]

Nice find haha !

[@Fl0m963]

Cool vid !!!

[@robertmirolo9925]

Doesn't need to be scratchy and poppy, just get some contact cleaner and spray a little into the knob, it's just dust/grime on the contacts. Dust your synths! Fucking cool trick though, had no idea! Nice find.

[@CHAYsounds]

For some reason it’s only that knob and I’ve been debating about cleaning it but at the same time I just have to push it the right way to avoid pops and clicks. Sometimes I like the glitchiness.

[@Empirism]

Damn cool! xD As often in music, best things happen by accident

[@jonnamechange6854]

If the pots are scratchy, pull them off, spray contact cleaner directly down the hole, put the knobs back on, twisty twist twist, then you're done

[@trouaconti7812]

Man, that sounds like mad chickens music

[@kaitlyn__L]

Self-oscillation with feedback is definitely an excellent sound 👍

[@CHAYsounds]

I agree

[@erikavery1105]

SICCK!🤘🏾

[@user-ol2es6oo9x]

Saw video..will try it now

[@Mewted]

a bit of contact cleaner and turning the knob for bit as it dries and you'd be good. you just got some dirt in there. happens to everything.

[@45rpm.]

Just tried it on the amber version and it works just the same but without the scratchy pots.

[@Progamersuccess]

Nice!

[@tibocublabesse8312]

0:32 Just in case anyone else is ignoring or accepting the "scratches and pops because it's kinda old now" you guys have no idea how many synths and analog mixers I got for ultra cheap, and after a bit of WD-40 they were just like new. If you have some hardware like that, not only taking care of it will fix the scratches but it will also keep it lubricated and safe from the humidity in the air for a long time. If someone don't know what I'm talking about (I know most people do but if you don't, you will probably be happy to learn it) WD-40 is a lubricant that help with corrosion, protect from water and that is conductive. So most people use it for bikes when it's getting rusty but it perfectly suited for electronic anytime a pot/fader is making getting grippy and making noise or if some buttons stops making contact (it even was created for electronic but was remarketed as a bike/mechanics product because it made more sells if I remember correctly). PS : This post is in no way a criticism of the owner of this TD-3, I only hope it helps some other broke people like me, because thanks to all the people who don't know about this tip or don't want to do it, I have afforded over the time a nice setup for about 1000€ instead of 5000 or 6000€ if I have bought everything ether new or in very good condition. peace

[@tibocublabesse8312]

And btw realy cool tip, i realy liked the video and forgot to mention it lol

[@user-ol2es6oo9x]

your smiley is in better spirit then those on yellow

[@_-Marcel-_]

That was fun! 👍🏻

[@tutunuitekanawa3940]

legend!!!

[@waveguider]

MAGIC!

[@fouro3]

Turn osc of and use cv out to cv in of one or more eurorack oscillators and the output of the module into the filter input of the DT3.

[@LlewynDaviesTheThird]

Love it

[@Vergarecords]

You have to multi-track these to get top-level craziness

[@Gainn]

The TB-303 does it too. Put a reverb or an echo between the output and filter in for more insanity.

[@JackHekler]

yes, I remember doing that back in the day as well. Too bad it didn't have all the patch points the TD-3 has

[@PWMaarten]

What? The original 303 didn’t have Filter input, not unmodified anyway.

[@Gainn]

Suggesting he tries it with the Behrbie. @@PWMaarten

[@darrensurrey]

It's crazy how just whacking the notes randomly can get something sounding so good. Try that on the piano...

[@hataproofrecords]

You should have just bought the yellow one. It has a silk screen printed smiley faces 🙂

[@darrensurrey]

Haha, the bird thing. Tweeting States of Consciousness.

[@joecat9622]

funny enough i found this function last night on accident

[@Projacked1]

WTF bruh....that's awesome

[@djl1on641]

fuck yeah

[@jeffwoeber9590]

TD-3 is a masterpiece

[@modulartheory]

😮 black sabbath 303 😂

[@djpopcorn]

It WAS infamous in electronic music

[@BetweentheBeans]

just tried this out myself. absolutely wild! i had no idea the 303’s filters were even capable of self resonating. thanks for the free bird generator!

[@toolemonyy]

the reason why it's doing this is because it's analog. Basically the filter is a filter and cannot generate any sound. but the "secret oscillator" is just white noise basically because it's connected to nothing. you wouldn't have with a digital instrument, It's like no input mixing (you should check it out)

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@toolemonyysome digital filters do self oscillate, like some Yamahas. Certainly my microKORG does. Digital Rolands tend not to tho afaik. It’s more that digital filters can be easily clamped-down to have no natural noise floor, but plenty of software filters’ code is capable of it. And yeah, like you say, it still works better with a very low-volume noise selected, or envelope settings which generate clicks and pops, rather than genuinely-none-oscillator. Still counts as feedback-induced oscillation in my book, given it gets so much stronger than the initial signal. A lot of analogue oscillators, like the basic component, need a small signal to start them going too - like smacking a tuning fork.

