Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - Demo 3 - Bass and Strings

video by ChrisLody

ChrisLody Sonicware Liven demos

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - No Filter Funk

video by ChrisLody

"The Liven XFM Prototype in this video was supplied by Sonicware (obviously 😁)

It's time for another Liven XFM Prototype demo, but a slightly different prototype than in the last video. If you do a direct A/B comparison with that one you'll see there's a lot of moving around and renaming of functions that have been done since the last one, of course with accompanying firmware so it all works the way it should. A few new things have been added including LFO delay to pitch which I wholly of.

To clarify, I've been hired on a freelance basis by Sonicware to make preset sounds and loops, plus promotional videos like this.

This demo started out as an attempt to make something a bit more 'traditionally FM synth' sounding. It technically is because I haven't used the filter at all on this, but I got really carried away playing with all the probability based triggering and effects so this is not very traditional sounding FM at all, again! I'll make some nice gentle ambient on it at some point, maybe 😄

So the bass-line from the 4th pattern onward is using probability based triggering for some of it's notes which gives a great amount of variation. Some of the drums are using this too to give a bit more of a human feel. I'm using the X-Lab manual morph function to morph between the Flanged Bass preset (which I love!) and a Bright Trumpet to add some noise. I'm also using the tone control in places to soften the sound, this is a manual control that lowers the level of feedback on all the operators. Then we get into the effects. There's a single send effect that can be saved with each pattern but each track has it's own send amount. First is overdrive, then a super short delay, bit crusher (♥️), chorus, flanger then back to delay. There are other effects to chose from but I was having the most fun with these on this track.

I had an absolute blast making this is has to be said. As with the last track this was all made from the pattern editing mode of the XFM without resorting to making any new preset sounds as there is plenty that can be done by combining and tweaking sounds without having to do that. I could have spent a lot longer fiddling around and refining patterns, but I've got deadlines to meet 😁

Btw, the gloves. I'm not cold but I did slip over on some ice on the way to the shops and managed to punch the tarmac on the way down just before I was going to film this so my knuckles are a bit bloody, and I don't think that's a look to go for here!"

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - Brass and Acid Jam

video by ChrisLody

"The Liven XFM Prototype in this video was supplied by Sonicware (obviously 😁)

Err.....surprise! I have a Sonicware XFM prototype in the studio. Why do I have an XFM prototype? Well, I feel very fortunate to have been hired by Sonicware to produce sounds and patterns for the XFM as well as beta testing this prototype. I've had it since January the 11th which is why my channel has been a little quiet recently, but I'm now allowed to share this first quick jam 😊

I've mainly spent that time doing sound design for the 'library' FM sounds on the unit. I'll have to be careful to not talk about too much what hasn't been announced but it has a fully editable 4 Op FM synth engine so I've been creating sounds for that, some of which is in this video. Everything you hear in this video is being produced by the XFM in real-time (apart from a limiter in Reaper to get the volume up for YouTube) with FM synthesis as the main sound source with the option to use filters, envelopes and lfos on through the pattern edit mode making it a very powerful hybrid of FM and virtual analog before we even consider what can be done with morphing. Don't pay too much attention to the text on the front panel as a few things have moved around since it was printed, a new version is on it's way to me as of this morning.

The opening brass sound is pure FM using the X-Form mode that can switch and/or fade from one FM sound to another. The acid line uses the filter and envelopes and I also manually tweak the morphing of the waveform between two different sound. You'll also hear drum sounds (my work 😎) which are pure FM apart from a little filtering used as EQ's. All in all this jam isn't very 'FM sounding'. It can do that in spades but the morphing, filters and effects etc means it capable of so much more. So much more!

There is a lot to discuss about the XFM which I'll talk about more as I upload more videos. But in short it's a really good synth with a lot of power, a lot of options and an incredibly unique tone that you'd struggle to create elsewhere. Yes obviously Sonicware are paying me, but I'd just bought this I'd be equally impressed with what it can do, honestly!"