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Novation Summit

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Item: SYN0007004-000

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With the Summit Presented Novation a 16-part polyphonic hybrid synthesizer with a velocity-sensitive 61-key keyboard. Base... All product info

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Novation Summit

Polyphonic Hybrid Synthesizer

With the Summit Presented Novation a 16-part polyphonic hybrid synthesizer with a velocity-sensitive 61-key keyboard. Based on the popular desktop Peak synthesizer from the same manufacturer, the keyboard flagship now shines with 16 voices, they can even be split or layered.

Oscillators

A total of three New Oxford oscillators provide an impressive sonic foundation. In addition to the four analog waveforms sine, triangle, sawtooth and rectangle, each oscillator has a rich selection of wavetables. Pitch and waveform per tone generator can be modulated manually, per LFO or envelope. In addition, the FM component including the modulator can be set directly for each oscillator.

Mixer and filters

This Mixer gives access to the levels of the three oscillators, the noise generator and the Ringmodulator . The generated spectrum is then processed by a multimode filter, which has a number of variants in addition to lowpass, bandpass and highpass, each with an edge steepness of 12 or 24 dB.

Modulation

In addition to velocity and polyphonic aftertouch, the instrument scores with three full-fledged, loopable ADSR envelopes and four very flexible LFOs. With the exception of LFO 3+4, all modulation sources are Summit permanently assigned to different destinations and can also be used for other purposes or several times via entries in the menu.

Effects

The sound is rounded off and refined Summit by a full-sounding distortion, a wonderfully floating and pulsating Chorus effect, the clean Delay which can be synchronized to the clock and a versatile reverb.

Raised

Many functions that were accessible Peak via menu pages can be found Summit as control elements on the user interface. Voice assignment, Arpeggiator including new chord function, FM intensity per oscillator and LFOs 3+4 are now easily accessible.

Connections

The Summit contact to the outside world is made via USB and the proven MIDI trio. In addition to the main-out and headphone output, there is an assignable AUx output. An audio input allows external material to be fed in. Two pedal inputs and a CV input for control voltages allow further control options.

Novation Summit at a glance:

hybrid Synthesizer
61 velocity-sensitive keys
aftertouch
16 votes
Arpeggiator
Chord Memory
Three oscillators with analog waveforms and wavetables
multimode filter
Three ADSR envelopes
Four LFOS
modulation matrix
distortion
Chorus
Delay
reverb
wooden side panels

Summary from Sound on Sound magazine October 2019

PROS

Everything that the Peal offers, plus much, much more.
The Dual filter architecture is a huge advance.
Despite the wealth of features, it’s simple to navigate and program.
It’s bi-timbral, with independent effects and, if wanted, independent outputs for its twp Parts.
Responds to poly-aftertouch.
Looks and feels solid and robust throughout.
Has an integrated universal power supply.

CONS

You cant use MIDI CCs as sources in the mod matrix.

SUMMARY

The Novation Peak costs around £1100, but two greatly expanded Peaks within a keyboard offering numerous other enhancements will cost just £1899. I have to profess that it’s one of the nicest, most intuitive hybrid synths that I’ve ever reviewed and, while it’s not all-encompassing (nothing is), it looks great, it feels great, it sounds great, and it’s not going to break the bank. What’s not to like?

CONCLUSIONS

Current hybrid polysynths range from low-cost instruments like the Korg Minilogue XD to much more expensive and powerful monsters such as the Waldorf Quantum and the Moog One. The Summit sits in the middle ground between these. Sure, there are huge overlaps between it and other mid-range hybrids such as the various Prophets and the Korg Prologue, but it has its own character and occupies its own space both in terms of how you might choose to use it and the sounds that you’ll wrest from it. But what I like best about it is that it’s so easy to use well. The extended control panel makes it a much better instrument that the Peak, and the enhanced menus remain simple and intuitive. Indeed, nothing occurred during this review that has me bemoaning the absence of a manual and for that (as well as everything else) Novation are to be complimented.

A final thought... Although I can draw upon many keyboards when wanted, there are only two that are permanently hooked up and switched on when I’m writing or recording in my studio. One is my beloved Korg OASYS, and the other is a 48-voice Novation Supernova II Pro X. The Supernova is now approaching its 20th birthday still sounds great, has never gone wrong, and does everything that i ask of it. The pre-production review unit was rock solid throughout my time with it so , if you like the Summit and it can achieve the same reliability and longevity, it should be worth every penny.

- Gordon Reid, SOS October 2019