The Polybrute definitely has a more vintage sound ... it is immediately obvious that its sound is based on its filters, which is not a bad thing. The Summit definitely shows its filter character but also much more flexibility in the sound of its oscillators. No big surprise I guess. Personally, if I had to choose I'd go with a Summit, only because I have lots of vintage stuff, and the Summit brings something new for me. But if I only had a pile of more modern instruments, I'd probably go with the PolyBrute - a lovely keyboard, worthy of modern classic status!
My trinity is the asm hydrasynth, the polybrute and the summit. Together it's an unrivaled combination. These three are my core synths and I love each of them for their individuality and the results I can get from combining them. This is the golden age of synths. 😊
One trick to get better brassy sounds on the Polybrute. Use LFO 3 configured in single shot with a convex slope. It becomes an AR envelope that can be assigned to Vco1 and vco2 pitch. This adds some pitch instability during the attack and decay phases.
I ended up getting the Summit for three main reasons: 1) More Polyphony. I want to be able to play big chords with both hands. 2) Smaller case, which means I can have it on the keyboard drawer at my table. 3) I got a great deal on a barely used second hand model. I have absolutely not regretted it - it is so much fun to play! I get musical ideas every time I turn it on.
Then there is the topic of "availability". Both are instant classics and represent good value the investment. It's all a matter of availability, budget and personal subjective tastes. Artistically, they both paint beautiful sonic soundscapes. It's great to have choices and lets face it, most of us would be happy with either one. It's really a matter of who is behind the keys, feature set needed and availability that temper choices at a given time. Thanks for taking on this comparison, it's not an easy task to compare these two beasts. Glad you took the safety of the high road.
Good overview and insights. I got the Polybrute a few months ago and it's a vision of modern synthesis. So many radical and forward-thinking ideas in its design. It misses few key areas such as lack of CV for modular integration but still I absolutely love it. I rented the Summit for a month in January and damn, it was an easy synth to grab sounds out of. Very flexible. But, I really felt it lacked an identifiable 'character ', if that makes sense. I was able to borrow a friend's Hydrasynth for a week and that was another stunning example of forward-thinking synthesis. So much so that I've for one coming at the end of the month. It's not perfect; closer would have been a 61 or 73/76 keybed for the amazing poly aftertouch. But for a first synth by a brand new company with incredible build quality and price point, it pairs surprisingly well with the Polybrute.I Sequential's Pro3, Dreadbox's Typhon, etc. The future looks very bright for synthesis.
I like that it lacks character because then its a "chameleon synth" and that on its own can be very useful. Especially if you have more "character synths" in your collection.
Agreed. Summit is a jack-of-all-trades, a workhorse that makes sense for someone who is restricted to 1 or 2 synths. But it doesn‘t excel in anything. The PolyBrute does have a unique character. I also have a Hydrasynth; they complement each other perfectly.
Thank you for doing this comparison! I am considering these two instruments for my next Polysynth. At first I was dead set on the Polybrute, but now I have some perspective on the Summit and it may be the choice now.
Pretty sure I’d get a Hydrasynth Deluxe before either of these. Of these two, though, I’d probably go with the Summit - 16 voices, a beautiful reverb and a generally warmer sound.
@@timbuk1126 It is, but I want the Hydra for specific Industrial sounds, which I think it would excel at. If you want an amazing, all-round synth, get the Summit.
@kierenmoore3236 I have the Summit and I got the Hydrasynth Deluxe version. They work brilliantly together, My advice, go for the Deluxe..its absolutely incredible and a few more features over the original Hydrasynth.
My vote is on the Summit. Only because I have a 6 Voice VCO Synth and it would be great to add to my studio for the additional voices and also because it is Digital OSC's I actually would rather that to fit in the mix. If I keep buying VCO's I'm going to be constantly EQ'ing the hell out of them to get them to fit nicely in the mix... I feel with a mix of VCO's and Digital synths, it will be nice together rather than them constantly fighting over space. I always like how the Korg Prologue16 sat in the mix before I sold it. It was worth selling because of a rare situation but all in all, I will think of buying a Summit, a Rev2, or a Prologue16 back.
Grab the Summit while you can people. In Europe it's grabbed left and right, the future classic or call whatever you want. You can resell it later for good value. But you really have to dig down to it, to use it's all capabilites.
@@coinopboy2289isn't it funny how things have worked out. Today I can pick up a polybrute on Reverb for much less than the Summit Polybrute went really down. Cant say im suprised. . . Arturias Steiner Parker filter is dull boring and just horrible in tone. I've never liked it. It lacks character. It's a great featured synth but Arturia need to ditch that Steiner parker.
Novation's weak side was always the quality of the factory patches. You should make this comaprison with some cool custom made patches on the Summit. I know, this is how you get from the box but a correct comparison uses the best available sounds to compare the synth and not the lame factory patches. (just my opinion, but the Peak can do nice fat sounds easily in good hands.) Same was with Peak. Factory stuff was a bit dissapointing but later I purchased some extremely cool custom patches and oh boy, it was night and day...
What's amazing is that these flagship synths are "somewhat" affordable. For instance, the old 80s flagships cost as much as a Ferrari whereas these cost as much as a Corvette. Still expensive, but delivering even better performance for less money. Seems to me the Summit is more of a performance instrument: select a pre-set and go, but the Poly just sucks you in to explore. I was working on something else while just listening to the video and could tell the moment when he switched to the Poly.
I liked much of the information in the video and how it was presented. I have to say the PolyBrute demo was underwhelming for the most part. To those who can answer this question: Was the PB demo a good/fair representation of its sound?
I think it was a good demonstration of the capabilities, but I didn't like the sounds too much in this demo. I adore the sounds in my Polybrute though. I'd urge you to go try one out in a music store near you and hear for yourself. That's how I fell in love. (don't blame me for depeletion of your bank account though!)
Summit lives in a tough place IMHO. If you need/want 16 voices and wavetables Hydrasynth Deluxe is mighty stiff competition. Otherwise Polybrute is more immediate and morph is amazing; to me it really is a masterpiece.
@non dual I probably should have been a bit more expansive... While I do think Summit is a great synth and really quite good value, personally it would be a difficult choice for me between it and a Hydrasynth deluxe IF for whatever reason there was simply no way to get a Polybrute.
I went down the in between route, and got a second-hand Peak rather than a Summit. Had initially planned to get a HS Desktop. But now, I might get the slightly cheaper Explorer for Christmas. With those, I'd rather have a Peak/Explorer than a Summit or HS Deluxe because they do have very different tones. My studio isn't that big, and I've been saving the space and cash for a Polybrute as the centrepiece of my studio... it is a future classic. The Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave is an interesting alternative, though it's more expensive again.
@@vladsandu9713 It is a VST, just a proprietary one in a keyboard with a control layout matched precisely to its voice architecture. You are paying for the poly AT, the dedicated interface, and being able to just flip a switch on the back and off you go - the same as ALL digital synths including Iridium, almost everything from Roland, the Korg pi synths (which at least let you buy the actual VST version), etc. Some find that more convenient, some less, some find it worth it vs. VST and some do not. A lot of folks are certain the digital filters are hopelessly inferior despite not owning one or having spent much time with one. Before the V2 software dropped a used Summit for less than a deluxe was a seriously hard choice - a bit less hard now.
