Novation Bass Station

Plug it in, and play. Its as simple as that. Editing can be tricky to learn (just like any techno-logy) because there are so many knobs to screw with. Once you figure out what knobs do what, you're ready to make some phat sounds. Manual is good. It contains summaries of each function, as well as a basic overview of sysnthesis. Of course, no manual can completely explain the way all the knobs work, its too subjective. Just plug it in and go!

Polyphony is one. Only one, which means this beast ain't for writing that symphony you've been meaning to. This is for making BASSLINES, as the name suggests. No built in effects (except portamento, if you count that). Just route it through a processor and you've got all you need. ALL KNOBS ARE MIDI CONTROLLERS! that means you can make a bass line, and go back and record yourself tweaking knobs on top of it. AWESOME! No on board sequencer, but if you have a computer I'm pretty sure you dont care about that. I'll give it an 8 becase what is does, it does as good as anything, but it doesn't do everything..

The sounds are what make this worth owning. I got mine used so I'm not sure if what I have are presets or not, but most are pretty good. If they're not, one or two knob turns and voila! this is a dance machine all the way. From nice little trancey stuff to crazy, resonating jungle basslines it can cover your bases on bass. Does it do a 303? Who cares? It can do so many extremely phat bass tones, that it is better than a 303 could ever be. (And 1/3 the cost!) You can also use it for leads, or pads and stuff like that. The words I would use to describe the sounds are: warm, textured, and thick.

I use mine for recording, and in the studio its great. I would gig with it.

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If it were stolen I would cry, then buy the super bass station. Its worth what I paid. Think of it this way: for $325 I will have a bass sound to fit anything I do with my studio. It compliments any hardware well, especially other analog gear. GET THE PROGRAM Seq-303, which is a MIDI Win 95 application that gives you a 303 sequencing layout for any midi device.

Presets are typical analog and are useful, many identifiable sounds. Many of the presets sound exactly like other analogs such as Rouge, Prophet, 303. Most presets are, as you would expect, more useful as a bass sound although some semi-useful pad sounds can be obtained (with the right effects processor). Patch editing could not be any simpler, there is knob for everything (18 in all) except some midi features such as aftertouch, CV/Gate midi channel.. etc.. The manual totally rocks, I've never this much color in a manual for a synth before. There is even a section at the end that explains how to make the ultimate 303 sound.

This is a monophonic synth don't expect to be playing general midi on this analog beasty. There are no built in effects such as reverb (just put a cheap external processor with distortion on it). This synth can be used as a resonant analog filter with it's external audio input. I got some mean drum sounds with this type of processing. If you are looking for a 303 emulator this synth will fill the bill. I've seen many reviews that say this doesn't sound like a 303 at all. If you follow the instructions in the manual it will sound EXACTLY like a 303, just add your own distortion pedal. (the original 303 distorts when turned up too high) Several of the knobs transmit midi controller messages, hence, this can be used to control other gear. Onboard sequencer hah!! This is meant for a midi rig setup. For what it is, an analog bass synth, this is top of the line. I would recomend it over older gear mainly because it is probabbly more reliable and it has midi.

Sounds like analog, smells like analog, tastes like analog, it is analog!! This is killer for all types of electronic music, techno, industrial, jungle, rap, trip-hop you name it. This baby will remain in style for all time. There is very good response to velocity and aftertouch. There is a knob for velocity response which is useful for modulating the filter envelope. As far as sound goes the unit is fairly noiseless unless the volume on the mixer is turned up high enough. I can hear a weird background noise which i have detemined to be the oscillator. (if i turn down the oscillator it goes away) The noise is annoying but typical of all analog gear.

This has been in my rack I probabbly won't gig with it. The construction is sturdy but the knobs could be built better.

Haven't had any problems. I hear support is good.

