Bass Station 2 Not Working: How to Fix Phantom MIDI Inputs

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My Bass Station 2 was not working properly some time ago. The incessant malfunctions rendered the device useless for a time. While in use, the synth seemed to have a mind of its own – altering parameters as it sat untouched. My crafted sounds would alter themselves out of existence – even as I recorded them, in some cases.

These phantom inputs wrecked my workflow to the point that I just couldn’t use my Bass Station 2 anymore. It was incredibly frustrating and disappointing. I love my Bass Station 2, and while it is an affordable synth, it still wasn’t cheap!

So one day, I had had enough and I set off onto the net to hunt down a solution.

After a little digging, I found it. And boy, did I feel stupid!

The Problem:

Bass Station 2 will randomly alter patch parameters or trigger phantom notes, ruining perfectly good patches – sometimes in the middle of performance or recording.

The Solution:

• Change the power supply!

It was such a simple fix, I was amazed I hadn’t considered it myself.

I had been using a USB cable to power my Bass Station 2 for years. And it turns out that my UBS cable wasn’t exactly in tip-top condition anymore. From what I’ve read, it seems that power failure – whether it be USB or a dedicated power adapter – may cause these phantom midi inputs in many parameters. I’ve seen reports of symptoms as drastic a the arpeggiator activating itself, the modwheel moving around (not physically, of course – that would just be spooky), and – perhaps most logically – the unit powering itself off.

The thing about the Bass Station 2 is that it doesn’t come with its own dedicated power supply – just a long, blue USB cable. The unit allows for a power adapter, but Novation makes you source it yourself. So I, along with many other Bass Station 2 users, defaulted to USB power. After all, it did work well – for a time.

However, if you do use a third party power adapter, make sure you use the correct specifications!

The specs for the power adapter should be 9 volts, direct current power, with an operating current of 300 milliamperes. The symbol to the left of the 9V in the picture means the central pin is positive, and the outer ring is negative. The power supply you choose also must provide at least the operating current of 300 mA, DC (the solid line underscored by 3 dashes denotes DC). You can stray a little bit and still have a functioning unit, but be warned: Overpowering your device can damage it. Pay attention to these specifications!

A good solution is a generic power adapter with multiple voltage settings and connection tips. Here is a link to one that fits the bill: LiveWire UXS MultiVoltage Power Supply with USB Port. This is a good option because while it easily fits the bill to power your Bass Station 2, it is also versatile enough to power all sorts of different devices in the studio as well.

So if you are experiencing these frustrating symptoms, and your Bass Station 2 is not working properly, consider swapping out your power supply.

Til next time,
-AudioMunk