Nicks' reviews are always the best . He covers all bases ( no pun intended lol ) and addresses questions about MIDI, sequencing and other tech stuff that lesser reviews forget to mention. Concise and always well presented. Thank you.
Bass Station 2 users should really update to firmware version 2.5. The BS2 changes from monophonic to paraphonic synth and has some other new functions which really add some cool features!!!
Important! Some functionalities you gain with the firmware updates, the latest version is 4.14: 1. Adjustable filter keytracking. Many settings from zero to the default 100% keytracking 2. Duophonic (paraphonic) mode 3. The sub oscillator can be tuned independently. You now have a real 3 oscillator synthesizer 4. You can loop both of the envelopes. They can loop all the time or you can set how many times they loop. It's like you suddenly got two additional customizable LFOs. 5. You can now enter an "AFX mode" and program a different sound for every 25 keys of the keyboard and then save those settings. Some preset ones that mostly work as drum kits are included 6. You can set a different portamento time for each oscillator 7. You now have tuning tables. There are many preset ones but you could make your own as well 8. "Oscillator error" settings. You can set the oscillators to drift out of tune. There might have been even more new functionalities but these were the ones off the top of my head.
I got my Bass Station new for $325. It is capable of sounding like a Moog or TB303. I love it. The feel of the keyboard is awesome with aftertouch. I am able to emulate everything from Aphex to Boards of Canada. Can't say enough about my love of it and I can't wait for a polyponic version. I will be all over that.
I just got mine today. At first the lightness of the case had me concerned, but once I plugged it in I was blown away by the sound. This is my first analog synth, and I'm very happy with the sound, the keys and the aftertouch is just the right feel.
Novation is the underdog of the major synth manufacturers. Both Bass Stations, the Nova and K series’s, the circuit, and now the PEAK, and yet they still get left out of the conversation when people talk about the “big names.”
Interesting. I found out on Thomann's webstore that the Bass Station II is one of most reviewed synth in its category and I think that over 150 reviews is quite reliable user rating if compared to other synths which has only 20 reviews. Also In Thomann there is almost 200 synths in that category and Bass Station II's rank is 23.
Part of the problem is the build quality. Many people have bought their controller keyboards and had them fail, the controllers with the joystick for pitch/mod was well known to fail. I had issues with the SL Zero MK1. I've got the BS2 and a Peak, but the BS2 is definitely built to a cost, I just gave away my first one as the LED display developed a fault and I couldn't find a replacement display.
i dont think they sound good. there's nothing that makes me really turn my head and pay attention. sequential, moog, nord, etc these names are big for a reason. they have unmistakable sound and character. sure this is great for the money, but theres nothing about it that is truely remarkable.
Novation haven't been around quite long enough to bring out a digital modelling synth which "harks back to our classic synths of yesteryear" lol, like some big names we can mention. Give it another 20 years and we will have a digital version of BS II.
I never paid much attention to this synth. But this is the second time I'm watching this review and it hit me this time that this synth has massive drone/ambience capabilities. (E.g. when Nick is showing off one of the effects at 10:30)
Best demo of this on TH-cam. I did *not* need to hear this one, as it sounds a lot better than I had expected, and my cave is already full of 2 octave synths. There are a lot more possibilities than I had expected from this little guy. That PWM is huge and the FM is pretty nice. Great detailed look.
Great review as always Nick! Three things that REALLY stood out to me were the OSC2 Filter Modulation, the 64 values per 128 step scaling and the SPEED of the programme changes - wow! Novation really should push these features - I didnt know about them until Nick mentioned them and they pushed me over the edge of want to must have! I know what Im buying myself for Christmas! Thanks Nick!
BS2 is my work horse. I bring it to the gigs always. It is great for leads, versatile, great UI, it is small but not mini if you know what I mean. Great demo.
This is a very good overview of the synth. While it is obviously competing with the Minibrute and Microbrute as far as price, but it is a totally different approach, and they are actually hard to compare to each other. In many respects it is more similar to the Pulse 2, but about half the price. This synth has a lot of nice features for such a small foot print and is worth serious consideration.
Nihar Savala it has an octave switch. It’s really hard to complain when these are going for $350 brand new and often under $300 in mint condition. That said, I’d pay $600-$700 for an updated BS3 with a 4 octave keyboard, built in fx, a small mod matrix, and ability to tweak both oscillators and envelopes without a switch.
Yes you can use the MIDI over USB to play notes into your DAW, then either play back and tweak, or record the sound into your DAW too you would need some kind of audio interface though
2020 and these monsters are still in production! No number of accolades is enough to do this synth justice. Let's just leave it at: "No studio, keyboard player, synthesist or marriage is complete without the Novation Bass Station 2" . (Amens are welcome :D )
Depending on complexity, metal folding and punching can be a significant increase over injection molding, and then you still have to injection mold the sides/end-caps. It's cost of source materials, cost of labor/time (molding is fast) and cost of shipping something weighing 2x as much. Also, performers I've spoken to (presumably producers/djs are target market for this) want light and backpack-sized, not heavy and huge. All the novation keyboards are plastic (some with thin metal panels).
16:52 and that ladies and gentlemen is how you make a chemical Brothers track. LOL dude that sounds awesome. love the demo and definitely sold on the bass station 2. Mine arrives tomorrow.
