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Future Retro 777

19-Mar-2024

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Future Retro 777



Category:  Products / synthesisers / analog synthesisers

Added: 22-Dec-98  |  Author: admin

New price: USD$ 777.00  |   S/H price: Not listed


Future Retro 777

Well I know zip about this synth, and unless someone imports them, i won't... boo-hoo... so I simply pasted in the Future-Retro product page as it has all the spec's....

It is actually a monosynth... it looks really well made & versatile, and the ra files bear it out... a competitor... and frankly, add a sampler to this and maybe some fm... you've got a system to play out... the sequencer holds 16 songs of 3000 bars plus each... plenty... and it does clock & receive & send midi.... the synth itself is fully featured... and the hardware looks almost military spec compared to some units' controls on the market... again, a bonus for trudging around festies doing gigs.... bonus-3:.. if you DO grab an old synth with clock inputs, the 777 features a full CV, Gate, and Accent outputs.. and it has inputs for them to so you can drive it via anlog too... blimey !!.... and for those who want to compose on a TR styles button-grid.. well this is your Nirvana then.



Very versatile, sounds good, & is genuine analog with midi... the sequencer add's to the cost and also makes it a unique product... personaly I think they'd make a killing out of a non-sequencer version.... So, an all in one unit...Anyways... here's the spec's & blurb copied from their website.



The 777 is a monophonic analog synthesizer with a digital sequencer. Built by perfectionists who care

about building quality products, price vs. features, and the continuing expansion of this mighty universe of music. Built with the

highest quality of components, the 777 is housed in a rugged alluminum chassis, has solid oak end pieces, with top of the line

knobs, switches, and electrical components, this machine is built to last.

The 777 is capable of identically reproducing the oh so famous sound of the 303 in every way, but that's the least of it.

The 303 has only 6 knobs and 1 switch to control the sound, while the 777 has all these plus 5x more. There are 32 knobs

and 7 switches to be exact. All instantly available with their single dedicated feature. The sequencer part of the synthesizer

contains 28 illuminated keys keeping all the features readily available for the user to tweak at any time. No ugly menu's, no virtual

or psuedo analog synthesis, this is the real thing!

Not only can the 777 recreate the 303 sounds to a T (or should we say TB), but can also produce everything from

deep basses to lead synthesizer parts,electronic percussion (kick drums, high hats, snares, toms, ect...), plus all the crazy ambient sounds you can

dream of. This is the instrument of the future!

It's fat, it's warm, it's fuzzy, and it's packed with oodles of cool features.

Let's start with the 7 possible audio sources. There's Oscillator A and B both having a continuously variable waveshape from

sawtooth to square. Then there's Sub Oscillator A and B each being one octave in pitch lower than their respective oscillator, and

both having square waveforms, with the exception that Sub A has a higher frequency content than Sub B. A white noise source

and an external input jack that allows any external audio to be routed through the filter and amplifier

section are also available. And the filter is capable of self oscillation producing sine waves.



For frequency modulation, you can modulate Osc

A's frequency with Osc B and Osc B's frequency with Osc A. An envelope is also provided to effect Osc B's frequency.



The filter section

contains a selectable 3pole or 7pole lowpass filter complete with cutoff, resonance, res max, and accent controls. A highpass

filter is also provided with an adjustable cutoff. A pre-filter gain stage is also standard to fatten up the oscillators.



On to the filter modulation section, a selectable cv type switch is present with normal(Standard key follow type), and warp (don't

ask) modes. The control voltage amount is also adjustable. Then there's the continuously variable waveshape control to set

the shape for oscillator B's frequency to modulate the filter, plus it's amount control. There's also a dedicated envelope

with adjustable decay time and amount controls.



And finally to the amplifier section, there's a accent decay, and normal decay

control for the amplifier's envelope. You can select either the envelope or a gate to control the amplifier section. There's

a bass control switch to select either normal or boost. Two different types of overdrives are available with an amount control.

There's also an amplifier accent control, and last but not least a volume knob.



