Peak 2.0 update is a game changer. More effects, more modulation including noise as a source, control over panning and more stereo spread options. It really is a new synth. And some pretty crazy stuff with lofi delays. Rev 2 is no longer close if 8 voices is enough for you.
Thanks for the comparison video. I'm still loving the Peak. I listen to DSI videos every now and then and the general DSI tone always seems a bit lighter and sharper than the Peak. I love how much girth the Peak has. It really excels at smooth, dark tones. In the five months I've been using it I haven't minded that it "only" has 8 voices. The oscillators are so beefy I rarely feel the need to stack them (unlike with my Deepmind 12).
@@petter9078 I avoid USB MIDI at all costs. I control it via the MIDI port and have no latency issues. But it will depend on your audio signal routing.
Hi,whats you opinion about UHE Diva and Peak,my point is mainly the oscilators...because Diva has some very fat sounds out of the box....i now use Novation Ultranova but the sound is very plastic,i hope that Peak its different story ?
@@L.Lyubomirov I haven't tried Peak, but from the videos I've seen it sounds good. I have Diva and it's amazing for a VST. I think it's the best sounding VST out there and the closest to analog for a VST. I have some short videos on it on my channel.
original OB-Xa, the synth used in Jump, has Curtis filter with 2/4 pole slope and it's not state variable. so you don't need SEM filter to sound like Jump :)
Thank you for this! I used to own a P08 but got rid of it because the filters are just anemic. Meanwhile the Peak's filters are so good that it makes those digital oscillators sound more analog than the Rev2!
I love the filter on the Peak. I always said I would sell off the rev 2 if they ever did a 16 voice keyboard version of the peak...hahahaha enters summit
kinda confused about people talking about how good something fits in the mix - isnt it just a matter of taste/other elements you use in your arrangements?
I sold my Rev 2 and got a peak. I can just do more with the Peak. I like having wavetables too. My Pro 3 mixes things up too. And then there’s my Matriarch for all the analog goodness. ☺️
Thank you for this video! The filter-cutoff and poly-sound decided that i will go with Prophet as my first poly-synth. Peak sounds a bit dry/darker/muffled in comparison. I look for bright and wide sound for pads and poly and DSI was always more pleasing. Looking forward to play with it :)
@@kierenmoore3236 Hi, yes I have. I find them pretty complementary. The Rev 2 sounds like nothing else and there are some nice additional sound banks for it. The downside is the Pro Tools plugins to control it over USB are so so but ok. You learn to live with it. The Summit can sound like almost anything you want but still, the Rev 2 keeps its distinct character. Love em both. If ever I sell my stuff, those would be the last 2 to ever go.
@@harveyspecterdj6661 Thanks very much for your reply. Was looking for an affordable, analogue poly sound … considered both the Peak and the Rev2. Seems to me the Rev2 edges out the Peak/summit sound-wise, for that sound (it has analog oscillators, after all …) … though the P6 seems to have more heft, and the P5/10 yet more again … I get that the Peak/Summit can do a lot of things, but what I really want is a killer, vintage analog poly sound, and it seems to me that the Peak/Summit doesn’t quite cut it, even with ‘slop’ parameters and its very good internal reverb. Good for the money, I’m sure; but not really what I’m looking for, I don’t think … ? A great, versatile, workhorse synth - as they say - but it seems to me I’ve just got to shell out for THAT sound … ?! Fair to say?
very cool! Most people I have talked to preferred the Peak! I love my Rev 2 a lot. I've learned a lot of tricks recently to make it sound thicker and thicker and it's still my main performance synth :). It's really a fantastic synth
@@DexterPiano I'll help.. Unison modes (drops polyphony but thickens sound). Slightly detuned oscs. Turn on sub osc. Play with filter modes. And lastly layer stack (again drops polyphony but thickens sound.) Ohh one more -slop
Havn't tried the Summit yet. Just got a Rev2, that competes directly with the Summit. Love the sound but quite disappointed and frustrated about many things. No actual HPF (instead an FX version that uses up your only FX slot). All sorts of control and sync issues, especially in things related to multi-mode. Merges local and incoming Pitchbend, modwheel, and aftertouch to BOTH layers ! (for just one example of problems). Also Novation provides editors for free, Sequential doesn't but they endorse Soundtower for you to buy it from. I really don't support the idea of buying a premium synth and an editor not being included. It's just rude to me. And you can't really try the editors out fully with Soundtower editor because the demo is so gimped. And there are no refunds if you buy the software. So really, no good way to try risk free. I still think I may like the sound of the Rev2 a little more, enough that it matters to me. It does sound a little more, well, 'analog'. (like 'edgier' 'sweeter') Idk If that's the analog OSC or what. The Prophet 12 was I think digital OSC too but idk it may still sound a little edgier than the Summit. Frustration about the Rev2 is how I ended up looking elsewhere like the Summit. If I had a Summit I might find issues too, idk.
