Novation has announced that the Bass Station II analog synthesizer is now shipping.
The Bass Station II is an analog mono-synth, based on the classic original Bass Station, but re-worked for the 21st century. It has two filters, two oscillators plus a third sub-oscillator, patch save and a fully analog effects section. Add a step sequencer, arpeggiator, full sized keys and a powerful modulation section and you have the makings of a synth that is built for bass, but capable of much more.
And with a street price of about $500, the Bass Station II is one of the most exciting new synth introductions of 2013.
Here’s an audio demo of the Bass Station II in action:
See the Novation site for details.
If you have used the Bass Station II, leave a comment and let us know what you think of it!
I think this synth has a lot of cool features and I sincerely hope it does well, but from all the sound demos I’ve heard so far I feel like this synth sounds kind of thin, especially for something with ‘bass’ in its name.
A lot of people look for the Moog sound when they think of analog bass, but you wouldn’t want to paint with just one color, would you?
Definitely. Don’t get me wrong, I think the thing makes some really cool sounds. I just feel like I haven’t heard it putting out a lot of deep bass sounds. Most of the more impressive sounds I’ve heard from it have been low-mid range screechy kind of sounds.
People talk trash about Moog a lot, but the Sub Phatty sounds deeper than deep.
I really doubt people trashing Moog are doing it cause their synths are not good for bass….
The Sub Phatty is out of this world, but I wouldn’t agree that people trash Moog a lot. Maybe I’m just reading different things.
I’d agree, the demo sounds aren’t anything to get excited about, it certainly doesn’t seem to have the sonic range of a MiniBrute
It’s not a present sounding as a VCO synth like the Sub Phatty, but it has tons of great sound tweaking options not available on any other current analog synth, and it gets that classic Roland DCO sound (Juno) down pat – something no other current synth can do quite as well.
The world doesn’t need anymore “bass” synths…. It seems thats all ever anyone is ever concerned about. Although there is no doubt i will fiddle with one at the local music shop 🙂
I kinda like this trend of affordable analogs!
Had a go on one at Promenade Music, and it seems pretty good to me. Not as fat/phat as a Moog maybe, but plenty of interesting features and a good studio/live tool for sure.
This thing’s sequencing/arpeggiation tricks standout to me, personally. Good-looking machine. I’m actually glad it’s not just a simple reissue of the original.
I love the arpeggiator on my X-Station and use it a lot. The added Step Sequencer has me trying to figure out a place in my rig for this.
Another middle of the road Novation, I’m sure they’ll sell loads to all the sheep….
What a strange and creepy remark
I’m sure they’ll sell loads to all the sheep….
This person is obviously a bit of a sad f>ck. Great gear novation.
Look, you don’t understand. It isn’t authentic unless it was done with a Max/MSP setup that takes notes that are randomly generated by your biorhythms and then fed by CV (because midi is for pussies) and used to drive the LFO of a home made modular that only turns on when it wants to and control a circuit bent My Little Pony organ to play microtonal drones. Otherwise you might as well just be doing that Beiber crap.
And if I catch you enjoying my music I’ll throw you out of my basement, poser!
Hey can you give me some tips on modding “my little pony organ” I tried feeding the battery to a new midi plug, but all I get is a Moog deep bass ladder filter sound. I thought those “my little pony organs” could get the dog bark/duck quak 303 sound.. not boring moog cliche crap
Thought I’d get more dislikes than that , thank you all for your lack of humor.
Obvious troll trolling, yawn….
it depends on which version you get. The early ones have the ‘duck quak’ filter but there are only 303 of those in existence. Then Mattel got cheap and started using a crappier filter. There is one on eBay right now with a ‘Buy it Now’ price of $3500 + $200 shipping from Japan. I’m thinking of getting it so I have backup.
Actually, I’m not a troll, I just have opinion, but apparently that’s not allowed ;o)
If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!
Nah…
Everybody wants something new,something different in terms of gear and sound and why is that?Because everybody wants to be the star!!Diego Stocco is the star,he has the knowledge to create a palette of sounds created from our natural environment!!
… what
This thing can sound just like 80s Rolands – that DCO clean sweet sound. Wow – the only currently available analog that can get that sound.
Everybody’s hanging on how deep this and that brand sounding shit. while i as a musician strongly believes that the only thing what counts in making music is music that sounds pleasing to the ears. not to forget music that makes people smile and that has nothing to do with extreme deep sub sounds cause most people wont hear that anyway. come on guys wake up the bass station 2 is a real good analog (dc0 so what?) all rounder. if you want the moog sound go get a moog and stop screaming like a litle bitch.
Other company’s synths have their own characteristc sounds.
i’m tired of all the bullshit that everything was better in the old days anyhow like everbody’s carrying and osciloscope to measure the waves, come on be real,
fuck that yesterdaywas different but not better.
it all has something to do with un creative followers who never ever played vintage gear but only talking shit about what they read. moog is great but novation too en dsi too and so on. get the fuck out hanging in shit we already know and develope sound and synths cause if you stick to old shit whitout room for anything else it leads to nothing new. remember this!
btw i know my english isnt the best but those who notice will know what i mean.
I skipped my korg ms20 mini order cause i dont want to wait at least 3 months to get one i want to make music no more no less. waiting that long is a fucking waste of time and thats that.
Just wanted to chime in, I saw one at guitar center today and played around with it. It was hooked up to shitty speakers, but it still sounded pretty damn good, especially the low bass 808 style patches. Not sure what the specs are but it sounds pretty fat in certain sounds and yes, thin in others. I have a sub phatty and it really works well in my set up but might give the bassstation a try out in the studio as well. I almost bought it on the spot because of the very affordable retail price!
This thing sounds like a stale loaf of bread.