I love the sound of my Novation synth engine and I do want a Polybrute. But I do think there's something to said for getting a second-hand Peak instead of a Summit, and adding another digital synth like a Hydrasynth or Op-6 for tonal variation. You still get 2-part multi-timbrality and 16-voices and for less money. The differences between the Peak engine and Summit are minor enough for most patches. For a centrepiece, I'd choose a Polybrute, or a Waldorf Iridium keyboard at the other extreme. Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave is interesting hybrid middle ground, and maybe some premium competition to the Polybrute.
para el Polybrute es un producto mejor acabado que 3rd wave el 3rd wave la luz roja cuela por el fondo de las teclas, es un defecto que ya se vio en gearspace
@@Sicolirics New company there's going to more risk of that. I will like to see how users are getting one, especially with software bugs. But, if it sounds great and is powerful, I don't mind some rough edges. Plenty of desirable vintage synths have serious hardware issues, while also being very limited (Juno 106 voice cards, Pro One, Moog Source, Chroma Polaris membrane keyboards and panels). But, if they sound great ...
I had to return my Polybrute because it was a lemon and had multiple issues making it unplayable. Hugely disappointing since this was my first "signature" synth purchase. For the same amount of money I got a Peak and an Opsix. If you read forums, you will find a lot of disappointed people out there with a useless or near usleless Polybrute that can't be fixed due to a lack of support. The Peak is funny, some days I can't find anything on it to use, and some days I can design a wonderful and evolving patch. The Opsix is one of the funnest synths I have played, and can always find something useful. I have the best of both worlds now, a really tight analog modeler and the coolest digital FM synth ever.
It may be what you chose to play as much as the actual sound, but based on this, it would be the Summit for me. I say this having serious designs on the Artutia.
@@coinopboy2289 The Summit is mostly analog … only the (beautiful FPGA) oscillators aren’t analog … (then you’ve got beautiful digital FX, too, if you want them - including the best Reverb in a synth). The beautiful Filters, Amps, Distortion and Envelopes are all analog … The Summit is definitely warmer sounding than the Polybrute.
I'd go def for Polybrute! You have a ton of digital synths & plugins outhere... but analogue morphing synth? none... btw, i don't think the cheesy presets shown here do the justice to its potential.
Does brass fine from what ive played around with. Been chasing that cs-80 brass sound and it seems to do it well. It just doesn't dial it in the same way others do. The envelopes are touchy and the oscillators you kind of need to start low and work high to get where you want with it.
@@funkingitup1805 Thanks. I didn’t like the general sounds of the original Polybrute (I remember hearing one preset I really liked), and have been expecting the new 12-voice version for a while (but haven’t paid much attention to it, given that I wasn’t keen on the sound of the original). But I will have to see whether it sounds significantly different to the og, or not? And what features it has gained (and lost?!) … ?
Did you notice that when a Summit preset is selected, it just gets played, but when a Polybrute preset is selected, it immediately gets edited, and then edited, and then edited...
I think thats because theres more hands on, expressive control with the Polybrute than there is with the Summit, not to slander the Summit, but that could be why.
@@higgsmachines Surely, if the Polybrute provides more 'hands on, expressive control', then a Polybrute preset should need to be edited less than a Summit preset...
@@MartinRuss maybe if you’re just buying a synth for its presets, but I tend to think presets are more of a subjective experience from user to user. I guess Im more interested in what the synthesizer offers from a sound design standpoint, and its ability to express those sounds rather than what presets get shipped with the unit.
@@higgsmachines I have never bought a synth for its presets. I have revoiced everything I own. But one of the critical features I use when auditioning a synth is the implicit sound design of the programmers who voiced it, because that tells you a lot about how broad its capabilities are. If the first reaction of a player is to edit a sound, then the sound is not well programmed, imho. I would venture that a real Fender-Rhodes piano should just be played... If the programmers couldn't quite find the perfect expression of the sound that they were trying to create, then that is a clue to a potential limitation.
@@MartinRuss and I wasn't trying to suggest that that was something you do. I think its a mentality that some own, but I agree, I think it is important to see what the sonic capabilities of synths are before purchasing one. I will say, to that point, the presets for the CZ-101 are pretty basic, but once you dig into the editor, those initial limitations are completely blown off any initial preconceptions of the synth, to me at least. I don't think there's a correlation between bad preset sounds and a synthesizers sonic capabilities or limitations. I've been able to make completely insane sounds with such a cheap digital synthesizer that I think are totally unique to the CZ series. I just think presets are subjective to the artist, and because of the CZ's editor, I don't think presets should be a write off. But again, that's just me. I respect your point and your opinion.
I like both. But think that perhaps a high quality virtual instrument could provide Summit vibes and while not a fan of the cheaper Arturia synths (Except for anything Freak) , I'm leaning towards the Polybrute for the sounds I like. Thanks for comparison.
The only thing I wish the Summit had was program select buttons. That would be ideal for live performances. The PolyBrute is nearly perfect. The only thing I wish they'd done differently is use a more substantial feeling keybed. As a synthesizer, I have to say that it feels like a master of past and present. I have a room of vintage gear, and I'd put both the PolyBrute and the MatrixBrute up there with any of the greats of the past.
Seems like quite an oversight … Are there some user banks where you could save all the patches you’d want for a particular set sequentially, for example?
@@kierenmoore3236 I'm sure there are user banks and you could organize your sounds that way. However, if you're on a gig and have an artist change the setlist, then you have to reorganize patch orders. It would be nice to have a 0-10 keypad. As it is, this would have to receive program changes from an external device.
I really think you need to spend more time with the Polybrute!. You cannot get deep low brassy sounds!!!! I have been a sound designer for quite a number of years, and there is some really floor thumping 30-60 low end, it makes my floor shake with my Yamaha HS8 monitors. It is capable of doing everything and more, even 6 Polyphony its not a deal breaker, look at the OB-6 and Prophet 6, how good are they......I rest my case.
The closest alternative to the Summit would be the Sequential Rev 2 - 16. The summit sounds a bit better but with a new update Sequential could pull ahead.
The Polybrute sounds amazing, but buyer beware, the one I received was a complete lemon (didn't work), on a couple of different levels. I returned it after reading a bunch of forums and I discovered there are a lot of heartbroken Polybrute owners out there with synths that don't function properly and are unable to get them fixed, for various reasons. For someone looking for a flagship synth and don't have money to waste, this becomes a major issue. I ended up getting an Opsix and Peak for the same amount of money, and honestly, even though the Peak is a little bitch, I believe I made the right decision since I have the best of analog modelling and digital awesomeness. My criticism of the Peak is that the oscillators seem to have a natural distortion or slightly harsh tone to them. This works great for some tones, but I tend toward the ambient side of things so have to work the Shape knobs to get the tones to chill out. That is my only major critique. The digital vs. analog oscillator debate is freaking stupid. The Peak can sound just as rich and tough as any analog, and some of the Polybrute's presets sound weak and thin. So it's really about the talent and wherewithal of the programmer.
if i had a summit and ob6 i would see no reason to swap the poly for the summit it has so much modulation and the benefit of digital oscillators and also more voices. Any “character” you need you can just head to the Matriarch or the OB6
I have the Peak and might consider selling that to get the Summit but I also got the PolyBrute and would never sell one to get the other - totally different beasts. Now if I could only have one synth, then it gets more troublesome - but then I would get the Summit because I need more voices if I only have one synth. The PB fills the more expressive playing style and the Morphee do have a learning curve and one needs many hours to learn how to play and express oneself with this new 'thingy' to get the most musical output.
