KVR Audio

Amorr · Post by **Amorr** » Fri Oct 28, 2022 3:54 am

zerocrossing wrote: Thu Oct 27, 2022 11:17 pm
Amorr wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 2:51 am For my first synth I am between a Summit for 1200 or a Rev2 16 voice for 1400, not sure which to get. I make mainly synthwave. In some videos I prefer the summit's sound, others the rev2. I also absolutely adore the keybed on the rev2. Any suggestions?
For synthwave, definitely the REV2. I've got a REV2 16 voice module and had a Peak, and the Peak's sound is good, but not what I'd call very "analog" sounding, especially something reminiscent of the 80s or 90s. It's a very modern sounding instrument. There's this Tom Shoebridge video where he talks about it replacing some Moog... maybe a Sub Phatty? Anyway, he then goes on to show me how very far off from that sort of sound it is. To someone who doesn't care that much, sure, it's fine and you can get in the ball park, but if you want something a lot closer, it's the REV2 all day long. Listen to any of Luke Neptune's retro sound packs and you'll hear what I'm saying.

Now, for range of different sound types, the Summit is going to overtake the REV2. Just the ability to use wave shapes beyond the usual analog shapes is going to open things up a lot, plus the FM abilities, per filter distortion, etc. The REV2's effects are decent, but the Summit's are better.

The real answer, of course, is "both," but I'm sure that's not helpful. Good luck.

Funnily enough, with Luke Neptune's Synthwave soundsets I much preferred the Summit, but in his vintage soundset I much preferred the Rev2. Thats what made the decision so hard lol.

trusampler · Post by **trusampler** » Fri Oct 28, 2022 4:07 am

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sat Oct 29, 2022 4:16 pm

Amorr wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 3:54 am
zerocrossing wrote: Thu Oct 27, 2022 11:17 pm
Amorr wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 2:51 am For my first synth I am between a Summit for 1200 or a Rev2 16 voice for 1400, not sure which to get. I make mainly synthwave. In some videos I prefer the summit's sound, others the rev2. I also absolutely adore the keybed on the rev2. Any suggestions?
For synthwave, definitely the REV2. I've got a REV2 16 voice module and had a Peak, and the Peak's sound is good, but not what I'd call very "analog" sounding, especially something reminiscent of the 80s or 90s. It's a very modern sounding instrument. There's this Tom Shoebridge video where he talks about it replacing some Moog... maybe a Sub Phatty? Anyway, he then goes on to show me how very far off from that sort of sound it is. To someone who doesn't care that much, sure, it's fine and you can get in the ball park, but if you want something a lot closer, it's the REV2 all day long. Listen to any of Luke Neptune's retro sound packs and you'll hear what I'm saying.

Now, for range of different sound types, the Summit is going to overtake the REV2. Just the ability to use wave shapes beyond the usual analog shapes is going to open things up a lot, plus the FM abilities, per filter distortion, etc. The REV2's effects are decent, but the Summit's are better.

The real answer, of course, is "both," but I'm sure that's not helpful. Good luck.
Funnily enough, with Luke Neptune's Synthwave soundsets I much preferred the Summit, but in his vintage soundset I much preferred the Rev2. Thats what made the decision so hard lol.

Yeah, I totally get it. I’ve got a room full of hardware synths and still I’d be hard pressed to say which one’s I’d get rid of if I had to. I don’t know if it helps, but I will say that I got rid of the Peak because I felt it’s sound was not as unique as my REV2’s. I ran out of audio inputs when I got the Waldorf M, but I knew something had to go. For a while I ran the M though my 002, but that was clumsy. I’ve never really been able to get the gain staging right doing that. So, something had to go. I was able to get results that I liked as much by recreating my Peak patches with MSoundFactory. I’ve also tried to recreate my REV2’s sounds in software, and the closest I’ve gotten was with Matrix 12 V, but I wasn’t as happy with the results.