Speaking to the build quality, I think it would be very interesting to know how much more it would have costed for them to have built it into a steel body. Personally, if we were only talking about a difference of like 30-50 bucks or so, I'd be more than happy to have paid the difference. One thing is for sure, the sound is great and Nick is the man to review such a little beast of a synth! Thanks Nick!
A DCO is just a VCO with the pitch controlled digitally, which doesn't effect the sound. A VCO modified to be a DCO would sound exactly the same, except it might be more stable.
I can't decide whether to get this or save up a bit more for the Waldorf Pulse 2. Is it actually worth buying one, then the other, or would they be redundant (considering they're both DCO synths)?
I demoed one the other day, and I'd have to say I liked it better than the minibrute. Not that it sounded so much better, but it pulled me in somehow, more than the mini...I don't what that "something" is, but I wanted to play with it more than the minibrute.
First decent BSII review out there......before this video it was almost impossible to get a good idea on what this little machine can do and how it sounds.
I don't even know anymore. This seems like the perfect synth for me as I love heavy bass design like reeses and plucky arp saw basslines. Stuck between this and the Korg Minilogue which has 4 voices for those nice long release pluck sequences but really the sound isn't that great (too thin). This just sounds a LOT more versatile in terms of bass sounds and is 150€ cheaper to boot. Might just get this.
played one of these today - blew me away with how intuitive it was to use - the large filter knob top right should be a mandatory design on all synths - i would of bought it there an then if it were not for the arturia mini brute 2 sitting next to it that i did not have time to listen to as the shop was closing...
Old video but I hope I get an answer. I'm planning to buy my first analog synth. As a beginner who can afford an Arturia MiniBrute 2S, is there any reason to buy the Bass Station 2 or MicroBrute instead of the larger models? I have been using VSTis for too long, now I want the real deal and I think I will outgrow the budget versions fast.
I'm probably not gonna buy one of these just cause it's got no drum rack controllers but just out of curiosity, what does he mean by "Digital Control" at 2:28?
STI828 No i meant that the keys can't control drum racks over midi. I have since learned that you can use a analogue to digital midi converter to do so but i'm not gonna bother to get one of those.
Had both. This thing rules. I'd say bs2. I've got a sub 37, odyssey, pro 2, ob6, and quite a few other high end synths. This this is still super useful and stands up among the others. It makes great punchy basslines that fit very well in a mix. Minibrute sounds fine, but no patch memory and very limited midi implementation. Also you cannot control the oscillator pitch tuning of the other wave shapes on the minibrute. Bs2 is very versatile. Others experiences will vary of course
+rorz999 cool, but you're one guy with one microbrute. the quality control on arturia stuff is awful. you could end up with a great model that will last year's or a terrible one that will break in two years. how long have you had your minibrute?
Same here. The MiniBrute is my clear favorite among the new analogue synths. That said, i'm quite intriqued by the hybrid designs, like the DSI Evolvers. And atm. i have a Waldorf Rocket home for testing, which i find sounds excellent even with a digital oscillator. Despite prefering the sound of true pure analogue, i think there's alot to be said for the stability, low cost and convinience of digital technology, in the places where it's done well enough to not take too much away from the sound.
hey novation, please listen all your users, bs2 can be one of the best monosynths around if you fixed the sync problems of the arp e sequencer. The problem is not fixed with the second firmware, the arp/seq dont start automactly in slave mode, like all the machines in the world do (roland, korgs). the BS2 should respond to start stop messages (when start or stop is hit the arp or sequence retriggers in time). seems that novation have a big problem with midi sync stuff
i already have the micro and minibrute.....and i gonna tell that in therms of sound, the bs2 is a lot more musical and versatile.....i personaly dont find the minibrute very musical and easy to mix. the only bad thing is the bs2 sync in the sequencer (and the sequencer is amazing, like the one on the sh101).....go with bs2 and you will not regret.
I was actually just reading off a forum about the sync issues, and some users reported that the problem should have been fixed since the release of the Mininova 1.4b6 firmware. Can`t wait to get home and upgrade it. The BS2 would would like a charm for me, because I`m specifically interested in buying it for creating bass lines. BTW, thanks for the quick reply.
This unit has a USB port to host computer which will not only power this synth but send and receive both audio and controller information. It comes with Ableton Live Lite and a USB cable in the box. Hope this helps.
Hi, I'm a double/electric bass player who's interested in picking up the synth bass to complete the family :) however I'm completely new to the topic of synths. Do you need to have a computer to use this to, say, play it for gigs? Or can you just plug it into an amplifier with the right cords? If so, what kind of amp/cords would I need? Thank you
+xXTW1NKL3_C4KEZXx It takes 1/4 inch cords... easy to just hook it up to a an amplifier with one of those. No need for a computer if you just want to play it yourself, just keep in mind that since it's a monosynth you can''t press two or more different keys at the exact same time to say, play a chord. But being oriented towards bass, acid, and all that kind of stuff that really isn't an issue for what it's intended for. It's versatile enough to be able to do a lot of different things too as the video showed. Half the time I don't actually use mine for bass lol. If the pattern you want only needs to be two measures long or less, it's easy enough to program what you need n the squencer and have it play on a loop while you play another instrument... otherwise you will need it to receive MIDI instructions (like how he showed on his computer) to play anything more complex. It's class compliant IIRC, so any modern computer will recognize it without needing to install anything, but I would highly recommend downloading the librarian program that comes with it but you got to register your bass Station II to get access to it. You should also get Ableton LIve Lite with it for free as well as a soundpack. I personally don't like Ableton Live but if you have nothing else or like it's nonlinear/loop nature it's decent enough. I know some people absolutely love it, but the Lite version is more limited in how many track it lets you use and comes for free with a lot of hardware these days.
