NOVATION SUMMIT - Review, Sounds & Demo | Bi-Timbral Hybrid Synthesizer
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- Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
- Novation Summit synth review, sounds and demo. The Novation Summit is a powerful 16-voice digital / analog hybrid & bi-timbral synthesizer that combines two Novation Peaks in one instrument. In this Novation Summit review I cover Summit's key features, sounds, patches & presets, and conclude with my final thoughts. @NovationTV
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TIMECODES
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00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Overview
29:11 - Sounds & Patches
43:17 - Pros
48:16 - Cons
53:27 - Final Thoughts
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The Novation Summit is a flagship digital / analog hybrid synthesizer that builds upon the Novation Peak and takes it to the next level. It features high resolution digital FPGA oscillators, analog filters and VCAs, analog distortion & digital effects, and external audio processing capabilities.
By combining two Novation Peak engines into one synth, the Novation Summit provides 16 voices of polyphony, 2-part bi-timbral capabilities, and additional interface and dual filter options that make it a powerful & versatile instrument for sound design and live performance.
The Novation Summit has 3 oscillators per voice (sine, square, saw, triangle) as well as 43 wavetables onboard + 10 custom user wavetable slots. All waveforms can be scanned through, and the Summit also supports FM synthesis. There are 4 LFOs (2 polyphonic, 2 global - sine, saw, square, S&H) and each can go into audio rate or be tempo-sync'd. The Summit also has a ring modulator and white noise generator onboard.
The Novation Summit provides 3 DHADSR envelopes (amp + 2 mod) and all envelopes can be looped. The filter is analog OTA with 12 & 24 dB slopes with selectable lowpass, bandpass, highpass and dual filter modes.
The dual filter mode provides frequency seperation across two 12 dB filters and many different sreies or parallel routing types, making it great for formants. The Summit's filter also has filter overdrive, filter FM, and dedicated controls for LFO1 and envelope depth control of filter freqency.
The Novation Summit has amazing effects including analog distortion, chorus (chorus, flanger, phlanger), digital delays (normal, cross-fed, dual + additional modes for extended delay times), and an amazingly lush reverb. Effects can be routed in parallel or series to achieve different sonic outcomes, and effects can also be modulated via a 4-slot FX mod matrix.
The 16-slot mod matrix on the Novation Summit allows for a variety routings, and supports 2 sources per destination. The Summit also supports true stereo, has an arpeggiator with multiple play modes and rhythms, has glide and multiple voice modes (mono / poly), and has 2 animate buttons for creative performance control.
As a bi-timbral synthesizer, the Novation Summit provides easy access to each layer via dedicated A & B control buttons on the front panel. Each layer is its own independent synth engine with dedicated mod matrix, effects, and controls. Multimode patches can be layered, split or setup in dual mode for independent performances.
Finally, the Novation Summit has a 61-key velocity sensitive keyboard with aftertouch, multiple outputs (main / aux / headphones), USB connectivity, MIDI in-out-thru, CV and external audio-in and expression pedal in.
The Novation Summit combines subtractive, wavetable and FM synthesis into a single keyboard with easy hands-on control, amazing effects, bi-timbral layering, and extensive modulation and expression capabilities. It can create bread and butter sounds with ease, but also excels at creative sound design thanks to it's hybrid digtal / analog nature and deep mod & FX matrix.
With two layers, it essentially gives you 6 oscillators, a 32-slot mod matrix and double the effects at once. For those looking for a flexible modern digital analog hybrid, the Novation Summit is a great choice, and highly recommended. Hope you enjoy the review.
#novation #summit #review
► Check prices or buy NOVATION SUMMIT here! (affiliate links - thanks for your support!):
- Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/bakMkv
- Thomann EU: www.thomann.de/gb/novation_summit.htm?offid=1&affid=747
- Thomann US/CA: www.thomannmusic.com/novation_summit.htm?offid=1&affid=747
- Perfect Circuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-261262-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fnovation-summit.html
You said you wished there was a patch librarian - there is, it's called "Components" from Novation, and it allows to you manage patches, save and load them, import banks, and more.
Hey Scott! Yea, Components is great for pach management when using the computer -- I was more referring to functions when creating and editing patches directly on the synth without a computer or Components. Specifically in multimode, would like to see a function to copy layer A to B / copy B to A at any point in time.
Another amazing in-depth video. I did not realize how complex the Summit was until watching this demonstration and review - thank you!
Thanks Johnny! Yes, it's quite deep... when using both layers you essentially get a 6-osc, 8-LFO, 6-envelope, 32-mod slot matrix synth w/ dual effects per layer! Pretty insane sound design possibilities.
