BOOcast - Synth of the Month: Novation Bass Station II

[@Sultryhustler_music]

One of my absolute favorite synths. Great demonstration of it's capabilities!

[@BOOelectric]

Thank you very much!!

[@80iesDude45]

Yes, I love «Der Mussolini».

[@hexwavemusic]

This is the most underrated analog mono out there for sure, absolutely amazing sound and huge versatility! And SO cheap.

[@BOOelectric]

Couldn't agree more!

[@djofortunato5799]

This guys aknowledgement of BS 2’s ability to effectively emulate classic analog synths for gigs is what convinced me keep mine - & continue exploring its expansive abilities

[@Death_By_Media]

There are even hidden functions only accessible through NRPN functions like the Sub OSC decoupled as a Full third OSC not just detuned . Sub OSC Pulse width is NRPN 0:83 Sub OSC Tune Coarse is NRPN 0:84 Sub OSC Tune Fine is NRPN 0:77 There is even a Saw wave hidden in there , but I don't know what the NRPN for it is . Only discovered this running across a demo of Patch Base running a BSII editor hereon the Tubes . Cheers !

[@BOOelectric]

Wow! That's amazing. You've slightly blown my mind there! And there's a saw in there too?! We're talking time to sell the Mini (almost!)... actually, considering the ring mod, it's time to sell the Oddy too! Thank you so much for this insight into this already great little synth!

[@djpopcorn]

I cant find the sawtooth on the latest firmware updates

[@lawrencegreene1707]

@@djpopcorn The last update does not allow you to access the hidden functionality of osc 3 as an on-key function. Only the Patch Base editor does this. It will be up to Bass Station users to remind Novation to update the firmware to allow direct access without buying a third-party product.

[@djpopcorn]

@@lawrencegreene1707 "Patch Base?" What is that?

[@nickruddle1528]

@@djpopcorniOS and Mac patch editor and librarian

[@iantanner7579]

I keep meaning to buy one of these, I'm always so impressed by how they sound. I too had the original and never really liked it all that much, - maybe that's what keeps putting me off? I know Chris Corner of IAMX loves the BS2, I've seen him using at least 4 at once, live on stage.

[@BOOelectric]

I can empathise... I never liked the original either, and I think that colours my impression of the 2, until, that is, I play it, and then i get impressed, and it never lets me down... I'd recommend getting one, and the afx and other updates put it ahead of most budget analog options imo.

[@JackPeloquin]

We LOVE Chris!!! And the Pimps.

[@georgegeez8708]

I just bought this synth 2 weeks ago from a pawn shop that was going out of business for $125 USD. I'm a synth enthusiast/collector. I have to say this Novation Bass Station II is a little monster. I knew always that it was great for bass, but it does so much. After seeing this video, it opened my eyes and ears to so many other things it can do. It all of a sudden became one of my favorite synths in my collection. I thank you for this great video.

[@BOOelectric]

Hey thanks! And congratulations on your amazing find! Is this the least expensive BS2 ever discovered, I wonder? Thank you again.

[@djGreenALERT]

If someone had told me there was a setting on the Bass Station 2 that allowed me to play Joe Meek's Telstar, (14.17) I would have said they were crazy! Thank you for one of the most impressive reviews of any synth I've seen on KZbin!

[@BOOelectric]

That's very very kind of you!!

[@WildChildMcCloud]

My favorite monosynth. I have one of these along with an ASM Hydrasynth and an Akai MPC One+. I love this setup.

[@BOOelectric]

This sounds a lot like our new live setup: BS2; Tangerine; Akai MPKminiplus; Microfreak, CS01. It's all very compact and it seems to do the job! I'm very interested in the Hydrasynth, I hope to be borrowing one for a future SOTM soon.

[@ryanmoran2403]

Holy crap this synth basically does it ALL! I had no idea it was this feature packed!! Definitely gonna get one!

[@BOOelectric]

You won't be disappointed!