+2muchbutter if you want to modify specific songs you will probably need a computer but if you just want to fool around and play some music you can probably use it on its own. if you want to connect some electric instruments you will probably need a midi cable
Can I get sounds out of this similar to a sub fatty? what's the best synth for dead weather vibes/era vulgaris? for the money I should add ..I want the sub fatty but its up there in price
MIDI out of the inteface into the MIDI IN of the synth, then use the audio outputs of the synth plugged into the 1/4" inputs of the interface to record it.
Great review, thanks. The nasty / aggressive side of the BSII is highlighted here, but actually it can do subtle and warm too when the overdrive is turned down and the filter is turned down a bit. Great synth..
I've had the opportunity to test both and yes the MiniBrute housing feels more solid but just about everything else feels less solid compared to the BSII. Both are nice synths for the money but i didn't even consider getting the Minibrute while I did get a BSII. It's an immense amount of fun (can't recall having this much fun with a synth in a long time) and to my taste it sounds very good and has a very wide possible sound palette. In the end it's a matter of personal preference (as always).
Hi there, I see you don't have the latch function on when you route an external input in the unit, that is different than my unit since I have to press a key or in that case use the latch function to hear the external input signal. I honestly thought from the beginning the external input function would work independently without the need of pressing any key, but it turned to be not that way, which was a bit of a let down...
Not in the US, they are the exact same price, I have both, and share the same sentiment. I also hate the feel of the MS-20 mini, which is 100 more than the brute, but sound is where it counts, and I'm a fan of all three
Filter knob would have been better in the middle. Like this, if you're playing right handed, your arms are crossed, if you play and tweak. I'd say the majority will play it right handed. I could be wrong on that, dunno, but it should account for both by the knob being centrally placed.
Helps that I am ambidextrous. Was naturally left handed but forced to become right handed for writing. Everything I can do just as well with both hands....except for writing LOL. Still, I need keyboard lessons.
You get more with the BSII aswell? (in terms of features and flexibility). Also, I use my SubPhatty for gigging and I can definitely see the appeal of the plastic when it comes to ease of portability.
Great review!! I am thinking of getting the Bass Station as my first synth after having a go on one today. I am new to this field of expertise and am wondering, can't the BS 2 quantize with the tempo of additional instruments, namely Maschine through Ableton Live? When I had a go on the BS 2 earlier today with the Korg Volca series, I realised early on that the tempo was not synced causing some issue. It would be nice to be able to just lock the synth to a drum machine and change the tempo as i see fit with the other instruments becoming slave to the synth. Thanks
Could I use USB to record notes into FL Studio piano roll & have it loop, then use the BSII to play a pattern from Sylenth1 on another FL Studio track? The RME UFX would be my audio interface.
Is it true this only processes one note at a time. That's the difference between mono and polyphonic? You can't play a chord on the keys? I just read that somewhere and it seems so absurdly limiting idk if it's right. I'm a snyth newb and I'd like to compose with tone AND melody. So mininova I guess?
Yes, it's a monosynth. But it has three oscillators and you can set at least two of them to be a fifth apart (like he does at 5:13) you can at least play double stops. I think the latest software lets you play a three note chord. But yes, if you're looking for something to play chords and a melody simultaneously, you'll need a polyphonic synth. As for "absurdly limiting", most wind instruments are monophonic, but saxophone's are still cool, aren't they? :-) Monosynths are great fun for solos and weird noises. This synth will teach you a lot about creating sound with analogue circuitry which can be carried over to most analogue synths too. But there aren't many singer/monosynth artists, that's a fact. Maybe there should be?
Wobbly knobs is often due to the use of circuit-board mounted controls. I agree they're a little disconcerting, but thanks for calling attention to them. At least they don't seem to be rotary encoders, which are notoriously flaky...
Hi Nick. Another amazing review. I'm synth illiterate and I can understand what you are talking about. I am musicians best friend (bass player) and I'd love a monophonic synth. I am between this one and the microbrute. Could you or anyone else give me an opinion? Thanks.
I'm in the same situation. I'm bass player also, and i've got an old Korg Polysix, but i don't want to use it on the stage, because it1s a little bit "fragile" and too heavy. I'm searching a small good monophonic analog synth. I don't know why, but i think the Microbrute is usuable to me. So Nick, please help us to make decision! :D
As a bass player/synth fanatic I've used both the BSII and the microbrute in a band setting for the past three years. Initially I leaned more towards the microbrute, because of it's very original unconventional sound. However, as years went by I actually ended up using the BSII for everything synthesizer in the band. It has a much broader range of sounds thanks to the two oscillators. It also has a lot of low end and lies really well in the mix, whereas the microbrute could sound too rough and edgy at times for my taste. Sometimes you just want that classic moog-style bass sound. The BSII can mimic it, the microbrute definitely not. Still a great synth too. My advice, if you have the money get them both and see which one suits you best. If you can only buy one I advise the BSII because of the many features it has extra compared to the microbrute, including patch memory which is a real plus when you perform live.
