Sonic LAB: Novation Summit Synth Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ส.ค. 2019
- Summit is Novation’s latest synth and takes their Peak 8 voice poly, adds a 61 key keyboard and doubles up the voice count. Effectively Summit is like two Peaks but with more features.
With a 61 key keybed (yes it has aftertouch) Summit has more real estate to add extra controls, and thats the first thing that we get. With Peak, although we have a lot of front panel controls, there’s still a lot of stuff accessed by the section menus.
Summit adds - voice control, FM controls per oscillator, arpeggiator controls, global LFO 3+4 control and envelope looping buttons. This all helps bring more parameters to the fore and is most welcome.
Summit works in four basic modes - single - with up to 16 voices - each with three of the Oxford Oscillators,
Multi: Split - one layer for either side of the split (up to 8 voices)
Multi: Layer - two sounds played as one, with A/B layer
Multi: Dual - Bi-timbral mode each layer can be addressed via a separate MIDI channel
Layers are selected with the A/B buttons - somewhat similar to the way the Sequential the Rev 2 handles it, but with a more positive indication - the pitch and mod wheels, animate buttons all change colour (orange/blue)
Additionally you have an AUX stereo output so layers can be routed to their own stereo pair. Remember, each layer is basically a self-contained Peak - with 8 voices and those lush FX engines (chorus, delay, reverb and distortion).
Another major change to the actual voice is the inclusion of a Dual mode filter - something those familiar with the Oscar (Chris Hugget also designed this) - the 24dB filter can be split into two 12dB filters with a separation controlling the distance between the peaks. It's a fairly unique and interesting sound.
Audio Inputs - we have a stereo input to the engine which can be routed to the mixer/filter/VCA etc, but also now can be routed directly to either FX engine - without the need to for key-down or VCA getting involved. In practice, that means you can run one of the FX engines as a purely external FX processor, which is actually pretty cool. One thing, the settings for this are not stored in the Multi but rather globally.
Speaking of memory - you get 512 single patches (four banks of 128) and 512 multi patches. These are completely independent and dedicated to multis and store the full settings for both engines.
How does is sound?
As with the Peak, there are many, many complex patches available - it's a lovely synth to program, still a little menu-ey, but a synth of this complexity, you have to expect that, but essentially, it's hard to run out of routings, we have the same 16 slot mod matrix, and also a four slot FX mod matrix for modulating FX parameters (level, speed, delay time etc)
For a full review of the Peak - check out our videos.
On the whole, I really like this instrument, it's priced at around £1899/$1999 so it's comparable in price with the 16 voice REV 2, but with three fully featured oscillators per voice, you get more oscillators and therefore more synthesis.
The FX engine speaks to my more ambient leanings, but it's fully capable of a wide range of sounds, with all that extra drive of the original it can get ugly too - if that’s what you want.
A good instrument that follows up on the Peak’s philosophy. Hard to fault.
Available September 2019
novationmusic.com/synths/summit
Frozen Reverbs Racks for Live: bit.ly/freezemachines
Subscribe to Sonicstate on TH-cam for new content!
bit.ly/SonicYTSub
Watch Sonicstate's Exclusive Series:
Sonic LAB: bit.ly/SonicLab
Meet The Makers: bit.ly/SonicMakers
Sonicstate Performances: bit.ly/SonicPerformances
Sonic TALK Podcast: bit.ly/SonicTalk
NAMM 2018: bit.ly/namm18sonic
Website: www.sonicstate.com
Twitter: #!/sonicstate
Facebook: / wwwsonicstate
Instagram: / sonicstateuk
Podcast/iTunes: goo.gl/4uOFA5 - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
"Keep in mind this a simple sine wave patch..."
hahahaaaaaa
They missed out on the chance to call it "Twin Peaks"...
Ha! I would have actually bought it just for the name alone!
It will arrive wrapped in plastic...
Thats copywrited, sorry
@@skunchtv Trademarked perhaps, but the Summit is a synthesizer, not a TV show. Apart from several mountains named that (for obvious reasons), there are also restaurants, chocolate bars etc. as well as a 1974 rock album named that.
They could have called it SummitS
This is the first Summit review where I really understand how good this synth is.
Man I fell in love this beauty before I even heard the first demo video. Such a wonderful and powerful synth. Though as always, your review stands out, Nick :)
Hahaha, Nick's cheeky grin on "that's what 48 oscillators in unison sounds like".
Novation are absolutely killing it with the Peak series, this really does sound gorgeous.
