Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $1,869
High-end/Boutique
$500
$1501+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
The Novation Bass Station Keyboard is a modern powerhouse designed for musicians who crave authentic analog sound and versatile control. This synthesizer is a reimagining of the classic Bass Station, retaining the beloved authentic analog tone while offering enhanced features that suit both studio and live environments. Equipped with 25 velocity-sensitive keys, it provides expressive playability and precise control over your performances. Whether you're crafting deep basses, sharp leads, or evolving soundscapes, the Bass Station has the tools you need.
At the heart of the Bass Station Keyboard is its dual-oscillator analog engine, delivering fat, warm sounds that can be customized with ease. The addition of a sub-oscillator allows for even deeper bass capabilities, while the multi-mode filter provides a wide tonal palette, from smooth and creamy to aggressive and biting. Musicians can benefit from its extensive modulation options, including two LFOs and an envelope generator, offering creative flexibility. The built-in arpeggiator and step sequencer expand your musical possibilities, allowing for intricate rhythmic patterns and melodic sequences.
Key Features:
- 25 velocity-sensitive keys for expressive performance
- Dual-oscillator analog sound engine with additional sub-oscillator
- Multi-mode filter with overdrive for diverse tonal shaping
- Two LFOs and an envelope generator for complex modulation
- Integrated arpeggiator and step sequencer for dynamic compositions
- MIDI I/O and USB connectivity for seamless integration with your setup
- Compact design, ideal for both studio and live performances
Videos
AudioPilz
Bad Gear - Novation Bass Station - Bassless TB-303???
Reviews
PROS
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Compatible with Launchkey 61 out of the box
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Recreates Bass Station II sound in a plugin
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Effective for bass sounds in music production
CONS
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Interface considered small on 1080p screens
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Limited appeal beyond Ableton users
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Considered dated in today's market
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Some users find little to no use for it
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Novation Bass Station Keyboard.
User experience
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Aftertouch requires significant downforce, with white keys exhibiting a "lever" action, which some users find concerning regarding potential wear or damage.
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Some users find the minimalist display and limited sequence memory (only four sequences) to be insufficient for recording song ideas.
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Some users report the plastic knobs degrade and become sticky over time, though this isn't a deal-breaker for many.
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The shared envelope controls may be cumbersome for live tweaking, as switching between envelopes can require extreme slider adjustments.
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Comparisons
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The Arturia MiniBrute and Korg Minilogue are often compared, but users frequently find the Bass Station II superior in versatility and sound quality.
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Compared to Yamaha's DX7 keybed, the Bass Station II's aftertouch is less responsive, which may disappoint those accustomed to high-quality key assemblies.
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The Bass Station II is likened to vintage SH-101s but offers more features at a lower price point.
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Use cases and applications
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The Circuit Mono Station, with a similar synth engine, offers additional modulation benefits like motion sequencing and a mod matrix, complementing the Bass Station II.
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When paired with a sequencer or sampler, the Bass Station II can function as a comprehensive tool for creating full-fledged songs.
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Features and functionality
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The synth includes three oscillators, with two main oscillators and a sub oscillator that became tunable after a firmware update, enabling triad creation.
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It offers seven filter types, including LP/BP/HP with 12/24db slopes and an "Acid" filter, unique among non-digital synths for its variety.
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The Bass Station II features a latch button that allows for hands-free manipulation, enhancing live performance capabilities with swells and atmospheric changes.
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The Bass Station II uses a "fast action" keybed, distinct from the Novation Mininova's mini key design, emphasizing a different playing experience.
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The Bass Station II can be updated to firmware 2.5 for paraphonic mode, allowing each oscillator to be controlled separately for playing two notes.
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AFX Mode allows assigning different patches to individual keys, effectively transforming the synth into an analog drum machine.
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Build quality
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Some units display inconsistent key resistance; black keys may feel lighter, with varying pressure required to trigger notes, unlike more consistent units found in stores.
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Value and pricing
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Available refurbished from Novation for around $350, offering significant features for the price.
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Other
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Some owners mention issues with high humidity affecting the synth's performance, necessitating repairs.
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Critic Reviews
4.0 out of 5
Based on 7 Reviews and 35 Ratings
53
Phat
My first really phat synth, I used to use this all the time. Bit limited in todays market but fond memories of all the good times for sure.