This is the Best demo of the summit I’ve seen AND IVE SEEN THEM ALL.
I had quintuple bypass 3 weeks ago and as soon as I’m recovered I will be getting a summit. One ☝️ f tge best sounding synths I’ve heard and my first synth was a DW-8000 back in 1985. I’ve owned way too many to list.
Thanks! Hope you recover quickly and can get your hands on the Summit!
Absolutely amazing run through! Your review convinced me to order mine, should get it this weekend! Again, many thanks great work. Perhaps consider another dive through this lovely synth? Of course, you've just gained another subscriber!
Thanks so much for the comment and subscribing, I appreciate it! Summit is very deep, perhaps someday I will get time to look at more features.
Great, I have the synth here over 10 months in the studio but now really want to play with it. Thanks for your help!
No problem! Enjoy your Summit!
Great synth review video! I recently got a Novation Summit (after firmware 2.0 was released). I just love the way this hybrid synth sounds, and there are so many custom patches and wave tables available to purchase and download into this synth, it's almost endless what you can do with it. I consider the Novation Summit a secret weapon in my music studio.
Thanks for watching. Yes, there is a ton you can do with Peak and Summit, and custom wavetables extend the sonic possibilities indefinitely! OS 2.0+ also makes a huge difference. Glad you are enjoying yours!
Thanks for the review. It only confirms what I allready knew. I bought a Peak and a Summit as soon as they appeared on the market. I collect synths since the late 70's. Some of them are and were absolute exotics like the 2.3, M12, Polaris & Chroma and a Waldorf Wave. Imho, the Summit is simply the most exciting synth since the Virus TI. Even a P5, OB6 and other recent analogs, do not sound as analog as the Summit can...
That's a lot of synth history! You had your hands on some classics for sure. Summit is great modern hybrid and it's njce to see continued evolution in this direction.
One of the Best in My Studio !!
Awesome!
Simply one of the best synths since the Virus TI !!
What a fantastic synth! Really beautiful 💚
Yes! Great design, sound and aesthetics
Traded multiple Synths over the years to work my way up to my 2 favourite Synths, Summit and Moog subsequent 37. Played summit for about 2 hours tonight and was lost in the sound. Thanks for your presentation.
Glad you are enjoying your Summit, it's a beast!
Amazing combo, I’m looking at getting either a grandmother or matriarch with my summit
thanks I learned a ton from this, and I can’t wait to implement some of this!
Great to hear!
Great synth. Love playing it.
First I had a Peak. Then a Summit was added and the Peak should be replaced. But when running both excellent synths together then it´s a sonic power wall. So the Peak is still there. Both are really synths for "the island" (together with an Access Virus) and will keep you exploring until the end of days.
And not to forget ... Summit and Peak are real "beauties" 😊.
Awesome setup, you now have 24 voices to play with! :) Definitely lots you can do with a Peak + a Summit.
Virus is incredibly powerful
That reverb is the best from any synth I've ever heard! wow mind blown
Yea, it is incredible! Even better is that it can be modulated as part of sound design. So many possibilities with Peak and Summit!
@@synth4evergonna get one in a few months gotta sell my deepmind wich I absolutely hate lol
@@Nazferot2 hi , may i ask wny no love for the deepmind ?
@@user-rv8wb1nl1b it’s a horrible synth from a horrible company! It’s hard to get a sound out of it that don’t sound like the last sound you just made! I could go on an on about how much it’s not worth it
I own this amazing gear !!!
Great vid! Thank you very much ! 👍
Thank you for watching! Congrats also on your Summit!
wow great efficient review
Thank you!
Great review, thanks. I had my doubts about the Summit when I compared it to the DSI Rev2, but the Summit seems so much more versatile, it makes up for the lack of bottom oompf.
There are a few ways to increase bottom end, such as using the overdrive and distortion + pre-filter drive settings
I had the Rev2 and certainly the summit is a superior Synth
Nice review. I have the Peak and I don't think I will ever sell it. It's so clean sounding.
Thanks. I also have the Peak and it's also fantastic!
I one a Novation summit and i love it, i am loving how it its works, and all its capabilities.... I am learning how this device works i am lerning it in in logarithmic time... ihop.
..
Congratulations!
Grazie veramente 😊. Io ho un Summit, sono un principiante con un età avanzata, amante folle dei suoni e atmosfere dei TD. Descrizione esaustiva e commenti finali, positivi e negativi con cui mi trovo d accordo. Non ho ben chiaro solo cosa sono e come funzionano le "Tabelle" vawe Personalizzate. Cercherò di comprendere. Ma grazie ancora del modo in cui presentato questo video e la passione che sento nel tono voce. 🙏
Grazie e congratulazioni per il tuo Summit!