I would buy the BassStation again. This is a solid machine that can produce many analog sounds and it is very useful. I've owned many old analog synths (moog, octave, korg) and this compares with old analog synths only more reliable and it has midi. It could have more waveforms and more lfo types and a noise generator would be nice. Are those really necessary for a 303 emulation? no. The bass sounds on this little machine are some of the phattesst around, especially when an effects processor is added to the equation.

I have the keyboard version and I don't really know much about analog synths (or synths in general) but with this thing I'm learning! It has only seven memory presets in which you can save certain sounds which is simple to use, just a knob to select where to set the preset and a push button to activate it in there. I did'nt get a manual with it but its been fun just messing with it - and I've found that people who have never touched the thing can still get really cool sounds out of it from the start. Although, I've owned it for a year and a half now and still sometimes I wonder whats going on with it. I'll give it a 9 though because I think all the fancy digital stuff used in the control and operation of most modern synths is way more confusing than a bunch of knobs and switches.

The keyboard is kinda cheap and flimsy but it works! Its a one-note deal so its not good for playing, just for makin' noise. I don't know much about midi either but it has midi in and midi out, whatever, I haven't tried any of that it yet.

THE ANALOG SOUNDS ON THIS THING ARE WHY IT KICKS ASS!! Like I said I just use it to scare my neighbors. It has a really fat bass sound as well as yer typical chirping, sweeping, flying saucer sounds like an analog synth should. Though it looks and feels like a toy, it can really shift some air when the volume is cranked.

I wouldn't kick it around too much, It's made of plastic

Havent tried yet.

I'm not to fond of the digital age of synthesizers but I had to buy this thing because of its sound. As a guitar player, I walked into the keyboard section of the music store and I started messing around with some the new "expensive" synths and consequently became totally confused with the digital brains of them, and then I came across the Bass Station which started making some crazy noises as soon as I turned it on. Then I turned some knobs and it got crazier, and threw some swithces and still crazier....and thats what its all about for me.

Good presets, classic analogue sounds, interface very useful, an editor would be more hassle than it is worth. Manual very useful, even explains the basic elements of VCO's,LFO etc.

One note. one note. the only drawback to this synth. The manual tells you how to get a polyphonic mode going though. 2 BasStations=2 note polyphony. hmmmmmm. The low freq resonant filter is great, as you can plug an external audio source into it. 12dB/oct or 24 dB/oct. The 24dB filter is what makes this module. The screeching, screaming squelches are unbelievable. No on board sequencer, the envelope and filter parameters are all controllable via MIDI, and there is even the option to use the BasStation as a MIDI/cvgate converter, accepting several of the main standards for gate/trigger voltages.

The sounds are great for basslines, or synth leads. Good velocity response.

Dependable. Tiny, doesn't heat up too much.

Haven't dealt with them.

My flatmate bought it. I want one. If it had say 16 note polyphony, I would marry it.

What you see is what you get. Knobs and switches. If you are familiar with even just the basics of analog synthesis, then this should be extremely straightforward and easy. This was my first analog-type instrument and it took me about 3 months of fiddling to completely master it, but I managed to get some nice sounds from the start. Mine had no manual, just basic information on the box. I don't know if there was supposed to be a manual.

One note! That's the main draw-back, but this is acceptable for bass lines and some leads. In the studio, I've used two or three sounds on one cut. No effects. Just plain and simple editing of two oscillators. No sequencer. But who needs it on a sound module? Mine responds great to my computer-based sequencer, including midi controls for filter, envelope, etc.

Great analog-type tones. Primarily for dance, but I've used mine for r&b ballads. Basses and Leads. Nothing else. Good portamento (dedicated knob). The envelope controls are straightforward and responsive.

I've dropped mine (hard) once, but it works fine. The power cord was kind of sketchy, though. One knob was malfunctional when I bought it, but was easily repaired. It's too simple to be problematic.

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Great instrument for analog bass tones. I may buy one or two more in the future. I'd buy a S.E. ATC-1 but it's twice the price of the Novation. It's a good deal for a simple mono- bass/lead module.