[@toolemonyy]

@@kaitlyn__L yes, you're right, actually I was more thinking of vcv rack, which has no noise because it's virtual simulation of eurorack synthesizer. So you have to use a noise oscillator module to create that effect, but of course it's quite different from real life. (I might do some mistakes, since I don't have an incredible knowledge of electricity)

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@toolemonyy haha VCV rack gets so much right, it’s understandable to be tripped-up where it differs. When I saw someone splitting and recombining signals in the cable a ton, or branching-off to oscilloscopes rather than routing-through, I kept getting pangs of anxiety because that’s not best practices IRL. But in the simulation it really doesn’t matter!

[@CHAYsounds]

That’s awesome! have fun making bird sounds! 😄

[@judecafferty7941]

No way I literally just copped one of these yesterday

[@CHAYsounds]

Congrats! 🔥

[@OMNI_INFINITY]

"kind of old now???" It's been about 4 calendar years!!!

[@MURDOCKROCK]

That’s an antique in beringer years 😂

[@RISK-BREAKER]

Egyptian Lover made some of his signature sounds on the TR-808 by latching the percussion switch in the middle.

[@RooftopKoreansMusic]

wrong... he plugged in one to many cables and plugged into the trigger out.

[@RISK-BREAKER]

@@RooftopKoreansMusic that’s one of his many techniques, but he also discovered that you can get a blend of both percussion sounds by keeping the switch in the middle. Box has more than one trick :p

[@DeathJoy]

whuuuut?!

[@MrOmegabrian]

HAY THANKS FOR SHARING GET SUBBED

[@electricmusic1260]

wao😮😮😮gud job😮😮😮 so cool p e a c e ❗

[@shoosh6256]

Ручка резонанса хрустит...😢

[@decapitateallcops3214]

Dude! Cv out into the filter in! Duhhh

[@kaitlyn__L]

But you can’t do the feedback at the same time, at least without an external module to combine them (or maybe a janky thing with a headphone splitter…)

[@decapitateallcops3214]

@@kaitlyn__L a stackable

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@decapitateallcops3214 something tells me he doesn’t have stackable patch cables lol. Anyway I realised a bigger issue, cos it’s filter input not filter control. You’d hear _something,_ but it wouldn’t be tuned. It’d be like listening to a non-exponential oscillator. Useful for sci-fi sound effects, but not especially musical! (As a sanity check I’m not getting the filter-in wrong, I just checked and yeah most online discussions seem to involve patching the TD3’s CV-out through a VCO module before bringing it back into the filter-in.)

[@MetalingKid]

🙉 Monkey's rule, Dude!

[@DoctorNemmo]

Now I've heard there was a secret osc / That Chay played and it pleased the Lord / But you don't really care for music, do ya?

[@user-tj6fv9pu3k]

Is not a secret tips , find it the 1st day i own mine Just go out the box all the time i looking for ”accident” with my gear. Like with the quasimidi 309 manny thing is can be discovering But fog pepole don’t know is a grezt tips Like open it and made sound better darkness with vca screw....

[@christopherfarrell-artist3557]

DId you know, if you learn how to use it, instead of just smashing keys, it can actually sound like a mellow bass. It is a general misconception that it is no good as a traditional bass synth. It's programming process is weird, convoluted, and the sequencer is....well, very unintuitive. The 303 history documentaries right it off , when it first came out people simply didn't bother to learn Japanese to read the manual😁🤣, when the 303 first came out there was no English manual so people were just blindly try to work it out and failed. It's great for that acid sound and happy accidents, but, it can also do some very nice low sounding acoustic basses. With the waveform switch, it's probably a by-product of cheap components/pcb ( in the 80's and now ), if it can do that sound...then why not use it and exploit the nuance in the switches/circuits. I can't make it happen on the TB-03, it's either square or saw...

[@CHAYsounds]

100% can get really accurate with it. just saying key smashing is fast and easy. I love it as a regular bass sound too. I’ve used it in several tracks but controlling it over midi instead of the on board sequencer to make more traditional bass lines.

[@christopherfarrell-artist3557]

@@CHAYsounds I watched the NXB complete guide and the penny dropped, I realised why the 303 wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. On the TB-03, I only use it in original mode and I didn't comprehend the sequencing processing, for many years I was just doing it wrong and couldn't understand why notes were dropping off/disappearing. It is definitely the weirdest sequencer I have used, but, now I can program it properly😁😇

[@FTLOI]

Can it kick lol

[@CHAYsounds]

Doesn’t get low enough to be a kick but maybe if you pitch it down in a DAW it could be.

[@inperfectsequence7840]

It scratches and makes noise because it is a cheap thing that you mistreat when you use it. The pots are not for squeezing hard or doing rough things. The video is good, but you are quite clumsy at placing things safely and the handling is really bad.

[@Goennhart]

Wooooow this is awesome! 🩵🦝🩵

[@Kozmicanimal]

Nice!