Novation Bass Station II Analog Synthesizer Keyboard, 25-Key

The Bass Station is back with 25 full-sized keys and all-analog oscillators, filters and effects, plus the ability to store and recall patches and presets.

Reimagining Novation's classic analogue monosynth for the new generation of electronic musicians, Bass Station II enhances and improves on the original in every area, making it even bigger, badder and more versatile.

See it in action with this video from Novation:


Check out the Bass Station II's firmware update 4.14, featuring AFX Mode from Aphex Twin:


Packing two oscillators, a multimode filter, amp and filter modulation, step sequencing and an arpeggiator, Bass Station II gives you everything you need to make bleeding-edge basses, leads, pads and FX. Yet despite all that power and adaptability, it couldn't be easier to program and play, thanks to its intuitively arranged controls and full sized 25-note keyboard. 128 on-board presets (with 64 factory sounds and downloadable artist patches) let you store, recall and adapt your favorite sounds.

Much More Than Bass

Equally at home on stage and in the studio, Bass Station II can sound as warm and mellow or aggressive and hard as you want it to. Modulate the filter to make it sing, crank the distortion to toughen up that bass, and push the resonance to self-oscillation to get those lead lines screaming.

Jeremy Pritchard explains the Bass Station II Artist Packs:


Featuring two tuneable oscillators, a sub-oscillator for enhancing the all-important low end, plus noise and ring modulation, Bass Station II more than delivers when it comes to generating raw tones. It's also got two distinct analogue filter types - the read more Classic multi-mode filter of the original Bass Station and the all-new 24dB/octave Acid filter, with its darker, smoother sound - and plenty of modulation in the shape of two LFOs and a pair of ADSR envelopes.

Easy Controls for Complex Design

Bass Station II puts a powerful collection of controls at your fingertips, so you can totally lose yourself in discovering and creating new sounds. Of course, Novation have laid those controls out in the clearest and most useful way possible, to keep your sound design workflow fluid and fun.

Save and Load Patches

Bass Station II comes loaded with 64 diverse presets designed to showcase its incredible sonic flexibility. Visit the Novation website to download new artist patches to keep you inspired, and create your own sounds from scratch and save them in one of the 64 user preset slots. A free software librarian lets to manage your Bass Station II's patches.

Instant Inspiration

When you need instant melodic inspiration, Bass Station II's pattern-based arpeggiator and step sequencer are ready to roll. Record your own patterns into the sequencer in real time, then store them for use with any patch. Sequences and arpeggios automatically sync to your connected music software or MIDI hardware, and swing can be dialed in when you really want to get your groove on.

Connect to Just About Anything

Since it's a class-compliant USB device, you can plug Bass Station II into any Mac, PC or USB power supply and start playing. It also has MIDI I/O on 5-pin DIN ports, for hook-up to other MIDI gear, and you can even connect an external instrument and run it through Bass Station II's analogue filter and effects.

Novation Sound Collective

Register your hardware to get regular free software downloads and generous discounts on high-end plug-ins from Novation's Sound Collective.

Features:

- Create a huge variety of sounds: two tuneable, syncable analogue oscillators with a selection of four waveforms, plus sub-oscillator, noise and ring modulation.
- Enormous bass and shrieking leads: switch the Classic Filter between low-, high- and band-pass modes with 12 and 24dB/octave slopes.
- Improved analogue filter stage: the 24dB Acid Filter is even darker, wetter and smoother than the Classic.
- Turn Jekyll to Hyde: create crunchy, aggressive sounds with true analogue distortion, filter-modulation effects and filter overdrive.
- Easily load and save patches: There's space for 128 patches, and 64 factory sounds are included. Downloadable artist packs cover a huge range of styles and give you even more presets to get inspired, and you can create your own sounds from scratch and save them in any preset slot.
- Get instant inspiration: record notes, ties, rests and rhythms in real time using the step sequencer and arpeggiator, then store them for use with any patch.
- Experiment easily: get hands-on with the comprehensive array of controls, cleverly arranged for intuitive patch design and sound editing.
- Flexible modulation: triangle, sawtooth and square LFO waveforms, as well as sample and hold, and two ADSR envelopes for filter, pitch and pulse width modulation.
- Connect to hardware and software: connect and sync to your music software and MIDI-compatible hardware.
- Player's keyboard: full sized 25-note velocity-sensitive keyboard, with fast synth-action action and aftertouch.
- Store unlimited sounds: archive as many patches as you like on your Mac or PC using the Librarian Software.