Good Plugin... for Ableton
Its a good plugin, but I have found no use for it in anything other than Ableton.
Artist usage
Add artist
"I make a lot of sound on the Novation Bass Station but I don’t know if I’d recommend anyone to buy it. Haha, but its definitely a cool sounding synth" - Samiyam
picture https://cosign.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/2.jpg?w=300&h=225
Andrew Eldritch utilizes the Novation Bass Station Keyboard, notable for its ability to transmit controller information with every knob adjustment, allowing sequencers to replicate each sound change. This feature, highlighted on The-sisters-of-mercy's "Sisters Tech - Samplers & Synthesis" page, showcases the Bass Station as a pioneer in this capability.
William Orbit (about the gear he used for the recording session of Madonna's Ray of Light album) : “How did I know you would ask me that? Oh, it’s all in a pile there if you wanna look at it . It’s not a ton of gear. Most of it is pretty retro; a Korg MS-20, a [Roland] Juno-106, a [Roland] JD-800. Much of the album was done on a Juno-106. You can get so much out of that synth. Also a significant amount of it was done on the MS-20 – the more spiky sounds. A few things that people think are guitar are actually the MS-20. And then there were a few more bits and pieces: a few modules, a Yamaha DX7, a Novation Bass Statlon, a [Roland] JP-8000, a lot of Roland stuff. I’ve always liked Roland stuff. ”
Gareth Jones' hardware: "Akai S3200; Novation SuperNova, BassStation and DrumStation, Nord Micro Modular; Doepfer MAQ 16/3, Regelwerk, MS404 and Pocket Control; Apogee 500e A/D; Focusrite ISA115HD and ISA 131; TC Finalizer; B&K 4006 mics; Schoeps Collete series mics; Genelec 1029A monitors; Sherman Filterbank; Line6 POD; Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo; Waldorf 4-Pole filter; Apple G3 PowerBook; Digigram VX pocket; E-Magic Unitor II; and the wonderful MT4. My Soundcraft Spirit Folio Notepad is in daily use. Palm Pilot is also a major part of my life, and my Creative Nomad MP3 player and Sony CD Walkman are great tools."
Novation Bass Station is included in the list of synths at Daniel Miller's home studio.
When asked in this reddit thread what kind of equipment Optical uses, he responds:
"I have owned (and still do mostly) as best as I can remember: Mackie 32/8 32 channel - (I have had 3 altogether), 3 x Emu E6400 Ultra (also E6400 orig), Akai S750, S900, S1100, S3000 samplers, Alesis Quadraverb, Focusrite Green Eq x2, Focusrite Green Compressor, Focusrite ISA430 Producer Pack, Lexicon Alex, Lexicon MPX1, Alesis MidiVerb4, TC Electronics Fireworx, TC Electronics Finalizer, Joe Meek VC1, Drawmer MX40, Sherman Filterbank, CryBaby Wah Pedal Boss Pedals - Too many, Novation Basstation, OSCar, Sequential Circuits Pro1, Prophet 5, Wurlitzer, PPG Wave 2.1, Neumann TLM 105*, Fender Strat 1972, Oberheim/Viscount GM1000, Korg Z1, Kawai K1r, Otari Status 16R Mixing Console with Eagle Automation. BSS DPR-402 Compressor. and more I can't recall right ow ;o)."
*The Neumann links to the 103 because the moderator who approved this post believes Optical wrote 105 by mistake. If anyone believes this to be an error please follow up in the comments section so that we can adjust :)
"On tour, Toby brings his Moog Source, Hohner Clavinet, Novation BassStation, Yamaha CS1x, and Fender Rhodes 88, mixing their smooth piano chord beats with analog sound sounds."
Keyboards and synthesizers feature in Morcheeba's studio, and the collection includes a Roland Super Jupiter MKS80, a Novation BassStation, a Hammond organ and a Wurlitzer electric piano. But first prize for pure weirdness goes to the EMS Synthi A -- a 1970s beast in a box that was originally designed as a teaching tool and a portable version of the desktop VCS3 which features so heavily on Dark Side Of The Moon.
Album Usage
The Novation Bass Station Keyboard has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Novation Bass Station Keyboard, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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