Nick - I've been watching your videos from the very start, I loved how you still kept it professional after the pitch shift on your voice with the vocoder I was waiting for you to start laughing, you probably did lol then cut the video as it sounds hilarious :)
Hi Nick, i have a specific question, i know that the sequencer/arp can send it's notes out of the midi out, but can you sync other devices to it, with the BS2 acting as a master? I'd like to run the sequencer on the BS2 and then sync a volca beats (which has midi sync) to it, i don't want the BS sequencer's notes going to the volca beats, i just want it to transmit midi clock data, any idea if this is possible? Do you still have the BS2 and Volca? Might be interesting to check.
of course you can make leads on this it has the tonal range for it. A real supersaw isn't possible because you'd need at least seven oscillators to pull that off. BTW The supersaw is the domain of digital VA synths such as the JP 8000. But you can detune the oscillators from each other and create a fat slightly phased sound.
At 7:12, it sounds like the self-oscillating filter is being played by the keyboard. Based on the user guide, I thought the filter does not track the KB.
I can't make my mind up, I'm purchasing my first synth this weekend, but cannot decide wether to go Bass station? Minilogue? or Aira System 1. Does anyone who may have used all 3 have any advice or recommendations? Any Positives and Negative between the 3? I have a Volca Beats for the drums in the meantime, so I know that a Korg synth I can just plig the minijack in, but I love the sounds of the aira, and the basses available on the basstation? This is to be my 1st synth besides the 3 original Volcas, so what are people thinking?
Matt Greer Music how would you say it competes with something like the Sub Phatty or KArp Odyssey? I know they all have they’re unique sound but can it do leads/basses/percussive/sound fx as good as them?
ummm...I like, now... bass station 2 + Push OR KingKorg or SubPhatty + launchpad S all options around the same price, so, which would you pick? (ps. my DAW of choice is Ableton)
perhaps jd-xi because it has everything. bass, pads, keys, leads, even drums. bass station is just for bass and lead (and a little sound design). but you can really compose a song with the jd-xi :)
Really interested to this 1, but in demo videos it sounds kinda distorted in most presets compared to others analog synth on his level. Is it like that on the real experience,l? or is it his character? I feel like its good for bubby bass, funky bass but not for leads, any opinion appreciated, thanks
The cutoff knob should win an award for perfect, silky, tension.
Nicks' reviews are always the best . He covers all bases ( no pun intended lol ) and addresses questions about MIDI, sequencing and other tech stuff that lesser reviews forget to mention. Concise and always well presented. Thank you.
Bass Station 2 users should really update to firmware version 2.5. The BS2 changes from monophonic to paraphonic synth and has some other new functions which really add some cool features!!!
By far, this is the best (ie: my favorite) mono synth I've ever owned/played. Every time I use it, I'm just completely inspired.
100%
Important! Some functionalities you gain with the firmware updates, the latest version is 4.14:
1. Adjustable filter keytracking. Many settings from zero to the default 100% keytracking
2. Duophonic (paraphonic) mode
3. The sub oscillator can be tuned independently. You now have a real 3 oscillator synthesizer
4. You can loop both of the envelopes. They can loop all the time or you can set how many times they loop. It's like you suddenly got two additional customizable LFOs.
5. You can now enter an "AFX mode" and program a different sound for every 25 keys of the keyboard and then save those settings. Some preset ones that mostly work as drum kits are included
6. You can set a different portamento time for each oscillator
7. You now have tuning tables. There are many preset ones but you could make your own as well
8. "Oscillator error" settings. You can set the oscillators to drift out of tune.
There might have been even more new functionalities but these were the ones off the top of my head.
I got my Bass Station new for $325. It is capable of sounding like a Moog or TB303. I love it. The feel of the keyboard is awesome with aftertouch. I am able to emulate everything from Aphex to Boards of Canada. Can't say enough about my love of it and I can't wait for a polyponic version. I will be all over that.
I just got mine today. At first the lightness of the case had me concerned, but once I plugged it in I was blown away by the sound. This is my first analog synth, and I'm very happy with the sound, the keys and the aftertouch is just the right feel.
Novation is the underdog of the major synth manufacturers. Both Bass Stations, the Nova and K series’s, the circuit, and now the PEAK, and yet they still get left out of the conversation when people talk about the “big names.”
Interesting. I found out on Thomann's webstore that the Bass Station II is one of most reviewed synth in its category and I think that over 150 reviews is quite reliable user rating if compared to other synths which has only 20 reviews. Also In Thomann there is almost 200 synths in that category and Bass Station II's rank is 23.
Part of the problem is the build quality. Many people have bought their controller keyboards and had them fail, the controllers with the joystick for pitch/mod was well known to fail. I had issues with the SL Zero MK1. I've got the BS2 and a Peak, but the BS2 is definitely built to a cost, I just gave away my first one as the LED display developed a fault and I couldn't find a replacement display.
I have a Novation Mini Synth amongst other Equipment and it's a killer of a Machine. I get great use from it.
i dont think they sound good. there's nothing that makes me really turn my head and pay attention. sequential, moog, nord, etc these names are big for a reason. they have unmistakable sound and character. sure this is great for the money, but theres nothing about it that is truely remarkable.
Novation haven't been around quite long enough to bring out a digital modelling synth which "harks back to our classic synths of yesteryear" lol, like some big names we can mention. Give it another 20 years and we will have a digital version of BS II.
Thanks, Nick for providing us with the best gear reviews online. Pretty sure you just helped me secure my purchase decision.