What's in the Box?
- Novation Bass Station II synthesizer
- DC power supply unit (PSU)
- USB cable
- Ableton Live Lite
- Getting Started Guide
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.p65Warnings.ca.gov.
read less

Dimensions (W x D x H): 18" x 10.75" x 3" (457 x 273 x 76 mm)

Oscillators:
- Osc 1
- Osc 2
- Sub Osc (3)
- Noise generator
- Osc 1 & 2

- Select between waveforms:
- sine
- triangle
- sawtooth
- square/variable pulse width

Features:
- Sync 1 & 2
- Detune
- Octave range
- Pitch bend
- Pitch modulation to Mod Envelope and LFO 1
- Pulse width modulation to Mod Envelope and LFO 2
- Sub Osc (3) which is tracked to Osc 1

Select independently between waveforms:
- Sine
- Square
- Narrow pulse

Features:
- All modulation and tuning tracked to Osc 1
- Independent octave select

Mixer:
- Osc 1 level
- Osc 2 level
- Sub Osc level
- Noise generator level
- Ring modulation depth
- External signal level

Filter:
- Two filter types:
- Acid type (diode ladder filter design)
- Classic type (derived from original Bass Station)

Features:
- Cutoff
- Resonance
- Overdrive
- Filter frequency to Mod Envelope depth
- Filter frequency to LFO 2 depth
- Select 'Classic' filter between:
- Low pass
- Band pass
- High pass
- 12dB slope
- 24dB slope

Envelopes:
- Two ADSR Envelopes (Attack/Decay/Sustain/Release):
- Amp Envelope
- Mod Envelope

- Combined control of both Envelopes
- Select triggering mode between:
- Single trigger (holds envelope state when note is played)
- Multi trigger (re-triggers with every note played)
- Autoglide (engages portamento)
- There is also a VCA limiter

LFO:
- Two LFOs each selectable between:
- Triangle
- Sawtooth
- Square
- Sample and hold
- Both LFOs independently adjustable between rate and delay time
- Key sync LFO 1 & 2
- LFO slew on LFO 1& 2 (low pass filter on the LFO waveform)

Effects:
- Distortion send
- Oscillator filter mod amount (FM effect created by Oscillator 2 modulating filter freq)

Step Sequencer/Arpeggiator:
- Arpeggiator:
- Up to 32 different patterns
- Select between 1-4 octave range
- Swing function
- Select direction:
- up
- down
- up / down 1
- up / down 2
- As played
- Random
- Latch (hold the arpeggiator)

- Step Sequencer:
- - Up to four sequences
- Assign one of 32 preset rhythms or create your own
- insert rests or legato (slide)
- Sequencer re-trigger function

Portamento:
- Adjust glide time
- Single trigger or re-trigger modes
- Integrate into step sequencer and arpeggiator

Hardware & controller assignment:
- 25 note synth-action keyboard
- Aftertouch can be assigned to modulate:
- Filter frequency
- LFO 1to Osc pitch
- Osc 2 speed
- Pitch wheel
- Modulation wheel can be assigned to:
- LFO 2 to filter frequency
- LFO 1 to Osc pitch
- Osc 2 pitch
- Octave up/ down buttons
- 64 factory presets
- 64 slots for user patches (and patch dump facility for storing more)
- Master volume dial

Inputs and Outputs:
- USB MIDI (for connecting & powering Bass Station II via host computer)
- Mono output on 1/4" TRS jack
- Headphone output on 1/4" TRS jack
- External input on 1/4" TRS jack
- Sustain pedal input on 1/4" TS jack
- MIDI IN / MIDI OUT ports on 5 pin din
- DC power input
- Switch between power off / DC powered / bus powered
Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Base Item
Shipping Weight: 8.25 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 21 x 15 x 6 in
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): AMS-BASS-STATION-II

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-431-2609

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (4 ratings)
Submitted March 2, 2014 by Benjamin F in Las Cruces, NM

"One of the all time greatest mini-monosynths to date."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I really have very little bad to say about this synth. The sound is absolutely exceptional and spans the gamut of being very clean to absolute chaos. It has a more "refined" sound than something comparable like the minibrute, but I'd also say it has less of its own character, which can be a plus or minus depending on your needs. It's nice to be able to have patch storage (and the LCD display will tell you how many number increments you're off as soon as you move a dial or slider, so you can always know where any knob or slider parameter started out at, which is a HUGE help). Also both filters are quite different sounding. The new "Acid" filter is actually a really nice touch (i.e., Roland 303 style), but you also get the classic bass station filters with LP/HP/BP (which I think were originally based upon a somewhat obscure filter design, from the Wasp synth or something similar). The oscillators all sound really smooth to me, and there's plenty of modulation you can get happening. I do wish they had implemented a 2nd ADSR; that's probably my biggest gripe, along with the lack of any CV I/O. However, at this price, you really can't go wrong. I can't imagine anyone that loves analog synths NOT being happy with this thing. With ZZounds payment plan, pretty much anyone can get ahold of one without much financial strain. And I'd say it's 100% worth it.

Musical Background:

mixing engineer/producer; well over a decade

Musical Style:

electronic.
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