Vintage Synth Explorer

JoMoX • AirBase-99

The AirBase 99 is based on the XBase 09, but is much better. It has many of the same great TR-909 sounds and much more but comes in a 1-unit rack-mount MIDI module rather than a table-top drum sequencer like the latter. Its front panel is extremely bare, with just 2 knobs and a few buttons and LEDs. The AirBase is designed for use as a Drum Tone Module with your sequencer. Programming is easiest through MIDI control of the parameters. Otherwise, prepare to page through data screens on the small 2-line LCD display.

The AirBase features the same sounds and parameters as the XBase 09 and adds increased polyphony (9 voices) and Tom Toms. The AirBase emulates 808, 909 and CR-78 style sounds with excellent quality. Kick, Snare and Toms are analog and feature various tune and envelope controls. Hats, cymbals, clap and rimshot are samples but can still be tuned and reversed! For emulated 808 and 909 drum machine sounds, the Airbase 99 is great! It costs half as much as getting all of the real drum machines.

The AirBase 99 does not feature lots of hands-on knobs like the Novation Drum Station. But some cool features include both high and low pass resonant filters and a band pass filter to apply to the hi-hats! There's more parameters to edit per each Drum Tone than the Drum Station or any of the original beat-boxes and there is almost 38 times more patch memory in the Airbase with 1,024 user and 500 preset drum kit settings! Two global LFOs can modulate the pitch of any sounds and sync to MIDI. Of course there are individual outputs for each drum sound as well as a stereo out.

VISITOR COMMENTS

Comments page 1 of 1

Click here to add a comment

Your Name:

Email Address:

Image verification:

Message:

Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

jaspdnb

Posted 121 days ago

If you own the excellant AirBase 99, you should know that
Angular Momentum has a superb FREE MIDI Controller for the Jomox AiR Base 99 here:
http://www.amvst.com/index.php?name =Downloads&file=details&id=45

Sho w your appreciation to AM for the great freebies they give to
the community!

Pete Knox

Posted 346 days ago

The airbase is my all time favourite. I ordered the OS 1.5, now I can edit every single parameter from within my DAW via Midi - no scrolling through the menus. The sound is state of the art, no question. A 100% authentic techno and hip-hop machine that can cover all your needs if you know how to use it. Only the new XBase999 or XBase888 might top it due to more samples and functions, but those go for 1400 $ and above!

Heat Like Me

Posted 365 days ago

A very important point - the Kick, Snare, and Toms are all 100% analog and you can use analog noise as the source for the Hats as well. For all of these instruments, the filters and VCAs are also analog. A beautiful machine.

<1>