Using the Launchpad Pro as a DAWless workstation | Novation Connects

video upload by Novation

"In our first episode of Novation Connects, we demonstrate how to sequence the Pulsar 23 and Fireball via midi with our Launchpad Pro, in a DAWless approach to music production.

Here's how to sequence external gear with your Launchpad Pro, using a DAWless setup. The Pulsar 23 and Fireball are connected to the Launchpad Pro via midi, allowing the user to send midi notes and cc parameters to both the Fireball and Pulsar 23. This allows you to sequence and control each instrument. The Launchpad Pro is mapped to send midi to each drum track on the Pulsar 23, and another midi channel on the Launchpad Pro is mapped to sequence the Fireball. This DAWless setup is great for both music production and live performance.

Novation Connects Episode 1 - Chapters:
0:00 - Using Launchpad's drum grid to sequence a pattern
0:41 - Creating variation with the Launchpad probability settings
0:52 - Sequencing with the Launchpad note mode and Mutate function
1:21 - Using Launchpad mute buttons to create variation
1:41 - Modifying pattern length to build tension
2:06 - Jamming with Launchpad's Sequence mode"

Novation Connects Episode 2:

We went DAWless with an AFX Station and Endorphin.es Pedals - it sounds BONKERS
video upload by Novation

"Bass Station II: https://novationmusic.com/products/ba...
Circuit Rhythm: https://novationmusic.com/products/ci...

In Novation Connects episode two, we show you how to use our epic AFX Station in a DAWless setup with Circuit Rhythm, the Endorphin.es Ghost pedal and Endorphin.es Golden Master.

This setup brings together the minds of Aphex Twin, who collaborated with us on the AFX Station, and Andrew Huang, who helped design the Endorphin.es Ghost pedal, to create a brilliant DAWless workflow.

Chapters:
0:00 - AFX Station - Endorphin.es Ghost - Circuit Rhythm - Endorphin.es Golden Master
0:37 - Manipulating sounds with the Endorphin.es Ghost
01:02 - Activating AFX Overlays
01:50 - What is AFX Mode?
02:37 - DAWless jam"

Meet Novation's Synth Family: Bass Station II, Circuit Tracks, & Summit

video upload by B&H Photo Video Pro Audio

"There are 100s of synths to choose from, so which do you buy? Gabe discusses 3 synths from Novation--the Bass Station II, Circuit Tracks, and Summit to check out how they sound together and individually!"

0:00 Intro
1:25 Opening Demo
3:30 Bass Station 2 Overview
2:42 Firmware updates & added functionalities
4:49 AFX Mode
5:48 Synth Controls Overview
6:38 Bass Station 2 Demo
8:26 Circuit Tracks Overview
9:26 Creating Patterns
11:04 Sequencing External Gear
11:46 Effects and Sidechain
12:55 Customizing via Components
13:23 Summit Demo
15:48 Summit Overview
17:38 Performance and Modulation Controls
18:08 Front Panel and Synth Controls
19:14 On-board Effects
20:06 Final Thoughts

Breaks and death jam with Elektron Octatrack MkII, Novation AFX Station

video upload by Jay Hosking

"A live, semi-improvised performance of Edvard Grieg's "The Death of Åse" (from Peer Gynt) performed entirely on synths and sampler hardware.

I love this song in all its incarnations, on strings, on piano. So while on the island, I thought I'd try it on synths and samplers. I sequenced the main lines in the box, using Native Instruments' Noire (piano) and Arturia's Prophet V (synth) doubled up. Then I chopped that into segments and imported into the Octatrack.

Once in the Octatrack, I took the Amen break and did some mangling, adding some glitch, pan, and randomization. I also added a second break I created, and a line of weird percussion (from a Patreon community member), both from a community sample pack in my Patreon.

Finally, I wanted some real-time hardware synth, and was smart enough to bring the Novation AFX Station with me to the island. This thing has so much versatility going for it, sounds phenomenal, and has an absolutely stellar layout for creating. It's wild to me that the Bass Station II / AFX Station is both one of the best mono synths out there, while also being so widely available and so affordable.

