LIVEN XFM as an Ambient Generator (Official PV)

video upload by SONICWARE

"LIVEN XFM as an Ambient Generator

"This song is made only with the preset sounds, and no external effects or other devices are used.

'DWN.T'
Composed by Chris Lody [ChrisLody]
Performed by Sonicware Man"

#OutdoorLiven Jam - SONICWARE Liven 8Bit Warps, Bass & Beats

video upload by ChrisLody

"In this jam I've plonked myself down in front of our veg patch with my trusty DIY 'Synth Tray' (patent pending) with a Liven 8Bit Warps and a Liven Bass & Beats. This is a combination I've been meaning to try for a while and they compliment each other really well with the Bass & Beats filling in for the 8Bit Warps lack of 'normal' drum sounds and the 8BW able to play chords where the B&B can't.

I'm running the B&B into the 8BW's Line In so there is no need for an external mixer. Recording is taken care of by my aging Korg Sound on Sound."

SONICWARE Liven Bass&Beats Tutorial Part 2: Bass Programming, Patch Creation, Wavetable Import

video upload by ChrisLody

Part 1 here.

00:00 Intro

00:33 Loading and Tweaking Bass Sounds
Selecting bass track
Playing with keys and octave buttons
Loading sounds with memory and bank knob
Assign 1 & 2
Dimension
Legato and mono, glide settings
Velocity
Pitch LFO, release & gate, machine gun
Sweep up & down, sweep speed and range

6:33 Sequencing Bass Sounds
Note ties
Entering long notes
Pasting notes into steps
Clearing steps
Real-time recording
Non real-time record, autostep
Pattern setting, length, note value, transpose, swing
Dice setting

10:35 Automation using parameter locking
Entering automation per step
Clearing parameters lock
Real-time recording automation
Sound locking

12:30 Ducking & effects
Ducking for bass and line in
Ghost sidechain
Turning on FX
Selecting FX type
FX send level for bass & line in
FX amount knob (FX parameter)

15:01 Bass Memory Editing
Entering memory edit
Preview and chose a patch to edit
Overview of memory edit
Function, Page 1 & 2, Octave down & up
ADSR amp envelope
Wavetable oscilators, wave knob, position
Turning modules on & off
Sub oscillator, type knob
Noise
LFO 1 & 2
Modulation envelope 1 & 2
Per module settings
Oscillator pitch, phase, position, level, output routing, shaper type, adjust, unison voice, detune and blend
Sub pitch, phase, level and output routing
Noise level & type
Filter type, cutoff frequency, resonance, distortion
LFO shape, rate, dpeth, delay, sync, phase
Envelope attack, decay, sustain, release, depth, delay, up curve, down curve
Voice mode
Cancelling edits or initializing

Routing modules to parameters
Envelope to wavetable position
LFO to wavetable position
Assign 1 & 2, routing to multiple destinations, positive or negative depths
Velocity to cutoff

Data menu, copy, patch export, wavetable import, wavetable export
Saving a patch, naming a patch

32:30 Uploading custom wavetables
Access the conversion software and guide for windows and mac: https://sonicware.jp/pages/download
The free wavetables I used in the example (Antidote Audio - Advent 2018 Mega Pack\Antidote Advent Serum - Wavetables): https://www.antidoteaudio.com/adventc...
My video on using Midi-Ox with Livens: https://youtu.be/bHxyV0qwFns

SONICWARE Liven Bass&Beats Tutorial Part 1: Quick start, Drum Programming, Kit Editing

video upload by ChrisLody

Part 2 here

"This is part one of the Bass&Beats tutorial giving a quick start guide and covering drums in detail.

00:00 Intro

00:52 Overview of the Liven XFM
A description of the physical construction and connectors

02:35 Getting Started
Powering up the device
Playing patterns
Shift and func buttons, muting the speaker
Pattern level, shift lock function
Volume, tempo
Headphone gain
Pattern, bank and step buttons to load patterns, pattern chaining
Mixer knobs
Bass and drum tracks
Pattern page buttons
Drum mute function
Random playback mode
A quick look at bass track

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sonicware Liven Bass & Beats Prototype, XFM, Behringer Neutron - Unfriendly Electro _ Song-a-day 2022

video upload by ChrisLody

Liven Bass & Beats Prototype posts

"Right, getting back on the jams with Song-a-day 2022 which a challenge not unlike Jamuary, but in February obviously.