@@barrnycharlton8951 totally fair. For me what I’ve found is the raw tone of the Summit just isn’t quite as appealing for me as something like the OB or Prologue or Matriarch, which makes me use it less even though it’s the most capable synth I have . I can absolutely get the summit there on par with the other synths with sound design and using the menus, but I’ve found that I really gravitate towards more hands on type of sound design vs menus. The summit is still an absolutely great synth but it just hasn’t been getting much use on my Miles Away productions recently.
Novation Summit vs ASM Hydrasynth deluxe? And or Novation Summit vs Sequential Rev2-16? Those two comparison videos is what the audience would really need actually..
I think he mentions that the Polybrute has a bit less menu diving, and is more up front and intuitive. Especially the mod matrix. And having a sequencer can be really nice, although a lot of people want a centralized sequencer device or DAW. But the Summit is fairly up front too. And one thing that is a godsend on the Summit to me is the ability to see the saved patch value for any option while you tweak it. So you always know what the difference is and can get back to it quickly. Don’t know if the Polybrute has that. Honestly, in terms of value, the Summit has more value. It is less expensive than the Polybrute now, and has 16 voices. It also has more flexible oscillators. The Polybrute is a killer synth though, and I want one.
I can't understand why your not getting very good brass sounds from the PolyBrute. I have just made a gorgeous OBX brass patch from scratch which took 15 minutes create/
I’ve owned DOZENS of synths since 1986. I’ve gone through the sampler era, The birth of pure digital synths, then workstations, and back to single function synths again. I will tell you that modern synths are way better!!!! Even digital synths. I have also learned that in most cases, all the Morphing stuff is just to entertain yourself, so if synths are just your way of meditating, the poly brute is a good choice. Having said that, Sounds that end up in EDM are usually from laptops. A physical machine such as summit and poly brute are, in my opinion, More inspirational. Way more. Sex with another person is in most ways better than porn! Same thing Also, It’s not ever the synth, It’s YOU and how well you apply it’s specific sound. I personally think the Summit is pound per pound, inch by inch, Knob by knob, one of the most “human” synths I know of. Waldorf Iridium keyboard is another digital human. It WORKS WITH YOU’ I didn’t connect with polybrute quite as much But It’s A Good Synth and puts those old museum piece, bank robbing synths to shame. Moog One……it’s a badge you w show off to people who don’t really care. CS-80…………..a Lamborghini that can’t handle speed bumps and the speed limits. Just sayin
The sound of the summit is still above he forgot to tell you who the FPGA against the DCI of the polybrute and it's not nothing ... moreover it has 2 functions which rematerialise the vco in annalogue with 16 voices polyphony is still to be taken into account.
@@kierenmoore3236 My Polybrute, like my Moog One is for modern analog sounds. They do sound different to things like my Matriarch and Grandmother, but I don’t find them ‘thin’. I had a Prophet Rev 2. I didn’t like that. That had DCO’s but I don’t think it was down to digital control. It was the filter I didn’t like.
The Polybrute tends to sound thin, overly bright, and even metallic, to me … Conversely, the Summit can be rather dark … I find the Morphe and the blend too gimmicky to be of much lasting value. The ribbon is rather short, and doesn’t have the best feel. I do like the mod matrix … But overall, I’d take the (16-Voice, great sounding, great FX) Summit (and a good eq for mixing/fitting it into a track!!), and an Expressive-E Touché … then look at other, better sounding synths/components, if I really wanted a Ribbon strip … But then, I don’t really love the sound of any of the Arturia hardware synths … 🤷🏻♂️
I'm more an "analog guy" and not a big fan of digital synths, but once that said I must confess the Summit (like the Peak) has more possibilities and a very musical sound signature while the polybrute as no real soul. Arturia is making fantastic user interfaces for their instruments but they have not found the way to get a strong sound signature. The polybrute sounds mean for my ears. it is just a big Minibrute 2S, I recognize the same "anonymous" sound. They have to work this part as well they did it for the architecture and the UI. The summit while being digital has this little "something" that makes a great synth. I owning a lot of synths, even a Minibrute and a Peak, some prophet and many others. The summit is really on top for a digital instrument, or perhaps this is because it is not completely digital but hybrid. It is more a synth you can compare to a dco analog synth like the prophet rev2. The polybrute can't stand such a comparison. Or course that's my own tastes, if you're loving arturia's sound that's ok. Peace on earth !
You right Summit can be compare to the REV-2 and DCO. Both can diverge and drift on demand. I try both, there are really close, the Summit is just more versatile with more FM, wavetable, effect and analogue overdrive/distortion
@@jno8039 I love both, they have a different sound signature, the Peak is more digital (above all with wavtables) and it is perfect to add this kind of sound to my set, the Rev2 has more the Sequential sound signature, another taste. But they are similar and the Rev2/16 with two layers of sounds is costing less than the Summit. The Peak has alas just 8 voices and no multi-timbral architecture. So having both is really cool, but I also have other machines with a more analog sound. In all cases Peak, Summit and Rev2 are great machines that have a musical and pleasant sound signature. Buying one or the other will never be a mistake. For the others, polybrute, hydrasynth, super 6, etc, I'm not really sure.
@@jno8039 Indeed the Rev2 is bit more limited, less modulation slots for example. But he sound is beautiful and one can create astonishing sounds (above all with the layering possibilities with a 16 voices). But both are very good synths. I already have a Rev2 and a Peak, if I had more money I thing I'll get a Summit too !
@@kierenmoore3236 it is a very hard question :-) I think I'll keep the Rev2 with no regret. The Peak is fantastic but half the time. Half the sounds you can get are very good, half are very synthetic, cold, or just digitally noisy. About 95% of the sounds of the Rev2 are good. But it is a hard choice because both machines are top level. And all depend on the music you want to write. For some genres I'm sure the peak will be a better fit.
Is it just me or does the Summit sound so... flat and digital? I was expecting a bit more character, or punch, or maybe he just chose all the wrong presets...
If you don't turn them on, sure, I know, "nicer keybed". In an instrument, I pay for sound and expressiveness. But then there are always people who buy instruments because they like the color of the paint.
The big difference is one sounds beautiful analogic and the other digital! A video comparing Apples to....by whatching the summit I wonder what makes it so good since is sounding as a novation ultra nova? ( Which costs 4 times cheaper). I would go for the arturia.