Your probably saying to yourself, hey this thing doesn't have any LFO's or built in effects. When really you

can get every thing from tremelo effects, to chorusing, phasing, to massive distortion. It all depends on the sound parameters.

Users will find that the oscillator cross modulation can produce an extreme amount of new sounds and effects. Remember this

keyboard doesn't fit well in the norm of features givin on most synthesizers, it goes beyond those limits to complete new

possibilities.



The sequencer in the 777 is one of the easiest to use you will ever find, yet still packed with unique features.

There are 256 recordable patterns available. Each recording note duration, pitch, accent , glide, loop point, and time signature.

If that's not enough, all editing and recording can be done while the sequencer is running, and it will automatically save all

your edits so you don't have to stop creating! There are 16 songs to arrange the patterns in, each recording it's tempo, the

bank/pattern for each step, the transposition of each step, and the song loop point. Each of the 16 songs can contain up to

3580 measures which is alot!



The 777 also comes with midi for all you people who like to communicate with machines. You can

syncronize via midi to an external clock or have the 777 act as a master device, sending clock signals to external sequencers,

plus send and receive midi note data, and velocity. And we wouldn't want to leave

out our brothers the firm believers in analog, so we included control voltage in/out, gate in/out, accent in/out, filter in,

and audio out 1/4" jacks on the back panel.

You can also use the 777 as a midi to control voltage converter with CV, Gate, and Accent outputs being controlled by midi.





777 SPECIFICATIONS




AUDIO SOURCES

  • OSCILLATOR A: control voltage internal/external, range, waveform (continuously variable from sawtooth to square wave), level

  • OSCILLATOR B: control voltage internal/external, range, waveform (continuously variable from sawtooth to square wave), level

  • EXTERNAL AUDIO IN: level

  • SUB OSCILLATOR A: level

  • SUB OSCILLATOR B: level

  • WHITE NOISE: level

  • FILTER: when set to self oscillate




FREQUENCY MODULATION

  • GLIDE: time variable

  • WAVEFORM B: continuously variable from sawtooth to square wave to modulate oscillator A's frequency

  • AMOUNT A: amount of effect oscillator B has on oscillator A's frequency

  • WAVEFORM A: continuously variable from sawtooth to square wave to modulate oscillator B's frequency

  • AMOUNT B: amount of effect oscillator A has on oscillator B's frequency

  • ENVELOPE DECAY: adjustable decay time for the frequency modulation envelope

  • ENVELOPE AMOUNT: amount of effect the modulation envelope has on the frequency of oscillator B



FILTER

  • GAIN: amount of prefilter gain

  • SLOPE: selectable 3pole or 7pole lowpass filter

  • CUTOFF: adjusts filter cutoff frequency

  • RESONANCE: adjusts lowpass filter feedback (capable of self oscillating)

  • RESONANCE MAXIMUM: adjusts the maximum amount of resonance the filter has

  • ACCENT: amount accented notes effect the filter's cutoff frequency

  • HIGHPASS: adjustable cutoff frequency for the highpass filter



FILTER MODULATION

  • CV TYPE: normal/warp (selects how the sequencer's control voltage effects the filter's cutoff frequency

  • CV AMOUNT: amount of effect the sequencer's control voltage has on the filter's cutoff frequency

  • WAVEFORM B: continuously variable from sawtooth to square wave to modulate the filter's cutoff frequency

  • MODULATION AMOUNT: amount of oscillator B to modulate the filter's cutoff frequency

  • ENVELOPE DECAY: adjusts the decay time for the filter modulation envelope

  • ENVELOPE AMOUNT: amount of effect the filter's modulation envelope has on the filter's cutoff frequency