Yeah I just types same lol😂🙌
Hehe, yup! Who wouldn't put on a smile like that hitting that note? Wish he had tried adding OSC diverge and OSC drift settings on top of that.
21:22 wow that sounds so awesome!!! Love the idea to route the reverb level to the modwheel. Total inspiration thnanks Nick
Up there with the nicest sounding synths I've heard and your little play out song really showed it off! Nicely done Mr Batt. Cheers!
This is my next purchase for my home studio. This thing is incredible and, as always, you show it off better than anyone, Nick!
Dang! I was needing at least 49 oscillators in unison.
Just call up Sam he do it for you ;) th-cam.com/video/q45FHZLVz2U/w-d-xo.html
@@kentxx12 :DD haha
Soon to be expected: the announcement of the Behringer “Bummit”.
Ok, I’ll admit, I made that gag before on the NAMM video of this... 😋 worth it...
Lol. There’s always someone with the “B” joke. 👏🏼 👏🏼
"It's like two Beaks!"
Still funny tho' !!
Worth a second take
I'd buy a 'Bummit' for €499 :-)
whatever the synth, you make the most beautiful sounds Nick. And now we really want this one, damn you!
Forreals
So true... Nick is an incredible sound designer, regardless of synth. I sometimes watch Sonic State just to listen to his organic and emotive patches.
This man has cost me a lot of money.
Stormchild Dominion, SV-1 Blackbox, Fusebox, Erebus......and now this. I’ve told EVERY Mfgr....’Take care of Nick’....without him I might not have pulled the triggers. 😉
True! He has such a wonderful taste in sound design.
Your synth Jams are always really great musically!
Wow...That 3 voiced and 3 rhythmed arp at 17:30 ish sounded so inspiring! Awesome demo and awesome synth Novation!
That is just insane when he twisted the spread knob and suddenly the sound just completely FILLED my headphones.
Another great review Nick. I need synth architecture first in a review to understand the rest, and you always provide it. Most other reviewers ignore this basic necessity completely.
FPGA's are most definitely not analogue, they're digital chips, but you can reprogramming the actual logic gates of the chip and they're excellent at running very parallel repeating tasks, such as generating oscillators, so they can sample at 24MHz for example which hugely reduces the aliasing you would normally get with a typical digital synth.
Great playout and review Nick! Massive synth, great sounds.
This is probably my 15th viewing of this video. I absolutely love it. You’ve sold me on it Nick!
how beautiful is this synth!!!
i love how it takes wavetable synthesis, has FM, and fx all in one.
what makes this synth so intriguing is the oscillators, i realllllllly want one of these. i love how novation updated the peak and added all those tables. but what made me not want it as much, was the fact that it was a desktop synth. i find that 61 keys is a bit too much for myself but I'm sure having a multitimbral synth makes it a bit different :D
great job sonic state, thanks for covering this monster
Another great review, Nick! Thank you!
Do you remember the day that 48 oscillators of unison made PWM face happen? I do.
15:05
I never snagged a peak mostly because no key bed. Really like that this is a proper synth, with a nice layout and keys! Think this will be a huge hit. Sounds great!
Stunning outro! Incredible sounds there
What an AMAZING synth! I hope someday to be able to get one
I would get lost for weeks with this machine. Sounds amazing and massive. And that play out track just awesome.
Nick, that play-out track is just so gorgeous. outstanding job!
Brooks Callison yeah, this is simply gorgeous
What he said
Finally a Novation synth I think I actually like after many bad experiences. And an excellent presentation from Nick.
Nice demo! Great sounds.
I could honestly listen to him playing for like 3 hours straight
I always wanted a Supernova when i was a youngster but couldn’t afford it. I’m finally fulfilling my Novation dreams and ordered a Summit :)
WOW! Perfect review! Song at the end is fantastic 👏👏👏
I love novation's designs. this and the peak look gorgeous and ofcourse the sound matches the looks.
I've been going backwards and forwards for months on what might suit me best, and I have to say this really is an absolutely stunning piece of equipment. I really think this is the one. Thanks for such a great review.
Good video!
Can’t wait to play with crazy synth!
Great jam at the end, Nick.
As Nick always does, this is the best demo/review of this synth.
Wow, sounds MASSIVE. Great hands-on review Nick, as usual. It sounds massive.
Just a note of worth: Sweetwater raised the introductory price from $1999 to $2199. Too bad. That will send me price shopping somewhere else after the initial orders are filled.
If I got one of these, I would come out of my room and there would be flying cars and I would have a long long beard.
Sounds like a win to me.
@@fortheloveofnoise just subscribed to your channel. You're a clever guy.