I never paid much attention to this synth. But this is the second time I'm watching this review and it hit me this time that this synth has massive drone/ambience capabilities. (E.g. when Nick is showing off one of the effects at 10:30)
sooperheep I'd love to, perhaps when I have more money. It would be perfect really, as it's also a great midi controller.
+Erik Lauri Kulo yeah, it really is great for that.
***** Agreed, I own one now a days. :-)
Best demo of this on TH-cam. I did *not* need to hear this one, as it sounds a lot better than I had expected, and my cave is already full of 2 octave synths. There are a lot more possibilities than I had expected from this little guy. That PWM is huge and the FM is pretty nice. Great detailed look.
Great review as always Nick!
Three things that REALLY stood out to me were the OSC2 Filter Modulation, the 64 values per 128 step scaling and the SPEED of the programme changes - wow!
Novation really should push these features - I didnt know about them until Nick mentioned them and they pushed me over the edge of want to must have!
I know what Im buying myself for Christmas!
Thanks Nick!
The part from 10:30 to 10:50 made me buy this little beast last month. Terrific review, as always :)
Hehe, yeah sounds pretty sick!
Loads of wicked features. Great review Nick
BS2 is my work horse. I bring it to the gigs always. It is great for leads, versatile, great UI, it is small but not mini if you know what I mean. Great demo.
This is a very good overview of the synth. While it is obviously competing with the Minibrute and Microbrute as far as price, but it is a totally different approach, and they are actually hard to compare to each other. In many respects it is more similar to the Pulse 2, but about half the price. This synth has a lot of nice features for such a small foot print and is worth serious consideration.
I would have liked 37 keys or atleast 32. It helps in performances.
Nihar Savala it has an octave switch. It’s really hard to complain when these are going for $350 brand new and often under $300 in mint condition. That said, I’d pay $600-$700 for an updated BS3 with a 4 octave keyboard, built in fx, a small mod matrix, and ability to tweak both oscillators and envelopes without a switch.
Yes you can use the MIDI over USB to play notes into your DAW, then either play back and tweak, or record the sound into your DAW too you would need some kind of audio interface though
Thank you! Just picked up one of these used and haven't really delved into it. This was a great prep!
Just got the AFX edition! This is my first synth and I could not be happier with my purchase! 😍
2020 and these monsters are still in production! No number of accolades is enough to do this synth justice. Let's just leave it at: "No studio, keyboard player, synthesist or marriage is complete without the Novation Bass Station 2" . (Amens are welcome :D )
Very well done , nice to see someone that knows what they are talking about and doesnt annoy the listener
Depending on complexity, metal folding and punching can be a significant increase over injection molding, and then you still have to injection mold the sides/end-caps. It's cost of source materials, cost of labor/time (molding is fast) and cost of shipping something weighing 2x as much. Also, performers I've spoken to (presumably producers/djs are target market for this) want light and backpack-sized, not heavy and huge. All the novation keyboards are plastic (some with thin metal panels).
Holding myself for days but it's enough! Ordering one right now!
Thanks Nick for all your reviews, I am learning a lot.
16:52 and that ladies and gentlemen is how you make a chemical Brothers track. LOL dude that sounds awesome. love the demo and definitely sold on the bass station 2. Mine arrives tomorrow.
Speaking to the build quality, I think it would be very interesting to know how much more it would have costed for them to have built it into a steel body. Personally, if we were only talking about a difference of like 30-50 bucks or so, I'd be more than happy to have paid the difference.
One thing is for sure, the sound is great and Nick is the man to review such a little beast of a synth! Thanks Nick!
Finally a review of this unit that actually shows off the lower frequencies.
A DCO is just a VCO with the pitch controlled digitally, which doesn't effect the sound. A VCO modified to be a DCO would sound exactly the same, except it might be more stable.
I can't decide whether to get this or save up a bit more for the Waldorf Pulse 2. Is it actually worth buying one, then the other, or would they be redundant (considering they're both DCO synths)?
I demoed one the other day, and I'd have to say I liked it better than the minibrute. Not that it sounded so much better, but it pulled me in somehow, more than the mini...I don't what that "something" is, but I wanted to play with it more than the minibrute.
First decent BSII review out there......before this video it was almost impossible to get a good idea on what this little machine can do and how it sounds.
Close to ordering one this week
I would say it def has its own sound, it is quite compressed sounding which makes it sit in a mix really easy I have found. It really bites.
wow the drum pattern changing demo was really cool! snappy program changes!
I don't even know anymore. This seems like the perfect synth for me as I love heavy bass design like reeses and plucky arp saw basslines. Stuck between this and the Korg Minilogue which has 4 voices for those nice long release pluck sequences but really the sound isn't that great (too thin). This just sounds a LOT more versatile in terms of bass sounds and is 150€ cheaper to boot.
Might just get this.
played one of these today - blew me away with how intuitive it was to use - the large filter knob top right should be a mandatory design on all synths - i would of bought it there an then if it were not for the arturia mini brute 2 sitting next to it that i did not have time to listen to as the shop was closing...
Old video but I hope I get an answer. I'm planning to buy my first analog synth. As a beginner who can afford an Arturia MiniBrute 2S, is there any reason to buy the Bass Station 2 or MicroBrute instead of the larger models? I have been using VSTis for too long, now I want the real deal and I think I will outgrow the budget versions fast.
this sounds good
I'm probably not gonna buy one of these just cause it's got no drum rack controllers but just out of curiosity, what does he mean by "Digital Control" at 2:28?
