Novation Bass Station II

Bass Station II is an analog mono-synth with a talent for bass, but a sound-engine that is versatile enough to kick out sharp leads and crisp arpeggios. It brings the best elements of the original Bass Station into a brand new design with re-worked modulation, effects, filters and more; like the Bass Station, but much much bigger.The signal path is pure analog - including the effects section. The hardware has been laid out in modules with dedicated pots, switches, sliders and buttons for all major parameters. Critically, you can store and recall patches on Bass Station II. It comes with 64 killer factory presets, space for 64 of your own sounds on the hardware, and you can store more on your computer.The key-mechanism consists of 25 full sized keys that are velocity sensitive with assignable aftertouch. It has been developed as a ˜synth-action' keyboard, where each key is individually sprung so it is light to the touch and highly responsive to the synth engine. Bass Station II is a fully class compliant MIDI device with MIDI I/O on 5 pin din ports - for connecting to other MIDI outboard - and can interface with your computer over USB.The Synth Engine: A Brief OverviewOscillators: Bass Station II is built on three analog oscillators and a noise generator. There are two fully independent oscillators plus a sub oscillator (which is the critical component in creating rich, analog 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). Analog 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 Two 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.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. The fun really starts when you engage the Step Sequencer. Up to four sequences can be played in - with legato and rests - and assigned to 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.

• 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)
  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
  

• Analog synth: brand new version of the classic Bass Station
• Two distinct analog filters: brand new "Acid" filter joins the "Classic" original Bass Station filter
• Bass Station II ships with 64 factory patches and a further 64 user slots
• Patch dump enables you to archive and swap sounds
• Pattern-based Step Sequencer and Arpeggiator
• Analog synth layout includes dedicated controls for all major parameters
• Two Oscillators plus an additional Sub Oscillator
• Analog effects section: Bass Station II includes fully analog distortion and filter-modulation effects and a separate filter overdrive to add an aggressive, crunchy sound-quality
• Flexible modulation featuring 2 Envelopes and 2 LFOs
• MIDI I/O and USB connectivity
• Players 'synth-action' keyboard with aftertouch