GForce Bass Station
Back in 1993, we introduced the world to a compact analogue synth with colossal low end — the original Bass Station. Now, more than thirty years later, we’ve partnered with analogue-modelling pioneers GForce Software to create the definitive virtual version of this cult classic.
A vintage voice for your Novation hardware
The Bass Station plugin is included with every purchase of Launchkey MK4, SL MkIII, or FLkey and has been specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with each model. It is also available for purchase directly from GForce Software.
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Based on a true story
GForce Bass Station is an expanded celebration of our first ever synthesiser. Its digitally controlled analogue oscillators, filters, and VCAs from the late, great Chris Huggett’s legendary WASP synthesiser, gave it an unruly, lo-fi sound. Cementing its status as an underground icon, the original Bass Station featured on pivotal records from Radiohead, Orbital, Nine Inch Nails, and Wu-Tang Clan.
The Bass Station Story
Expertly modelled by GForce
GForce have been pushing the boundaries of analogue modelling since the turn of the millennium. Having made their name with pitch-perfect recreations of vintage synths, they began expanding each offering with wish-list-worthy features that would never have been possible on the original hardware — and GForce Bass Station is no exception.
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Recreated, then reimagined
Bass Station fans will feel at home here, with the original hardware’s sound, feature list, and much of the interface faithfully recreated in exacting detail. However, GForce didn’t stop there. This digital descendent comes with modern enhancements and quality-of-life improvements we could only dream of in 1993.
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16 voices, one Bass Station
The original Bass Station was monophonic, however, with software synths, there’s no limit. Featuring 16 voices across polyphonic, unison, and combined modes, you are now equipped with a virtual chorus of Bass Stations from one keyboard. -
Shape your soundscape
GForce have stayed true to the spirit of the original while seamlessly incorporating powerful new sound design features. With new waveforms, an additional sub oscillator, FM, new LFO options, filter key tracking, and much more, you now have more ways than ever to craft a tone that’s unique. -
Maximum modulation
X-Modifier is more than just an additional modulation source — it brings movement to every aspect of your sound. Simply click a control and dial in your modulation to add unique, independent LFO and envelopes to almost every one of the synth’s parameters. -
Instant inspiration
Unusually for an analogue synth of its time, the original Bass Station featured on-board patch memory — for up to seven sounds. This virtual iteration comes packed with more than 300 expertly crafted presets to kickstart your next track, plus plenty of space to store your own creations.
Effects on everything.
On-board effects were another feature we couldn’t squeeze into the original Bass Station. Now, GForce have included a full suite of creative tools, including, delay and chorus, an expansive sounding reverb, and four distinct types of distortion.
Sequencing superpowers
Paired with modern Novation controllers, this iteration of the Bass Station is more playable than ever. Program patterns with the brand new sequencer and arpeggiator, featuring controls for individual step length, velocity, swing, probability, scales, randomisation, and more.
Take control with macros
Two versatile macro dials can easily be assigned to as many parameters as you like, and with different values for each. With just a few clicks and drags, you can go from restrained to raucous with the twist of a knob.
The Bass Station Story
Our first release
Novation debuted in 1992 with the MM10, then the world’s smallest MIDI keyboard. Paired with Yamaha’s QY10 workstation, it created a portable studio setup for music-making on the go.
The original.
Recognising the potential in the MM10 chassis, legendary designer Chris Huggett incorporated ideas from his earlier Wasp synthesiser to form the basis of what we now know as the original Bass Station: a distinctive two-oscillator synth that delivered booming low end for a fraction of the cost of rival bass synth, the Roland TB-303.
Bass Station Rack
More than a keyless Bass Station, this rack-mountable iteration greatly expanded patch memory and added an LCD display for faster navigation. With syncable LFOs and enhanced modulation options, it also introduced early versions of some of the features now found in GForce Bass Station.
Super Bass Station
The headline update of the 1997 Super Bass Station was its additional sub-oscillator, delivering even more earth-shaking low end. It also included further memory expansions and new sound design tools such as ring modulation and a white noise generator.
Bass Station II
Celebrating 20 years of Bass Station in style, we launched its true successor, Bass Station II, in 2013. Built on the original’s heritage, and aping its looks to some extent, the sequel bested the original Bass Station in many ways, with a new layer of digital control allowing for modern features like instant patch storage and recall.
25th anniversary
Five years later, we marked Bass Station’s 25th anniversary with the addition of many of the Novation community’s most requested feature updates. Microtuning, oscillator drift control, and even a new paraphonic mode all made the cut.
Aphex Twin collab
We first collaborated with long-time Bass Station fan Aphex Twin with Bass Station II’s AFX firmware mode, which added the ability to assign parameter values to individual keys — effectively allowing for a different patch on every note. In 2021, we followed up with AFX Station, a strictly limited Aphex Twin-branded remix of the hardware.
Specifications
Compatibility
- Mac: Standalone Application, AU, AAX, VST and VST3
- PC: Standalone Application, AAX, VST and VST3
- macOS 10.13.x or above
- Intel or Apple Silicon Mac
- Windows 7 and above
- 2GHz CPU with 2GB RAM
Included with
- Launchkey MK4, SLMkIII, and FLkey
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