With the ALPHA BASE Mk II, Jomox presents the second Generation of this stunning-sounding drum computer with hybrid sound generation. The instrument features eleven instruments that are analogue, hybrid, sample-based and digital. Jomox's powerful kickdrum as well as the spectacular MBrane Voice are present again in the Mk II. The intuitive TR-style step sequencer with 64 patterns is easy to program in the usual manner. Polyrhythmic structures emerge automatically as soon as you assign an individual step length to the individual instrument tracks, which can be 1-64 steps (i.e. a maximum of four bars). Shuffle can be set globally or per track and ranges from subtle Swing to hard Chicago style. Per track, Pitch plus one additional parameter per step can be sequenced(parameter locks). With the SEQ button you can simply switch off the pitch track, then the pitch follows the setting in the instrument. There is no song mode, but CHAIN allows you to chain individual patterns together.
Many improvements in the Mk II
The most striking feature of the Mk II is the large OLED display. The additional buttons for Rec Parameter, Rec Sample, Roll/Flam, Store Kit and Store Pattern make operation much easier and therefore smoother. The doubled sample memory now holds 500 instead of 250 samples, which can have an audio quality of 16 bit / 48 kHz. The analogue engine has been optimized in many details. The hybrid channels benefit from an analogue panning circuit and controllable Noise volume. Finally, the headphone volume can also be controlled independently of and real RGB LEDs provide an even better overview.
Kick drum
The most important instrument in the ALPHA BASE Mk II is of course the analogKick drum, which rightly deserves the title "most powerful Bassdrum in the world". In addition to popular and proven standards from the 808/909 range, the parameters offer enough setting options that are at least suitable for walking basslines, dub, reggae, techno, house, high-pitched, experimental or even hardcore.
MBrane
The second completely analogue channel is capable of producing an enormous range of sounds. Snare drums, toms, percussions & effect sounds, claves, glasses, cowbells and even Bass drums only begin to describe what the two T-Bridge oscillators with two LFOs, pitch envelopes and metal noise generator are capable of.
Hybrid instruments
The two hi-hat channels, Clap, Rim Shot, Crash and Ride have a hybrid structure. This means that the sound source is a sample and is processed by an analogue filter and Stereo-VCA together with two digital ADSR envelopes. The hi-hat channels use an improved filter that was already used in the xBase999. Metal Noise can also be activated in these two channels in addition to or instead of the sample. Together with the filter and VCA, you can create striking hi-hat sounds in no time at all. The Clap, Rim Shot, Crash and Ride channels use an analogue, resonant 12dB multimode filter (LP/BP/HP) instead of the specialized hi-hat filter. If the MMF is set to self-resonance in conjunction with the envelope, even analogue-sounding toms, claves and sticks are no problem. The channel name of the hybrid instruments is only a recommendation because the sample slots don't care whether a Vocal sample, chord sound, Moog Bass or Cowbell is loaded.
X Sample
The X Sample channels work purely digitally and dispense with analogue post-processing. They are intended for sounds that belong in the Drum kit but work without the complex signal path. The ALPHA BASE Mk II can sample itself on these channels. A sample can be up to 4 seconds long, which should be sufficient primarily for drums. All eight sample tracks can transpose the sample, play it backwards, adjust the start and stop points and there is an LFO for modulating the pitch.
FM Synth
The FM Synth is a 4-operator mini FM synthesizer with six voices. This channel produces chords, weird Percussion sounds, basslines and a whole lot of pretty wacky sounds that only FM synths can do. DX-7 User know this... :) The channel is 5-voice polyphonic playable via MIDI, the internal sequencer is monophonic programmable.
Effects
With the good-sounding effects Delay and Reverb, the AB has everything you could need. If you need something more specialized, you can use the individual outputs. The Delay can be synchronized with various divider values to the Clock. The reverb tail from Reverb ranges from metal containers to cathedrals.
Connections
The rear of the ALPHA BASE Mk II shines with eight individual outputs for the analogue and hybrid instruments as well as a Stereo mix output on which the two X sample tracks and the FM synth are also available, provided that all individual outputs have been used. All audio outputs are balanced and deliver an impressive line Level of up to +20dB. The powerful headphone output is located on the front of the device. The audio input is Stereo designed for sampling, FX and Sidechain. Both inputs are Hi-Z suitable for guitar/bass and process line Level up to +20dB. MIDI In, Out and Thru are of course also available, and an instrument with a DIN sync port (TB-303, MC-202, TR-606/808/909...) can be connected to the outputs Out and Thru using a matching 5-pin DIN cable. The USB port is reserved for MIDI and data exchange with the computer.
Elektron Analog Rytm MKII Black
Erica Synths Perkons HD-01 Black
Elektron Digitakt II