[@Mokkers_stuff]

Hi BOO! Loving these "Synth of the Month" uploads! They were great first time around as part of your shows but these are fabby for making up a playlist of useful hints and tips! Thank you! Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes!

[@BOOelectric]

Thank you so much. Hope we all have a very merry Xmas and a peaceful New year. Xx

[@enoodle]

lol i loved that ending, all is forgiven our brother in synthesis 🙏

[@BOOelectric]

Thank you, I feel better!

[@terrymacklin5935]

It's bloody good. 2 side by side would be amazing. Any synth DJ should not be without one, period. Cost so little as well.

[@user-no7px7ed4m]

love this synth. rack version as well. amazin for acid lines, easy workflow and fun 2 play

[@kimdiez2681]

What "rack version"??

[@user-no7px7ed4m]

@@kimdiez2681 novation super bass station!

[@SXTransmission]

I have one myself and I'm still discovering and exploring new things. Like you I have printed out the additional manuals and also stuck little labels on for the extra stuff, for speed. Love your live playing stories and humour! Did you know you can feed the headphone out into the external in for more sounds? Lots of fun to be had with the ext in actually. Anyway enjoyed this and liking your music too. Peace PD

[@BOOelectric]

Thank you! And that's awesome about the headphone feedback thing, It never even occured to me to do that, even though I do it on mu SH1 all the time. Thank you for the tip, I shall give it a go next time!

[@maximilianoInfinito]

Thankyou awesome walkthrough!

[@zap7759]

Sold or put away all monos besides BS2 and Beh Pro-One. I'm a digital guy but this one doesn't get stale for me like other super basic monos.

[@morten1]

I want a version with nicotine yellow keys!

[@BOOelectric]

😂

[@alanshewitt]

As a pro bass player who gigs the BS2 occasionally, I would gladly pay another couple/few hundred more for a BS*3* that did away with the aggravating doubled-up controls and had a 2 1/2 octave keyboard (like the Moog Prodigy or Grandmother) that didn’t also feel crappy. And a rotary data encoder for patch selection (perhaps in addition to the arrows?). (How about an init patch button while at it??…). Novation wouldn’t even need to do a ton of additional development, could just look to their Peak/Summit models. A Bass Peak? (Would that be a trench? Could name it “Mariana”…) Perhaps a hybrid-two analog oscs and one digital (wavetable, etc). Bass Station 3 (third iteration, 3 oscillators). Maybe the forthcoming PWM Mantis will tick many of these boxes.

[@alanshewitt]

Also an on/off button for the portamento (like on the Sub37). This has frustrated me live many times. Adjusting the knob on the fly for a specific section or note in a song is always a crap shoot. If you could just preset the glide time SO IT WORKS WITH THE TEMPO OF THE SONG and then just engage/disengage, that would be awesome.

[@BOOelectric]

Ha! The Mariana is a great idea... I'll pitch it to my friend at novation when I next see him. I do agree though, the diving can be ofputting, however, recently I've been reviewing some boxes who'se menu stuctures are positively Byzantine in comparison to the BS2, (I'm looking at you 1010music)... It's not a problem if you only have one instrument with button combos and menu journeys to contend with, but once you have a room full of them, it's time to get out the harmonica....

[@BOOelectric]

@@alanshewitt Again, genius idea, and as it's coming from you're experience playing the BS live, it's invaluable info for synth designers... I will pass this all on... you never know, they may listen!

[@saardean4481]

I have written quite a bit of mails to novation over the years wishing for a bs3 with an additional Osc and a metal enclosure . :-)

[@0601989m]

Great playing, great demo! This is a HUGELY fun, hands-on, beast of a synth. A desert-island instrument for me (as long as there´s a big-ass speaker, a solar panel and a usb powerbank*). In the 7 years I´ve had it it has even managed to grow into a duophonic, drum-beating, microtonal, cheeky little monster. *yes, it`ll run for weeks off a little usb battery, so you can take it to random places and molest innoccent folk with degenerate blerps and blarps!