in what regard? I use the user bank and create my own, knowing there are identical factory presets in the factory bank. If you want to be able to click presets from a list, you can buy the Rev 2 patch software (worth every penny). www.soundtower.com/rev2/page.html
I am having the hardest time deciding between the two. The rev2 seems to have a smaller sweet spot and can sound brassy based off demos, but the peak doesn't seem that unique sounding.
I have a question: Do you feel there is a big overlap having both? I went for Peak after all, but now i look at another "bigger" synth... I always wanted a prophet, but Peak + Rev are kinda similar in features ... If there is too much overlap i might get a Moog Subsequent 37 instead. It's mono, but has a different character for my sound palette then, which i also find important. Can't decide really. I love the Layering idea of DSI. I basically get two synths for one price... Hmmm
dude it took me a while but I love my sub Phatty so I would definitely look a ta mono synth in that price point! just my thought! No need to duplicate what you have! That being said the PRO3 looks damn sexy!
Hello! i am looking to invest in my first synth this summer, and i am torn between these two. What would you reccomend for a first timer?, i want to invest in something good. I make mostly Ambient, Chillout, House and trance musc. Its really hard to decide on a synth these days. I want something i can do alot of sound design on and is able to make good ambient sounds.
Personally I would get the Rev 2, because it is a complete package and it's built like a tank if you want to play it live. The Peak is a fantastic option and I love mine, but I prefer to have a keyboard unit, especially if it's your first synth
Rev 2 is fantastic, Peak i sold it the next day after buying it, it has that annoying vanilla sound that reminds to the virtual analogs. Rev 2 is just awesome, the presets not that much
rev2 is just insanely gorgeous. very versatile modulation but probably not as versatile as peak. then again analog synths arent typically as versatile as digital synths, so why not get the hydrasynth? if hydra had an analog filter, would be a no brainer but i still think the hydra filters sound really great. very flexible
These are both fantastic synths. The "Jump" test was the one for me. IMO the Peak actually won there, but when it went on to the next patch comparison the Peak was harsh compared to the smoothness of the Rev2.
Lol, no way the Peak tone/timbre was closer to Jump … the Rev2 is analog, albeit low-end analog; the Peak is digital, with ‘drift’ etc and analog filters to help mask that fact … Still, Rev2 is closer to the sound, albeit without the heft/weight of the bigger and more classic analogs …
I couldnt choose between the 2 (before I saw this vid) bu ended up with a Peak - better deal (v the 8 voice Rev 2) - but seriously thinking of adding the 16 voice Rev 2 module beside the peak for synth stuff (controller is a Roland FA07 sitting about an RD200). Id have 3 patches on the FA set to 1. Peak, 2. Rev 2, 3 Both. 4 would be set to drive the RD (for organ tones) and then Id have 12 available for FA sounds should I want (orchestral stuff and basic synths and programmable arp patterns).
I have the peak for about a month. Used to have the prophet 8 for years. In my opinion they are different. Peak is more of a new sounds type of synth and very good for sound design. Prophet have warmer/softer/rounder/ brassy sound. I can say thats peak reverb is so good. Build as part of the sound. Rev 2 reverb imo not sounding as good. With peak wave tables you can reach places prophet is not design to go. I wish peak would copy the method of prophet for assigning modulation sources and targets. Loved them both. Considering buying the rev 2. 2 very good synths.