He means that the synth parameters are controlled digitally, allowing presets to be saved.
JAZZ is there any synth out there that has pads for assigning clips and drums? i think its saved only for midi controllers...
STI828 No i meant that the keys can't control drum racks over midi. I have since learned that you can use a analogue to digital midi converter to do so but i'm not gonna bother to get one of those.
JAZZ why not? because you cant use this as a midi controller?
Yeah pretty much...only got so much cash for synths
I honestly mostly need a synth for bass lines and occasional leads, do you guys recommend this or the minibrute?
Had both. This thing rules. I'd say bs2. I've got a sub 37, odyssey, pro 2, ob6, and quite a few other high end synths. This this is still super useful and stands up among the others. It makes great punchy basslines that fit very well in a mix. Minibrute sounds fine, but no patch memory and very limited midi implementation. Also you cannot control the oscillator pitch tuning of the other wave shapes on the minibrute. Bs2 is very versatile. Others experiences will vary of course
don't get the mini brute or any arturia gear. arturia is known for really shitty build quality. I would expect any arturia gear to last only two years
+rorz999 cool, but you're one guy with one microbrute. the quality control on arturia stuff is awful. you could end up with a great model that will last year's or a terrible one that will break in two years. how long have you had your minibrute?
+rorz999 let's hope it doesn't break!
Dude get this or the minitaur if you're need is just bass lines.
Same here. The MiniBrute is my clear favorite among the new analogue synths.
That said, i'm quite intriqued by the hybrid designs, like the DSI Evolvers. And atm. i have a Waldorf Rocket home for testing, which i find sounds excellent even with a digital oscillator. Despite prefering the sound of true pure analogue, i think there's alot to be said for the stability, low cost and convinience of digital technology, in the places where it's done well enough to not take too much away from the sound.
would the mininova or the bass station 2 be best as a synth to learn on.
hey novation, please listen all your users, bs2 can be one of the best monosynths around if you fixed the sync problems of the arp e sequencer. The problem is not fixed with the second firmware, the arp/seq dont start automactly in slave mode, like all the machines in the world do (roland, korgs). the BS2 should respond to start stop messages (when start or stop is hit the arp or sequence retriggers in time).
seems that novation have a big problem with midi sync stuff
As a noob, does this mean its hard to sequence it basically?
no man, the sequencer is amazing, but dont sync well.
I can confirm it for the Mininova as well, and i`m so glad I read your comment because i was willing to buy the BS2. Well...Minibrute, here I come!
i already have the micro and minibrute.....and i gonna tell that in therms of sound, the bs2 is a lot more musical and versatile.....i personaly dont find the minibrute very musical and easy to mix. the only bad thing is the bs2 sync in the sequencer (and the sequencer is amazing, like the one on the sh101).....go with bs2 and you will not regret.
I was actually just reading off a forum about the sync issues, and some users reported that the problem should have been fixed since the release of the Mininova 1.4b6 firmware. Can`t wait to get home and upgrade it. The BS2 would would like a charm for me, because I`m specifically interested in buying it for creating bass lines.
BTW, thanks for the quick reply.
This unit has a USB port to host computer which will not only power this synth but send and receive both audio and controller information. It comes with Ableton Live Lite and a USB cable in the box. Hope this helps.
Hi, I'm a double/electric bass player who's interested in picking up the synth bass to complete the family :) however I'm completely new to the topic of synths. Do you need to have a computer to use this to, say, play it for gigs? Or can you just plug it into an amplifier with the right cords? If so, what kind of amp/cords would I need? Thank you
+xXTW1NKL3_C4KEZXx It takes 1/4 inch cords... easy to just hook it up to a an amplifier with one of those. No need for a computer if you just want to play it yourself, just keep in mind that since it's a monosynth you can''t press two or more different keys at the exact same time to say, play a chord. But being oriented towards bass, acid, and all that kind of stuff that really isn't an issue for what it's intended for. It's versatile enough to be able to do a lot of different things too as the video showed. Half the time I don't actually use mine for bass lol.
If the pattern you want only needs to be two measures long or less, it's easy enough to program what you need n the squencer and have it play on a loop while you play another instrument... otherwise you will need it to receive MIDI instructions (like how he showed on his computer) to play anything more complex. It's class compliant IIRC, so any modern computer will recognize it without needing to install anything, but I would highly recommend downloading the librarian program that comes with it but you got to register your bass Station II to get access to it. You should also get Ableton LIve Lite with it for free as well as a soundpack. I personally don't like Ableton Live but if you have nothing else or like it's nonlinear/loop nature it's decent enough. I know some people absolutely love it, but the Lite version is more limited in how many track it lets you use and comes for free with a lot of hardware these days.
I appreciate the advice, thank you!
+2muchbutter if you want to modify specific songs you will probably need a computer but if you just want to fool around and play some music you can probably use it on its own. if you want to connect some electric instruments you will probably need a midi cable
+2muchbutter but you will probably need a computer to program or run the programs compatible with your device in order to get the desired sound
+2muchbutter can be played without a computer. the output is a single 1/4"
Can I get sounds out of this similar to a sub fatty? what's the best synth for dead weather vibes/era vulgaris? for the money I should add ..I want the sub fatty but its up there in price
How do I select and use the internal sounds that built within unit and not the midi sounds from my DAW.