@@adastra123 Sometimes, but not often.
@@fortheloveofnoise lol. But you're smart enough to get them on video.
Or a dystopian land after covid19...'eerie sound'
U got it tho?
Just learned that Chris Huggett passed away, RIP thanks for all the sounds.
I always come back to the last bit you play. I would pay to hear a full song of that
I was pretty torn on what to save up for, the peak or the summit, but what you did with it around the 21:00 minute mark just convinced me to save a bit longer and just get the summit. Such a vibe
why can I not press the like button 5 times? so many lovely tones out of this great machine
Best demo I've heard so far by miles............. Well Done Nick! Unfortunately out of my price range but sounds beautiful!
Happy to see they put all those interface in's and outs on this, this looks and sounds like a really well thought out synth, with loads of user options available. Suddenly having a reasonably priced multitimbral modern synth with full controls and effects isn't as out of reach as say a Moog One is. Good work Novation.
Tempting. I wish you had time to do a Summit only EP, Nick!
Excellent review ,,, fab synth ,, really great patches :-)
I've had this pre-ordered for weeks now, just just waiting for September for delivery. I was already really excited for the possibilities of 2 separate Peaks but when you demonstrated the 2 independent arp's at different rates my jaw hit the floor. The possibilities with this are nuts.
I was told mid october... :/ ordered this back in may.
@@jr6786 Hopefully things have changed since then. The store I ordered from seemed pretty sure it was due in early September. Either way I'm sure it will be worth the wait.
That ending jam made me cry. :'D
Perfect thing to watch while I'm eating breakfast! ❤️
Lol. I am just taking time out with a cup of tea and sweet cake at a restaurant anticipating the video when I see your text. I know the feeling.
@@adastra123 And here I am eating smoked fish and rice!
@@aurelioramos8463 a healthier option by far. But we can both drool over this synth.
I'm eating diner. :)
Thanks. Now i am hungry. haha :D
Every time I hear a demo of this synth it sounds great, there's something special there.
Addictively good sounding synth! awesome :-)
And the WINNER is: SUMMIT!!!
Sonics-wise…Stunningly Gorgeous!
I am saving for mine. It will be my Going Away to a Deserted Island, FOREVER, and-according to island law-I’m allowed ONE Polysynth.
Likely, this is an older video, a la PRE Version 2.0, which I understand made some great improvements. I’ll hope to take a 2.0 rendition then…to the island.
I selected SUMMIT over MOOG ONE, in part (to be fair) 😢because I’d be dead before I saved enough money to own one, but…completely without knowing it, Novation made a Poly that makes the sounds I’ve been chasing around (inside my head) for many years now.
17:00 'I'm just going to play some sounds and see what happens". WOW is what happens. I've watched a lot of Nick reviews and he is often so casually brilliant. Please record an extended version of this tune/patch, Nick. Great work!
He is a professional in the game with high profile musician connections.
I think Novation’s key, unique capability is there user interface design. From function to materials, even “lower” level ones like the Monostation are so fun to program...
Still one of the best reviews and jams .. classic
Sounds absolutely awesome...
Great review Nick. Two minutes in and noticed you missed an opportunity for a Twin Peaks reference though.
just a lovely piece of kit. begs to be explored. me wants.
Wow! Now I just want to leave the office and go home and play my Peak. 😁
I really like the ‘Sound’ of both the Peak and Summit. 👌🏻
Beautiful synth!
Boards of Canada in a single synthesizer, - nice!
wat...
What a beast! .....synth looks cool too
This stirred Summit deep inside me, and made me Peak ...
Very good, Kieren. :D
No.
@@tonyhill2318
Yes ... Ohhh, YES! ... and it’s happening, again ... 😱
GREAT outro piece
man what a great synth! i wasnt expecting that. seems to stand out amoungst all these modern polys.
i always forget about novation for some reason, but theyve never really released anything shitty.
Novation doesn't release too many synths but when they do *oh man* is it great!
Also, that last jam was just wonderful.
The great thing about Novation is they don’t NEED to release many synths. Instead, they release major updates that completely change it from what is was before. They easily could’ve made a Bass Station 3 with all the new added features, but instead released all those insane updates for free and turned it into a new synth altogether. They’re truly a great company and, IMO, are really over looked compared to the big dogs like Korg, Roland, Moog, DSI, and now Behringer.
@@HotStrange Yup I bought 2 peaks And now this Amazing Summit Keyboard. Its great they focus on not a huge line of Synths but on a small line and really great instruments.
