Redesigned GUI for JC-303, the Open Source TB-303 plugin

Updated: 2025-01-03

When I switched to Linux and was traveling a lot, I really missed my Avalon Bassline. No 303, not even in the computer, that really wasn't easy for me. 🫣

That's why I was all the more euphoric when I first heard about midilab's JC-303, an Open Source TB-303 emulation plugin.
Convincing sound, Linux support (including VST3, CLAP and LV2 versions) – I was in heaven. 😜

Although I kind of liked the JC-303 GUI at that time (see the now "old" design at the very end of this article) I decided relatively quickly that I wanted to contribute a redesigned GUI for the plugin. 🤓

I had a clean, fully vector-based design in mind that mimicked some of the core characteristics of the iconic, original TB-303 design, while maintaining a unique touch for the future of this Open Source TB-303 emulation plugin.

Many hours in Inkscape and numerous, inspiring conversations with Romulo (the lead developer of JC-303) later, the initial version of the redesign is now implemented and available for you to download and enjoy. 🥳 midilab baked the plugin for Linux, macOS and Windows.

I say "initial" because Romulo is already busy adding a step sequencer, preset bar and distortion to a future release. 🤓

If you like the project, please consider to contribute or donate (to midilab via PayPal "contact@midilab.co" or to me via Ko-fi). 🥰

This is my finished first revision of the GUI redesign for midilab's JC-303 plugin.

Initially, we wanted to implement everything with SVG, but had to postpone that to a future release due to technical issues with JUCE.

This is a screen grab of the new GUI in Inkscape.

For reference, this is how the GUI looked like before I redesigned it.