With three New Oxford Oscillators per voice, each with traditional waveshapes plus access to 60 digital wavetables, the Novation Peak 8-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer is perfect for modern electronic music producers. It's perfect for sound design too, with a 16-slot modulation matrix plus 16 direct assignments accessible directly from the front panel. Each synth voice can utilize its own analog multimode filter, with pre- and post-filter distortion available as well. Factor in built-in reverb, delay, and chorus effects (which can all be modulated via the FX Mod Matrix!), a flexible arpeggiator, and a CV modulation input for integration with modular gear, and the vast creative potential in the Novation Peak synthesizer module becomes obvious.

Powerful new Wavetable Editor

Novation has come out with a powerful new Wavetable Editor for Peak that unleashes the full power potential of its wavetable oscillators. The Wavetable Editor is packed with functionality to speed up your creative process, including intuitive drawing tools and a Live Edit mode that let you literally draw your own oscillator shapes and preview them — all in real time! Quickly create your own oscillator waveforms from imported clips with the Audio Import function. You'll also find an expertly curated collection of space-themed audio direct from the NASA sound library, plus exclusive content from top EDM producers Noisia. The Wavetable Editor makes Peak more powerful than ever — inother great reason to add this advanced synth to your sonic arsenal!

Firmware update 1.2 makes

Peak better than ever It's common for manufacturers to provide firmware updates to fine-tune certain features or fix minor bugs. The firmware 1.2 update for Peak adds a ton of functionality that brings Peak to a whole new level. The most notable addition is a selection of 43 wavetables, bringing the onboard total to 60 digital wavetables. You'll also find additional LFOs, a new Mod Matrix design, an FX Mod Matrix that offers big creative potential, and much more.

What's new in firmware update 1.2:

• 43 new wavetables, bringing the total to 60 digital wavetables
• Two more freely-assignable LFOs, for a total of four
• Pitch Bend now available as a modulation source, and Pitch Bend Up and Down can be assigned separate signals if you like
• Updated Mod Matrix design gives you faster access to all 16 modulation slots
• FX Mod Matrix lets you route modulation sources to effects parameters
• Updated envelopes add a Hold stage (up to 500ms), and the ability to loop the Attack and Decay stages
• You can now initialize a patch while maintaining the current position of all knobs and sliders
• Microtuning support has been added, with 16 tuning tables that you can edit and save
• New presets include a soundbank of 128 presets by GForce Software, 50 presets by Patricia Wolf, and 178 new sounds showcasing the new features of firmware 1.2

Gloriously vibrant analog tone

From straight up saw waves to frequency-modulated sines, you'll notice the Novation Peak synthesizer has that punchy, three-dimensional sound analog synths are known for. The key is its numerically controlled New Oxford Oscillators, which sound analog but also give you access to 60 digital wavetables. And with three oscillators available per voice, that's a ton of sound design potential before you even reach for the analog multimode filter.

Massive modulation capabilities

When it's time to make your sounds really come alive, the Novation Peak module doesn't disappoint. Right from the front panel, you've got access to 16 direct modulation assignments to inject some motion into your patches. Beyond that, you've got a 16-slot modulation matrix you can use however you like. Want to use aftertouch to control the waveshape of oscillator 2? No problem. Want to control the post-filter distortion amount from the amplitude envelope? Go for it. With this much modulation potential, you'll always be able to add one more final tweak or highlight to your patch. And don't forget the FX Mod Matrix — you can now make your effects move with your mix by assigning modulators to practically any effects parameters.

Versatile distortion plus sweet effects

If you've been designing synth sounds for a while, you know that distortion can be used for much more than an aggressive effect. Producers at Music Experience like adding subtle distortion to a bass patch to help it cut through the midrange, or they sometimes just add it to the attack of a sound to give it more bite without audible distortion. The Novation Peak features built-in distortion that you can apply pre- or post-filter for each voice — there's also a master distortion available independently. On top of that, you'll find high-quality reverb, delay, and chorus effects to finalize your patches.

The latest firmware: v2.0

Ever the innovators, Novation pride themselves on the work done by Chris Huggett, who lent his iconic design expertise in sculpting synths and sounds with the company, including the Peak and Summit. As such, firmware updates expand the already-robust features for greater creative freedom and flexibility. Navigate stylishly texturized soundscapes of any scale with new stereo shaping tools, including per-voice panning as well as panning in the mod matrix, letting you cultivate the sonic land as you see fit. Modulation opportunities abound with the addition of new mod destinations, using noise as a mod source and more parameters for LFO 3 and 4. Use these tools to harness a rich unpredictability, augmented by the introduction of Animate Envelopes and Arpeggiator Chance features. New chorus modes, flanger, and phlanger are included in the expanded effects, with additional modulation destinations letting you experiment with sound design in previously unavailable ways, like the vintage panache of the Lo-Fi delay.

What Novation Says...

Peak is an eight-voice desktop polyphonic synthesiser built around New Oxford Oscillators that combine the best of analogue sound and digital flexibility – including inbuilt and custom digital wavetables. With a resonant multi-mode analogue filter for each voice, and three separate points of distortion per voice, it’s truly the best of both worlds. Polyphonic aftertouch, an extensive mod matrix, and two dedicated Animate buttons allow for endlessly expressive performances, while lush onboard reverb, delay and chorus round off a formidable addition to any sound designer’s arsenal.

• Digital where it counts – Digital FPGA-generated New Oxford Oscillators for analogue-style, wavetable and FM synthesis
• Analogue where it matters – an analogue filter, analogue VCAs and three stages of analogue distortion per voice
• High-quality digital effects – stunning reverb, delay, and chorus effects are instantly accessible via the effects section
• Extensive modulation system – 16-slot modulation matrix and 16 direct assignments controllable from the front panel
• Wavetable Editor – featuring drawing tools and a Live Edit mode, so you can draw your own oscillator shapes and preview them in real time

Analogue where it matters – digital where it counts

Build and refine new sounds from scratch

Broaden out your electronic music, draw in new influences and take artistic risks. The modulation system puts the most frequently used assignments right at your fingertips in the main controls. More elaborate movements and secondary ‘via’ assignments are made just a few menu button presses away.

Connect to just about anything

You can plug Peak into your Mac or PC via USB and start playing. It also has MIDI I/O on five-pin DIN ports, so you can connect your other MIDI gear. Oh, and did we mention it connects to modular systems via a CV modulation input? Where does Peak fit in your set-up?

Peak Firmware Update v2.0