What’s the latest firmware update for the BS2 as of today ? Thx in advance
MIDI out of the inteface into the MIDI IN of the synth, then use the audio outputs of the synth plugged into the 1/4" inputs of the interface to record it.
Another great review. Long live Sonic State!
16:52 I know the loop is getting processed by filter, but are the oscillators being triggered by that loop somehow ?
Great review, thanks. The nasty / aggressive side of the BSII is highlighted here, but actually it can do subtle and warm too when the overdrive is turned down and the filter is turned down a bit. Great synth..
You can modulate PWM by LFO AND Env not OR. I missed this at first but both mos sources can my used a simulatiously.
Thank you for this great review!
One question: does this have an active panel mode where it reverts to all of the settings currently on the knobs?
unfortunately: no, but hey that thing has more features and more patch storage capacity than a moog sub phatty at half the price.
I've had the opportunity to test both and yes the MiniBrute housing feels more solid but just about everything else feels less solid compared to the BSII.
Both are nice synths for the money but i didn't even consider getting the Minibrute while I did get a BSII. It's an immense amount of fun (can't recall having this much fun with a synth in a long time) and to my taste it sounds very good and has a very wide possible sound palette. In the end it's a matter of personal preference (as always).
aub help me! wat is a better synth to buy in july 2021??? Pioneer Toraiz AS-1 or the Bass Station 2?
Enjoyed the Mantronix reference.
I thought he said he was making sounds from the PlayStation 2
Maybe it's a hidden clue that kids should be given Bass Stations, instead of PlayStations.
Hi there, I see you don't have the latch function on when you route an external input in the unit, that is different than my unit since I have to press a key or in that case use the latch function to hear the external input signal. I honestly thought from the beginning the external input function would work independently without the need of pressing any key, but it turned to be not that way, which was a bit of a let down...
I have a Minilogue XD, would that mean getting one of these would be a waste of money, or are they both worth having?
Not in the US, they are the exact same price, I have both, and share the same sentiment. I also hate the feel of the MS-20 mini, which is 100 more than the brute, but sound is where it counts, and I'm a fan of all three
I'm thinking of buying a new one. It's dco? But that edit switch? So you can have both dco live editing at the same time? 😖
Filter knob would have been better in the middle. Like this, if you're playing right handed, your arms are crossed, if you play and tweak. I'd say the majority will play it right handed. I could be wrong on that, dunno, but it should account for both by the knob being centrally placed.
Helps that I am ambidextrous. Was naturally left handed but forced to become right handed for writing. Everything I can do just as well with both hands....except for writing LOL. Still, I need keyboard lessons.
Can you download all features of the afx station to this?
THIS IS every synth review must be like )) thank you!
Can always count on Nick to do a good review. Check out - Novation Bass Station II - UOVI Space Station to hear the other side of the BS2.
You get more with the BSII aswell? (in terms of features and flexibility). Also, I use my SubPhatty for gigging and I can definitely see the appeal of the plastic when it comes to ease of portability.
Great review!!
I am thinking of getting the Bass Station as my first synth after having a go on one today. I am new to this field of expertise and am wondering, can't the BS 2 quantize with the tempo of additional instruments, namely Maschine through Ableton Live?
When I had a go on the BS 2 earlier today with the Korg Volca series, I realised early on that the tempo was not synced causing some issue. It would be nice to be able to just lock the synth to a drum machine and change the tempo as i see fit with the other instruments becoming slave to the synth. Thanks
Thanks! Most helpful
I know I asked this before, which should be my first to buy the novation mininova or the bass station 2 to learn on and learn the play the piano?
Could I use USB to record notes into FL Studio piano roll & have it loop, then use the BSII to play a pattern from Sylenth1 on another FL Studio track? The RME UFX would be my audio interface.
Is it true this only processes one note at a time. That's the difference between mono and polyphonic? You can't play a chord on the keys? I just read that somewhere and it seems so absurdly limiting idk if it's right. I'm a snyth newb and I'd like to compose with tone AND melody. So mininova I guess?
Yes, it's a monosynth. But it has three oscillators and you can set at least two of them to be a fifth apart (like he does at 5:13) you can at least play double stops. I think the latest software lets you play a three note chord.
But yes, if you're looking for something to play chords and a melody simultaneously, you'll need a polyphonic synth.
As for "absurdly limiting", most wind instruments are monophonic, but saxophone's are still cool, aren't they? :-)
Monosynths are great fun for solos and weird noises. This synth will teach you a lot about creating sound with analogue circuitry which can be carried over to most analogue synths too.
But there aren't many singer/monosynth artists, that's a fact. Maybe there should be?
In the US they're both $499 new from most places. I've also seen two years interest free financing at Sweetwater Sound on the BS but not the Brute.
I'm pretty sure this does not have Audio over USB
Wobbly knobs is often due to the use of circuit-board mounted controls. I agree they're a little disconcerting, but thanks for calling attention to them. At least they don't seem to be rotary encoders, which are notoriously flaky...
4:22 these knobs are not "center dented" as I know. No tactile indentation. Just digital 0 feedback.
Nice review. It sounds like a good synth at a good price.
Hi Nick. Another amazing review. I'm synth illiterate and I can understand what you are talking about. I am musicians best friend (bass player) and I'd love a monophonic synth. I am between this one and the microbrute. Could you or anyone else give me an opinion? Thanks.