AMPLIFIER

  • ACCENT DECAY: adjustable decay time for accented notes

  • ENVELOPE DECAY: adjustable decay time for non-accented notes

  • SHAPE: select gate or envelope to control the amplifier stage

  • BASS: select normal or boost for bass response

  • OVERDRIVE TYPE: select normal or phase for the overdrive stage

  • ACCENT: amount of effect accented notes have on a sounds volume

  • VOLUME: level of audio output



SEQUENCER

  • NUMBER OF PATTERNS: 256 patterns (16 banks x 16 patterns each)

  • RECORDED PATTERN CONTENT: note duration, pitch, accent, glide, loop point, time signature

  • NUMBER OF STEPS PER PATTERN: 3/4 time=12 steps max, 4/4 time=16 steps max

  • NOTE PITCH RANGE: C1 to D#6

  • LOOP POINT: 1 to 16 notes per pattern to loop

  • PATTERN TRANSPOSE: from -36 to +36 notes

  • OTHER PATTERN FEATURES: copy and paste patterns, realtime editing of pattern information while the sequencer

    is running or stopped, sequencer automatically saves all editing

  • NUMBER OF SONGS: 16

  • NUMBER OF STEPS PER SONG: up to 3580 measures each

  • RECORDED SONG CONTENT: tempo, bank/pattern for each step, pattern transpose for each step, song loop point

  • SONG PATTERN TRANSPOSE: from -36 to +36 notes steps for each song step

  • TEMPO RANGE: from 20 to 250 beats per minute

  • MIDI FUNCTIONS: on/off, channel selectable from 1 to 16

  • MIDI SYNC: internal or external

  • NOTE DATA: transmitted and received

  • MIDI TO CV/GATE/ACCENT CONVERTER



BACK PANEL FEATURES

  • INPUTS: midi in, control voltage in, gate in, accent in, filter in, 12v AC adaptor input

  • OUTPUTS: midi out, cv out, gate out, accent out, audio output

  • POWER SWITCH: on/off



DIMENSIONS

  • 18x9x3"
  • 5 pounds















Product Manuals or Files

no user manual




Product Resources










User Comments

Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Chad Gould
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: part-timer
Date: 26-May-99

Let me just disagree with the top review and say I would probably not get this synth if it didn't have a sequencer. (: The sound of the synth is pretty good and rubbery, and it can get screwed up easily. But that's it. It's a two-trick pony, rubbery and screwed up. If you think that the TB-303 sound is some sound your old grandma raver would use, passe now, then you probably won't like the synth section. I like the skronk, but I don't really need TB-303 myself. On the other hand, 303 fans who still wet their pants over the sound will love it. It is pretty much a TB-303 plus a LOT more... the fact that this can go from 303 to totally screwed may convince a lot of people.

The step sequencer is fun. It is similar to the 303 sequencer, except I feel things like rests and note length are MUCH easier to define on this sequencer. On top of that, it transmits MIDI _AND_ CV, making this an incredible performance tool. Changing pattern data on the fly is a breeze, its the best reason for this unit, I feel. It seperates it from all other TB-303 clones.

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Bokonon
Email: Email supplied but hidden
http://exxtc.dhs.org/bokonon/
Activity: Professional
Date: 19-Jul-99

The 777 is the most incredible, edible monosynth available to mere mortals. It sacrifices the sounds of the TB-303 to the volcano tiki god of knobs. I don't think there is an emotion of vibe that i can feel or think of that can't be represented by the 777. Ration it's power or you will be consumed by it's severe swanky onslaught of mental modulation. Umm, yea and it's good for trance too...

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Nicolas
Email: Email supplied but hidden
http://www.numb3rs.com
Activity: part-timer
Date: 21-Mar-00

I just picked up my 777 today.
Wow.
This thing is absolutely incredible.
The first noise I got out of it
made my Dog start howling in the
hallway. Seriously.
But that was just the beginning.
I quickly flipped through the
manual they sent with it (threw on
the free t-shirt i got too :P)
and was submerged for 4 hours straight.
Everything this thing puts outs makes
you just tweek. I've never had to much
fun on a piece of analog gear in my life. Now one thing I have to say is
Acid. I'm a techno/acid purist and
this thing is a 303 X 10. Now wait -
your thinking, 'oh god... the 303 is
played out so bad now...' -
I've barel touched any 303 aspects on
it yet because I know what a 303 sounds
like and I don't need to hear the sounds from that right away. In a snap I was
throwin out low wave basslines which
would snap up into spurts of hi's and
sawtooths in a few moves. The editing
is so easy. Just pop into pattern edit - while it's playing - and feel free to manipulate pitch - accent - glide - whatever at a push of a button. I haven't been this happy in a long time.