I've been super busy on development of the Liven Bass & Beats (prototype shown here) as well as other things which is why things have been so quiet here recently. I'm determined to make more spare time in February but it remains to be seen if I'll have enough time to make a track everyday in February. This is also one of my first chances to play around with the Behringer Neutron that I found second hand recently at a very good price

In this jam the Bass & Beats is playing an Electro rhythm on a kit I made as well as a gritty sounding bass patch. The Liven XFM is sequencing the Behringer Neutron (via midi) on a muted track and also playing strings on a separate track. I imagine this combo will appear more over the month. Not the most amazing bit of work arrangement wise this but I was pushed for time today. I'll probably warm up as the month goes on, fingers crossed."

PERfourMER mkii sequenced by Sonicware Liven XFM

video upload by ChrisLody

"Here's a quick and dirty jam on a borrowed Vermona PERfourMER MK2. I've been working at a studio/synth cave recently that I'm hoping to share more information on soon. Long story but there is an enormous amount of gear there and it's my job to learn the technical ins and outs of all of it. There is some huge modular racks that won't be going anywhere but some of the smaller pieces of gear I can learn at home, like this.

The PERfourMER mk2 is pretty unique (apart from when comparing it to the mk1 of course!) in that it' can be used as 4 separate monosynths on 4 separate midi channels, through duophonic modes, up to a 4 voice polyphonic synth though with individual settings per voice as they cycle through.

In this jam I have it set to monophonic per voice that I have synths 3 & 4 set to the same midi channel. The Sonicware Liven XFM is a 4 part multitimbral synth but it can also sequence external gear on 4 tracks and 4 different midi channels so the two are a good match. I've kept one channel back on the XFM to play drum sounds, then I'm using a track to trigger synths 3 & 4 to make brassy pad sounds, a track for an arpeggio and a track for a lead. If I get time before I take his back I'll record something in polyphonic mode as it can get pretty lush sounding!"

Gen X-1 Merry Gentlemen - Xmas Synth Cover

video upload by ChrisLody

"Merry Christmas 2021!

I'm quite busy at the moment making presets for the Sonicware Liven Bass & Beats so I only have time for a quickie. I've been working with Dubreq a bit more this year making some Stylophone promotional videos. I made this one oas an experiment, but a different direction was decided so it was left on the cutting room floor. Shame to let it go to waste though here is a very short Xmas synth cover.

It's two layers of Gen X-1 with some funky drum loops from my vault plus some jingle bells for good measure :)"

Sonicware Liven Bass & Beats Prototype Demo 1 - Big Wubs

video upload by ChrisLody

"So here's my first quick jam made using the new Sonicware Bass & Beats. This arrived on Tuesday and I've been tasked with creating wavetables and preset sounds for it which is what you're hearing here. There's a lot to learn that I have yet to look at, plus from what I can gather the text on the silk isn't final yet so I think this is a prototype.

The monophonic bass engine of the B&B features dual wavetable oscillators, a sub oscillator and a noise source. The structure is semi modular with velocity, 2 assignable knobs, 2 LFO's and 3 ADSR envelopes that can be freely assigned. It's possible to have LFO's affect each others speed for example. User wavetable import is possible and it uses the same format as the Serum VST, 256x 2048 samples so nice and high in quality. There is a filter with low-pass, high-pass and band-pass modes that has overdrive, plus waveshaping modes which can all be controlled using the modulation sources.

I'm sure the drum part of the B&B is also very powerful but I've not had much chance to learn how to use that yet 😄"

FM Editing Tutorial 2 - Feedback Pad - SONICWARE Liven XFM - Accessible Tutorial

video upload by ChrisLody

"This is part 2 of my XFM deep editing tutorials. This time we're looking at making a feedback pad which is something fairly unique to the XFM. The theory behind it is that each operator becomes a square and then they are all routed into each other to create a chaotic sound."

ChrisLody Liven XFM Tutorials

FM Editing Tutorial 1 - The Basics - SONICWARE Liven XFM - Accessible Tutorial

video upload by ChrisLody

"So here is a new series of videos exploring the edit mode on the Sonicware Liven XFM. Using an overlay gives us access to a full 4 Op FM synth engine. I'm calling this tutorial 1, but I've actually already made another that covers making a growl bass. You can find that here: [posted here]

My main tutorial that covers all the features of the XFM is here: [posted here]

This tutorial is much more of a gentle start though and explains the way that FM synthesis works while showing how to build a quick patch from scratch.

I've tried to keep this tutorial accessible though I neglected to mention all the level adjustments I make to the parameters I select as I create the sound are made using the Value knob which is knob 10. Also I noticed after I'd made the tutorial that the knob latch setting seems to also affect edit mode when using the newest firmware, I'm sure this is new. Knob Latch can be turned on and off in Pattern Edit mode."

