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Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $2,645
High-end/Boutique
$500
$1501+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 8 merchants for "Novation Summit". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Novation Summit is a versatile and professional 16-voice polyphonic synthesizer, perfect for both live performances and studio work. This flagship synth is the result of Novation's esteemed analog expertise combined with innovative digital technology. At its core, the Summit is powered by three
Owner's manual
Novation Summit User ManualProduct specs
| Type | Keyboard Synthesizer |
| Sound Engine | Subtractive, FM and Wavetable Synthesis |
| Analog/Digital | Hybrid |
| Number of Keys | 61 |
| Type of Keys | Semi-weighted |
| Aftertouch | Yes |
| Velocity Sensitive | Yes |
| Other Controllers | Pitchbend, Mod wheel |
| Polyphony | 16 Notes |
| Number of Presets | 1024 (512 single, 512 multi) |
| Presets | 768 factory presets |
| Oscillators | 3 x Digital New Oxford Oscillators |
| Waveforms | Sine, Triangle, Sawtooth, Square, Pulse |
| LFO | 2 x LFO, 2 x Global LFO (triange, sawtooth, square, sample and hold) |
| Filter | Analog State Variable OTA 12/24dB Slope Filter; Lowpass, Bandpass, Highpass, Dual Filter |
| Envelope Generator | Amp Envelope ADSR, Mod Envelope ADSR, Loop Switch, Animate |
| Effects Types | Lo-Fi Delay, Flanger, Analog Distortion, Reverb, Chorus, Delay |
| Arpeggiator | 33 Patterns, Arpeggiator Chance |
| Audio Inputs | 2 x 1/4" (L/mono,R) |
| Audio Outputs | 2 x 1/4" (main), 2 x 1/4" (aux) |
| Headphones | 1 x 1/4" |
| USB | 1 x Type B |
| MIDI I/O | In/Out/Thru/USB |
| Pedal Inputs | 2 x 1/4" (expression 1/2) |
| Other I/O | 1 x 1/8" (CV modulation in) |
| Mod Matrix | 16 Slots, 2 Sources per Destination per Slot |
| Features | Stereo Spread Modes |
| Software | Ableton Live Lite |
| Power Source | Standard IEC AC cable |
| Height | 3.62" |
| Width | 39.31" |
| Depth | 11.95" |
| Weight | 23.4 lbs. |
FAQs
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Is the Novation Summit suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Novation Summit is well-suited for live performances with its 61 semi-weighted keys, aftertouch, and bi-timbral capabilities, allowing you to split or layer sounds across the keyboard for dynamic performance flexibility.
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What synthesis methods does the Novation Summit offer?
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The Novation Summit features a hybrid sound engine that includes subtractive, FM, and wavetable synthesis, providing a wide range of sound design possibilities.
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Does the Novation Summit have a built-in arpeggiator?
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Yes, the Novation Summit includes a built-in arpeggiator with 33 patterns and an arpeggiator chance feature, enhancing creative sequencing options.
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How many voices of polyphony does the Novation Summit have?
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The Novation Summit offers 16 voices of polyphony, which allows for complex and layered sounds without note cut-off during performance or recording.
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Can the Novation Summit integrate with DAWs?
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Yes, the Novation Summit integrates easily with DAWs and comes with Ableton Live Lite software, offering seamless connectivity via USB and MIDI I/O for studio and live use.
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What are the modulation capabilities of the Novation Summit?
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The Novation Summit features a comprehensive modulation matrix with 16 slots, allowing two sources per destination per slot, enabling intricate sound modulation and control.
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What type of filters does the Novation Summit have?
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The Novation Summit is equipped with analog state variable filters offering lowpass, bandpass, highpass, and dual filter modes, providing versatile sound shaping options.
