Baby Audio releases BA-1, their first ever synth plugin

BA-1 is a contemporary reinterpretation of the legendary Yamaha CS01, a cult classic analog synthesizer from 1982 that boasted a compact design resembling a toy, but produced a powerful sound. The original was among the smallest and lightest synthesizers available at the time. It included a built-in speaker and could operate on batteries, making it a highly portable device. The CS01 became a favored choice among musicians seeking an affordable and portable synthesizer, and was renowned for its ability to generate rich bass lines.

An evolution, not an emulation

In keeping with their motto ”it’s an evolution, not an emulation”, Baby Audio modeled the hardware with the greatest possible accuracy, before carefully upgrading it with new and useful features. A second analog-modeled oscillator, FM, polyphony, and more, help to vastly expand the sonic palette of the original. Additionally, BA-1 lets you drain the battery, bend the circuits, and use the built-in speaker – for an authentic lo-fi aesthetic that could normally only be achieved with hardware.

BA-1 is based on the 1982 CS01 portable synth. Despite its small size, the original hardware left a big mark on music history, while still flying somewhat under 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 of the past two decades. It was also a staple of 1990s digital dancehall and beloved by the indietronica scene for its raw lo-fi quality. Until now, it has never been properly captured in software form. With BA-1, Baby Audio emulated - and expanded on - the sonic heritage to create a new and modern instrument in its own right.

As would be expected in a Baby Audio product, BA-1 comes loaded with a powerful FX section – inspired by budget 1980s rack hardware. The plugin ships with 500+ presets as well as a smart “Re-Gen” algorithm for creating new patches on the fly.


BA-1 is compatible with all major DAWs for Mac and PC and fully M1 native. iOS version underway.