Sonicware Liven 8Bit Warps XFM Volca Modular Nord Lead - Downtempo New Age Jam

video upload by ChrisLody

"This jam started off as quite an experimental affair and ended up landing in ambient electronica/downtempo/chilled out/new age music territory. Perhaps because I'm feeling a little nostalgic today. As I've mentioned before on the channel I used to be a carpenter and joiner, I did that for a living for 20 years in fact. To cut a long story short I've decided to go back into the trade after a break of a few years and I'm quite excited but a bit apprehensive, though I've already been out to look at some work and it's only been 3 days since I set up my new Facebook page so that can't be bad 😁 Anyway, my point is this sounds a bit 90s to me which is the decade I was learning the trade. Probably not a coincidence, but it's not even a genre of music I listen to much 🤷‍♂️

So in this jam the Volca Modular has a radio\cassette player plugged into the CV input which is being routed through like it were an oscillator. This enables me to gate the incoming signal. There was some sort of radio play on which gave me plenty of vocal material to work with. I also had to get it done fast though as I wasn't sure when it would finish which is why the video is a bit wonky and blurry on this one, sorry about that.

The radio\cassette in question is a cheap Matsui model that no longer plays tapes but the radio output is impressively loud making it a good fit for playing radio and noise into the Volca Modular

The Sonicware Liven XFM is providing the drums here using a kit that spreads across all 4 track. It's fast becoming my go to drum machine on top of everything else it's good at, more on that in a future video

The Liven 8Bit warps is producing a pad sound using it's lovely lofi FM engine, most of what I'm playing here is improvised. Again I had to work fast so the first good take was the one to use

The Nord Lead is obviously playing the lead sound. Again largely improvised. I learned how to trill on piano recently, maybe a bit too much of that in this to be honest 😄

Effects are provided by the Danelectro Fab Echo on the Nord Lead and the Zoom Studio 1201 routed into my Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 audio interface"

How To Make FM Formant Growl Bass Sounds on Sonicware Liven XFM - Accessible Tutorial

video upload by ChrisLody ChrisLody

"I was planning a different tutorial today but after being asked if this was possible I got a bit obsessed with working it out last night so thanks to Dino Goldie for prompting me to make this video. I find pretty much all aspects of sound design interesting and I've always wondered how these FM bass sounds were synthesized so I'm glad I looked into it, the XFM is pretty good at them!

As I say in the video this is designed to be an accessible tutorial as the Liven series has attracted a few visually impaired users. Let me know if this was clear and easy to understand or I totally messed it up :)"

ChrisLody Sonicware Liven posts

Analog Style Kicks & Claps on the SONICWARE Liven 8Bit Warps

video upload by ChrisLody

"How To Make Analog Style Kicks & Claps on the Sonicware 8Bit Warps

"I'm gradually working my way towards a full chip tune style drum tutorial for the 8Bit Warps, but in the meantime here is a couple of different percussive sounds for you to try, an analog like kick and clap sound. Unlike the more general tutorial I have planned these are kind of 'one trick pony' sounds, i.e. they work for this but not much more.

The synthesis method used is slightly unusual on each too. Normally a sweeping sine or resonant filter would be used to make a kick drum but here it's done by 'pinging' the filter with a pulse. Also for clap sounds we normally need to synthesize each 'pop' of the clap one after another but here the peaks are created using a flanger.

The Sonicware Wave Edit tutorial I mentioned is here:" [posted here]

Bastl Kastle Drum (and Bass (Kinda)) Jam - Sonicware Liven XFM 8bit Warps Volca Modular Sample NTS1

video upload by ChrisLody

"My Bastl Kastle Drum arrived! What better way to try it out than with some sort of weird Drum and Bass meets Techno hybrid jam thing.

The Bastl Kastle Drum has no built in sequencer, but it turns out the Volca Modular does a pretty good job of that. I might do some sort of how to video about that in the future actually. But the basic idea is that changes in voltage at the input of the Kastle Drum's Drum Mod connection play different drum sounds so the cv output from the sequencer on the Volca can be connected to that to trigger different sounds across the keyboard. Then clock out on the Volca can also be used to re-trigger sounds when connected to the Trig In connection on the Kastle Drum too.

Elsewhere the XFM is producing a high-pass filtered hoover bass sound and a sub bass sound, the Liven 8Bit Warps is a hand played lead string sound and the Volca Sample is playing a chopped up break through the Nts1 which is acting as a delay. There is a bit of additional EQ and reverb in my DAW just to make things fit together nicely."

How to use the SONICWARE Liven XFM as a Virtual Analog Synth

video upload by ChrisLody

"I'm sure I'll be exploring the XFM much more through tutorials like this as there is lots to explore. But if you find the thought of programming FM synth sounds a bit too complex you can kind of skip over that and just use what you know about subtractive synthesis on the XFM.