Videos
sonicstate
Novation Summit Synth - SonicLAB Review
Novation Summit Synth - SonicLAB Review
sonicstate
Summit Overview // Novation
Novation
Novation Summit | No Talking |
DKS SYNTH LAB
Novation Summit Synthesizer, It's Two Peaks And More
Perfect Circuit
Still The Best Flagship Synth? Novation Summit || Review, Tutorial & Sounds
Miles Away
NOVATION SUMMIT - Review, Sounds & Demo | Bi-Timbral Hybrid Synthesizer
synth4ever
Novation Summit - The most fantastic Sounds - no talking (One of the best eighties sounding synth)
thiedi8000
Novation Summit - All Playing, No Talking
Kraft Music
Reviews
PROS
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Effortless and fun sound creation with powerful oscillators and juicy filter
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Versatile sound design capabilities, including wavetable synthesis
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16 voices for complex or layered sounds
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Durable build quality
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Excellent onboard effects, especially the reverb
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Intuitive layout and control scheme for real-time tweaking
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Seamless integration with DAWs like Logic
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Great for live performance with reliable MIDI implementation
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Bi-timbral capabilities for rich, multi-layered patches
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Inspires creativity with extensive modulation options
CONS
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Aesthetic and brand may lack appeal compared to vintage synths
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Initial learning curve due to extensive features
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Filter character may be too neutral for some
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Possible internal clipping when using high resonance
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Oscillator sync sound considered weak by some users
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Some features require menu diving
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Keys not perfectly aligned, minor build issue
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Novation Summit.
User experience
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Some users find the Summit's overdrive and distortion effects require high settings to achieve noticeable crunch, suggesting a compressor could enhance these effects.
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Despite the complexity, the Summit's knob-per-function interface makes it user-friendly, allowing exploration without extensive menu diving.
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Some owners find the Summit's keybed requires significant pressure to trigger aftertouch, which limits modulation control.
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Comparisons
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The Summit is compared favorably against cheaper synths like the Korg Minilogue and Deepmind, which have more limited capabilities.
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The Summit's analog filter and overdrive are highlighted for their unique character, unlike the Hydra synth's more digital sound, enhancing its appeal for analog enthusiasts.
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Despite owning other notable synths, many users favor the Summit for its sound quality and ease of programming.
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The Summit's UI with knob-per-function is preferred by some over the Hydrasynth's assignable knobs, which can feel less immediate.
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Features and functionality
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The Summit's analog circuitry, excluding sampled oscillators, is praised for preventing aliasing, maintaining high sound quality.
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The Summit combines wavetable and FM synthesis, offering more sound design flexibility compared to synths that typically focus on one method.
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Users note the Summit's FM and wavetable synthesis as bright and versatile, allowing for a broad range of sound design possibilities beyond traditional subtractive synthesis.
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The Summit's FM controls are more accessible with dedicated panel controls compared to menu diving on the Peak.
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Owners appreciate the ability to see parameter values against saved patches, which significantly aids in sound design and patch management.
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The Summit's bitimbrality allows for extensive layering and splitting of patches, enabling immense sound creation.
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Value and pricing
Use cases and applications
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Beginners are encouraged to explore presets and modify them to understand sound design, rather than starting from scratch with a blank slate.
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The Summit is praised for its ability to recreate the sounds of other synths, such as the Prophet Rev2, making it a flexible choice for varied musical styles.
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Users appreciate the Summit for its versatility in creating both massive and mellow sounds, fitting various musical styles.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 4 Reviews and 12 Ratings
40997
twin peaks
see my review of the peak.... this guy addresses most of my gripes with peak by stacking 2 up with a lot more filter options.... and now you can make your own wavetables. Desert Island jack of all trades... won't replace your prophet or juno, but can do a decent job at bread and butter patches. Warm and nasty or cold and digital, it leans more towards an analog sound than the argon8 but but is thoroughly capable.
26711
How does "decent job at bread and butter patches" equal 5 stars?
40997
it does so much more.... its a jack of all trades. Its obscenely versatile.
349
Superb sounding beast with incredible flexibility
Summit is a beast with incredible flexibility. The analogue filter with pre and post analogue disto can be as soft or aggressive as required and give the synth a real warmth. On the other end, the FPGA negates aliasing issues while offering incredible possibilities with the wavetables...
218
Desert Island Synth
If I could only have one, it would be the Summit. It covers practically every ground I need, and inspires an insane amount of creativity. The built in FX are top notch, and it does the CS80 sound better than any other hardware synth on the market.