Bass station 2 is a bit more expensive and a bit better
if you plan on playing it live, microbrute does not save patches which can be a pain between songs, had a brute and this is what made me switch
I'm in the same situation. I'm bass player also, and i've got an old Korg Polysix, but i don't want to use it on the stage, because it1s a little bit "fragile" and too heavy. I'm searching a small good monophonic analog synth. I don't know why, but i think the Microbrute is usuable to me. So Nick, please help us to make decision! :D
As a bass player/synth fanatic I've used both the BSII and the microbrute in a band setting for the past three years. Initially I leaned more towards the microbrute, because of it's very original unconventional sound. However, as years went by I actually ended up using the BSII for everything synthesizer in the band. It has a much broader range of sounds thanks to the two oscillators. It also has a lot of low end and lies really well in the mix, whereas the microbrute could sound too rough and edgy at times for my taste. Sometimes you just want that classic moog-style bass sound. The BSII can mimic it, the microbrute definitely not. Still a great synth too.
My advice, if you have the money get them both and see which one suits you best. If you can only buy one I advise the BSII because of the many features it has extra compared to the microbrute, including patch memory which is a real plus when you perform live.
Nick - I've been watching your videos from the very start, I loved how you still kept it professional after the pitch shift on your voice with the vocoder I was waiting for you to start laughing, you probably did lol then cut the video as it sounds hilarious :)
The analog interface of the MS20-mini appeals to me in a big way though...
What makes the Bass Station better in your eyes?
if you have to choose between BS 2 or minilouge which would you pick as for your first analog synth?
This one. But it's two different synth. This is more comparable to the monologue.
Hi Nick, i have a specific question, i know that the sequencer/arp can send it's notes out of the midi out, but can you sync other devices to it, with the BS2 acting as a master? I'd like to run the sequencer on the BS2 and then sync a volca beats (which has midi sync) to it, i don't want the BS sequencer's notes going to the volca beats, i just want it to transmit midi clock data, any idea if this is possible? Do you still have the BS2 and Volca? Might be interesting to check.
can you make lead-synths just as well as bass sounds on this thing? Or is it really just for basses? things like supersaws and such
of course you can make leads on this it has the tonal range for it. A real supersaw isn't possible because you'd need at least seven oscillators to pull that off. BTW The supersaw is the domain of digital VA synths such as the JP 8000. But you can detune the oscillators from each other and create a fat slightly phased sound.
Yes, crank up the drive, osc sync, PWM etc and you'll have instant Billy Currie!
At 7:12, it sounds like the self-oscillating filter is being played by the keyboard. Based on the user guide, I thought the filter does not track the KB.
Hi Elmo, not sure - I have tried doing something similar with my Keys with a Minibrute via MIDI and was unsuccessful.
I can't make my mind up, I'm purchasing my first synth this weekend, but cannot decide wether to go Bass station? Minilogue? or Aira System 1.
Does anyone who may have used all 3 have any advice or recommendations? Any Positives and Negative between the 3? I have a Volca Beats for the drums in the meantime, so I know that a Korg synth I can just plig the minijack in, but I love the sounds of the aira, and the basses available on the basstation? This is to be my 1st synth besides the 3 original Volcas, so what are people thinking?
These synths out perform every other analog synth in their class. Amazing that you can scrounge these up for less than $300.
Matt Greer Music how would you say it competes with something like the Sub Phatty or KArp Odyssey? I know they all have they’re unique sound but can it do leads/basses/percussive/sound fx as good as them?
Sub Phatty is not in the same class due to price differences. KArp Odyssey is a fine synth, but lacks preset memory, so again this outperforms.
i dont understand how to make the program changes via midi. i know this isn't a tutorial but i am lost.
Can someone who owns one of these, please tell me what is the hightest and lowest frequency range of oscillators 1 and 2 in hz ?. Thanks.
ummm...I like, now...
bass station 2 + Push
OR
KingKorg
or
SubPhatty + launchpad S
all options around the same price, so, which would you pick?
(ps. my DAW of choice is Ableton)
this or the minibrute?
I'm pretty sure the MiniBrute is about 20% more expensive though no?
Which synth do you recommend for beginners? The Roland JD-Xi VS Novation Bass Station 2? Please Help
Alejandro Hoffman bass station
Crazy Mence Thanks! :)
perhaps jd-xi because it has everything. bass, pads, keys, leads, even drums. bass station is just for bass and lead (and a little sound design). but you can really compose a song with the jd-xi :)
Ale Synthbassdrums bass station for sure. The JDXi requires quite a bit of menu diving and it has mini-keys.
Yeah, I was not into the customer service they (Arturia) provided and it seems like they stopped upgrading the firmware pretty quickly.
Really interested to this 1, but in demo videos it sounds kinda distorted in most presets compared to others analog synth on his level. Is it like that on the real experience,l? or is it his character? I feel like its good for bubby bass, funky bass but not for leads, any opinion appreciated, thanks
im wondering if i should sell my minibrute & buy this! being that it has a sequencer built in, im a sequencer guy!
Could someone who owns this tell me if you can control different things on the synth with automations in ableton?
Awesome, thanks guys
I really wish they would release a editor for it.great synth,especially for the money.
unless i missed it...you didn't cover the ADSR section?
what is the build quality like where the keys are concerned??do they last long?i had a mininova for 6 weeks until 6 of the white keys crumbled to dust
Own one for four years now and no single problem with it. Always have dust cover on when not used and no smoke or direct sunlight :-)