We can use the feedback on each operator to create Saw, Square, Triangle and Noise on each of them, use the 8 stage envelopes as ADSR envelopes, set up our filter with it's own envelope, set the operators at intervals and even access Pulse Width Modulation. Loads to play with :)

Here is the interval cheat sheet I mention in the video:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l6c592egul...

00:00 Intro
01:07 Example analog synth diagram
02:00 XFM 'virtual analog' diagram
03:47 Super Saw example sound
- setting mixer levels, changing the waveforms, detuning waveforms, changing envelopes per 'oscillator'
- tweaking attack and release from pattern edit, changing tone, adding filter with envelope, adding pitch and filter lfo
09:48 Example square sound
- copy sounds, changing waveform to square
10:50 Using the envelope as an ADSR
11:50 Changing pitch by octave and semitone
13:17 Example Pulse and PWM sounds"

How to Use the SONICWARE Liven XFM - FM Synthesizer Full Tutorial

video upload by ChrisLody

Demos in previous posts here.

"This video is a full tutorial for the Sonicware Liven XFM but I have only tried to cover each option on the device quickly while showing brief examples. It is intended to supplement the PDF manual that you can find on the Sonicware website here: https://sonicware.jp/pages/download

During the tutorial I'll try to explain each feature while building a short pattern.

00:00 Intro

00:49 Overview of the Liven XFM
A description of the physical construction and connectors

02:18 Getting Started
Powering up the device
Using Headphones or Line Out
Playing patterns
Shift and Func buttons, muting the speaker, changing headphone gain
Changing Tempo, Pattern Tempo and global tempo
Shift Lock function
Pattern, Bank and step buttons to load patterns, Pattern Chaining
Pattern page buttons, knob latch

CLICK FOR MORE »

How to Use the Sonicware Liven 8bit Warps Synth Engines

video by ChrisLody

"I'm back with another Sonicware Liven 8bit Warps tutorial. This time it's all about how to use the 4 different synth engines. The first 3 are quite similar and have a lot in common, but the FM engine is a completely different animal. The chapters are as follows

0:00 Intro
0:37 Common Controls
3:02 Warp Engine
4:58 Attack Engine
6:13 Morph Engine
8:33 FM Engine"

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - Demo 8 - Traditional FM

video by ChrisLody

"So here we are, the last of the XFM prototype only demo videos. I'm sure there will be plenty more XFM videos on the channel but I'll most likely explore the possibilities of combining it with other equipment from now on. There will also be non demo content for it here like tutorials etc.

I've spent a lot of time making these demos trying to make something that sounds like 'Traditional FM synthesis' and I think this is about as close as I've got so far. On all the other demos I have been distracted by a lot of the other features on the pattern edit level like the filters so I've been using it more like a hybrid synthesizer.

Even this demo has a tiny bit of high-pass filter on the bass to be honest but that was just for something to tweak. The main bass part uses the X-Lab morphing mode with quite a lot of automation programmed in to get that crunchy feel but the other parts are running in Library mode which just play back the FM presets without using morphing. The other 3 tracks are 'Traditional FM' in the sense that they are FM synthesis in it's capacity to sound like acoustic instruments, in this case a flute with delayed vibrato, a sort of slapped pipe sounds and a bell like sound.

Personally I can't name this as a genre! But it's quite like a 90s Sega Megadrive/Genesis soundtrack I think, probably because that also has a 4op FM 6 voice chip inside."

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype demos

Sonicware Liven 8bit Warps - Sweep Function Tutorial

video by ChrisLody

"It's time for another 8bit Warps tutorial, let's have a look at the Sweep function

I'm now planning to make a tutorial on the parameter lock function as requested by a viewer alongside a drum synthesis tutorial which is quite a deep subject so that one will take a little longer.

I think I managed to cover everything but if you have any questions then please post them in the comments below

The 8bit Warps in this video was supplied by Sonicware"

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - Demo 7 - Realtime Polymeters

video by ChrisLody

"So this is the penultimate Liven XFM only demo before it launches. This demo is designed to show of the polymetric capabilities of the Liven XFM. Each of the 4 onboard tracks can have it's own number of steps and associated note value that will start in sync on step 1 and then run at there own speed and rhythm depending on those settings. Changing patterns will sync up with the longest number of steps as far as I can tell. My step lengths here are 64, 18, 16 and 18. The track the kick on is 64 steps long so the pattern change is synchronized to it looping. Just like the other XFM only demos I've made so far, this is all the XFM in real-time with a little compressor and limiter just to get the volume level right for YouTube.

Unlike on the Liven 8bit Warps where the audio looper has to be used to build up polymeters, this happens all in realtime on the XFM so some very complex patterns can be built up and tweaked as the sequencer plays. Great fun :)"

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - Demos