40997
agreed, swiss army knife... however I would argue its CS80 isn't as strong as (obviously) the deckards dream (gotta finish building that) or even the Prologue (I know, hard to believe but it really does bang up bladerunner) and I have a prologue and summit to compare..
218
You definitely know your gear! You’re right about the Deckard. I should’ve said keyboard synth instead of hardware 😁
I had a Prologue, but didn’t find it nearly as useable as the Summit, and did love the Vangelis tones on the Summit a bit more. The Prologue blew my Rev2 out of the studio though 😉
40997
Maybe tis how you tweak 'em... I find the prologue with the distortion off and care full balancing of oscilator levels to be capable of a cleaner sound than the summit which has a very gritty cmos inverter based ladder fitler ala the wasp and oscar. Whereas a clean clean clean signal path is what i think of when I think CS series, though I've not played an 80, just 5s, 15s and a 60. Now its possible to drive the fitler of the prologue but if you pay attention you can avoid that and get some CS80 going and make up the gain in a submenu with the patch gain setting that ups the VCA level up to 6dbv ;-) Other blade runner sounds are really easy to accomplish with my vintage stuff because a lot of them were a prophet... but a VCO p5.... right now my vangelis arsenal is focused in on the prologue, a mopho x4 for certain things, prophet600, prologue, polysix (does that bad electric piano sound from blade runner PERFECTLY and can really do some great great early japanese string ensemble sounds) and now a juno6 which I don't think he used all of those vitnage guys but they do the business for certain signature parts. I'm rambling sorry. I need to play with my summit a bit more...
218
I think we’re in the wrong place of gear-rambling bugs us 😉
I did love the Prologue. The main reason I got rid of it was because I was getting the Summit and had the opportunity to pick up a Prophet 6, which I also love and was kind of a dream synth of mine.
40997
if the 6 sounds like an old 600 it actually does a prettymean blade runner brass... I haven't really had them side by side but the 6 sure has a lot more options!
218
I love the 6 for the bread and butter sounds. It does a pretty good BR Brass, but the FX can’t hold a candle to the Summit.
I’m a huge John Carpenter fan, so that’s where the P6 gets a lot of use 😁
40997
that's why I have a 600, Carpenter.... sounds very close to the 5 after the gli gli processor mod...
40997
although try a polysix man, it does some great early carpenter sounds
186
Superb
The Novation Summit is a monstrous synthesizer with vast sound design capabilities. It is easily one of my favorites.
Artist usage
Add artist
1'38 Tyler's play on it for the fist song rebuild
In the video titled "Travis Barker's Studio Is a Punk Rock Oasis | My Career Through Gear" by Reverb on YouTube, Travis Barker can be seen using the Novation Summit synthesizer. The instrument is first visible at 14:28 and is later showcased by Barker himself at 16:38.
can be seen in this post from September 27, 2022
Legowelt presents this piece of gear on his official website: "We welcome the Novation SUMMIT synthesizer to our studio – The SUMMIT AKA The Twin Peaks, AKA the Oxford Toblerone AKA The British Jupiheim is an EXTREME sophisticated synthesizer". Some pictures and exclusive audio demos can also be found on this page.
Jimmy uses the Summit often, and in the shared link plays a patch he crafted for the soundtrack to Something in The Dirt.
In the YouTube video titled "Keinemusik’s Rampa and &ME talk Tech and TEILE (Electronic Beats TV)" by Telekom Electronic Beats TV, Rampa is seen with a Novation Summit synthesizer in the background. The distinct layout of the knobs on the device confirms it is indeed the Novation Summit. The name of the synth is clearly visible à 3:48
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The middle of the 3 keyboards and the one Lauren Mia is playing in her Instagram post is the Novation Summit synth. She says:
big announcement tomorrow, my friends! I am so excited. Who’s ready for some new music?! ❤️🔥✨🎶😋
In a video shared by Noizu on Instagram, a Novation Summit synthesizer is visible in his studio.
Album Usage
The Novation Summit has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Novation Summit, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Community setups
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