A 2013 Mono Synth…Still Best for Your $$ Eight Years Later?? The Novation Bass Station II Revisited

Today, Zach is taking a look at a highly regarded monophonic synth from Novation, one that he and many considered the best value for the money at the time of its release; but, how does it hold up today? Take a listen to the demos and Zach's thoughts and let us know what you think!
0:00 Intro & Specs
7:00 Demos
18:32 Final Thoughts
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[@s.fleming2441]

Before I watch and find out "if this is relevant" i can already say it is. Novation has really supported the hell out of this thing, even releasing recent large updates which other companies would have made whole new synths out of after this much time. Novation is good to their customers and the BS2 is as Rad today as it was when I bought it on Halloween day 2015. I actually get a feeling a lot like love when I am playing this. It's an exciting synth.

[@_EightySix]

I just ordered mine after pondering for 7 years since I got into synths. I have a room full of gear and finally pulled the trigger on the BS2, which was the first synth I laid my eyes and hands on at a Sam Ash in San Diego in about 2016. I've alway wanted one, I just always made it secondary to whatever other synth at the time. Stoked to get mine!

[@anoniconoclast2030]

Time to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy another installment from Alamo Music. It's going to be a great day.

[@ianwilson7637]

Great Video. It starts off with a question and the answer is, the same way a Moog Model D released in 1970, is still relevant today. Good sound is good sound! The Bass Station II has a classic tone and is very versatile, so anyone with an ear for good sound will love it for a very long time. It always surprises me when someone dislikes it, but there is a reason this is a rare statement about the synth. It has fantastic bass, lots of options, patch storage, computer integration, a sequencer and arp, excellent feature updates, and a company that is well known for standing behind their products and their customers. The only reason one might stop using it is if it breaks, or if you have maxed out the sound design (what?). I wish it could store more than 128 sounds (patch-storage greed) and had a high-pass filter. Other than that, when you need great bass sounds (and many other mono patches), the interface is geared so well to designing this quickly. It was the best $350 I ever spent on a new synth.

[@Vimana]

I haven't even watched the video yet but I just wanted to say that I really like your comment. One thing is not correct though. The Bass Station II definitely has a high pass filter. One of the best features is also the "Osc Filter Mod" which lets you modulate the filter frequency with the oscillator 2. I've owned the synth for many years and it's one of my favorites even compared to some of my vintage analogs. Take care and I hope you're having a great day.

[@tskolits]

Love this. Thanks for your channel. I am learning a lot!

[@andyjardine8192]

Had mine since near release it's been such an awesome synth especially for the money and recent updates

[@funandelectronicswithb4894]

"How can a product released in 2013 still be relevant today"? Really? Analog synth community has an all out fetish for old synths and their replicas and you ask this? :-D And yes, BS2 is the best ever. I love it.

[@dfreeman120]

Brilliant piece of kit for studio or live, best value on the market in my opinion. Great review. Thx

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

Sounds great!

[@omnidirectional1]

Love you vieos brother out of all the synths you've shown this is my favorite just something about beingg simple and easy unlock something unique

[@knockoutcustoms7477]

Novation xstation is a pretty cool synth too

[@shadowhenge7118]

Do all my basslines with it. I try to do one synth per part. This is bass or if my bass is on the fantom, this is the chimey arp you hear in synthwave songs. Its good at way more than the name implies. Especially for synthwave.

[@sceptikalmedia]

Novation Bass Station was on my top 3 under $500 analog mono a while ago. Nowadays boutique synths are still shaking the Analog market. While digital synths are giving all of them a run for their money.

[@tobiaswinkler6971]

Interesting thought. Is it a material fetish?

[@sceptikalmedia]

​@@tobiaswinkler6971I ended up grabbing Maschine MK3 as the superior value proposition. Would you ?

[@jtn191]

It is a great value & the updates have been amazing. Tbh Behringer are occupying that market now

[@kierenmoore3236]

The BSII has a lot of features you can’t find on any Behringer mono, tho

[@coolo73]

Bought a BS2 a month ago. Pleasantly surprised at how flexible and powerful it is. Seriously debating geting a second one. It’s that good. You can use the Sub as a full 3rd OSC with a software editor. AFX mode basically turns it into a super-DFAM. You can also find overlay stickers that shows the navigation for all the new features that have been added over time. If Novation releases an update or a full desktop version (not like the limited circuit one) I’m grabbing it quickly.

[@Silverhilt]

Managed to snag an AFX station used. With shipping its a little more than a new BS2, but Ill gladly pay a little more for the look and labels on the front for current firmware!

[@thcdenton]

Bought my microkorg in 2007 and it's relevant as fuck

[@JohnnyMacaw]

the bass player from Foals used it this past summer on tour for like two songs. I am gonna buy one.. pair it up with my Dave smith Mopho x4 and prophet 6

[@stuartleighton]

I have a Minilogue XD that I am learning synthesis on, with that in mind, is it still worth having the Bass Station 2?

[@maxtwentynine5968]

Do I still maintain the paraphonic feature of if I do the afx update ?

[@KuijperRob]

its a bezirk question to raise..this is always a relevant machine..amature!

[@richardthayer5907]

cool.

[@dodgingrain3695]

lol, novation's products for the last 10 years are good? When where they bad??

[@jaysonnorman8955]

The Bass Station 2 is the most versatile mono synth on the market in 2023; let alone 2013. Moog sounds great, but they are overpriced synths. The Bass Station 2 will be relevent as a classic synth to have in the 2040's

[@jpbuckle6845]

The midi and arpeggio sync is garbage though 😕

[@cnfuzz]

It may have lots of features for its price but the sound is meeh , to digital for an analog

[@Rhythmattica]

Maybe get one in your own hands realising it can sound like both? "Chips Tunes" is all your hearing im guessing. After all, it has some OSCar heritage.

[@cnfuzz]

@@Rhythmattica i have the original basstation rack , i use it mainly for the cv convertor ,there is much overlap between the 2 but i find the MK2 is sounding even more digital / plastics.

[@kierenmoore3236]

lol, very much disagree. I have a Subsequent 37, and still choose the BSII for a lot of things. This is not a good demo, tbh - check out Starsky Carr comparing the BSII with the og Sub 37 … and his additional features of the BSII video. Gives you a much better idea of what this little gem can do.