The analogue monosynth reborn
Nothing out there sounds this warm, fat and dirty. Bass Station II is our pure analogue monosynth. We based it on our classic Bass Station, then enhanced every area to make it even bigger, angrier and more versatile.
It has two tuneable oscillators, a sub-oscillator for enormous bass, plus noise and ring modulation. It also gives you two distinct analogue filter types: the classic multi-mode filter and a new acid filter, for a massive variation in sonic possibilities.
Much More Than Bass
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
We put as many controls as possible onto Bass Station II, so you can totally lose yourself in discovering and creating new sounds. Of course, we also laid out all those controls in the clearest and most useful way, to keep sound design as straightforward and fun as possible.
Editor's Choice Award
Editor's Choice Award
15 of the Best Affordable Hardware Synths
15 of the Best Affordable Hardware Synths
Keybuy Award
Keybuy Award
The overdrive before the filter is amazing - I've been finding that just gives you a little bit of extra punch.
Paul Hartnoll, Synthesist - Orbital
Save and Load Patches
We loaded Bass Station II with 64 diverse patches that showcase its huge sonic variation. We 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
Bass Station II's pattern-based arpeggiator and step sequencer are a fun and immediate way to find new inspiration. The sequencer lets you record your own notes, ties, rests and rhythms in real time, then store them, recall them and use them with any patch you like. Easily and automatically sync them to your music software or hardware setup, or even add swing to get your groove going.
10 Best Mono Synths
10 Best Mono Synths
Best in Gear: Mono Synths
Best in Gear: Mono Synths
Best Value Award 2013
Best Value Award 2013
"We use the Bass Station II for its sounds, which are endless! Big shout out to Novation for re-releasing this bassline classic. It's an incredible piece of new-school gear"
Soul Clap
Connect to Just About Anything
Bass Station II is fully class compliant, so you can plug into anything via USB and start playing. It also has MIDI I/O on 5 pin din ports, so you can connect your other MIDI gear. You can even connect an external instrument and run it through Bass Station II's analogue filter and effects.
“I reckon Novation have a winner!”
“I reckon Novation have a winner!”
“One of the best all-rounders on the market.”
“One of the best all-rounders on the market.”
“An exceptional synth.”
“An exceptional synth.”
Key Features
Create a huge variety of sounds
Two pure analogue, sync-able and tuneable oscillators with four selectable waveforms, plus a third sub-oscillator, noise and ring modulation.
Enormous bass and shrieking leads
Switch the multi-mode Classic Filter between low, hi and band pass with 12 and 24dB slopes.
Improved analogue filter stage
A 24dB Acid Filter that is even darker, wetter and smoother than the Classic.
Turn Jekyll to Hyde
Create crunchy, aggressive sounds with fully analogue distortion, filter-modulation effects and a separate filter overdrive.
Easily load and save patches
Comes with 64 patches that cover a huge range of styles, but you can create, save, archive and swap 64 of your own too.
Get instant inspiration
Record notes, ties, rests and rhythms in real time using the step sequencer and arpeggiator, then easily store them, recall them and use them with any patch you like.
Experiment easily
Get your hands on loads of controls, cleverly arranged for intuitive patch design and sound editing.
Flexible modulation
Triangle, sawtooth and square LFO waveforms, as well as sample and hold, and two ADSR envelopes for filter, pitch and pulse width modulation.
Connect to hardware and software
Connect and sync to your music software and MIDI-compatible hardware.
AFX Mode
Perfect for sequencing and arpeggiation, every key on the instrument can become a new patch, making it a powerful analogue drum machine, a flexible sound design tool, or a killer bass or lead module.
Player's Keyboard
Full sized 25-note velocity-sensitive keyboard, with a fast synth-action and aftertouch.
Store unlimited sounds
Keep as many patches as you like on your Mac or PC using the Librarian Software.
Artist Soundpack
We decided to put a call out to a handful of our Bass Station II artists to have them create some patches for a new soundpack. Here’s the roster of analogue noodlers who got involved: Nite Jewel, Cian from Super Furry Animals, Jeremy from Everything Everything, Jason Miles, Victor Parris Mitchell, Adam Freedland.
Producer Series Vol.1 Soundpack
This collection of unique analogue sound patches was created for us by world class synth producers from our eclectic artist and producer community.
Whether you’re creating dance, funk, electronica, indie, pop or something totally experimental, these 46 Patches will add true analogue depth to your music. You will need to download and install the librarian to load the patches.
“The Bass Station II is a worthy successor to the legendary original model.”
“The Bass Station II is a worthy successor to the legendary original model.”
“The Bass Station II is the rebirth of a legend that has been worth the 20-year wait.”
“The Bass Station II is the rebirth of a legend that has been worth the 20-year wait.”
“Unique filter section, great presets, fantastic sub oscillator, tons of modulation options, great price.”
“Unique filter section, great presets, fantastic sub oscillator, tons of modulation options, great price.”
Jeremy Pritchard of Everything Everything talks us through his thoughts on Bass Station II and the patches he's created for the Bass Station II Artist Pack
AFX Mode
AFX Mode is the realisation of electronic music legend Richard James, aka Aphex Twin. Put simply, it lets you modify your Bass Station II patch on a key-by-key basis. Use it to introduce subtle changes to a sound as you play up and down the keyboard; divide the keyboard into multiple zones (one per key if you like!), each playing its own sound; or create entire drum kits in a single preset for triggering manually or via the Arpeggiator. It’s a truly inspiring feature that really does open up a whole new world of sound design and performance possibilities.
AFX Mode is part of the v4.14 firmware update, available as a free download via Components.
Tech Specs
Product Hardware Specifications
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 2 socket for 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
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 from Mod Envelope and/or LFO 1
- Pulse width modulation from Mod Envelope and/or 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)
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)
- 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
Power Requirements
- USB bus powered
- 9V DC power supply included
- Maximum power consumption 9V DC 300mA
Product Dimensions
- 457mm (18”) width x 273mm (10.75”) depth x 76mm (3”) height
OS Compatibility
macOS 10.12 Sierra
Yes
Mac OSX 10.11
Yes
Mac OSX 10.10
Yes
Mac OSX 10.9
Yes
Windows 10
Yes
Windows 8
Yes