Once it was all together, it was just a matter of tweaking some scenes for effects and transition, and then capturing the performance. Really happy with this one.

Thanks for listening.

Native Instruments Noire and Arturia Prophet V - piano/synth main line, sampled into the
Elektron Octatrack Mk2 - sample mangling, mixing, performance effects, scenes
Novation AFX Station - synth arpeggio thing"

Bad Gear - Bass Station 2

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about Novation Bass Station 2. Has the immensely popular successor to the original Bass Station from the 90s become a classic in its own right for a reason? Should you get the AFX Station? That's no moog, it's a...

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:10 Overview Novation Bass Station II
01:44 DCO Section
02:13 Filter Section, Acid Mode
02:42 Envelopes, LFOs
02:57 Effects
03:15 Arpeggiator, SH-101 Style Sequencer
03:34 Updates, Additional Features (Paraphony,...)
04:19 AFX Mode (+ Aphex Twin Heresy)
04:48 What else??? (Compontents, UI, Pricing)
05:10 Hate
05:33 Jam 1 (Dirty Bass)
06:29 Jam 2 (Novation should give me Money - Jam)
07:31 Finale (Less Musically Challenging Music)
08:01 Verdict"

Bass Station II Battle // Novation Live

video upload by NovationTV

"Watch Novation’s Product Specialist team from around the world, battle it out by creating patches and using them for four different live jams using Bass Station II.

To celebrate Bass Station's 30th year, and 10 years of Bass Station II, we're bringing our team together to show you how Bass Station II is much more than bass!

After 10 years the Novation Bass Station II is still the ultimate monosynth for warm, fat, and dirty analogue sounds. Based on the original classic 90’s Bass Station it is enhanced in every area to make it bigger, more versatile, and more powerful in every way. With two filter types, two tuneable paraphonic oscillators and a sub-oscillator (that can also be treated as an independent 3rd oscillator) plus; noise, ring mod and the unique and powerful AFX mode designed in collaboration with Aphex Twin mean the sonic possibilities of this analogue powerhouse are unlimited.

You won't want to miss this - tune in on May 31st to watch.

--- Discover Bass Station II
https://novationmusic.com/en/synths/b..."

Bass Station II Deep Dive // Novation Live

video upload by NovationTV

"Join -CALC- for another Novation live stream: 30 years after the original Bass Station was released we're also celebrating 10 years of Novation’s amazing analogue monosynth, Bass Station II. In this session -CALC- will chart the history of the Bass Station and explore the elements that make this a stand-out classic of our time.

Using the synth’s powerful analogue architecture and unique features such as AFX mode, paraphony and microtuning, we’ll be sculpting patches and creating sequences to show how this unashamed BEAST of a synth is still the go-to monosynth after all this time.

-- Discover more about Bass Station II:
https://novationmusic.com/en/synths/b...

--Discover more about Novation’s 30 Years of Making Music:
https://novationmusic.com/en/30-years..."

Shaping the signal of a live drum-break w/ Bass Station 2

video upload by NovationTV

"Bass Station 2 is a fantastic way to process sound sources using the external input. Bass Station 2 is especially powerful when processing external sounds when in AFX mode. Here we’re shaping the signal of a live drum-break with some wild results!"

Ambient orchestra with piano, Sequential Take 5, Novation AFX Station, Korg MS-20

video upload by Jay Hosking

"Please support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jayhosking
A live performance on piano and Sequential Take 5, with a couple of extra "orchestral" layers added afterward.

Despite putting so much time into synthesizers, drum machines, etc., I probably play more piano than anything else these days. I love music arranged for piano and synth, and I watch a ton of it here on YouTube. So it's nice to finally be making some of that on the channel.

Here, I use the Take 5's sequencer with some slow attack to create a backdrop for playing piano over. As the song moves, I progressively open the Take 5's filter to fill more and more of the space.

