Novation

As Summit is based on two Peaks,
it’s now a 16-voice polyphonic synth.
It uses 46 (three oscillators per-voice)
high-res anti-aliasing ‘Oxford’ digital
FPGA-based oscillators (NCOs) along
with wavetables as its main sound
sources and it’s now bi-timbral with
each eight-voice Summit engine
directly addressable via the A and B
buttons on the front panel, along with
layer, split and dual modes. This
makes it easy to focus on each synth
individually or together by simply
pressing A, B, or A and B together (to
edit each panel simultaneously). This
works slickly and all the panel lighting
moves from blue to red to denote
which panel is being edited. Each of
the three oscs onboard features
analogue-styled waveforms, plus 17
wavetables giving a vast range of
tonal possibilities. What’s great is that
all the wave types onboard have
variable shapes (per oscillator) so with
just one oscillator and LFO/Envelope,
shape modulation can cover a
surprising amount of ground.
either from the front panel directly or
via the two 16-slot modulation
matrices per layer (with 17 sources
and 37 destinations and depth
control). This is accessed via the
screen, menus and buttons. There are
two polyphonic audio-rate LFOs
per-voice (with low and high rate
modes) and two further global LFOs,
along with two mod envelopes.
Each oscillator has LFO 2
hardwired to pitch on the front panel
(for ease) or you can dive deeper into
the mod matrix for further
assignments or re-routing. While
there’s scrolling involved for assigning
and deeper parameter control editing,
Summit has its own strong sonic
imprint which is precise when
required but with plenty of ways to
add analogue soul too (the beauty of
digital oscillators mated to analogue
fi lters). It can approximate the tone of
both classic digital and analogue
synths (with its nearest rivals,
sonically and feature-wise, being the
Prophet REV2 16 and Prophet 12).
Like the P12, Summit can also
produce Linear FM sounds via the
mod matrix and now also via the front
panel’s new dedicated FM section.
On the subject of modulation,
Summit has a plethora of options
available and all are easy to dial in
PROCESSING YOUR SOUNDS
The Summit offers a load of processing options to help take your sounds to another world.
There’s ring-mod and cross-mod for adding texture and metallic-type tones. Then there’s
shape mod, oscillator sync, loopable envelopes and fi lter and linear FM, plus the new FX
Mod features. The fi lter (now with Dual mode) has powerful resonant/vocal characteristics,
so you can achieve some extremely piercing, glassy and liquidy tones (12dB mode allows
more highs to cut through while 24dB mode is smoother – both are great). Also, as the
resonance tracks the keyboard range perfectly, it’s great for making precise drum sounds
and soft siney pads too. Add reverb/delay, noise and overdrive/distortion and you’re in
atmospheric heaven! The
onboard reverb and other
effects still sound superb
and now you can send
external gear straight into
the effects processor too.
Plus, no modern synth is
complete without an arp
and the Summit has a
polyphonic-capable one
per-layer, with plenty of
patterns/rhythms – it also
sends out MIDI, so Peak
can be useful for
arpeggiating other gear.
Finally, layer B can be
assigned to the second set
of outputs (nicely fl exible)!
THE ALTERNATIVES
Korg Prologue 16
£1,320
A steal at the current
price, Prologue 16 is
a 16-voice analogue
VCO-driven synth
with beautiful digital
effects onboard plus
an arpeggiator and
dual layers. Also
features the
ingenious user-
programmable digital
multi-engine .
korg.com
Behringer
DeepMind 12
£634
With extensive
modulation
facilities for the
12 DCO voices,
great-sounding
modulatable effects,
Juno-106 inspired
fi lter, arp, two LFOs
(and more), the
DM12 is a
no-brainer for
the money!
behringer.com
Sequential
Prophet REV2 16
£1,699
With two layers,
16 DCO voices,
independent
outputs, arp/
sequencer, 12/24dB
Curtis fi lter and four
LFOs, the much-
loved Prophet 08 is
also much improved!
sequential.com
It has its own imprint: precise
when needed, but with ways
to add analogue soul too
Reviews | Novation Summit
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FMU350.rev_novation.indd 86 02/10/2019 12:29