Features : Cutoff ♣ Resonance ♣ Overdrive ♣ Filter frequency to Mod Envelope depth ♣ Filter frequency to LFO 2 depth Sequences are transposed by playing the keyboard, and if you want to break them up, gaps can be introduced non-destructively. When you turn the Rhythm knob all the way to the right, your sequences and arpeggios play as expected, but when you turn it to the left, an increasing number of rhythmic gaps are introduced, culminating in a spaced-out series of crotchets. For the final splash of sonic mangling, there's an 'Effects' section. It's just possible that Novation's terminology guys got carried away one Friday afternoon because the knobs concerned are: distortion (a post-filter overdrive) and 'osc filter mod' (audio level modulation, the source oscillator being 2). However, you won't bemoan the creative labelling once you realise how valuable the two are. Distortion is thrashingly excellent and is the ideal stimulant for the 303-curious everywhere. I won't risk the wrath of the Bassline Gods by claiming you can exactly match that fabled silver box, but when you've engaged the Acid filter and spread resonance akimbo, distortion is clearly the last piece of the jigsaw. There's further dirt, too, thanks to that second effect. Audio-level filter modulation adds its own distinctly toothy bite, and when you begin exercising the mod source's pitch, the currently-selected filter gets an electrifying workout. Filter FM also works wonders when processing external signals.

With the Bass Station II you get Ableton Live Lite, the lightweight version of one of the most popular digital audio workstationsaround to get started making music. And with Loopmasters you get access to a 4GB library of royalty-free samples to inspire or use in your music. Oscillator error introduces a small and adjustable random detune on each note-on event. This can be used to generate some very beautiful, subtle (or not) musical dissonance, very much in the same way that vintage synths do (because of the looser tolerance of their electronic components). Paraphonic mode makes it as dramatic as possible. Microtuning editing &New presets Featuring two tuneable oscillators, plus a sub-oscillator for enhancing the all-important low end, as well as 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 Classic multi-mode filter of the original Bass Station and the 24dB/octave Acid filter, with its darker, smoother sound – plus plenty of modulation in the shape of two LFOs and a pair of ADSR envelopes. May 2017 Novation announces Peak Polyphonic Synth and Circuit Mono Station Paraphonic Analogue SynthWhen recording a sequence, it's worth keeping an eye on the display, because this is the only visual cue to which sequence you're about to overwrite. This is one of just a few anomalies; it arises because the selected sequence is stored in each patch and its number might conflict with the sequence-selector switch's actual position. Notes are entered in step time, along with rests and ties. As an extra bonus, the sequencer faithfully captures note velocity and transmits the patterns out into the world over MIDI/USB. It's therefore very practical to send the results into your DAW. The Pulse Width rotary comes into its own when either of the primary oscillators is set to square or pulse waves and controls the width of that cycle. Again this can be modulated by the Mod Envelope, manually or with the second LFO. Experimenting with this you can get some great edgy and very big sounds, with the Mod Envelope especially taking a dramatic role. Indeed, by exploring this section I found I’d created a pretty impressive hoover like sound from scratch. Press save and that’s preset number 70 in the clip!

LFO waveforms include triangle, sawtooth, square and sample & hold. Two ADSR envelopes are available for filter, pitch and pulse width modulation. Twenty years ago, Novation's original Bass Station was a zappy little synth influenced by the TB303. Today's model retains all its ancestor's charms but is better laid out and has a nifty sequencer, a sub-oscillator and a whole other identity courtesy of that Acid filter. The Bass Station was never exclusively a bass machine, but the new model is a serious proposition whatever your analogue monosynth requirements. Novation put as many controls as possible onto Bass Station II, so you can totally lose yourself in discovering and creating new sounds. Of course, Novation also laid out all those controls in the clearest and most useful way, to keep the sound design as straightforward and fun as possible. Save and Load Patches There's no screen or conventional menu system; the three-character display is perfectly adequate for patch selection and for showing the numeric values arising from panel tweaks. I frequently turned to the display when adjusting the various bi-polar controls, because spotting a '0' there was usually easier than finding the mid-point of a fairly small knob. An 'original value' display (consisting of two arrow-shaped LEDs) helpfully indicates whether the twiddled control is currently higher or lower than the value stored. Again, whilst this is a compromise, it does encourage you to use your ears rather than your eyes and is therefore no bad thing. Programming the Bass Station II is hugely rewarding and it's capable of much more than bass sounds bad thing. Programming the Bass Station II is hugely rewarding and, like its predecessor, it's capable of much more than bass sounds.

May 2013 Dance MIDI Samples releases "Zebra 2 Soundset By Mikko L" and "Nutty Traxx V-Station Soundset" Two distinct analogue filters: A brand new ‘Acid’ filter joins the ‘Classic’ original BassStation filter Completely control the frequency triggered by each key press, giving your scales another dimension. In addition to its five-pin In and Out ports, the Bass Station 2 is a USB class-compliant MIDI device, speaking the dusty digital interface with no need of special drivers. It's therefore equally at home with MIDI hardware or your PC or Mac, although my iPad 2 didn't want to know.

The keyboard mechanism is a two-octave (25 note) velocity sensitive synth-action keyboard with full-size keys and assignable aftertouch Note that you will need to have the latest version of each unit's firmware installed. This can be applied by running the relevant product's installer:This synth can sound as mellow or aggressive as you want. Seek out sweet spots with the filter mod to make it sing. Crank the distortion and it will growl with pent up anger. Push the resonance to self-oscillation to create shrieking leads. Bass Station II can sound however you feel. Easy Controls for Complex Design

All of this remains exactly the same on the AFX Station, as does the layout of the knobs and switches. The main differences between the Bass Station II and the AFX Station are purely cosmetic, although it does come with a new preset bank from some fairly high‑profile sound designers, although sadly none from Mr James himself. The sharing of controls is a well-established Novation tradition, here continued as painlessly as I've known it. The synth has two oscillators, two LFOs, two envelopes and two filters. With more huddled twosomes than Clapham Common and only a finite amount of panel space, sharing is as logical as it is inevitable. For LFOs and oscillators, this works well enough, thanks to intelligent use of switches. The user interface also has a second type of switch — of the programmable type. For these, there are LEDs that indicate stored values adjacent to each switch. Bass Station II is an analogue mono synth based on the classic original BassStation 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 an analogue synth that is built for bass, but capable of so much more. FeaturesAll controls receive MIDI controller numbers for the recording and replay of tweaks during a performance. Equally at 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. Apr 2010 Daniel Stawczyk (Status) announces Christmas Sale on Discovery Pro and V-Station Soundsets (20% Off) Novation loaded Bass Station II with 64 diverse patches that showcase its huge sonic variation. Novation also left 64 slots free, so you can easily save and load your own patches on the unit, or in the free librarian software. Instant Inspiration