For bass, I added the Novation AFX Station (aka Bass Station II), not exactly what you might think of when you hear "orchestral", but is amazing for bass and strikes a balance between fitting in and standing out.

To double the melody, I added the Korg MS-20. I've got both its filters tuned into the midrange with a good deal of resonance, so it cuts through the mix without taking up too much room. I've also got a little LFO on the pitch and some noise modulation on the filter cutoff to give the whole thing a warbled, falling-apart feeling.

For piano, I'm playing my Kawai CA49, which has a great keybed and wooden keys, though the sound isn't quite good enough for a recording (great for practicing, though). I'm sending its MIDI to Native Instruments' Noire (for the deeper, richer part of the piano) and also to XLN Audio's Addictive Keys (for more of the percussive/hammer/strike of the piano); I think the two blend really well.

All in all, I'm really happy with this piece and the mood it provokes, both through its melodic choices and its timbral choices. Thanks for listening.

Kawai CA49 into Native Instruments Noire and XLN Audio Addictive Keys - piano
Sequential Take 5 - Pad sequence ambience thing
Novation AFX Station into Valhalla Shimmer - Bass
Korg MS-20 into Synapse Audio Deep Reverb - Melody

Piano and Take 5 recording as a live performance, with bass and melody overdubbed afterward, and the standard EQ/compression/limiting on the master.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

Novation Celebrates 30 Years with Giveaways and More

video upload by NovationTV

"It’s been 30 years of Novation and music made with bass, beats and synthesisers.

From early beginnings in 1992, Novation has been a pioneer in developing music technology, allowing artists to create decade-defining sounds. Starting as Novation Electronic Music Systems, we built a small but innovative device, the MM10, which let you control a MIDI sequencer, the Yamaha QY10, for the very first time from a keyboard.

Since then, our synths, MIDI controllers, grooveboxes and more have helped people create, play and perform at all stages of their music-making journey.

From all of us at team Novation – we want to wish a huge thank you to our whole community for keeping us inspired. We can't wait to hear what you make next, and we look forward to another 30 years.

- Discover more about Novation’s 30 Years of Making Music
https://novationmusic.com/en/30-years..."

novation · Novation Legacy Sample Pack

"Crafted from old-school Novation gear and adapting Trance to a modern time, The Novation Legacy Soundpack looks back on the history of electronic music and the gear that helped shape it. Made with Bass Station, BS Rack, AFX Mode, K-Station, A-Station, Mininova, Peak and Summit.

--- Sign up to our mailing list to receive your Novation Legacy Soundpack:
novationmusic.com/en/sign-novation-emails

"Novation looks back on three decades of bass, beats and synthesizers.

Since 1992, Novation’s synths, MIDI controllers, grooveboxes and more have helped people create, play and perform at all stages of their music-making journey.

In 1992, Novation developed the MM10, an innovative MIDI sequencer that controlled the Yamaha QY10 from a keyboard, revolutionising the way we make music as the first MIDI controller of its kind. Bass Station’s arrival in 1993 pushed them further into the spotlight as a standout synth of the ‘90s. Developed by none other than synth designer Chris Huggett, his expertise with analogue and digital synth design influenced many of their iconic synths including Supernova, Bass Station II, Summit and Peak.

Over the years, Novation’s instruments have brought new life to music-making, including the Launchpad range which changed the game for grid-based music production and DIY performance, Circuit’s much-loved intuitive approach to beatmaking and sampling, and the award-winning Launchkey range of MIDI controllers used by artists in many genres.

In 2022, they’re celebrating 30 years of music, pioneering music technology and people that made Novation what it is today.

With Novation, anything is possible
Over the past three decades, countless artists have brought their musical ideas to life with Novation instruments. From October until Christmas, they’re bringing their community together to celebrate the made music with their instruments over the years with videos from artists across the globe, huge prizes up for grabs in their 30th anniversary competition and exclusive curated soundpack giveaways.

Giving back to the global community of fans
Novation will be giving away their biggest prize bundle yet to encourage their worldwide music-making community to share the love for their instruments. One lucky winner can own a full studio’s worth of gear, as well as three years of upcoming products.

