Sonic LAB: Novation Summit Synth Review

Published on Aug 19, 2019 sonicstate

"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
https://novationmusic.com/synths/summit"

Quick Tip: Granular Synthesis On A Volca Sample Patch Tutorial

Published on Aug 19, 2019 Perfect Circuit

"This quick tip is about how to make a granular sample sound on a Korg Volca Sample.

You will need:
- A Volca Sample (you could try this on other samplers as well)

Instructions:
- Pick your sample (this works better on a longer sample)
- Set the tempo to max (240BPM)
- Go into step mode and put triggers on all 16 steps of the sequence
- Push play to start the sequence
- Adjust “Start” to change which part of the sample you hear
- Adjust “Length” to change how big the grains are
- Adjust “Speed” to change the pitch
- Add some attack to make the sound less clicks and glitchy
- Add reverb to smooth the sound out more

This trick adds something almost like granular synthesis to a sampler that doesn’t have a granular mode. In granular synthesis playback speed, direction and pitch are all independent of one another.

Every time the sample is triggered a "grain" is heard. The start setting sets where in the sample the grain is from, the length adjusts how big the grains are and speed adjusts the pitch. The envelopes adjust the grain window shape.

Volca Sample available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/korg-v..."

BuchlaUSA Red Panel Eurorack

Published on Aug 19, 2019 Todd Barton

"Ok, I've only had these for less than 36 hours but am excited to share some of my quick, off-the-cuff explorations with these very cool modules! I'll also be further exploring these at https://knobcon.com September 6-8 at the Buchla booth.
More info of course at https://buchla.com -- it will be a few more days before the Red Panel info posts there.
Also, checkout and join my Patreon page for more tutorials, tips and tricks: https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd"

MATTHS (Matt Hodson) LIVE @SUPERBOOTH19

Published on Aug 16, 2019 MATTHS

"Acclaimed electronic producer #MatthewHodson presents his exciting new project, #MATTHS.

With his debut performance at the #Superbooth Festival 2019, the Brighton-based artist presented two stunning performances, providing a solo heavy dark modular Techno set at the C-Base party and this special performance which enlists drummer Scott Rowe to provide a dynamically charged and captivating performance.

MATTHS new releases ‘Velocet’ and ‘Loop’ which both immediately provide the listener with their masterful, brooding beats, uses a bespoke modular synthesiser setup, that MATTHS has designed and compiled, enabling the creation of textures and tones specific to personal creative concepts.

Recent MATTHS performances include opening for Wire; supporting Alex Banks (Monkeytown Records), Ulrich Schnauss and Rival Consoles (Erased Tapes). MATTHS has worked with the original BBC Radiophonic Workshop on their new material at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios.

Buy the new double A-Side here: http://www.matthsmatthsmatths.com/art..."

Update:

MATTHS (Matt Hodson) LIVE @SUPERBOOTH19 PART 2

Published on Aug 18, 2019 MATTHS

MATTHS (Matt Hodson) LIVE @SUPERBOOTH19 PART 3

Published on Aug 21, 2019 MATTHS

BeatLove at home studio #1

Published on Aug 17, 2019 BeatLove

https://beatlove.es

Roland Orchestral II Expansion SR-JV80-16 - Track Demo

Published on Aug 19, 2019 JMPSynth

"A short track demo of some patches from the excellent Roland JV80 Orchestral II expansion board for JV/XP & XV Synthesisers."

Live Synth Jam - MS10, PolyEvolver, Pro~One, Q, Tanzbar

Published on Aug 19, 2019 Reuben Jones

"A live synth jam. Fairly simple because I limited myself to one drum beat and one fill, and a basic chord sequence.

Tanzbar drum machine sends gate signal to Pro~One (CV not connected so I can change bass notes with the Pro~One keyboard) and MIDI clock to the Q+, which in turn sends arp MIDI to PolyEvolver."

Hartmann Neuron Synthesizer Keyboard

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Aug 18, 2019 Neuronium spectacular

"This video shows what it looks like when the system of the neuron "hangs". Inside is a normal PC motherboard with Celeron processor. The LED chains next to the knurled wheels light up completely for 4x before the initialization routine starts.
If it is more than 4x, the system has " hung up ". Then only a re-on and off helps."

A short Demo of Hartmann Neuron Synthesizer

Published on Jun 24, 2019 Neuronium spectacular - previously posted here.

"This video shows the nice sounding of Hartmann Neuron Synthesizer. This instrument was build between 2003 - 2005"

via this auction

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Vintage Roland RS-09 Organ/Strings SN 146215

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Vintage PAIA Catalog Brochures

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1978 Digital Control Comes to Electronic Music via via this auction

"This original vintage PAIA catalog contains information and picture’s of the the classic PAIA4700/S, 2720/R, 4700/C, 4700/J and a lot more."

1979 '79 Spring Brochure via via this auction

"This original vintage PAIA catalog contains information and picture’s of the the classic PAIA 4700/J, Gnome Micro Synthesizer and a lot more."

1980 Special Offer via via this auction

"This original vintage PAIA catalog contains information and picture’s of the the classic PAIA 2720/R, Gnome Micro Synthesizer and a lot more."

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