Summit does not have "digital oscillators". Oxford oscillators found on Peak and Summit are DCOs - digitally CONTROLLED oscillators. This means they are analogue oscillators controlled digitally. Same thing can be found on REV2 and many other contemporary synths, using the best of both worlds. Sound of analogue and digital control of the pitch - which you can basically disable and have analogue tuning float freely. So, DCO is NOT digital oscillator. Also, Novation is long term established hardware manufacturer. Arturia is a new kid on the block, with a lots to learn. I own Matrix Brute, Micro Freak, Minibrute 2 S, and while i love innovation and boldness Arturia is showing, paired with their great emulations in software, there are few reasons I would never chose this one for my main synth. First, Brute oscillators are the same, on 300£ and 2500£ synths. This is somewhat lazy. Second, while there are few really nice features, I think they hit the ceiling with Matrix Brute and this poly is not your flagship synth. Quality Control is another thing Arturia seriously has to look into. Summit is basically Peak x2. And while I prefer REV2 to Peak, I love how they updated firmware and let 3rd oscillator to be wavetable, with user wavetables as an option. This is upgrading sound generation capabilities and giving it advantage to PolyBrute to begin with. Personally, and again, we are all free to choose our gear, I would not chose either as my main synth. My main synth is Prophet REV2, and while I have P10 and OB6 (I had P6 as well but I sold it to get P10), REV2 is my go-to poly.
@strangerhythm You say that NCO's & FPGA technology sounds more analog than analog synths. You know what ? You are very right ! My Summit makes me think of my old Oberheim Matrix 12, but better !
Summit and Peak DO have digital oscillators, which is what allows them to do wavetables. They call their VA oscillators NCOs (numerically controlled oscillators), but they are not DCOs, despite the similar name. Direct quote from Novation on the Peak oscillators: "Each of Peak's eight voices has an independent oversampling digital-to-analogue converter (DAC). These DAC's are oversampling at over 24MHz...to enable optimum waveform synthesis."
Le Poly Brute, pure synthétiseur analogique polyphonique 6 voix contre 16 voix sur le novation Summit ca na rien a voir j'ait les deux et je peut vous dire que le Summit écrase de loin le poly Brute
Summit sounded so flat and lifeless. Not sure where all this 'character' is everyone is talking about. I'd definitely go Polybrute. Sound design possibilities are endless with the mod matrix
I've owned both. If you want to let the modulation do your playing then go Poly. If you can play awesome riffs and want a tone that can get nasty, then Novation is the way to go to cut through a mix.
Summit sounds like a peak with a pro3 and a take 5 touch in my ears guess it could as they owned under the same mother company but i like it it can get dirty and punchy very fast. Arturia's sound is more 'unique' but less exciting
@@kierenmoore3236 nah man it has a lot of prophet thing going on. I have them all. Peak sounds colder. I agree with you they advertise it as being 2 peaks combined and on papers they could be.. but the final sequence summit has a different more prophet thing mojo
@@kierenmoore3236 pro 3 and take 5 they can sound as much as any prophet as u want em to be sound... i am not debating you bro i have my own ears and gear. Im just saying summit is not only 2x peak. Is much more versatile than the peak or 2 peak.
It's all down to the debate of synth purity and subjective flatness, or digital vs analog. The fact is if you need a piece of music done the Summit will prob get it finished with less editing and experimenting. With poly brute, maybe will get you lost in sonic possibilities and an overdue deadline 😂
The PolyBrute sounds as thinny or fat as you program it. Marc Doty (Automatic Gainsay) has made a video on this topic, and Jamie Morden‘s (GEOsynth) soundset does include very fat patches.
@@RayyMusik no , i listened to dotys remarks with filter boost at resonance point, still does not cut it , on any good polysynth you get the lowend even with raw unfiltered oscs, the error arturia made here is it might work for their mono synths but they had to re-engineer their osc technology when going poly wich of course they didnt , they just took the oscs from microbrute in a poly setup
Well i know what a good analog synth makes it sing ( owned countless analogs since 85) , tons of modulations isn't worth anything if the basic sound is meeeh , no onboard fx as cover up
Normally (IMO) you do better presentations. Your delivery seemed fairly hesitant & choppy, ... to me though, even past the intro and 10 mins. or so in, which caused my interest & focus to wane at that point, I almost felt self conscientious for you, but that is 'not the norm' for you, It sounded like you may have had an allergy, or congestion, ... 'or something' that impeded you. I guess I should have skipped forward to get past that. Time is precious, maybe I will "circle back", ... or not, ... later.
He gets his point across regardless of his stuttering. You on the other hand have a short attention span, and most likely have ADHD, and that's why you're unable to focus on the message only. See a psychiatrist for your illness.
The biggest USP of the Polybrute is it’s mod matrix … and that’s not enough, imho. Plus, sound/tone is paramount, and the Polybrute could easily be mistaken for a digital/hybrid synth (as your inclination towards this comparison confirms). Plus, it’s big, heavy and expensive! Hard Pass!!
They're both quite beautiful instruments. I'll buy both, as soon as I've composed my smash hit and can stop working.
The Polybrute definitely has a more vintage sound ... it is immediately obvious that its sound is based on its filters, which is not a bad thing. The Summit definitely shows its filter character but also much more flexibility in the sound of its oscillators. No big surprise I guess. Personally, if I had to choose I'd go with a Summit, only because I have lots of vintage stuff, and the Summit brings something new for me. But if I only had a pile of more modern instruments, I'd probably go with the PolyBrute - a lovely keyboard, worthy of modern classic status!
My trinity is the asm hydrasynth, the polybrute and the summit. Together it's an unrivaled combination.
These three are my core synths and I love each of them for their individuality and the results I can get from combining them.
This is the golden age of synths. 😊
I'm jealous!
Jupiter X: hold my beer!
80's was the golden age. I witnessed the arrival of the Jupiter 8 and bought one. Nothing will ever match those years then the synth dominated pop! 😎
One trick to get better brassy sounds on the Polybrute. Use LFO 3 configured in single shot with a convex slope. It becomes an AR envelope that can be assigned to Vco1 and vco2 pitch. This adds some pitch instability during the attack and decay phases.
thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try
Or the concave slope with 1/3 symmetry and a tiny little bit slower. Sounds more natural to me.
you can also record a slope with REC Arm
I ended up getting the Summit for three main reasons: 1) More Polyphony. I want to be able to play big chords with both hands. 2) Smaller case, which means I can have it on the keyboard drawer at my table. 3) I got a great deal on a barely used second hand model. I have absolutely not regretted it - it is so much fun to play! I get musical ideas every time I turn it on.
I have wanted someone to make this video ever since the Polybrute launched. Thank you!
Love my Summit. It’s a sound designer’s dream.
Then there is the topic of "availability".
Both are instant classics and represent good value the investment. It's all a matter of availability, budget and personal subjective tastes. Artistically, they both paint beautiful sonic soundscapes. It's great to have choices and lets face it, most of us would be happy with either one. It's really a matter of who is behind the keys, feature set needed and availability that temper choices at a given time. Thanks for taking on this comparison, it's not an easy task to compare these two beasts. Glad you took the safety of the high road.
Good overview and insights.
I got the Polybrute a few months ago and it's a vision of modern synthesis. So many radical and forward-thinking ideas in its design. It misses few key areas such as lack of CV for modular integration but still I absolutely love it.