The prize bundle includes:
1. A suite of Novation products, including Circuit Rhythm, Circuit Tracks, FLkey Mini, Launchkey 37, Summit, Peak, Bass Station II, Launchpad Pro.
2. Three years of future Novation products.
3. A feature on the Novation website spotlighting their entry/music and a short interview with accompanying social media promotion.
4. A 1:1 Product Demo Session with a Novation product specialist.
5. A Novation Logo T-Shirt.

The giveaways continue with 30 exclusive soundpacks covering countless genres. All users can get their hands on samples made for the Circuit Rhythm, and perfect for all of the Launch range – regardless of what DAW they choose. Newsletter subscribers can also get their hands on the Novation Legacy Sample Pack – add moods, textures and unique sounds from the Bass Station, AFX Station, and plenty of classic instruments.

Novation is also going backstage with creators in their community to see just how they make their music. Learn how to make songs and build beats in Ableton, Logic, Cubase and FL Studio from long-time Novation users including Lex Luger, Trishes, Bad Snacks, Seids and Venus Theory.

Join Novation in celebrating their story so far and become a part of their future as they continue to encourage creativity and make music production a rewarding experience for all."

Explore Novation's 30 Years

Full-tilt jam with Polyend Tracker and Novation AFX Station

video upload by

"A live, semi-improvised track performed entirely on hardware.

It had been a while, and I just got a battery pack for USB gear, so I thought I'd take the Tracker for another spin. It turns out that the Tracker is one of those devices that I love more and more with every time I use it. Songwriting is getting faster on it, and its performance effects are my current favourite for getting wild with drum parts. Rearranging the sequence allows a level of complexity that you just can't get with a beat repeat! And the fact that you can then take those performance effects and apply them to other tracks instead makes the Tracker extremely flexible and fun for making jams.

I added the AFX Station at the last minute because I wanted something I could play notes on, and because I wanted something melodic to end the track. The AFX Station is just the right sound, size, and shape for a jam with the Tracker, and its filter and drive are (in my opinion) underrated. It may just be a Novation Bass Station II in disguise, but it's an awesome analog mono synth.

Polyend Tracker - Sequencing, sampling, sample player, effects
Novation AFX Station - Mono synth (running through the Tracker for reverb and delay)

Performed and recorded live to a stereo output, with EQ, compression, and limiting on the master.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

AFX4 -CALC- Novation AFX Station (Bass Station 2) Performance with Elektron Machine Drum

video upload by -CALC-

"This is the performance I worked on for the release of the Novation AFX Station. It's also included as part of the presentation I gave when the synth was released on Novation's YouTube channel.

This was a lot of fun to work on and was a bit of a pressure gig (releasing a signature synth collaboration with one of my all-time musical heroes). I spent a lot of time practicing to get it right.

The performance makes a lot of use of the AFX mode in the Bass/AFX Station with a nice smattering of microtunings too. It was also a lot of fun to break out the masterpiece that is the Elektron Machine Drum again too..... The MD was my first ever stand alone device, it broke me out of the box and changed my life for evermore... I will never let it go."

▶️ NOVATION AFX STATION / BASS STATION 2 • 300 Fresh Synth Patches / Presets

video upload by ULTIMATE PATCHES

"Compatible with both AFX Station & Bass Station 2.
Digital Download Now Available: https://www.ultimatepatches.com


▶️ Easy-Install Manual + Patch List: https://www.ultimatepatches.com/#station
▶️ FAQ: https://www.ultimatepatches.com/faq.html
▶️ Questions? Contact Support: https://www.ultimatepatches.com/suppo...

Bass Station 2 // AFX Mode // 3 Practical Examples

video upload by Jorb

"Wanted to demo some more grounded ways of using this wonderfully deep feature, hope it gets you thinking differently about the tools at your fingertips."