Le wavetable personalizzate sono una nuova funzionalità di Novation Components: puoi creare le tue forme d'onda e importarle nel Summit!
Guarda qui o su Google:
novationmusic.com/en/news/wavetable-editor-peak-summit
ua-cam.com/video/9t_5X5OAdhA/v-deo.html
@@synth4ever 🙏 ho tanto da studiare e divertimento. Grazie di Cuore. Ancora complimenti.
What patch are you playing during the last 15 minutes of the review? Is it a factory preset? Love it!
Hey, its a preset in Bank A! If you enlarge the video you can see patch name: Simple & Sublime
I've just ordered mine, it's only real competition was the Prophet Rev2, the Hydrasynth, the UDO Super 6 & Gemini and the Polybrute.
All things considered this is by far the best bang for the buck.
All are great synths. Just depends on your needs, workflow and desire for analog, digital or hybrid.
Blows my mind for half a video, then says "we haven't even touched the mod matrix etc yet".
I've been on VSTs + controller for way too long. I think this will be my first hardware synth ❤
I've watched almost nothing but synth videos for 2 years. I'm all researched out. Time to take the plunge 😅
@@JuanUys It's a great choice, especially if you like to explore sound design!
Great demo...great collection. I owned a bunch of 'em 10 years ago. I frequently miss seeing my Andromeda. I DEARLY miss my Bowen Solaris. I would love to see you review the Hydrasynth. My guess would be that you might say Thanks But No Thanks. I almost bought one, but I can't...because of the SONICS of the SUMMIT. RE: HS. For all it's amazing tricks and because it would play so well with my Senses Morph (and I really dig Poly Aftertouch) and, hence, be a no brainer for me, I don't think it can make that Living Organism analog sound that Summit pulls off so well.
Thanks for watching! Andromeda is definitely a beast in the analog world. I haven't had my hands on the Hydrasynth yet but would be happy to review it if I ever get one. Summit is a great modern hybrid with an excellent interface, very intuitive. There's so many choices these days it can be a bit overwhelming.
@@synth4ever watching now. It’s final remarks time!
@@synth4everFine Summation! The synth’s Sonics are stunningly gorgeous, I think! Oozes analog.
I thought my gear lust had subsided.
Iridium keyboard
System 8
Sub 37
Korg prologue.
I guess I was wrong!
Now I can’t live without a summit.
Your demo was a wallet wedge!
Hah, thanks! Glad I could be of service. ;) Summit is great!
yo, any differences between the peak and the summit in terms of sound...? I don't like the size and cost of the Summit. It also seems more complicated, is that so? But wondering if the sound is much different or if perhaps the Peak is somehow better in a some sort of sonic way. I read something that the Peak is warmer sounding than the Summit, but I'd imagine the Summit can do it all plus more...(?)
They are identical in sound to my knowledge, since Peak patches work on the Summit. However, Summit does have a dual filter mode which Peak does not and exposes more functions on the top panel (ie FM, looping envelopes, LFOs 3 and 4, arpeggiator etc). If you are fine with 8 voices and smaller form factor, Peak is great choice.
I just picked up a Prophet 12. Do I still need a Summit? Yes.
P12 is a great synth. and the character section is awesome.
Hope the Summit gets a bitcrusher and downsampler added to the Chorus menu in a future update, it would close the gap a bit.
This might be a dumb question, but I'm still learning synths - is it possible to record a sequence or even just an arpeggiator pattern with the Summit and have it playback while you play chords over it? or really play anything over it? I assume that's what bi-timbral means in this case?
There is no sequencer on board Summit but yes, you could run an external sequencer and have it use layer A or B, and then play over top of it on the other layer. An example with arpeggiators is shown at 27:41, and the first sound at 29:12 demonstrates this (arp + lead).
@@synth4ever Excellent. I have to say, for the money, this synth sounds absolutely amazing - I'm into Prog music, and I'm really thinking this synth could cover a lot of ground.
Very nice review! A question: I want a Summit. Economics-wise, I should buy a PEAK. Does the Summit in any shape, allow for a DUAL FILTER situation wherein you could gain a 2nd High Pass Filter. ? I've heard folks wish [in PEAK] that PEAK had a Filter setup where you could run serial or parallel, the idea being that PEAK has a tendency to get muddy or dark...LOTS of low end. Thanks. I think the Summit makes the most beautiful poly synth sounds of all the brands I've owned or heard.
