Novation Peak in SCALER’s Live Rig: Digital Powerhouse at the Heart of Hybrid Performance

The video opens with SCALER’s Alex and James walking us through their live rig, immediately establishing the Novation Peak as the centerpiece of their electronic setup. While the rig includes a Roland SP-404 for samples and a quirky noise box, it’s the Peak that takes on the heavy lifting for synth duties. The band’s workflow is anchored by an Ableton-based system, with everything tightly synced and sequenced from laptops, but the tactile experience of the Peak—its big, chunky knobs and clear layout—makes it a natural fit for live performance environments where visibility and immediacy matter.

SCALER’s decision to use the Peak arose from the need to cover a wide palette of sounds originally crafted with a mix of soft synths and hardware in the studio. The Peak’s versatility allows them to move seamlessly between gnarly basses, lush pads, and glassy leads, all while maintaining sonic consistency from studio to stage. The band highlights how the Peak’s robust build and intuitive interface have made it a reliable workhorse for over a year of live use, emphasizing its ability to adapt to the band’s evolving musical needs.

Diving into the Peak’s feature set, the band spotlights its powerful oscillators and the digital engine that gives it a distinct edge over lower-priced synths. The Peak’s sound is described as “expensive”—a nod to its clarity and depth, which stands out in a crowded live mix. The built-in arpeggiator is a particular highlight, offering a range of rhythmic patterns and modes (up, down, chords) that aren’t always standard in hardware synths. This flexibility lets SCALER quickly dial in new arpeggiator lines for live arrangements without needing to reprogram sequences in Ableton.

Effects play a central role in shaping the band’s live sound. The Peak’s distortion, for example, is praised for its bite and ability to cut through dense arrangements. The workflow benefits are clear: with key parameters accessible on the front panel, the band can ride filters, bring in effects, and sculpt sounds in real time. This hands-on approach is essential for their dynamic performances, allowing them to respond to the energy of the moment rather than being locked into static patches.

SCALER’s approach to their electronic setup is deeply collaborative. Building and managing a rig with so many moving parts—hardware synths, controllers, Ableton, and outboard effects—requires clear communication and division of responsibilities. The band emphasizes how having multiple people involved in patch creation, MIDI sequencing, and live tweaking prevents confusion and ensures that each element of the performance is dialed in precisely.

This teamwork extends to sound design and live arrangement, with members working together to decide when and how synths like the Peak and Oberheim TEO-5 enter the mix. Layering these instruments, exploiting their complementary filter types, and using features like morph dials and cross-modulation allows SCALER to create dynamic, evolving textures on stage. Ultimately, the video underscores that even the most sophisticated digital rig benefits from a human touch—collaboration is what transforms technical potential into compelling live music.