Novation Synth Bass

[Brian]

Equallyat home on stage and in the studio, Bass Station II is a classic analogue synthesiser that 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.

Before the famous Novation Bass Station Rackmodule came the small and portable Bass Station keyboard! This synthesizer uses digitally synchronized analog oscillators (DCO's) to reproduce thesounds of a monophonic dual-osc analog synthesizer with simple andintuitive controls via 17 knobs, 10 switches and 2 Moog-style pitch/modwheels. Think EDP Wasp and ARP Odyssey.

The Bass Station can faithfully reproduce analog bass sounds similar to aTB-303, Micromoog or Pro One synthesizer. The small keyboard andmonophonic architecture set this keyboard up for strict bassline, leadsynth lines, and synth fx. It also transmits MIDI continuous controller data from itspitch/mod wheels, frequency cutoff, resonance, filter modulation depth,env1 attack, decay and env2 attack and decay.

Unlike the Rack version, however, the keyboard lacks basic patch storagefeatures. There are only 7 memory patches and 1 manual patch (what theknobs are doing right now). The memory can be stored externally usingMIDI SysEx dumps. But for the low price (under $500) this makes a greatand compact analog bass synth for any user with simple but tasteful bassneeds. It is used by Apollo 440, RZA, and Lo Fidelity AllStars.

i bought one off ebay last year for 185 quid. it was described as tested, in full working order and in excellent condition.

i got it out the box and noticed that the filter knob was missing, then 2 slider caps. after playing it for awhile i noticed that the modulation knob looked like it had been snacked on by a rodent and the acid filter was blown.

couldn't believe they thought they'd have a successful transaction.

so before i packed it up to send back, i found a cotton thread bobbin to replace the missing filter knob for the seller. it looked really classy. lol

imo the best synth of the 3 monos i've had (bs2, monologue, neutron) i really liked it

You can sequence stuff via a modulation sequencer too and it can even independently sequence another synth With cv+ gate. The mod sequencer allows really quick and easy gating through the modulation matrix, and you can smooth the steps if you want too.

Thanks @klownshed I didn't realize the Mono Station had patch flip. They're like 'sound locks' on the recent Elektrons?

I only saw the old loopop video where he p-locks to turn Mono Station into a drum machine.

@Sequencer1 said:

Thanks @klownshed I didn't realize the Mono Station had patch flip. They're like 'sound locks' on the recent Elektrons?

I only saw the old loopop video where he p-locks to turn Mono Station into a drum machine.

I recall novation had a VST of the original Bass Station or something that could do nicely as an AUv3 same with the now 'discontinued' LaunchKey app which had a complete synthesis engine built-in (based on MiniNova) with limited editing options.

A few things to be aware of. It's a mono synth - only one note at a time so no chords. The two octave keyboard could be a limiting factor for playability. Some of the more interesting sound shaping functions do not have a dedicated front panel control which includes the fact that both the oscillators and both envelope generators share a single set of controls with switches to chose which one you are adjusting; so you can't just look at the controls and know what everything is doing in a quick glance.

However don't under-estimate the desirability of having a dedicated front-panel control for every parameter. I used to own a Waldorf Microwave XT which has an impressive number of knobs and switched on the front panel (the XT rack version is an additional 3U bigger than the standard version to accommodate all of these). However, as soon as you needed to access any of the more interesting modulation functions including the additional envelope generators and LFOs, you were back to parameter access and a relatively small display. I know that the switch selection for the Oscillators and EGs would very quickly get on my nerves as I'd be forever adjusting the wrong one. I'd be looking for a computer-based editor that shows all the controls on a single screen for any serious programming.

I don't think you'd need the computer for gigging. It's just for creating the sounds in the first place. If you did find yourself needing to tweak the oscillators and envelope generators as part of the performance you'd need to make sure that the switches were set to the right ones for each patch (which would need to be done manually) before you started playing. It's one of these things you'd won't know is a problem or not until you've spent some time with the synth. Personally I'd be more worried about the limitations of the two octave keyboard.

At you price point there is very little in the way of alternative especially if you want a full compliment of sound editing controls on the front panel. Off the top of my head only the Korg Monologue comes close...

I had one back in the early 80s. It was fine for the less important synth sounds (like background sequencer parts, sound effects and percussion) but not for any of our bass or lead sounds without external help. These days there are far better sounding synths with programmable patch memories for that kind of money.

Going back to the OP: yes, the Bass Station 2 is a good first synth if two octaves is enough.

BRX's posts all nail it, IMHO.

There's a difference between a first synth used for learning synthesis and a first synth used to reproduce sounds from 60 years of hits, to name just a few uses.

For the use @fretmeister indicates, I'd say: go for it. It's simply a good synth, and the patch memory comes in handy as well.

I used a Bass Station for a few gigs after motorcycle accident left my right hand hand rather damaged - I had never played keyboards before but worked out a few bass patterns and was able to play a few songs on it in order to give my injured hand

Well the used synth market would have a more positive view of the SH101 Even tatty examples are approaching 1000. Even the Behringher MS101 which retailed for about 240 new, changing hands used for around the 350-400 mark.

if i were to buy an analog synth for bass , or basslines perhaps a moog would be my choise. I have heard a lot about how great are the basses sounds in the moog minitaur and all the moog synts in general.

Although I was not able to hear the bass sound accurately deep through my laptop speakers, I got your point. Sounds good. How about available presents, any good? Loved the percussion in that song btw.

However, I was not able to work with it in consistent manner. The firmware is not yet good (Moog is putting al their efforts in the Sub Patty). So I had to continuously change the knobs to reclaim the sound I wanted. It delayed my music production.

Tough choice - try do a side by side comparison - for me, BS2 workflow is The Boss, and probably a better choice on stage for a non keys player - less complicated but just as complex (if that makes sense ).

If you have the money to by a Mopho Keyboard, I would buy the BS2 and with the left over $ I would go ahead and pick up Microbrute or Minibrute. They would be the BEST companion because they can be controlled via voltage and the A4 can sequence/modulate them. Consider the Slim Phatty, MS-20 Mini, etc for this reason as well.

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