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: H
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 01-Jun-00

This thing is the greatest synth on earth,and probably other planets.303 clone?I'll be damned this things a 777 that's enough for me.Here's something funny...The rocksack gigbag for the mc303 fits this thing to a t.I took it down to the MARS music store to find the bag and I plugged it in to show one of the sales guts the way it sounds and after a few minutes of noodling on it A crowd started to form.So I promptly unplugged it as I'm the only one who has one in my state and IT'S ALL FOR ME ME ME ME ME.

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Ryan
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity:
Date: 29-Aug-00

777 OWNZ^_^ it definately is the 303+some...sure it can't do the elusive 303square...but still....the sawtooth ripz! (not as much as 303) but is more fuzzy! it doesn't sound like a 303(well kinda does)...it sounds off though...but off in a good way...putting the 777 above the 303^_^ it just rulez=)...it's got the same sound quality in describing that the 303 has...you can't describe it with words...you just have to hear it...and feel it...the only way i can really describe it iz that it *ticklez my inner child*...it's just really sweet=) it's really super acidy too...an creates really nice hi hats/kicks...oooh throwing white noise with a 303 pattern is sooo dope...it makes it sound sooo sweet...=) i'm very happy with it...and wouldn't trade it for 303...(oh yea i've had a 303 so i can appropriately say it's better, unlike 99% of people who review the 303 and never have seen one, just played with one on rebirth)...

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Pervert
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Hobby-ist
Date: 29-Aug-00

This does not emulate the TB303 to 100% perfection. Soooo fuckin' what! A 303 isn't going to sound the same with a nuclear bomb shoved up its arse now is it? Get this machine now and get twiddling, thats all i can say.

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Fresh Pants
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Hobby-ist
Date: 29-Aug-00

The reviews tend to be VERY positive and enthusiastic regarding the FR 777.
They're right BTW.

I love the access to sounds through all of the 32 knobs. Good rubber coated, butter-smooth knobs. The build quality is excellent, and the sound is awesome. Built in sequencers rock.

If people do complain about anything, they complain about the lack of MIDI control of the knobs, BUT without MIDI control there isn't any worry of stepping in any of the parameters. Slippery, rubbery, rollin' analog goodness. Monophonic, yes. Awesome.
As with the above, I've never used, own, or even personally seen a 303, only Rebirth. :) But the magic is in the analog, and the sequencer.

Need POWERful mono? Get one today!


FP

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Nicolas
Email: Email supplied but hidden
http://www.numb3rs.com
Activity: part-timer
Date: 01-Oct-00

Well it's been about a year since I posted the first post on here, and I
still have to say that the 777 is STILL
my favorite piece of gear. Among a studio consisting of Various analog tools, I love this thing to pieces. However, there have been many cases where I have sat there cursing due to the fact that you can't save Patches. Countless times I've come out with absolutely great sounds, just to find out later that I've lost with w/ just a twist of a knob, or just working on the track later on in time. I sincerely wish
there was a way to save patches, and I do realize that that's the way Jerod inteneded it to be. As he wrote, "For the 777 to truely save patches internally, you would need much more hardware and internal circuits (lots of D to A converters plus software changes, plus new circuits capable of being controlled in this way). The 777 is set up so that users can dial in the sound they want very quickly, elliminating the need for patches. In a way we hope this forces users to become creative, with patches in a synth who spends time getting into the machine? Not many, but most will turn on a synth and if they like the presets they will use the synth or might make slight adjustments to a sound to get it right. The other thing is make your music evolve, it is more interesting to hear how a sound changed from one to another smoothly than to hear an abrupt change. Those who wish to work with preset sounds have many synth options to consider. For those who like to be a bit more creative the 777 is a great tool.


