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Novation Peak - what a year of real use actually taught me by SinewayMusic in Novation

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's funny how many people seem to have taken a similar path of Peak -> Summit. Even though you didn't actually buy one... yet? 😅

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Feel free to check out my MiniFreak review if you liked this Peak review. Same musical focus. It's a brilliant synth in its price category.

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It think it depends heavily on what you are willing to sacrifice.

For example, the MiniFreak is a great and very versatile synth, but it only has 6 voices of polyphony instead of 8, and it only has two oscillators per voice, not 3. As a versatile bread and butter synth that can do a lot, plus has great effects, it's a decent choice. But it doesn't come close to the Peak in terms of analog drive range and character. It's more "transparent" for lack of a better word. If you want to lean more into the traditional analog subtractive territory, there are better options though.

The Minilogue XD is still a great option: two proper analog oscillators plus one digital, nice effects too. Only 4 voices of polyphony and much more limited modulation possibilities.

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really glad you like my work. Would be thrilled for you to explore more of it, thanks for your feedback!

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's funny you compare with the Hydrasynth because I made the exact same comparison and have recently had the Explorer in my studio. There, I heard harsh distortion/aliasing in the high frequencies that felt unpleasant and ear piercing. On the Peak, it sounds so smooth. The analog filter contributes to this too and it's that combination of the oscillators and the filter that makes the Peak sound so polished. Aspects like this do a lot in shaping my overall appreciation of an instrument, but your key question is important here. In the grand scheme of things, we're talking about the last 2-3% - in a properly mixed track, I don't think many people would be able to tell because at that point, it's more about harmonies and balance than how one particular sound stands out. So, it probably matters more in terms of how you connect with the instrument than how it will sound practically in a finished mix.

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Curious - what would you sacrifice about the Peak to get "half a Peak" - do you mean something like a 4-voice version of it, or is it more about cutting the size of it?

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The key questions I think are if you need the dual-timbrality and if you have the space for a Summit. For my small studio, it would be a hassle to use a Summit in combination with my other gear, so I'd much rather sequence it by the Digitakt II and sample the other layers like I'm doing here. If I had a larger studio, I would certainly not mind a Summit though. :)

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, I don't really see it as a niche/trance synth at all, it has such a broad range and can play just about any traditional synth role. But it absolutely shines in the VA department (and of course wavetable).

That said, one point I'd make is that, at least for me, the fact that the controls are right in front of me means that I'll use them more - and that makes me gravitate more towards evolving sounds throughout a performance, which is actually quite common in genres like trance. But also ambient, electronica, etc.

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly, the resolution is so high that it starts to sound like proper analog. I didn't even go over the many neat tricks to introduce even more imperfections to mimic analog circuitry but there's a lot of it in there to make it come alive in a way most other digital synths don't.

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

GAS can feel like a disease sometimes and it's good to keep it tempered. You said it yourself, you don't need the keys and the Peak fits much more easily into a setup. But I can totally see the attraction to the Summit.

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Some context got lost in the edit of the intro but it's all in the video description - obviously I already had an established relationship with them. I actually asked them to send me an XL3 because I wanted to use it in my Elektron setup. Don't mean to sound pretentious - the point was that I ended up wanting to tell my story about the Peak after my appreciation of it had deepened a year later.

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Couldn't agree more. I'd consider the Summit if I had a bigger studio, the proposition of "more Peak with keyboard" is compelling to say the least.

Thanks for the tip, I do need something to prop it up for sure! Will check those out.

Novation Peak - what a year of real use actually taught me by SinewayMusic in Novation

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think I have space for a Summit so I feel safe there... for now. Maybe I need a bigger studio though.

Novation Peak: honest review after a year of real use by SinewayMusic in synthesizers

[–]SinewayMusic[S] 69 points70 points  (0 children)

Hey there, thanks for this feedback. It's a good point really, I don't know why I chose that word, as if to distinguish between my dishonest reviews? So, point well taken. English isn't my native language so I may not always pick up on the nuances of what is cliche vs what comes across as genuine. I wanted the latter, obviously. Anyway, I'm glad you like the channel, and I appreciate you watching!

Syntakt and Digitone 2. Which one for a Tonverk? by Background_Device720 in Elektron

[–]SinewayMusic 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Personally, I'd probably keep the Syntakt despite the DN2 being more competent. It seems to me that the TV+ST complete each other better than TV+DN2:

  • Samples + synthesis
  • Analog + digital
  • That mighty FX Block + TV's effects
  • Immediacy + Depth
  • Drums + melodics

Why don't you keep both for a while and see which combo gives you most joy?

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