Bass Station II Editor in Patch Base

video upload by Coffeeshopped

"A simple demo of the Bass Station II voice and overlay editors now available in Patch Base for Mac and iPad. You can fully edit every voice and overlay (AFX Mode) parameter, visualize everything, and even access some hidden parameters on the Bass Station II

More info here: https://coffeeshopped.com/patch-base/..."

Bass Station II - Battle Performances with Ehsan and -CALC- // Novation Live

video by NovationTV

"In this livestream two Novation stalwarts, Ehsan Gelsi and -CALC- will battle it out, performing individually, using Novation’s powerhouse analogue mono-synth Bass Station II as the main feature. Both will perform live and then run through the techniques used, looking at how to use the killer AFX mode and checking out how the Bass Station II can form the centre point for any set-up.

--- Discover Novation Synths:

https://novationmusic.com/en/synths"

Novation AFX Station review

Molten Music Technology

"Is the AFX Station a Bass Station II in new clothes? Of course! But don't let that stop us checking out the innovation and versatility in this fat and compact monosynth from Novation.

http://www.novationmusic.com"

AFX Station // -CALC- Walk-through // Novation

NovationTV

"-CALC- introduces you to AFX Station: our modern classic monosynth, remixed by Aphex Twin.

Designed in collaboration with electronic music legend Richard D James aka Aphex Twin, AFX Station is a limited edition release of Bass Station II. A sound designer’s dream, AFX Station has the same powerful feature set as Bass Station II, with the addition of AFX Mode pre-installed, which revolutionises the way the monosynth can be played and programmed.

--- Discover AFX Station: http://bit.ly/AFXStation"

3 Novation Bass Station 2 Tips w/ the Aphex Twin AFX Station

Perfect Circuit

"Enrique (@Ricky Tinez) from Novation (@NovationTV) stopped by our studio to show us 3 of his favorite tips with the Bass Station 2, and since the limited edition AFX Station comes out today (10.20.2020) we used one for the video. You can put the firmware with these features on any Bass Station 2, but this special edition has a purple bottom, Aphex Twin logo and graphics by Weirdcore.

Win a limited edition AFX Station in our #PerfectPatch contest on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGksNAvg58u

Read our Signal article about the AFX Station here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal...

AFX Station available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/novati...

Timeline:

00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Overlays
02:04 - Fixed Sustain Duration
03:23 - Sub Oscillator Tuning
04:45 - Glide Divergence
05:33 - Oscillator Error

#PerfectCircuit #AFXstation #AphexTwin"

Novation AFX Station • Lightbath Patches + Overlays Demo

Lightbath

"I'm honored to be one of five sound designers selected by Novation and Richard D. James to create Patches + Overlays for the new AFX Station synth. I'm in good company with the others being Richard Devine, Noyzelab, Perplex On and ol' pal, r beny.

The AFX Station is a Bass Station II with a facelift that makes it easier to use the AFX Mode Overlays that are part of the new firmware. Plus, the thing looks great, now. More pro, less toy imo. It's a powerful synth that reminds me a lot of my Roland SH-101, but with patch-saving capabilities and some gnarly distortion and drive.

My patches parody a few choice sounds like BoC's Roygbiv and One Very Important Thought and some of the dirty sounds used by Tobacco and Black Moth Super Rainbow as well as a bunch of 'classic' Lightbath sounds and even a few jokes.

Lightbath Patches

082 - Audubon
083 - B3 Marimba
084 - Bass Racer
085 - Dandy Gum
086 - Formantable
087 - Gravity Error
088 - ImportantThought
089 - Mosquitohead
090 - Pluckbath
091 - Roy G. Biv
092 - SH-Gregorian
093 - The Fourth Below
094 - Threefold
095 - Tobacco Blessing
096 - Warm Chillbath

Lightbath Overlays

o5 - Gyil
o6 - Glitch
o7 - Flute"

Novation → https://novationmusic.com/en/synths/a..."

You can find additional Novation AFX Station posts here.

Break Station - Novation AFX Station, Bass Station 2, Circuit & Digitakt

Ehsan Gelsi

You can find additional Novation AFX Station posts here.