Also, one of my first hardware synths after a total ITB stint was a MoPho, which is one voice of a Prophet 08, but with feedback and sub oscillator. Then an 08 got added. It got replaced by two Tetras, which is basically a 08 with feedback and a sub oscillator. (The sub osc made it into the REV2) That got replaced by a Tempest, which is sort of a 8 voice 08 with digital oscillator options. I thought a Prophet 12 would work better, so that replaced the Tempest, but I missed the DCOs of the Tempest, so a REV2 got added. The point? I can’t quit that Curtis chip sound. Not everyone loves it, but I do.

Amorr · Post by **Amorr** » Sat Oct 29, 2022 6:11 pm

zerocrossing wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 4:16 pm
Amorr wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 3:54 am
zerocrossing wrote: Thu Oct 27, 2022 11:17 pm
Amorr wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 2:51 am For my first synth I am between a Summit for 1200 or a Rev2 16 voice for 1400, not sure which to get. I make mainly synthwave. In some videos I prefer the summit's sound, others the rev2. I also absolutely adore the keybed on the rev2. Any suggestions?
For synthwave, definitely the REV2. I've got a REV2 16 voice module and had a Peak, and the Peak's sound is good, but not what I'd call very "analog" sounding, especially something reminiscent of the 80s or 90s. It's a very modern sounding instrument. There's this Tom Shoebridge video where he talks about it replacing some Moog... maybe a Sub Phatty? Anyway, he then goes on to show me how very far off from that sort of sound it is. To someone who doesn't care that much, sure, it's fine and you can get in the ball park, but if you want something a lot closer, it's the REV2 all day long. Listen to any of Luke Neptune's retro sound packs and you'll hear what I'm saying.

Now, for range of different sound types, the Summit is going to overtake the REV2. Just the ability to use wave shapes beyond the usual analog shapes is going to open things up a lot, plus the FM abilities, per filter distortion, etc. The REV2's effects are decent, but the Summit's are better.

The real answer, of course, is "both," but I'm sure that's not helpful. Good luck.
Funnily enough, with Luke Neptune's Synthwave soundsets I much preferred the Summit, but in his vintage soundset I much preferred the Rev2. Thats what made the decision so hard lol.
Yeah, I totally get it. I’ve got a room full of hardware synths and still I’d be hard pressed to say which one’s I’d get rid of if I had to. I don’t know if it helps, but I will say that I got rid of the Peak because I felt it’s sound was not as unique as my REV2’s. I ran out of audio inputs when I got the Waldorf M, but I knew something had to go. For a while I ran the M though my 002, but that was clumsy. I’ve never really been able to get the gain staging right doing that. So, something had to go. I was able to get results that I liked as much by recreating my Peak patches with MSoundFactory. I’ve also tried to recreate my REV2’s sounds in software, and the closest I’ve gotten was with Matrix 12 V, but I wasn’t as happy with the results.

Also, one of my first hardware synths after a total ITB stint was a MoPho, which is one voice of a Prophet 08, but with feedback and sub oscillator. Then an 08 got added. It got replaced by two Tetras, which is basically a 08 with feedback and a sub oscillator. (The sub osc made it into the REV2) That got replaced by a Tempest, which is sort of a 8 voice 08 with digital oscillator options. I thought a Prophet 12 would work better, so that replaced the Tempest, but I missed the DCOs of the Tempest, so a REV2 got added. The point? I can’t quit that Curtis chip sound. Not everyone loves it, but I do.

I hear a lot of people hating on the curtis filter in the rev2, but imo it sounds just as good as any other prophet filter. Definitely not regretting my choice. (although a prophet 6 did pop up for the same price I paid for the REV2 a day after I had made the purchase, was gutted for a little while).

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sat Oct 29, 2022 7:18 pm

Amorr wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 6:11 pm (although a prophet 6 did pop up for the same price I paid for the REV2 a day after I had made the purchase, was gutted for a little while).

Naw, you made the wiser choice IMO. I have a Prophet 6 and Rev2 and, honestly, the Rev2 is a far better choice for a first and/or only hardware synth. The P6 is a bit more "boutique" and has a little more mojo, but it won't give you anywhere near the flexibility and range you're going to get from your Rev2. The Rev2 is FAR more synth than the P6 is, especially assuming you bought a 16-voice version (compared to the P6's 6 voices).