I rented the Summit for a month in January and damn, it was an easy synth to grab sounds out of. Very flexible. But, I really felt it lacked an identifiable 'character ', if that makes sense. I was able to borrow a friend's Hydrasynth for a week and that was another stunning example of forward-thinking synthesis. So much so that I've for one coming at the end of the month. It's not perfect; closer would have been a 61 or 73/76 keybed for the amazing poly aftertouch. But for a first synth by a brand new company with incredible build quality and price point, it pairs surprisingly well with the Polybrute.I
Sequential's Pro3, Dreadbox's Typhon, etc. The future looks very bright for synthesis.
I like that it lacks character because then its a "chameleon synth" and that on its own can be very useful. Especially if you have more "character synths" in your collection.
Agreed. Summit is a jack-of-all-trades, a workhorse that makes sense for someone who is restricted to 1 or 2 synths. But it doesn‘t excel in anything. The PolyBrute does have a unique character. I also have a Hydrasynth; they complement each other perfectly.
Hydrasynth Deluxe … 73 keys of polyphonic aftertouch … 🥰
So I have the ultranova and after this video i decided for arturia. Sounds really analog.
Thank you for doing this comparison! I am considering these two instruments for my next Polysynth. At first I was dead set on the Polybrute, but now I have some perspective on the Summit and it may be the choice now.
I love how the Polybrute does that 70's stringer, CS80 type sound. I already have that type sound but I'd stilll ad the Polybrute if I could
Get an OB-6 if you want CS-80-type sounds.
Pretty sure I’d get a Hydrasynth Deluxe before either of these. Of these two, though, I’d probably go with the Summit - 16 voices, a beautiful reverb and a generally warmer sound.
True to my word, picked up a Summit on sale - too good a price to pass by … With the most recent firmware update, it’s rather a lot of synth … !! 😀
Isn't the Hydrasynth even more digital sounding?
@@timbuk1126 It is, but I want the Hydra for specific Industrial sounds, which I think it would excel at. If you want an amazing, all-round synth, get the Summit.
@kierenmoore3236 I have the Summit and I got the Hydrasynth Deluxe version.
They work brilliantly together,
My advice, go for the Deluxe..its absolutely incredible and a few more features over the original Hydrasynth.
@@maydaygoingdown5602 Well, it’s on ‘the list’ 😏
My vote is on the Summit. Only because I have a 6 Voice VCO Synth and it would be great to add to my studio for the additional voices and also because it is Digital OSC's I actually would rather that to fit in the mix. If I keep buying VCO's I'm going to be constantly EQ'ing the hell out of them to get them to fit nicely in the mix... I feel with a mix of VCO's and Digital synths, it will be nice together rather than them constantly fighting over space. I always like how the Korg Prologue16 sat in the mix before I sold it. It was worth selling because of a rare situation but all in all, I will think of buying a Summit, a Rev2, or a Prologue16 back.
❤️ Rev2 16 ❤️
Grab the Summit while you can people. In Europe it's grabbed left and right, the future classic or call whatever you want. You can resell it later for good value. But you really have to dig down to it, to use it's all capabilites.
PolyBrute = even more value...
@@coinopboy2289 nah
@@adrianl7604 Polybrute already went up.......... Summit went down..............
@@coinopboy2289 Polybrute 12 coming soon, apparently …
@@coinopboy2289isn't it funny how things have worked out.
Today I can pick up a polybrute on Reverb for much less than the Summit
Polybrute went really down.
Cant say im suprised. . . Arturias Steiner Parker filter is dull boring and just horrible in tone.
I've never liked it. It lacks character.
It's a great featured synth but Arturia need to ditch that Steiner parker.
Novation's weak side was always the quality of the factory patches. You should make this comaprison with some cool custom made patches on the Summit. I know, this is how you get from the box but a correct comparison uses the best available sounds to compare the synth and not the lame factory patches. (just my opinion, but the Peak can do nice fat sounds easily in good hands.) Same was with Peak. Factory stuff was a bit dissapointing but later I purchased some extremely cool custom patches and oh boy, it was night and day...
Really enjoyed both your commentary and playing 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I'd take the Summit if you were looking for your first flagship poly. It's got a huge range.
What's amazing is that these flagship synths are "somewhat" affordable. For instance, the old 80s flagships cost as much as a Ferrari whereas these cost as much as a Corvette. Still expensive, but delivering even better performance for less money. Seems to me the Summit is more of a performance instrument: select a pre-set and go, but the Poly just sucks you in to explore. I was working on something else while just listening to the video and could tell the moment when he switched to the Poly.
Rev 2 16 voice vs Summit, would be most interresting
They’re very different. I have both.
@@kierenmoore3236 Can you eloaborate a little on the what each one excels at?
I liked much of the information in the video and how it was presented. I have to say the PolyBrute demo was underwhelming for the most part. To those who can answer this question: Was the PB demo a good/fair representation of its sound?
I think it was a good demonstration of the capabilities, but I didn't like the sounds too much in this demo. I adore the sounds in my Polybrute though. I'd urge you to go try one out in a music store near you and hear for yourself. That's how I fell in love. (don't blame me for depeletion of your bank account though!)
PolyBrute
Summit lives in a tough place IMHO. If you need/want 16 voices and wavetables Hydrasynth Deluxe is mighty stiff competition. Otherwise Polybrute is more immediate and morph is amazing; to me it really is a masterpiece.
@non dual I probably should have been a bit more expansive... While I do think Summit is a great synth and really quite good value, personally it would be a difficult choice for me between it and a Hydrasynth deluxe IF for whatever reason there was simply no way to get a Polybrute.
I went down the in between route, and got a second-hand Peak rather than a Summit. Had initially planned to get a HS Desktop. But now, I might get the slightly cheaper Explorer for Christmas. With those, I'd rather have a Peak/Explorer than a Summit or HS Deluxe because they do have very different tones. My studio isn't that big, and I've been saving the space and cash for a Polybrute as the centrepiece of my studio... it is a future classic. The Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave is an interesting alternative, though it's more expensive again.
Hydra should be a vst. The summit has analog filters and they're actually good
@@vladsandu9713 It is a VST, just a proprietary one in a keyboard with a control layout matched precisely to its voice architecture. You are paying for the poly AT, the dedicated interface, and being able to just flip a switch on the back and off you go - the same as ALL digital synths including Iridium, almost everything from Roland, the Korg pi synths (which at least let you buy the actual VST version), etc. Some find that more convenient, some less, some find it worth it vs. VST and some do not. A lot of folks are certain the digital filters are hopelessly inferior despite not owning one or having spent much time with one. Before the V2 software dropped a used Summit for less than a deluxe was a seriously hard choice - a bit less hard now.
Real, analog filterS - and a beautiful reverb etc - make a difference … !!
For me Novation Summit a million times.
I love the sound of my Novation synth engine and I do want a Polybrute. But I do think there's something to said for getting a second-hand Peak instead of a Summit, and adding another digital synth like a Hydrasynth or Op-6 for tonal variation. You still get 2-part multi-timbrality and 16-voices and for less money. The differences between the Peak engine and Summit are minor enough for most patches. For a centrepiece, I'd choose a Polybrute, or a Waldorf Iridium keyboard at the other extreme. Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave is interesting hybrid middle ground, and maybe some premium competition to the Polybrute.
para el Polybrute es un producto mejor acabado que 3rd wave
el 3rd wave la luz roja cuela por el fondo de las teclas, es un defecto que ya se vio en gearspace
@@Sicolirics New company there's going to more risk of that. I will like to see how users are getting one, especially with software bugs. But, if it sounds great and is powerful, I don't mind some rough edges. Plenty of desirable vintage synths have serious hardware issues, while also being very limited (Juno 106 voice cards, Pro One, Moog Source, Chroma Polaris membrane keyboards and panels). But, if they sound great ...
