The original Bass Station would now be old enough to drink. But the new Bass Station II (which, in a typical marketing twist, Novation would like to remind you can also do leads) is improved, expanded, and more connected. And with a street price of US$499, the competition for affordable synths has gotten just plain ridiculous – in a way that can only benefit the synth consumer.
Now, the Bass Station II has two filters, two oscillators and a sub-oscillator, patch save capability, and analog effects. It also looks playable, with a step-sequencer, arpeggiator, onboard modulation, and MIDI and USB.
And this does qualify as “analog,” with an analog signal path and analog filters, even with a switchable diode filter modeled on the 303 for what Novation describes as “acid” and “squelchy” sounds.
Features:
- “All-new design,” says Novation, modeled on the original and with a “pure analog audio signal path.”
- Two filters: “Classic” (from the original), and 303-style “Acid.”
- 64 presets, 64 user patch locations.
- Analog distortion, filter modulation, filter overdrive/crunch.
- Modulation: 2 ADSR envelopes, 2 LFOs, pulse width modulation, switchable LFO waveforms: triangle, sawtooth, square and sample & hold.
- Programmable step sequencer, arpeggiator.
And you get lots of hands-on controls for the synth, always a welcome feature.
This is yet another entry from OSCar and Wasp creator Chris Huggett, who contributed to some legendary synth designs and has continued to work with Novation. I hope we get to talk to Chris soon, in fact.
In the meantime, a video, below.
This ships in June ($629.99 MSRP / $499.99 at dealers), making 2013 continue to be an absurdly good year for affordable monosynths. And Messe hasn’t even started yet.
And some images:
Hope to get sound samples from Novation soon. I’ll be seeing them tomorrow at Messe, as well.