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:36 pm

P6 is kind of weird. OB-6, OTOH, is one of the best synths currently made.

Amorr · Post by **Amorr** » Sun Oct 30, 2022 5:54 am

cryophonik wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 7:18 pm
Amorr wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 6:11 pm (although a prophet 6 did pop up for the same price I paid for the REV2 a day after I had made the purchase, was gutted for a little while).
Naw, you made the wiser choice IMO. I have a Prophet 6 and Rev2 and, honestly, the Rev2 is a far better choice for a first and/or only hardware synth. The P6 is a bit more "boutique" and has a little more mojo, but it won't give you anywhere near the flexibility and range you're going to get from your Rev2. The Rev2 is FAR more synth than the P6 is, especially assuming you bought a 16-voice version (compared to the P6's 6 voices).

Yeah after I did some thinking I think the REV2 is a smarter choice 1000%.

Amorr · Post by **Amorr** » Sun Oct 30, 2022 5:55 am

Uncle E wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:36 pm P6 is kind of weird. OB-6, OTOH, is one of the best synths currently made.

OB-6 is one of my dream synths for sure. Even just it's appearance is magic.

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 4:30 am

Uncle E wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:36 pm P6 is kind of weird. OB-6, OTOH, is one of the best synths currently made.

What? What’s weird about it? It’s a slight update of one of the most ubiquitous polyphonic analog synths ever made. I mean, when people think of the sound of a polyphonic analog synth, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is a Prophet 5 or Jupiter 8.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 4:21 pm

Lots of good can be said about the Prophet-6 but it’s a pretty different sound from the Prophet-5, IMO. If somebody gets a Prophet-6, I think it should be because they want a new, aggressive sound with innovative features.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 4:31 pm

Yeah, the P6 can definitely be a little more aggressive than the P5, plus all the modern conveniences and additions. I'd take it over the new P5 any day of the week. Same goes for my Rev2 - I'll take all those modern features and 16 voices over the new P5 all day, every day.

As for the OB-6, I've looked at it many times and almost bought one last year when I was offered a no-brainer price and looked at it again recently when a local guy was selling one for dirt cheap out of desperation, but passed both times because I realized that it does nothing for me. That's a synth that people seem to either love or be completely underwhelmed by (count me in the latter group). Then again, I never was a huge Oberheim fan, soooo....

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 5:51 pm

I'm in the OB-6 love camp. Big, smooth sound while still having the Prophet-6 feature set. Anyway, Sequential makes great stuff and variety is a good thing. No point selling 10 models that all sound the same.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 8:28 pm

Uncle E wrote: Mon Oct 31, 2022 5:51 pm I'm in the OB-6 love camp. Big, smooth sound while still having the Prophet-6 feature set. Anyway, Sequential makes great stuff and variety is a good thing. No point selling 10 models that all sound the same.

Absolutely! I feel like there is already a pretty good deal of overlap between the Rev2/P6/P5&10 offerings, so its' good that they are at least balancing that with the OB-6, P12, and PX.

Amorr · Post by **Amorr** » Sat Nov 12, 2022 6:07 pm

So I've had the synth a couple days now.... gotta say I'm pretty underwhelmed to be honest. I don't find any more enjoyment making a patch on hardware vs software and neither one sounds better or worse. Guess hardware just isn't for me.

DMG68 · Post by **DMG68** » Sat Nov 12, 2022 6:15 pm

Amorr wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 6:07 pm So I've had the synth a couple days now.... gotta say I'm pretty underwhelmed to be honest. I don't find any more enjoyment making a patch on hardware vs software and neither one sounds better or worse. Guess hardware just isn't for me.

Ooh, that hurts a bit then probably. I much prefer hardware, I can twiddle on it while my wife watches tv or something, don’t have to be stuck in front of the computer, and I do prefer the hands on editing to using a mouse. I don’t make synth based music though but I like to incorporate synths in my music. I’m sure you can recoup your money selling it again if you choose to.

Novation Summit or Rev2