Now, if you want to save a patch, you can do it 'Manually' - which is a little janky. Developed by another 777 user, you use a sytem of know setting with a range from 0-12. TO sum it up, you write down your know positions. And when you want a sound you found a week earlier, you set the knobs back to the positions your wrote down. However, this tends to be a pain in the ass when it comes down to it, because when you dial in manually, you can't get the knob positions back EXACTLY where you had them originally, usually leaving you with a sound that's usually CLOSE to the original you had, but usually not the exact. But HEY!?! It's no big deal. When I find a line I really like, I sample it and dial back into the 777 and use it w/ the sample (since it's monophonic). I've seen there's a lot of hype about it's abilities to poop out good kicks, hats, etc... but I've never found anything my jaw's dropped at. Finally, I've found my self controlling the thing through Logic with the controller, rather then using the 16step sequencer - this DEFINITELY can pull out some great bass lines and twerks exacctly where you want em. Suggest your try it out. As a nerd shouting at a screen - yeah for the 777.
wheeee.........

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Cro
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Hobby-ist
Date: 11-Jan-01

You know all the Positive reviews here made me sink my money on this piece of remarkable machinery I love it. The sequencer made me fall in love with it ease of use.

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: djah
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 10-Feb-01

this synth is the bomb - everything the
303 wishes it could be - built in
distortion,3 and 7 pole filters with
resonance overdrive and second and sub
oscillators, even FM synthesis(!!) - the
777 makes the 303 obso

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: 777fan
Email: Email supplied but hidden
-
Activity: part-timer
Date: 15-Mar-03

The 777 is the best techno machine out there, couple it with an xbase09 and a sampler/sequencer (RS7000, MPC or whatever) and you have a superb techno setup for live or studio use. I own a TB303 and I programmed the same pattern in 777 and 303 and you can tell the difference, the 777 sounds harder and more aggressive, the 303 more organic and fluidic, but they complement eachother very well. Also the 777 has much more going on than just TB emulation, in many ways it reminds me of a Pro One sonically, great for Detroit stuff. Mines an early Purple one which apparently has a wilder distortion than the later blue and black faced ones. Recommended 100%

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Robbie Nerve
Email: Email supplied but hidden
-none-
Activity: Hobby-ist
Date: 16-Nov-04

Hello! I'm looking for a second hand 777 in (very) good shape. Preferrably with the latest OS.
Mail me your offer + pic please.

Robin

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Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Robbie Nerve
Email: Email supplied but hidden
www.robbienerve.com
Activity: Hobby-ist
Date: 17-Feb-06

I just stumbled across my old post uphere lookin' for a 777. I found one december 2004 and I am in LOVE with it!

My setup consists -next to the 777- of a TB-303 and an MPC2000xl.
As you read in the other reviews, it isnt exactly a 1-on-1 copy of the 303 when it comes to sound but it can do SICK basses. If I had a second 777 the TB would maybe leave my setup.

Anyway, it's a sickass piece. I use the CV out to modulate my TB's filter (my TB has a kenton socket 5 kit installed) and its a killer combination. Check the audio section of my site for mp3! Allmost everything non-303 in the recordings of my sets comes out of the 777.

peace!

-Robin-

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Last added comment

Product:  Future Retro - 777
Name: Noah Cohn
Email: Email supplied but hidden
www.noahcohn.com
Activity: part-timer
Date: 14-Jan-07

i am in the process of finding one of these right now - contact me if you'd like to sell one! my MSN messenger address is the same as my email..

i am already in love with the 777 though - i've listened to everything i can get my hands on where its been used.. i imagine it can get 'screwed up' but so can any synth with a lot of parameters.. it would work perfectly for what i'm doing.. i want it! i want it! i want it!...

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