BABY Audio – BA-1 v1.7.0 for WiN & MAC

Meet Hardware Realism. The BA-1 is an analog-modeled synthesizer that brings you closer than ever to the pure and authentic textures of the 1980s in plug-in form. Just like the real hardware, it is incredibly easy to program, surprisingly versatile, and brimming with sonic color.

• Create colorful synth patches that sound exactly like real analog gear.
• A reimagining of the iconic 1980s synth with a host of modern enhancements.
• Drain the battery and short-circuit the circuits for authentic lo-fi sounds.

LEGACY

BA-1 is inspired by a portable synthesizer from the 1980s, with its toy-like appearance and gritty sound. Despite its small size, it left a significant mark on music history, yet remains largely overlooked. The original was used as a secret weapon for creating sparkling synth textures by the most successful Swedish pop producers of the last two decades. 

It was also an integral part of 1990s digital dancehall and beloved by the indie electronic scene for its rough, lo-fi sound. The original hardware was never properly implemented in software, so we started with it when creating our first synthesizer. But then we went much further…

SOUND

In keeping with our philosophy of “evolution, not imitation,” we modeled the hardware with the utmost accuracy and then carefully enhanced it with useful new features. A second oscillator with an analog model, frequency modulation, polyphony, and much more significantly expand the original’s sonic palette. Yet, its signature sound remains intact.

Additionally, the BA-1 allows you to drain the battery, short circuit, and use the built-in speaker—creating an authentic lo-fi aesthetic typically only possible with hardware.

EFFECTS

If you’re familiar with our company, you know that effects are our specialty. That’s why we’ve equipped the BA-1 with a rich effects section that embodies the sound of the decade with six unique effects. 

The effects chain is inspired by budget gear from the 80s, lending a home studio-style charm. The overdrive is modeled after a guitar pedal, while the delay, reverb, and chorus effects are based on the grainy digital effects of the era.

In BA-1 version 1.5, the effects chain is now included as a separate plugin, so you can add it to any track.

SIMPLICITY

The BA-1 is simple, yet surprisingly flexible. We’ve put a lot of effort into tweaking every parameter to ensure they’re perfectly within range. The result is a seamless programming workflow that makes tweaking the BA-1 a joy, and you’ll be constantly creating new patches.

And if the simple interface isn’t enough, you can always use the smart Re-Gen feature. Press Re-Gen, and the BA-1 will automatically create new patches with musical accompaniment every time you press it.

How the BA-1 was developed

To create the BA-1, we meticulously measured the original hardware and recreated each of its key components (oscillator, filter, envelopes, etc.) using specialized Virtual Analog algorithms that captured the instrument’s unique character. Based on this precise emulation, the project evolved into a modern interpretation of the original hardware, with components refined for a more musical and flexible sound.

To achieve nonlinear behavior not found in software synthesizers, we intentionally added “imperfections” from the analog domain. These include subtle distortions in the op-amp output, speaker simulation (linear and nonlinear), experimental frequency modulation functions, and a “battery mode” that simulates the behavior of a battery in a hardware device.

For the effects section, we created an 80s-style FDN-based reverb, a Juno-style chorus, an early digital-era delay, an EQ with musical gain compensation, and a sidechain compressor to complete the signal chain.