Thanks for the comment. If you read the Summit manual it lists the Dual Filter modes:
- Serial: LP > HP, LP > BP, HP > BP
- Parallel: LP + HP, LP + BP, HP + BP, LP + LP, BP + BP, HP + HP
In Parallel it enables you to have 2x HPF.
In any of the Dual filter modes you can also separate the frequencies between each of the filters. CALC did a video on it: ua-cam.com/video/laad4V7hQhg/v-deo.html
@@synth4ever Thanks a lot for THAT. The video to which you referred me provided all the detail I was looking for. This pretty closes the case--for me--RE PEAK or SUMMIT. The Peak, I'm thinking, can't do all those tricks. So, time to go save some more money. On sites such as REVERB, a Summit gets snapped for 1400--1500. Peaks seem to sell for around 1000. That, too, makes it a no brainer, value for dollars. Some say that Summit has some hardware probs that cannot be fixed; obscure-use things, they are, so can't fret about that. The positives for Summit easily carry the day! Thanks again.
@@synth4ever To note, one reviewer, finding nothing negative to say about SUMMIT, gave the Negative as Summit being kind of drab or ugly (compared to the Sonic Six, the binaural-screenless-wonder. Beyond me. I didn't comment, but I thought: 'Ya know...Tom Oberhiem did pretty darned well with that Black/Blue livery, which I find completely handsome and refined. I don't recall anyone ever accusing an OBXA of being ugly. I'd pick SUMMIIT over the AQUA BLIND MAN SONIC any day. To each...
Fx modulation thing reminds me a bit of Kurzweil kdfx
Awesome synth.. the only worry I have about is how thin the oscs sound. It'd be awesome if somehow they ccould be a little closer to the kind of analog girth you get form true analog synths. Then again, it seems that doing digital stuff is this synths' strength. I do love the effects.. I wish my Hydrasynth had similarly cool effects.. ah well, I guess you can't have it all eh?
Digital oscs allow for wavetables... you can beef things up a bit with drive and distortion, but a digital synth will never sound 100% like analog.
The Summit is a piece of cake and it is on my "Must Buy List". However, I just can not decide whether to buy it or not because I do not know if it does what I need. So, I am more of an oriental keyboard player. Does Summit can adjust any key tone by 1/4? Also, can I generate any sounds that I want? I watched many videos and it seems to me it is all about Bass, Strings, and Synth sounds. Nothing about the other sounds like Flute, Electric Piano, Saxophone or some Middle Eastern instrument sounds. Can Summit do that? or there are another instrument I have to look at?
Peak and Summit have support for microtuning, and depending how you program it you can probably get the sounds you want. However, there are sample-based synths if you want to use actual sounds samples of instruments.
If you are looking for natural sounds: Recently found Videos about the Roland Integra-7. It‘s not a new thing, but it contains thousands of sounds. If one can afford it, one could buy both: Novation Summit for synthetical sounds and Integra-7 for natural sounds.
Here for example is a presentation Video:
ua-cam.com/video/nLWH-VQMQLM/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
I tried a Novation Summit at my local Guitar Center once. It's very cool 😎 They had it out and set up so I took up the opportunity.
That's great, glad you had a chance to try it! :)
Is it still as good? Will there be a desktop? Is it enough to have Peak?
Peak is great but only 8 voices, no dual filter or external audio-in, and less knobs on front panel compared to Summit. I doubt there will be a desktop of the Summit.
It’s a wonderful synth. Definitely a powerhouse, especially for ambient. My only real complaint is that the faders could be slightly better quality. I do like the mod matrix presentation on the Polybrute better, as well as it’s patch morphing capability, and it’s touch modulations, but it’s a fairly big step up in price. And the Summit has more voices and can do things the Polybrute cannot.
Thanks for the comment. I wonder if patch morphing between A/B layers could be implemented in Summit in future. Also, what do you think Summit does that Polybrute does not?
@@synth4ever More voices and wave tables come to mind. Of course the Polybrute can do things the Summit cannot. I came very close to buying a Polybrute. But it was more expensive, and when I saw one in the store, the feel and finish were not quite what I hoped. It’s got a lot going for it though. However, I got a Sequential Take 5, and can’t say I’m disappointed with that. Amazing sounding synth.
I use the summit 90% of the time - had a peak, but what's better than 1 peak - 2 peaks
Yup -- 2 Peaks is definitely better than one! :)
So, it's basically a Minilogue XD Pro. 🙂✨ Very cool synth, and a great video, my friend. Thank you!
Thanks! Minilogue is analog + digital osc... this is digital osc only (but has analog filter/VCA).
@@synth4ever ah wow, it had me fooled! The filter sounds great 😊
are animates buttons velocity-sensitive?