I had to return my Polybrute because it was a lemon and had multiple issues making it unplayable. Hugely disappointing since this was my first "signature" synth purchase. For the same amount of money I got a Peak and an Opsix. If you read forums, you will find a lot of disappointed people out there with a useless or near usleless Polybrute that can't be fixed due to a lack of support. The Peak is funny, some days I can't find anything on it to use, and some days I can design a wonderful and evolving patch. The Opsix is one of the funnest synths I have played, and can always find something useful. I have the best of both worlds now, a really tight analog modeler and the coolest digital FM synth ever.
It may be what you chose to play as much as the actual sound, but based on this, it would be the Summit for me. I say this having serious designs on the Artutia.
How? The Summit sounds really good... for a digital synth, and that's the end of the story. They are not even in the same league.
@@coinopboy2289
The Summit is mostly analog … only the (beautiful FPGA) oscillators aren’t analog … (then you’ve got beautiful digital FX, too, if you want them - including the best Reverb in a synth).
The beautiful Filters, Amps, Distortion and Envelopes are all analog …
The Summit is definitely warmer sounding than the Polybrute.
I'd go def for Polybrute! You have a ton of digital synths & plugins outhere... but analogue morphing synth? none...
btw, i don't think the cheesy presets shown here do the justice to its potential.
PRO 3 does morphing, too.
Go with the PolyBrute and add a Peak! Both very affordable on the used market now.
Does brass fine from what ive played around with. Been chasing that cs-80 brass sound and it seems to do it well. It just doesn't dial it in the same way others do. The envelopes are touchy and the oscillators you kind of need to start low and work high to get where you want with it.
Which one are you walking about? 😏
@@kierenmoore3236 He's talking about the Polybrute.
@@funkingitup1805 Thanks. I didn’t like the general sounds of the original Polybrute (I remember hearing one preset I really liked), and have been expecting the new 12-voice version for a while (but haven’t paid much attention to it, given that I wasn’t keen on the sound of the original). But I will have to see whether it sounds significantly different to the og, or not? And what features it has gained (and lost?!) … ?
Anyway I take both!!
Did you notice that when a Summit preset is selected, it just gets played, but when a Polybrute preset is selected, it immediately gets edited, and then edited, and then edited...
I think thats because theres more hands on, expressive control with the Polybrute than there is with the Summit, not to slander the Summit, but that could be why.
@@higgsmachines Surely, if the Polybrute provides more 'hands on, expressive control', then a Polybrute preset should need to be edited less than a Summit preset...
@@MartinRuss maybe if you’re just buying a synth for its presets, but I tend to think presets are more of a subjective experience from user to user. I guess Im more interested in what the synthesizer offers from a sound design standpoint, and its ability to express those sounds rather than what presets get shipped with the unit.
@@higgsmachines I have never bought a synth for its presets. I have revoiced everything I own. But one of the critical features I use when auditioning a synth is the implicit sound design of the programmers who voiced it, because that tells you a lot about how broad its capabilities are. If the first reaction of a player is to edit a sound, then the sound is not well programmed, imho. I would venture that a real Fender-Rhodes piano should just be played... If the programmers couldn't quite find the perfect expression of the sound that they were trying to create, then that is a clue to a potential limitation.
@@MartinRuss and I wasn't trying to suggest that that was something you do. I think its a mentality that some own, but I agree, I think it is important to see what the sonic capabilities of synths are before purchasing one. I will say, to that point, the presets for the CZ-101 are pretty basic, but once you dig into the editor, those initial limitations are completely blown off any initial preconceptions of the synth, to me at least. I don't think there's a correlation between bad preset sounds and a synthesizers sonic capabilities or limitations. I've been able to make completely insane sounds with such a cheap digital synthesizer that I think are totally unique to the CZ series. I just think presets are subjective to the artist, and because of the CZ's editor, I don't think presets should be a write off. But again, that's just me. I respect your point and your opinion.
I like both. But think that perhaps a high quality virtual instrument could provide Summit vibes and while not a fan of the cheaper Arturia synths (Except for anything Freak) , I'm leaning towards the Polybrute for the sounds I like. Thanks for comparison.
Were these all factory presets? They were just the worst, for both synths …
The only thing I wish the Summit had was program select buttons. That would be ideal for live performances.
The PolyBrute is nearly perfect. The only thing I wish they'd done differently is use a more substantial feeling keybed. As a synthesizer, I have to say that it feels like a master of past and present. I have a room of vintage gear, and I'd put both the PolyBrute and the MatrixBrute up there with any of the greats of the past.
Exactly!! I love my summit but it's hard to use live with no ''favourite patch'' button(s)
Seems like quite an oversight … Are there some user banks where you could save all the patches you’d want for a particular set sequentially, for example?
@@kierenmoore3236 I'm sure there are user banks and you could organize your sounds that way. However, if you're on a gig and have an artist change the setlist, then you have to reorganize patch orders. It would be nice to have a 0-10 keypad. As it is, this would have to receive program changes from an external device.
I really think you need to spend more time with the Polybrute!. You cannot get deep low brassy sounds!!!! I have been a sound designer for quite a number of years, and there is some really floor thumping 30-60 low end, it makes my floor shake with my Yamaha HS8 monitors. It is capable of doing everything and more, even 6 Polyphony its not a deal breaker, look at the OB-6 and Prophet 6, how good are they......I rest my case.
The closest alternative to the Summit would be the Sequential Rev 2 - 16. The summit sounds a bit better but with a new update Sequential could pull ahead.
IMHO the DSI has a filter that make it sound so good. Still taken the Summit.
The Polybrute sounds amazing, but buyer beware, the one I received was a complete lemon (didn't work), on a couple of different levels. I returned it after reading a bunch of forums and I discovered there are a lot of heartbroken Polybrute owners out there with synths that don't function properly and are unable to get them fixed, for various reasons. For someone looking for a flagship synth and don't have money to waste, this becomes a major issue. I ended up getting an Opsix and Peak for the same amount of money, and honestly, even though the Peak is a little bitch, I believe I made the right decision since I have the best of analog modelling and digital awesomeness. My criticism of the Peak is that the oscillators seem to have a natural distortion or slightly harsh tone to them. This works great for some tones, but I tend toward the ambient side of things so have to work the Shape knobs to get the tones to chill out. That is my only major critique. The digital vs. analog oscillator debate is freaking stupid. The Peak can sound just as rich and tough as any analog, and some of the Polybrute's presets sound weak and thin. So it's really about the talent and wherewithal of the programmer.
I'd love to see PolyBrute vs Prophet 6/5/10 and Super 6 vs Hydrasynth.