[@BOOelectric]

Haha!! That's a lovely piece of writing. I can see you're in love! Xx

[@houmangf]

May I have that pdf manuals? The first and specially second one.😁 because I always forget functions!

[@BOOelectric]

These are the only two I can find right now. Hope it helps. www.manualslib.com/manual/1561646/Novation-Bass-Station-Ii.html www.manualslib.com/manual/901371/Novation-Bass-Station-Ii.html

[@pongtrometer]

Great overview and micro stories. I want 4.14 on the circuit monostation 😩

[@BOOelectric]

Thank you! Can't the monostation do high-pass? I've never actually seen one!

[@pongtrometer]

@@BOOelectric it can’t do parameter locks and great motion sequencer, so you can get the program changes to run a sequence of a crazy amount of sounds, but the filter doesn’t latch, so that I can globally tweak the sequence….it appears to be independent on the BS2 , it sounds more fluid on 4.14 , cheers

[@makeperceive]

Liked and subscribed for your Kraftwerk cover. Actually really like the acid filter on this

[@BOOelectric]

I think you're way too generous to call that a cover, but thank you very much! 😁

[@sandyturner1911]

I'm looking at buying a hardware synth. This is cool. It sounds great, and it appears that there isn't a lot of Menu diving. The other one I'm looking at, is the Minilogue XD..but it is very Menu heavy, I think. Thanks!

[@BOOelectric]

Yes, the intantaneousness is lovely.

[@0601989m]

Is it your first hardware synth? The minilogue has at least 4 voices so it might cover more ground to get started, plus it has FX and only slightly more expensive. The first synth I ever tried was a minimoog and I remember being flumoxxed by how much people were expected play to play a single note at a time :_) However, the BSII was my first "real" synth and it still makes me giggle like a kid. I use it on every other project as it covers pretty much any sound imaginable.

[@sandyturner1911]

@@0601989m thanks! I ended up getting the BS2.. And the elektron digitone..lol! The Novation is a piece of cake, compared to the Digitone. Plus, I got the Arturia Drumbrute Impact, that I also have to learn. Lol!

[@0601989m]

@@sandyturner1911 Good on you, that sounds like a killer setup, enjoy responsibly and spare a thought for the neighbours ;-)

[@sandyturner1911]

@@0601989m lol! I don't have any neighbors, on either side of me, and I also have a stereo guitar rig. So..you can use your imagination. 😃

[@grunntalll]

considered making a patch package?

[@BOOelectric]

I have put some OB6 patches up on our Bandcamp subscription extras, and I've vaguely been thinking of doing it, but I'm not sure if anyone would want it. If I ever get my head round the technicalties I'll have a go. Thanks for the idea!

[@ChegatronExpress]

Mate you need a deck saver on that. But great vid all the same and paraphonic mode. Thanks

[@BOOelectric]

I think it's a bit late for that... You should see the hell I've put this synth thru!

[@MichaelGibson5047]

Did you get the after touch back

[@BOOelectric]

No, but I haven't opened it up cos we need it for upcoming shows... Once they're out of the way I might crack it open and take a look!

[@e-conrecords4665]

How did the keys already turn that yellow?

[@BOOelectric]

thats a very good question. i dont smoke... it is rather old, but it is almost 1980s office equipment yellow, isn't it?

[@e-conrecords4665]

@@BOOelectriclol! Seriously though… very handy video. Thank you. I still have not updated mine from the OG OS. I need to pull my finger out!

[@BOOelectric]

@@e-conrecords4665 do it! you won't regret it, it's like adding a whole new sinth into the box.

[@AbsurdTV1]

Did the make a rackmount version of the mark ii ?

[@BOOelectric]

No they didn't do a BS2 rack yet, but I'm pretty sure somebody' some where's chopped off the keyboard! There are rackmount wesions of the first Bass Station and Supernova, and there's also the old drum station from the 90s.

