Novation Bass Station 2 Swifty Limited Edition Analog Synth

Novation Bass Station 2 Swifty Limited Edition Analog Synth

Since its debut in 2013, the Novation Bass Station II has earned its place as a modern classic in analog synthesis. A staple in studios and live setups for over a decade, it delivers deep sound design potential, gritty character, and exceptional value. Now, this iconic synth gets a bold makeover by Ian "Swifty" Swift — the visionary designer behind the visual identity of Mo' Wax, Straight No Chaser, and a major influence on UK hip-hop, jazz, and street music culture.

This limited edition of the Bass Station II features Swifty’s signature typography, custom-printed panels, and graphic elements inspired by rave flyers, dubplate culture, and DIY zines — bringing a strong underground attitude to a synth that has helped shape the sound of electronic music for years.

Equally suited for stage and studio, the Bass Station II can sound smooth and mellow or raw and aggressive. Modulate the filter to make it sing, crank up the distortion for harder bass, or push the resonance into self-oscillation for screaming lead tones.

With two independently tunable oscillators and a sub-oscillator to reinforce the low end, the Bass Station II excels at delivering raw analog power. A noise generator, pulse-width modulation, ring modulation, two filter types, and extensive modulation options (including two LFOs and two ADSR envelopes) give you everything needed to shape expressive, evolving tones.

Its intuitive panel layout encourages hands-on exploration and fluid workflow. Once you've created a sound you love, you can store it in one of 64 user slots. The unit also comes preloaded with 64 factory patches that showcase its wide sonic range.

Looking for fresh sounds? Novation’s Components platform offers a variety of free artist patches and acts as a central librarian for managing your presets. To mark the release of this special edition, Novation has also included exclusive new presets from artists like Dutch techno icon Legowelt, alt-pop duo Pecq, and keyboard virtuoso Maria Chiara Argiro.

When inspiration strikes, the built-in arpeggiator and step sequencer are ready. Record patterns in real time, save them with your patches, and sync them to your DAW or MIDI gear. Swing values and other sequencing parameters are quickly accessible via shortcuts.

Connectivity is comprehensive: 5-pin MIDI In and Out, a sustain pedal input, an external audio input for processing sounds through the synth’s filter and effects, a dedicated headphone output, and USB connectivity for power and MIDI control. The Bass Station II is class-compliant, requiring no drivers to use with your computer.

The synth also supports paraphonic play, allowing you to control each oscillator separately and play two notes at once. Try combining this with ring mod, oscillator sync, or filter modulation for rich, layered textures.

Developed in collaboration with electronic music pioneer Richard D. James (Aphex Twin), AFX Mode allows each key to trigger a different patch. Use it for subtle variations, dramatic tonal shifts, or even entire drum kits mapped across the keyboard — playable manually or with the arpeggiator.

With Components, you can back up and restore patches, load AFX overlays, upload custom tuning tables, and personalize your synth’s startup behavior.

Features:

• Designed in collaboration with Ian "Swifty" Swift, known for shaping the visual identity of British music culture

• Two analog oscillators with four waveforms each, plus a sub-oscillator

• Classic and Acid filter types with adjustable slope and mode

• Analog overdrive and post-filter distortion for added edge

• Two LFOs with multiple waveforms and sample & hold

• Two ADSR envelopes for amplitude and modulation control

• 32-step arpeggiator and sequencer with pattern memory

• 25 full-size velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch

• Paraphonic mode for playing two notes simultaneously

• AFX Mode for loading different patches per key

• 64 factory presets and 64 user slots

• Includes 60 new artist patches

• MIDI In/Out, USB, sustain pedal input, external audio input

• Powered via USB or DC, class compliant for easy connectivity

Specifications:

• Analog signal path with digitally controlled oscillators

• Sub oscillator and ring modulation

• Multi-mode filters (LP/BP/HP) with variable slope

• Onboard arpeggiator and step sequencer

• 25-key synth-action keyboard with portamento and aftertouch

• Pitch and mod wheels, LED display

• Patch storage and patch browsing via Components software

• Mono output, headphone output, external audio input

• USB MIDI and 5-pin MIDI ports

• Switchable power modes: USB, DC, or off

• Kensington security slot