UDO super 6 Summit , Rev 2
This is perfect! I've been considering selling my Summit for a Polybrute. Great timing.
if i had a summit and ob6 i would see no reason to swap the poly for the summit it has so much modulation and the benefit of digital oscillators and also more voices. Any “character” you need you can just head to the Matriarch or the OB6
I have the Peak and might consider selling that to get the Summit but I also got the PolyBrute and would never sell one to get the other - totally different beasts.
Now if I could only have one synth, then it gets more troublesome - but then I would get the Summit because I need more voices if I only have one synth. The PB fills the more expressive playing style and the Morphee do have a learning curve and one needs many hours to learn how to play and express oneself with this new 'thingy' to get the most musical output.
Before you do please do a Summit vs ob6 vid!
@@danielmulholland5869 in the works!
@@barrnycharlton8951 totally fair. For me what I’ve found is the raw tone of the Summit just isn’t quite as appealing for me as something like the OB or Prologue or Matriarch, which makes me use it less even though it’s the most capable synth I have . I can absolutely get the summit there on par with the other synths with sound design and using the menus, but I’ve found that I really gravitate towards more hands on type of sound design vs menus.
The summit is still an absolutely great synth but it just hasn’t been getting much use on my Miles Away productions recently.
Novation Summit vs ASM Hydrasynth deluxe? And or Novation Summit vs Sequential Rev2-16? Those two comparison videos is what the audience would really need actually..
Red Means Recording (Jeremy) did a good video on which was “warmer”, as between the Peal and a Hydrasynth … lol
They’re all very different. I have a Rev2 and a Summit. I’d like a Hydrasynth, mainly for more Industrial sounds.
Which Synth would you say is more intuitive / easy to learn?
I think he mentions that the Polybrute has a bit less menu diving, and is more up front and intuitive. Especially the mod matrix. And having a sequencer can be really nice, although a lot of people want a centralized sequencer device or DAW. But the Summit is fairly up front too. And one thing that is a godsend on the Summit to me is the ability to see the saved patch value for any option while you tweak it. So you always know what the difference is and can get back to it quickly. Don’t know if the Polybrute has that. Honestly, in terms of value, the Summit has more value. It is less expensive than the Polybrute now, and has 16 voices. It also has more flexible oscillators. The Polybrute is a killer synth though, and I want one.
Just a thought, I saw the video was over an hour long and I’m sure that puts a lot of people of as we are all short of time
I can't understand why your not getting very good brass sounds from the PolyBrute. I have just made a gorgeous OBX brass patch from scratch which took 15 minutes create/
le polybrute et un leure
@@styx3styx ahahahah
I’ve owned DOZENS of synths since 1986. I’ve gone through the sampler era, The birth of pure digital synths, then workstations, and back to single function synths again. I will tell you that modern synths are way better!!!! Even digital synths.
I have also learned that in most cases, all the Morphing stuff is just to entertain yourself, so if synths are just your way of meditating, the poly brute is a good choice. Having said that, Sounds that end up in EDM are usually from laptops.
A physical machine such as summit and poly brute are, in my opinion, More inspirational. Way more.
Sex with another person is in most ways better than porn! Same thing
Also, It’s not ever the synth, It’s YOU and how well you apply it’s specific sound.
I personally think the Summit is pound per pound, inch by inch, Knob by knob, one of the most “human” synths I know of.
Waldorf Iridium keyboard is another digital human. It WORKS WITH YOU’
I didn’t connect with polybrute quite as much But It’s A Good Synth and puts those old museum piece, bank robbing synths to shame.
Moog One……it’s a badge you w show off to people who don’t really care.
CS-80…………..a Lamborghini that can’t handle speed bumps and the speed limits.
Just sayin
I hear you :-D
The sound of the summit is still above he forgot to tell you who the FPGA against the DCI of the polybrute and it's not nothing ... moreover it has 2 functions which rematerialise the vco in annalogue with 16 voices polyphony is still to be taken into account.
If you mean DCO, rather than DCI, the Polybrute have VCO’s….not DCO’s. With VCF’s.
@@final_mile_music9713 You’re correct, of course - though, to be fair, the PB’s VCOs kinda sound like DCOs, to me … kinda thin and lightweight.
Why do you hate punctuation so much?!
@@kierenmoore3236 My Polybrute, like my Moog One is for modern analog sounds. They do sound different to things like my Matriarch and Grandmother, but I don’t find them ‘thin’. I had a Prophet Rev 2. I didn’t like that. That had DCO’s but I don’t think it was down to digital control. It was the filter I didn’t like.
The polybrute for sure has a HEAVY low end :) just need to be programmed for it
The Polybrute tends to sound thin, overly bright, and even metallic, to me …
Conversely, the Summit can be rather dark …
I find the Morphe and the blend too gimmicky to be of much lasting value. The ribbon is rather short, and doesn’t have the best feel. I do like the mod matrix …
But overall, I’d take the (16-Voice, great sounding, great FX) Summit (and a good eq for mixing/fitting it into a track!!), and an Expressive-E Touché … then look at other, better sounding synths/components, if I really wanted a Ribbon strip …
But then, I don’t really love the sound of any of the Arturia hardware synths … 🤷🏻♂️
This is not Summit 2.0 nor 2.2. ???
Good job may Yahweh bless you
And we can't stop the trolls
I'm more an "analog guy" and not a big fan of digital synths, but once that said I must confess the Summit (like the Peak) has more possibilities and a very musical sound signature while the polybrute as no real soul. Arturia is making fantastic user interfaces for their instruments but they have not found the way to get a strong sound signature. The polybrute sounds mean for my ears. it is just a big Minibrute 2S, I recognize the same "anonymous" sound. They have to work this part as well they did it for the architecture and the UI. The summit while being digital has this little "something" that makes a great synth.
I owning a lot of synths, even a Minibrute and a Peak, some prophet and many others. The summit is really on top for a digital instrument, or perhaps this is because it is not completely digital but hybrid. It is more a synth you can compare to a dco analog synth like the prophet rev2. The polybrute can't stand such a comparison.
Or course that's my own tastes, if you're loving arturia's sound that's ok. Peace on earth !
You right Summit can be compare to the REV-2 and DCO. Both can diverge and drift on demand.
I try both, there are really close, the Summit is just more versatile with more FM, wavetable, effect and analogue overdrive/distortion
@@jno8039 I love both, they have a different sound signature, the Peak is more digital (above all with wavtables) and it is perfect to add this kind of sound to my set, the Rev2 has more the Sequential sound signature, another taste. But they are similar and the Rev2/16 with two layers of sounds is costing less than the Summit. The Peak has alas just 8 voices and no multi-timbral architecture. So having both is really cool, but I also have other machines with a more analog sound. In all cases Peak, Summit and Rev2 are great machines that have a musical and pleasant sound signature. Buying one or the other will never be a mistake. For the others, polybrute, hydrasynth, super 6, etc, I'm not really sure.
@@jno8039 Indeed the Rev2 is bit more limited, less modulation slots for example. But he sound is beautiful and one can create astonishing sounds (above all with the layering possibilities with a 16 voices). But both are very good synths. I already have a Rev2 and a Peak, if I had more money I thing I'll get a Summit too !