[@suspiciouswatermelon7639]

is it worth getting a Bass station 2 if I already have a Summit?

[@BOOelectric]

That's an interesting question. It depends. The summit it a very special synth indeed, and we were very lucky to hang with the Novation team at Superbooth when it was released in 2019, and were blown away by the thing. It's a flexible and capable synth, and as such, can stand in for the BS2 adequately. Having said that, there is a glaring difference between the Summit and BS2, and that is that the Summit's Oxford oscillators are digital, and the BS2's are genuine analogue circuits, designed by the most venerable Chris Huggett, and as such carry genuine British synth DNA and are full of character. The Summit can stand in for the BS2 as I said, but they are very different synths, with different personalities tonalities and characters. Is it worth getting a BS2 if you already have a summit? It's a matter of opinion, and my opinion is yes.

[@PrimitiveInTheExtreme]

🔝🎹🔝

[@thomasyon4332]

Great review! please tell me : is the afx thing (i mean the difference of sound per key) straight in the machine or it needs some upload? cause i find it amazing..

[@BOOelectric]

It's available on the latest firmware update, you can grab it from the novation website... Its pretty straightforward to install, if I remember rightly.

[@Yomi_stema]

Hello, Is it comparable to the minifreak? Is it complementary or too much?

[@BOOelectric]

They're quite different synths, but the minifreak has digital oscillator models, some of which can probably do a lot of what the BS2 can, while some can take it off in directions the BS2 couldn't go. However the BS2 is properly analogue, and with AFX mode, can do some complex things (after a bit of work on your part) things the freak can't. I think they'd complement each other very well.

[@Yomi_stema]

@@BOOelectric 🤩thx ٠it s a good combo with a tr8s i think

[@BOOelectric]

@@Yomi_stema I was very tempted to get one of those!

[@stuartleighton]

I have got a Korg Minilogue XD, does this mean I don't really need one of these? It looks lovely tbh, and Paul and Phil Hartnoll say great things about it.

[@BOOelectric]

Well I'm not really an expert having only briefly played the XD... Which was, by the way, lovely - especially the user oscillators and fx and stuff... But I don't think you can really compare them, as they're sort of coming from two different places... And the BS2 keeps surprising me (as I'm sure the XD keeps surprising you)... I would pick one up second hand, if I were you, just to see how it fits... But I think it would get on with the XD just fine! Ps, regarding the BS continuing to surprise me, take a look at the comment by DeatByMedia below, I had no idea this was possible with the BS2, and I've owned it for 10 years!

[@Sirius-qr4vu]

did you even watch the whole video? the Bs II can do soo much more than the XD.

[@80iesDude45]

@@Sirius-qr4vu Wait. Isn't the Minilogue polyphonic? Even the Sequencer ist polyphonic ;-)

[@palaHD]

It means you can sell the XD

[@davidgoode7416]

Great demo, you just sold one...

[@BOOelectric]

I hope you enjoy it... If only I was on commission with Novation 😂

[@djpopcorn]

Daf mussolenni!

[@BOOelectric]

Yep!

[@randydarklight]

OSCar VCF

[@BOOelectric]

Really?! Thanks for righting me if that's true... I'm sure Chris said it was wasp though.

[@randydarklight]

@@BOOelectric ok that is weird, because then I got it wrong from an interview. In the 90s, he said he was going to work with Novation (after BS I) and implement the filter concept of the OSCar. So I assumed that the BassStation II would go in that direction. I have the OSCar and the Wasp and find that the BS II doesn't chirp as much as a Wasp. When the OSCars separation knob is in the middle position it is very close to the VCF of the BS II. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the Mantis. :-)

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

I find the aftertouch requires too much pressure

[@BOOelectric]

I've heard a few people have this after touch problem, I've also heard it's something that can get worse over time. I've never had any complaints, luckily... Yet...

