A synth with soul | BA-1 is Baby Audio's modern reimagining of a cult 1982 analog synthesizer that looked like a toy but sounded like a beast. It brings pure and authentic textures, quick to program and full of color.

The legacy

BA-1 is based on a portable synthesizer from the 80s with a toy look and robust sound. Despite its small size, it left a big mark on music history, although it still flew a little below the hype radar. The original has been used as a secret weapon for bubbly synth textures by some of Sweden's most successful pop producers over the past two decades. It was also a landmark in 1990s digital dancehall and beloved by the indietronica scene for its raw lo-fi quality. The 'CS01' - as the original is called - was never properly captured in software format. So for Baby Audio's first synthesizer, they started there.

The sound

Following Baby Audio's motto “It's an evolution, not an emulation”, they modeled the hardware as accurately as possible, before carefully updating it with new and useful features. A second analog modeled oscillator, FM, polyphony and more help to greatly expand the sonic palette of the original. All this while keeping its characteristic sound intact. Plus, the BA-1 lets you drain the battery, double the circuitry, and use the built-in speaker – for an authentic lo-fi aesthetic you'd normally only get with hardware.

The effects

If you know Baby Audio, you know that effects are their specialty. So they treated the BA-1 to an FX section worthy of its own plugin. The effects chain is inspired by budget rack hardware from the 1980s and captures the lo-fi charm of the home studio scene of the time. The overdrive is modeled after a guitar pedal, while the delay, reverb and chorus effects are based on cheap but amazing digital rack units. On the BA-1, effects are not an afterthought but an ingrained part of the sound signature. So adjust, use and abuse them.

Simplicity

BA-1 is simple yet surprisingly adjustable. Baby Audio has gone to great lengths to adjust all parameters to be in the sweet spot. This results in a rewarding programming workflow where tweaking the BA-1 is a lot of fun and you'll create new patches again and again. And if a simple interface isn't fast enough, you can always use the clever 'Re-Gen' feature. Hit Re-Gen and BA-1 will automatically create new, musically in-tune patches with each click.

Characteristics

• 4 color options - After long hours in the studio it can be nice to see something new. BA-1 lets you switch between gray, blue, purple, and orange color modes to keep things fresh. Click on the colored squares right here to view the options.
• 500+ High-Quality Presets - BA-1 comes with a ton of new musical inspiration in the form of 500+ carefully crafted presets. This includes 4 genre-based expansion packs created by some of Baby Audio's favorite sound designers. Whether you like synth-wave, modern pop, lo-fi hip hop or 80s/90s nostalgia, Baby Audio has you covered.
• Oscillator Section - The sound generators are the heart and soul of the BA-1. Meticulously modeled to deliver the raw power and drift that made the original hardware so beloved. The triangle and PWM waveforms are particular highlights if
• you want a classic 80s dub sound. A second oscillator has been added to the BA-1 - compared to the original - for more flexible sound design options.
• FM - FM adds complexity and depth to classic analog subtractive architecture, offering more sound design options. Dial in the FM Oscillator an octave higher or lower than Oscillator 1 to add some plasticky 80s texture.
• Filter section - 24dB low pass filter with analog modeling and well rounded. The resonance delivers a strong bite and will automatically begin to oscillate when pushed into the 95-100% range – just like real hardware.
• Envelope Section - The envelope allows you to shape the sound with the same quirky side effects as the original hardware. Additionally, Baby Audio has added the option to synchronize the attack tempo with your DAW's BPM. This allows for sweeping sounds that emerge in perfect sync with your music.
• Settings - Toggle between Mono and Poly modes (original hardware was Mono only). Enable or disable Speed ​​Sensitivity. Open Midi settings. Or reset the BA-1 to its initial state.
• LFO Section - A simple LFO that's easy to use and hard to mess up – just like the original. Baby Audio has added the ability to sync the LFO to the host BPM for more modern applications. Additionally, the LFO section hides one of the BA-1's many easter eggs: Click the “Target” label to find it.
• Sidechain - Synths sound best when they 'move with the mix'. That's what the Sidechain feature is for. It can work in 'External' or 'Internal' mode. By default, Sidechain is set to 'Internal' and will create an automatic 4/4 reduction pattern synchronized with the host tempo. This can be dialed in to taste. Click on the 'Routing' label to switch to 'External' mode and lower BA-1 when a sidechain input is present. Place the sidechain before or after the FX section by clicking the routing button.
• Tone + Drive - The BA-1's FX section would be worthy of its own retro-color plugin. It's inspired by rack effects and cheap guitar pedals from the 80s. 'Tone' offers two shelving filters to easily make the BA-1's character darker or lighter. 'Drive' adds analog modeled distortion and has two modes: 'Circuit' models the circuit bending effect of the original hardware, while 'OD' models an 80s overdrive pedal.
• Delay + Reverb + Chorus - The grainy combination of digital delay, reverb and chorus is THE sound of the 80s! Baby Audio recreated this epic FX combo in the BA-1 – modeled after the budget rack hardware of the time. Turn on all three effects at once and you'll have a hard time programming a dull-sounding patch.
• Battery - The original synthesizer could be powered by batteries. But they never lasted long – and strange sound artifacts were introduced as the power deteriorated. Baby Audio modeled this behavior and exaggerated it slightly for better effect. Drain the battery for tone fluctuations, noise and distortion as you descend.
• Speaker - Sometimes a mix needs a little 'moving air' to come to life. While the original hardware's speaker wasn't high quality, it had a quirky and pleasant lo-fi vibe. Baby Audio modeled it in all its glory. When using the BA-1, you can click the speaker button to switch from line output to speaker output.
• Re-Gen - Creates new and unique patches with every click. Unlike a normal randomizer, Re-Gen hosts an intelligent algorithm, calibrated to create instantly usable musical presets. When you're running out of inspiration, click Re-Gen and let it take you in a new direction.
• Resize - The BA-1 plugin window can be fully resized.

DR:

• The first proper emulation with an analog model of the CS01, a beloved and revered monosynth from 1982

• Massively expands the original's sonic palette thanks to thoughtful updates and new features

• Includes a colorful FX section inspired by budget hardware from the 1980s
• Fun and easy to program, yet surprisingly versatile
• Over 500 high-quality presets and a Re-Gen function to generate new patches instantly
• If you want authentic, lofi-leaning synth textures in one plugin, this is it!

System Requirements

MacOS:

• macOS 10.7 and above (including Catalina and Big Sur) .
• Plugin formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX
• Supported DAWs: Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Nuendo, Reaper, Reason and more.
• Compatibility: 64-bit compatible only. Natively compatible with Apple Silicon.

WINDOWS:

• Windows 7 and above.
• Plugin formats: VST, VST3, AAX
• Supported DAWs: Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Nuendo, Reaper, Reason and more.
• Compatibility: 64-bit and 32-bit compatible.