Novation Bass Station II

Novation Bass Station II 
The original Bass Station was launched in 1993 and became a cult classic; the music-producer community has been asking for a new version ever since.

To celebrate Novation's 21st Birthday we have created Bass Station II. It has Bass Station DNA but the synth engine has been re-built from the ground up so it is bigger, fatter, more powerful and ready for making bass in the 21st century.

Introducing Bass Station II 
Bass Station II is an analogue 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 analogue 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 so much more.

After Two Decades, the Bass Station is Back
The Novation Bass Station II 25-key monophonic analog synthesizer is a powerful reminder of Novation's legacy of synth prowess. As the name implies, the Bass Station II is primed for gut-grabbing bass sounds, employing two oscillators plus a sub-oscillator for foundation-shaking sonics. You'll find it's primed for leads and hypnotic arpeggiations too, and you can seriously mangle your sounds in realtime with distortion and FM effects. With an array of hands-on controls and a huge analog sound, you'll be inspired as soon as you get your hands on the Novation Bass Station II.

The right ingredients for epic, expressive sounds
While the Bass Station II packs the bread-and-butter synthesis controls to create a wide range of leads, pads, and effects, it's primed for heavy-hitting bass. Two main oscillators can be hard-sync'd for tighter, more punchy tones. And a sub-oscillator is on hand to fill out the bottom end. And because its 25-note keyboard supports aftertouch, you'll find it easy to really put some expression in your performances.

Get creative with a built-in arpeggiator and step sequencer
When you switch on the Bass Station II's arpeggiator you can choose from 32 different rhythmic patterns in different directions, with control over the octave range. You can also play up to four of your own patterns into the step sequencer, and play them back using one of the 32 rhythms. The step sequencer records legato and rests too, so you can create more expressive sequences on the fly than you can with simple note on/off sequencers found on some synths.

Two filter designs for two very distinct sounds
The Bass Station II packs two discrete filter designs, each with an overdrive circuit for seriously distorted tones. The "Classic" filter is based on the original Bass Station synth, giving you LPF, HPF, and BPF modes. The "Acid" filter is a diode ladder design that can get very squelchy - think 303 and you've got the idea.

Features:

• Monophonic analog synthesizer keyboard primed for huge bass sounds
• Two discrete filter designs give you two distinct flavors to create your sounds with
• Dual oscillators can be hard-synced for tighter, punchier bass
• Sub-oscillator with square, sine, and narrow pulse-width waveforms adds rich, full low end
• Dedicated knobs and faders, and aftertouch, allow for very expressive performances
• 64 factory presets, 64 user slots
• Built-in arpeggiator and step sequencer with 32 different rhythmic patterns
• "LFO Slew" feature lets you distort the LFO waveforms for more modulation possibilities
• External input for processing line-level audio signals
• Powered by AC or USB bus power
   

The Synth Engine: A Brief Overview

Oscillators: Bass Station II is built on three analogue oscillators and a noise generator. There are two fully independent oscillators plus a sub oscillator (which is the critical component in creating rich, analogue bass sounds). Oscillators One and Two are switchable between sine, sawtooth, square and variable pulse width, and Oscillator Three - the sub osc - can be set to one or two octaves below Oscillator One. It can be square, sine or narrow pulse width, delivering the characteristically ‘fat’ bass tone.

Filters: You can select between two discrete filters - ‘Acid’ or ‘Classic’ - each with a built in overdrive for pushing filter tones from dry, to warm, to nasty! The ‘Classic’ Bass Station filter can be switched between low pass, high pass and band pass at 12 or 24dB slopes. The ‘Acid’ filter is based on a diode ladder filter design that delivers a characteristically 303-esque sound that is designed to squelch!

Effects
Bass Station II has two effects (not including the filter overdrive). Analogue distortion drives circuit components to add new frequencies to the sound. Bass Station II’s Distortion function can add gentle warmth, filthy granularity and anything in between. The second effect is ‘Osc Filter Mod’ which creates a distinctive FM-type sound by using Oscillator Two to modulate the filter frequency. This is very good at crunchy, sound-mulching effects that substantially fatten up bass and lead patches.

Modulation
There are two envelope generators and two low frequency oscillators (LFOs). The first envelope is an ADSR amp envelope and the second is a mod envelope that can be used to modulate filter frequency, oscillator pitch and osc pulse width. LFO One is dedicated to pitch modulation whereas LFO is used to modulate osc pulse width and filter frequency. Although it looks like there are four LFO waveforms, the ‘LFO Slew’ function can be used freely to sculpt LFOs into smoother wave-shapes creating many more LFO possibilities.

Arpeggiator and step sequencer
Bass Station II’s Arpeggiator and Step Sequencer are killer performance and production tools. The Arp can be directed to run through 32 different rhythmic patterns in different directions with a switchable octave range. You can also engage the Step Sequencer. Up to four sequences can be played in – with legato and rests – and played back using any one of the 32 rhythmic patterns. As well as getting ideas down quickly and programming performance sequences, this is a brilliant way to preview patches while you are editing them.

This just scratches the surface of the synth engine. Bass Station II is a powerful little synth with a lot more than first meets the eye. There are many more oscillator, envelope, LFO and modulation functions that are too numerous to detail here. The best way to experience Bass Station II is to get hands-on!

Synth engine

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 new note is played)
• Multi trigger (re-triggers with every new 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

System Requirements