No, you can't route velocity to Animate pads in the mod matrix. However, you can adjust Animate envelope attack and release times for fade in/fade out.
For me the biggest con is the placement of the data knob next to the screen. My hand is in the way of the screen when I'm changing values. The knob should be where the buttons are and vice versa.
If you look at the Peak, it has the same placement so same concern. That said, it would've been nice to have that knob below the screen.
May Yahweh bless you love the video
Nice job.
But still too digital? - I'm sticking with my Pro3.
Though... favorite "Novation Peak" tracks, (with a Moog System-55) have got to be "Big Night's In"
(Though, I'm a little skeptical about how "live" this is.. it's some of The Best!)
ua-cam.com/video/tNCmoH_Y-LQ/v-deo.html
Its a hybrid with digital osc + analog filters/VCAs so will certainly have some digital aspects to the sound. The Pro3 of course has analog osc + digital osc so will sound different. Both great synths. Summit has 16 voices though, whereas Pro3 is only 3 voices.
Digitally controlled analogue oscillators
Shame it doesn’t have better multitimbrality. I just don’t understand why manufacturers make a machine like this and then only make it bitimbral. We don’t all use DAWs when playing live ok. Some of us want to sequence live 🤦🏼♂️
More timbrality would've been nice for sure, and a sequencer.
A bit odd there’s no sequencer. But perhaps they wanted to concentrate on soundscaping capability and leave sequencing to something more specialized.
@@aquaticborealis4877 I submitted an idea to Novation for a sequencer, see my comments at end here: gearspace.com/board/showpost.php?p=16501384&postcount=2667
I hope this would be possible in future firmware.
I need this as a Module. Not two Peaks…THIS as a module. With a sequencer attached. A joy stick or touch pad for morphing would be a cherry on top.
Those would be some nice enhancements for sure.
FPGA do yourself, forget about aliasing 👍❤
Yes, sounds lovely
I ordered it on sweetwater, opened, saw and touched those cheap, plasticky keys, put back on the box and returned.
those are not premium keys, 2300 dlls for that shi...??? No way
wow sounds like a vst in a shiny box with knobs next
It’s an actual instrument
It runs its digital part of the sound at 24Mhz vs 192khz in a softsynth if your CPU can handle that. The Filter and distortion is true analogue components so its the real deal , designed by the guy that made the first digital OSC synths. I have a lot of synth plugins I love them but they cant touch the sound of the Peak and Summit.
It needs effects or other chained synths. Not really that great alone.
what? The reverb is delicious 🙂
It has effects, some of the best on any synth IMO.
@@synth4ever Unfortunately one of those hit and miss synthesizers. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it doesn't have the value. Good luck selling it 2nd hand. I think the market agrees with my opinion.
@@loki8263 Who said anythjing about selling? lol...
@@synth4ever Don't get me wrong. It's an okay synth, but too expensive compared to other synths you can get. At least that's what I think. I respect you have a different opinion.
novation has been going downhill their last ok synth was mini nova/ ultranova this is just a mcvst in a box with knobs lost all previous Novation signature sound. They did make good midi controllers which i have not sure how the new ones are now maybe they are crap too.
What are you talking about lmfao this and the peak were very well received
It would significant improve your synth skills, if you would learn a little bit piano playing. With harmonics everything sounds better. I truely recommend you to improve your piano skills.
I'm well aware piano isn't my forte, and this is a hobby for me. Thanks for watching anyway.
Great review, I own one for some months now, my first synthesizer ever.
Not the choice for a complete beginner maybe, but scratching the surface is enough to get going.
Fascinating how you can shape your own landscapes of sounds.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. All the basics are there for beginners + more, but if you've never used a synth it may take a bit of time to understand everything. Lots of possibilities to create your own sounds which makes it very versatile.
@@synth4ever Thanks for your comment, fortunately I have some knowledge backgrond in electronics.
And retired! Which means a lot of time.😀
I think it's a great choice for a beginner synth. It is still a simple subtractive synth with a straightforward interface. The idea that people beginners should buy stripped down monosynths (microfreak), toys like Volcas/Boutiques, or boring romplers as first synths is silly.
This is definitely a synth you can grow with. That’s why I bought it. And although some people have complained, I quite like the keybed. Very playable. It’s a monster for ambient. You can get some beautiful soft, fuzzy digital/organic sounds. I find it’s sonic palette a bit unique in that area. But it’s also been described as a “chameleon”. It’s excellent for keyboard players. You do need a sequencer if you want to do that, but it looks like they wanted to concentrate on soundscaping and keys playing.