[@BOOelectric]

Update: the aftertouch on my BS2 stopped working about 6 months ago, and has never come back. :(

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

@@BOOelectric yikes

[@PodOfHeat]

Love the nicotine stained keys 😂

[@BOOelectric]

It's a 20 a day synth

[@andthatsmytune]

I bought my BS2 many years ago. It suffered a lot of neglect. Only recently, when I finally made myself sit down and try to make a track using _only_ the BS2 did I really start to appreciate and fall in love with it. (A second track I allowed myself to use Tremor for the synth percussion, as I wasn't satisfied with my attempts to make percussion sounds with the BS2, and I also don't use any of the presets, as the main reason for forcing myself to use only it is to learn how to make sounds on it.) My other analog synth is a desktop Mopho that I'm likewise making myself sit down with. (The two tracks I made with it, largely for fun, are kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJDFdKhsjc2jgZY and kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYCae5Rri6d2jtE)

[@BOOelectric]

Nice work, and yes, it's important to spend quality time with an instrument. Sometimes, near the end of the recording of a bunch of tracks, I'll get one synth out, lock everything away, and just explore what comes out with that limitation. Usually it's a surprisingly inspiring thing to do. I think it's easy to expect a synth to hand you everything on a plate and to become a consumer of the sounds rather than a creator... Instruments need two extra things: your imagination and your time. Cheers!

[@i_never_asked_for_an_alias]

DAF

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

Hi There Again my name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris, how have you been Keeping up to Lately, I was wondering if you need to do the other way round Lyrics in you’re own word Lyrics but sing it differently in the original Extended background Versions of those Particular song’s By Andrew Gold and The Korgis, Never Let her Slip Away and Everybody got to learn Sometime, why don’t they just Replace the Synthesizer Strings Sound to a Two Musette Accordion’s sounds and make those two Musette sounds for those Two Accordion’s 4 to 7 and a half times more Deeper then the Original Synthesizer Strings Sound that they have used for this Particular song called Everybody’s got to Learn sometime and also Replace the Xylophone Sound to a 23 Times More Deeper Chime Bells and Even a 26 Times More Deeper Still Drums Sound, Because it is Still one of my Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Favorite Song’s Ever Since I was about 10 Years of Age Thank You and I Like 👍 you’re Remixing and Remake them 3 and a half times more Deeper Pretty Please X X X

[@BOOelectric]

Yep, I can hear that! Everybody's... Is a great song, I wonder if anyone's isolated the vocals and pitched down the instruments by an octave or two... That would be pretty huge! I was 10 when I heard this too, and it's one of those songs that kind of floated in on the ether, coming out of radios playing thru windows, like a mist, or just a feeling floating around rather than a song. Ahh... The past...

[@sitjar]

Der Mussolini

[@BOOelectric]

Korrekt!!

[@sitjar]

@@BOOelectric I have the 12" from when it was released.....a good band, although most of their tunes sounded the same

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

Looks like BassStation smokes 40 a day

[@BOOelectric]

Haha! He has British teeth.

[@maximusfrank2835]

Unpriced synth. Easily worth $1,000 with that polyphonic hack. Buy it while it’s still cheap!

[@BOOelectric]

It always delivers. A lovely, inexpensive beast, for the moment!

[@itme7685]

I’ve had mine for a decade! $250 used maybe a little less with the box even. I need to get it back out. The 25 keys was always an issue. Give me a desktop model any day, though all the function keys would go.

[@Paintbynumbers29]

Struggling to get my BS2 to midi synch with a TR8s and TD3…….whats the secret?

[@BOOelectric]

When I first got the BS2 more than ten years ago, I wanted to sync it with a drum machine, but I seem to remember it was a little unreliable, going out of sync etc. I never attempted to use it like that again. I wonder if it's a known issue? If there is a secret, I don't know what it is, sorry. Maybe Novation or Reddit can help? Good luck.