303, true stereo monitoring?

[22tape]

Hey guys. I got a 303 for a gig I have tomorrow night and I need to get this figured out ASAP. I have a stereo signal going into the ins of the 303 but I'm only getting what sounds to be a summed stereo signal coming out of it.....meaning the original panning (from the external stereo source) isn't there.....everything is pushed to the middle/mono. Is this correct? Are you not able to monitor/amp the ext source in true stereo?

Thanks!

[Euclid Ov Oåklånd]

You need run the signal through the rca jacks, not the mic in and then you have to make sure that the stereo button is illuminated and you will be in stereo.

[22tape]

Thanks man. Well, it is in stereo in that it's coming out of both speakers but I'm losing all of the panning from the ext source. After scouring the web I found a single review on gearslutz that said that the 303's outs are summed. So that explains the loss of a true stereo field. Bummer. Are all the outs summed on the sp series? The 606 looks like it might have true stereo outs.....

[LimpyLoo]

Thanks man. Well, it is in stereo in that it's coming out of both speakers but I'm losing all of the panning from the ext source. After scouring the web I found a single review on gearslutz that said that the 303's outs are summed. So that explains the loss of a true stereo field. Bummer. Are all the outs summed on the sp series? The 606 looks like it might have true stereo outs.....

No man he means you have to record in "stereo" (meaning sending two signals into the 303) via the RCA's. And you have to have the "stereo" button lit or else it will record the sample in mono. And then you will have a stereo sample. And then you have to monitor in stereo (e.g. RCA out or stereo 1/4" jack from the headphone jack).

[22tape]

thanks guys. actually i'm not trying to sample anything. for the gig i just want to use the 303 as an fx processor and to fire off fills and one-shots with the pads.

when i try to run my tracks through the 303 it loses all of the original stereo/panning field. yes, i'm running a stereo signal into the rca jacks. i have the ext in pad activated. and the stereo button is unlit (when it's lit, it goes to mono and i can only hear it on one side.)

i actually found that i can't even resample in a true stereo field-- when i try to resample using the trem/panning mfx, i don't get the full stereo field.

if someone could try this, it'd be much appreciated:

-assign the trem/panning mfx to a pad. make sure to hard pan. now resample the pad with the panning fx. does the new sample still have the same panning width as it did before you resampled?

-or maybe even more obvious-- simply assign the pan fx to a pad. press resample then record....now just play with the panning controls while it's recording....does it have the same stereo field as it did before you hit record?

it seems that when i use the ext in, and when i'm recording/resampling, that the stereo channels are summed.

Do I have a bad unit? thanks guys.

[22tape]

So it looks I have a bad unit. I think the left input is blown. When stereo is lit I only get a signal from the right side. Damn. Thanks for the input guys.

[formal]

Why can't you use the headphone out if your RCA outs are busted? Headphone out is still stereo.

Maybe I am missing something here.

Sucks your 303 has broken jacks.... this is a common problem for all SPs.

[Euclid Ov Oåklånd]

Word, that sucks brotha man. Check the 505 section for an excellent thread on how to identify and repair a bad rca connection on the circuit board.
I thought your unit was bad because when I check for you initially I used a turntable with a stereo record and had full imaging. Simple fix anyhow innit?

[22tape]

Thanks guys. I ended up taking it back to guitar center. Ended up finding another used one in excellent condition. And I also snagged a 505 to go with it. Stoked!

[Euclid Ov Oåklånd]

Good deal, your set up now! The outputs are sketchy on all the 303/404's if you are not delicate when you install or remove the cables.

[22tape]

Good deal, your set up now! The outputs are sketchy on all the 303/404's if you are not delicate when you install or remove the cables.

noted! yeh i'm gonna baby the ins/outs...