Hey thanks for the video! I'm wondering if there's any possibility on this synths, to play one layer of the keyboard a mono sequenced routine and play polyphonic chords on the other side of the keyboard? Thanks
Both are just great for different reasons. The only thing I wish the Rev 2 was capable of, was different poly voicings. Its either full poly, or all voices unison. I wish on the 16 voice, for instance, you could do four voice unison, and have four voice polyphony. Is the Peak able to do something like this? I know the Prologue can do this.
thank you! What I prefer on the peak is the filter, from what I understand it is an analog filter. The only thing I don't like is the delay in patch changes and that it's a desktop, however I love having both
I work with a variety of analog synths, with the Peak being the only hybrid. I can honestly say I don't find it lacking in any way. It doesn't sound digital to me; more like analog with a liquid undertone. It is my go-to synth when producing. It can do anything I ask it to and excels at it.
I have: Alesis Andromeda Nord lead 3 Roland JD 800 Roland jp 8080 Roland d 50 Korg dw 8000 Korg minilogue Virus indigo 2 Waldorf Q Waldorf XT Yamaha dx 7 Moog minitaur Doepfer dark energy .... And I want moog matriarch
I have a Peak and instead of buying a Rev2 for 1800.00 I bought an Analog Four MKII used for 900. It has a Way better sequencer, An additional fliter, much nicer reverb and echo delay, An additional sub oscillator, Better performance control and set up, Am and FM synthesis, And on top of the equal amount of LFOs there are additional hardwired LFOs to the pitch and pwm. DM synths are cool but their value is poor as far as how expensive they are. It’s a brand name thing.
Eventhough the Peak sounds more fat in bass sounds, I plan to buy the REV 2. In REV 2 its easier to create patchs for playing with dynamic velocity, the velocity knobs on the filter and the envelopes are so important! The peak has fat filters and 3 possibilities to add analog distortion, the REV 2 has only digital distortion which is i think after the filter(?). REV 2 wins on usability - easy modulation assign, velocity ammount on anything and split on 2 timbers
The jump comparison really shows where the peak wins IMO. The near immediate satisfaction sold it for me. The rev 2 is an amazing synth im sure but the difference in bass and texture right there was insane.
This is by no means a tight “scientific” comparison but I prefer the Peak for the most part. There is some brightness in certain patches that I enjoy about the Prophet, but the Peak has more depth and soul. And the Peak filter is great. Not into the Curtis filter. Thanks for the comparison.
Very much so. I'm very impressed with how the reverb is incorperated within the sound or is conducive to the sound. I compose film scores and ambient music and it's just perfect for that. Also I don't feelt the polphony is limiting at all. The sound is huge and great for thick pads. I highly recommend it. The sound is very contemporary, but that does not necessary mean contemporary music (although I like contemporary music) .
Also I would add, although it's great that so many synths are coming out these days replicating old instruments, it's nice to see and hear something new and unique. If you like 7th and 9th chords, or just hanging on beautiful ambigiously sounding harmony, this would be great for you.
have the peak for 3 month now. just went to the store to check the rev 2 and the prophet 6. spent 2 hours with them both. the 6 can make very good pads - but overall i am very disapointed with it. it feels like the preset are so wrong and it can have much better sounds/concept. peak is different - an animal for sound design. and the 6 is very expensive. the rev 2 is nice, but that it - not more. the peak just way better. this 2 prophet synths have a very very big name all over them, one that i much Appreciate - dave smith, and i was expacting way better synths. it feels as if they belong to the past - not in a good way, really sorry to say. after checking these out - i feel as if the deepmind12 is a real bargin for it price, and the analog4 is more suiting for my need for pads. but ... steel on the market for a good analog poly. didnt find it yet.
That's what I'm thinking!! I watched Luke Neptunes patch videos of his patches for both the Summit and DSI Rev2. And the differences in analog character are TREMENDOUS! I'm scratching my head trying to figure this out why his summit video is missing so much liveliness and analog soul in comparison. But Lots of comments here people preferring the Peak sound 🤷♂️
Haha yeah. I'm lucky enough to own a Peak myself (I LOVE IT!). I would love a 16 voice rev2 for performance gigs, but I think I'm going to execute self-control and wait to see what dave smith comes out with next. Thanks for making the comparison video!