VIDEOSUPERHIGHWAY Agreed. Novation and Korg are probably my 2 favorites of the “big” manufacturers.
Nick! Its about time you make that 10h electro-ambient album!! Im waiting😊😊😊😊😊😁😁. Hurry up now!!
Best review of the summit ...
My old Korg Oasys PCI cards use FPGA chips. They're twenty years old now; they still sound great.
God that sounds beautiful...
Nick, FPGA is basically the Lego of processing. You buy a bigger or smaller Lego kit, which determines how much it costs and how much you can ultimately do with it at once and also how much it costs, same with FPGAs. The Lego kit comes with some special blocks you can use to fulfil certain roles with less manual assembly, same with FPGAs (small CPUs are common). And essentially when you power the thing on you feed it your Lego manual (e.g. from an eeprom) and it builds itself into your custom processor. Boom! Reprogrammable custom voice/filter/effects unit you can change with a firmware update. Unlike a CPU that has only so many units to do certain tasks at once and so bottlenecks at some point, on an FPGA if you need more or less of something you can manage those allocations, until you run out of Lego.
And since then, there was a significant firmware update (2.0) for both Peak and Summit, which added more modulation options and effects, amongst other things.
This is what excites me about the more current synthesisers. After all, you couldn’t really do this with the vintage ones without going into the actual architecture and modifying components. And even then, you might as well have just built your own.
bro that bit at the end with the neutron was a vibbbbeee
17:40 makes me think of Mirror's Edge. Most lovely sound indeed!
Woah! Those split time divisions! Very modular kind of 😮
FANTASTIC synth
what a nice sounding synth!!!
This synth... it’s beautiful.
the jam in the end is amazing
It always is!
Man Hybrids have just come on strong lately. This one just dishes up the juice and lots of knobs is what I dig the most.
I think the key to the Summit's sound is really the Wavetable and FM sonic characteristics. I'm hearing DX7, Prophet VS, and even some PPG stuff in this baby. That's unique in today's current synth market. I'm holding off until I see what Sequential has up their sleeve but...this and the Roland System 8 are top contenders for complimenting my analog and sampler gear.
I definitely got some of the nice colder PPG edges when I first got some time with it around Superbooth. It has a really nice range.
Nick is really digging the Summit. LOL
21:35 - Boards of Batt
😂😂😂15.14 .. Nick's super happy face as trys out 48 in unison...he's happy lol..yeah great synth..think we all want one no brainer lol
I have never seen anything blow Nick away as much as this synth. Novation are to me the leaders among the big guys when it comes to developing synths. I have had three of their synths myself since the late nineties and their evolution is like no one else's. Heck, you can still do lots with a Xio that sounds great, but their more recently Oxford focused synths (incl BS2 with its firmware updates) are among the best you can get to your rig.
That outro... Nick is incredible.
Novation really knows how to do User Interface and Software.
Good job Nick!.
So beautiful ❤ I can’t wait. .. Yes I can 😂 Patience is key in manifesting 🎉 I love U Nick!
Victor too! ❤
MOOG & NOVATION is love 💕
Sounds great! I still like my Novation KS-4: 4 part multi-timbral and 4 splits & FX.
Yeah, loved my Novation KS4. Would have loved it more if I didn't have to get the encoders replaced twice.
ProckGnosis I guess I have been lucky with mine... no problems.
@@valdiskrebs566 The Novation repair tech told me that some of the earlier batches had used bad encoders...I was just unlucky enough to get one of them I guess. Still love it though...
i would have got one of these but bought the peak and XD - your fault Nick! Love the jam at the end =D
Really, really like this one. If I ever have the money to do so, I'd love a table full of Peaks with one shared set of keys and a sequencer. It just has such a lush sound...
... meanwhile though, I still have a lot of exploring to do with my Blofeld.
The Blofeld, while different, is still an amazing and powerful synth. Take the time to learn it inside and out and it will pay off in dividends in the long run.
I wonder if they could setup a launchpad (with overlay) as a mod matrix?
This thing has Ulrich Schnauss written all over it.
Thanks Nick!
Just bought one and its a amazing synth! Endless possibility..
awesome. really thinking about one myself :)
@@joeyxl3456 Do it mate you will love it!
Nice review while on your bed to relax Nic, but asa I can hear and see It looks nothing really new to innovate the panorama of its range of synth. machines. As a poly synth enthusiast I just appreciated how you introduced the neutron to blend and beef-up the audio demo at the end... The best part of your review from my pov. Cheers from Milan.
17:30 - 18:00 was very convincing for me
This puts butterflies in my stomach.