@@KNHSynths If you could only keep your Rev2 or your Peak, which would you keep (and why)?! 😊
@@kierenmoore3236 it is a very hard question :-) I think I'll keep the Rev2 with no regret. The Peak is fantastic but half the time. Half the sounds you can get are very good, half are very synthetic, cold, or just digitally noisy. About 95% of the sounds of the Rev2 are good.
But it is a hard choice because both machines are top level. And all depend on the music you want to write. For some genres I'm sure the peak will be a better fit.
This is better than synthpunk
ma che caz fa?
Is it just me or does the Summit sound so... flat and digital? I was expecting a bit more character, or punch, or maybe he just chose all the wrong presets...
Neutral definitely. But if you want to know how the Summit really sounds check out Jexus.
And the clear winner is ... Summit.
If you don't turn them on, sure, I know, "nicer keybed". In an instrument, I pay for sound and expressiveness. But then there are always people who buy instruments because they like the color of the paint.
The big difference is one sounds beautiful analogic and the other digital! A video comparing Apples to....by whatching the summit I wonder what makes it so good since is sounding as a novation ultra nova? ( Which costs 4 times cheaper). I would go for the arturia.
Super 6 v polybrute
UD6 & Summit Polybrute= bontenpi
I don't like either. When it comes to analog polies I like Prophets and Andromeda and probably nothing else.
Summit does not have "digital oscillators". Oxford oscillators found on Peak and Summit are DCOs - digitally CONTROLLED oscillators. This means they are analogue oscillators controlled digitally. Same thing can be found on REV2 and many other contemporary synths, using the best of both worlds. Sound of analogue and digital control of the pitch - which you can basically disable and have analogue tuning float freely. So, DCO is NOT digital oscillator.
Also, Novation is long term established hardware manufacturer. Arturia is a new kid on the block, with a lots to learn. I own Matrix Brute, Micro Freak, Minibrute 2 S, and while i love innovation and boldness Arturia is showing, paired with their great emulations in software, there are few reasons I would never chose this one for my main synth. First, Brute oscillators are the same, on 300£ and 2500£ synths. This is somewhat lazy. Second, while there are few really nice features, I think they hit the ceiling with Matrix Brute and this poly is not your flagship synth. Quality Control is another thing Arturia seriously has to look into.
Summit is basically Peak x2. And while I prefer REV2 to Peak, I love how they updated firmware and let 3rd oscillator to be wavetable, with user wavetables as an option. This is upgrading sound generation capabilities and giving it advantage to PolyBrute to begin with.
Personally, and again, we are all free to choose our gear, I would not chose either as my main synth. My main synth is Prophet REV2, and while I have P10 and OB6 (I had P6 as well but I sold it to get P10), REV2 is my go-to poly.
@strangerhythm You are absolutely right. I think I put them in this category due to constant REV2/Peak comparisons. But yeah, NCO is purely digital.
@strangerhythm You say that NCO's & FPGA technology sounds more analog than analog synths. You know what ? You are very right ! My Summit makes me think of my old Oberheim Matrix 12, but better !
Perfect take on both synths.
Summit and Peak DO have digital oscillators, which is what allows them to do wavetables. They call their VA oscillators NCOs (numerically controlled oscillators), but they are not DCOs, despite the similar name.
Direct quote from Novation on the Peak oscillators:
"Each of Peak's eight voices has an independent oversampling digital-to-analogue converter (DAC). These DAC's are oversampling at over 24MHz...to enable optimum waveform synthesis."
@@davidlherring yeah i know my bad
Le Poly Brute, pure synthétiseur analogique polyphonique 6 voix contre 16 voix sur le novation Summit ca na rien a voir j'ait les deux et je peut vous dire que le Summit écrase de loin le poly Brute
Summit sounded so flat and lifeless. Not sure where all this 'character' is everyone is talking about. I'd definitely go Polybrute. Sound design possibilities are endless with the mod matrix
I've owned both. If you want to let the modulation do your playing then go Poly. If you can play awesome riffs and want a tone that can get nasty, then Novation is the way to go to cut through a mix.
Summit sounds like a peak with a pro3 and a take 5 touch in my ears guess it could as they owned under the same mother company but i like it it can get dirty and punchy very fast. Arturia's sound is more 'unique' but less exciting
It’s literally just 2 Peaks ‘squashed together’ … 😊
@@kierenmoore3236 nah man it has a lot of prophet thing going on. I have them all. Peak sounds colder. I agree with you they advertise it as being 2 peaks combined and on papers they could be.. but the final sequence summit has a different more prophet thing mojo
Well, the Prophets all sound quite different to one another, for starters … and the pro3 and take5 aren’t even Prophets …
@@kierenmoore3236 pro 3 and take 5 they can sound as much as any prophet as u want em to be sound... i am not debating you bro i have my own ears and gear. Im just saying summit is not only 2x peak. Is much more versatile than the peak or 2 peak.
It's all down to the debate of synth purity and subjective flatness, or digital vs analog. The fact is if you need a piece of music done the Summit will prob get it finished with less editing and experimenting. With poly brute, maybe will get you lost in sonic possibilities and an overdue deadline 😂
The arturia at least sounds like an analog synth although thinny, the summit cannot hide digital character but sounds more full in lowend
The PolyBrute sounds as thinny or fat as you program it. Marc Doty (Automatic Gainsay) has made a video on this topic, and Jamie Morden‘s (GEOsynth) soundset does include very fat patches.
@@RayyMusik no , i listened to dotys remarks with filter boost at resonance point, still does not cut it , on any good polysynth you get the lowend even with raw unfiltered oscs, the error arturia made here is it might work for their mono synths but they had to re-engineer their osc technology when going poly wich of course they didnt , they just took the oscs from microbrute in a poly setup
@@cnfuzz bah, you don't listen near Polybrute. ahaha
Well i know what a good analog synth makes it sing ( owned countless analogs since 85) , tons of modulations isn't worth anything if the basic sound is meeeh , no onboard fx as cover up
@@cnfuzz I own both and the PB can easily get low end, it needs taming at times.
Archewria …
Normally (IMO) you do better presentations. Your delivery seemed fairly hesitant & choppy, ... to me though, even past the intro and 10 mins. or so in, which caused my interest & focus to wane at that point, I almost felt self conscientious for you, but that is 'not the norm' for you, It sounded like you may have had an allergy, or congestion, ... 'or something' that impeded you. I guess I should have skipped forward to get past that.
Time is precious, maybe I will "circle back", ... or not, ... later.
He gets his point across regardless of his stuttering. You on the other hand have a short attention span, and most likely have ADHD, and that's why you're unable to focus on the message only. See a psychiatrist for your illness.
cool story bro
The biggest USP of the Polybrute is it’s mod matrix … and that’s not enough, imho. Plus, sound/tone is paramount, and the Polybrute could easily be mistaken for a digital/hybrid synth (as your inclination towards this comparison confirms). Plus, it’s big, heavy and expensive! Hard Pass!!
There are 2 axis on morphee
3 - x,y,z
@@Test-zv9ty X/Y is only a 2D surface, though … Z is spring-loaded, up-down only
@@kierenmoore3236 yes, that makes 3
too much senseless talking.
very rude comment
@@Tshiknn very sensitive comment
Oh shut your pie hole Frank.
@@Tshiknn Harsh, but fair … lol
great reviews, but oh those bum notes