How to UNLEASH the Potential of the Sonicware Liven XFM in 2024

video upload by Dylan Ferno

The Sonicware Liven XFM is a great synth but also has its share of limitations. Here are some workaround solutions for these limitations as well as some hidden features to help unlock its potential:
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text-align: center; 0:00 Extra Voices
text-align: center; 1:20 Recording chords (Using 1 voice)
text-align: center; 1:45 Double Pattern Length
text-align: center; 2:02 Sidechaining
text-align: center; 3:08 LFO Sync
text-align: center; 4:25 Virtual Analog
text-align: center; 5:15 WaveShaping
text-align: center; 5:54 SubOscillators
text-align: center; 6:55 Detuning
text-align: center; 7:53 PWM?
text-align: center; 8:15 Bass and Melody on same track
text-align: center; 9:35 Wavetable basics
text-align: center; 10:10 Custom Wavetables
text-align: center; 11:16 More Wavetable options
text-align: center; 15:00 Modulation Matrix
text-align: center; 17:17 More Sources & Destinations
text-align: center; 18:55 4 LFOs
text-align: center; 20:01 Layering Kick and Snares
text-align: center; 20:40 Unquantizing
text-align: center; 20:50 Increasing grid resolution
text-align: center; 21:04 Kick and Snare on same beat
text-align: center; 21:35 Drum and Bass Drum pattern
text-align: center; 21:50 Extra Tracks
text-align: center; 22:45 High hat sound design
text-align: center; 23:22 Multi-Effects
text-align: center; 25:09 Full Track (Drum and Bass)
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Music For Moons - A Psychedelic Ambient EP on the Sonicware Liven XFM

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"Music For Moons - A 5 track Psychedelic Ambient/Psybient EP on the Sonicware Liven XFM groovebox/synthesizer, with a brief discussion on the creative process. This is music to chill out to, relax, stretch, meditate, focus, work, or sleep to. Whatever makes sense.

0:00 Exiting Gravity
2:15 The Feeling of Weightlessness
4:22 Deep in Craters
7:00 Deranged Orbits
10:10 Crescents"

Granular Synthesis and Generative Ambient Tutorial on the Korg Volca FM2

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"A simple turorial on how to make granular synthesis like patches as well as generative sequences on the Korg Volca FM2.

Granular Description:

1 Set the BPM to its max (600)
2. Adjust the arpeggiator speed to your liking (up to 12 faster than 600 BPM)
3. The maximum BPM is technically 7,200
4. Add lots of reverb

Generative Description:

1. Put the Arpeggiator in Rand1, 2 or 3 mode
2. Rand3 is the most random (notes can play randomly in 3 octaves above or below the root note)
3. In Rand3 mode, the chance of a 16 note pattern repeating is less than 1 in 30 trillion.

0:00 Granular
1:28 Generative"

Korg Volca FM2 Vs. Sonicware Liven XFM Sound Comparison

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"These are 2 portable and budget, 6 voice, FM synthesizers. While the Sonicware Liven XFM is more capable as a beat making machine, I thought I'd put the Korg Volca FM2 up to the sound test to see where it can compete. No external effects were added.

Since synths can make millions of different sounds, it is hard to directly compare them. So to do the best I could, I compared some of my favorite presets/custom patches in the following categories:

0:00 Pads
0:45 Ambience
1:45 Bass
3:15 Lead
4:20 Keys
5:55 Brass
6:47 Strings
7:57 Mallets
9:00 Whistles
9:58 Drums

In my opinion, the XFM is warmer sounding and better for traditional electronic sounds with its own unique twist. While the Volca FM2 is better for beutifully replicating the sounds of acoustic instruments."

Experimental Ambient Album With the Korg Volca FM2 to Focus/Study/Work/Relax

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"20 minutes of Experimental Ambient Music With the Korg Volca FM2 to Focus/Study/Work/Relax to."

0:00 LFO Pad
0:25 Icy Arpeggio
2:25 Warm Melodic
4:50 Pure Drones
8:20 Rythmic Mallets
10:45 Granular Space
13:35 Generative Strings
17:35 Uplifting Piano

Ambient & Melodic House EP (Liven XFM + Novation Circuit)

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"Ambient and Melodic House music live DAWless set with the Sonicware Liven XFM and Novation Circuit groovebox/synthesizers.

#livenxfm #novationcircuit #dawless #housemusic

0:00 Floating Away
3:30 Shackles
5:55 Autumn Days
8:50 Calvin Harris - Slide (House Remix)"

Melodic House Live Looping (Liven XFM and Novation Circuit)

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"A live looping DAWless melodic house track from scratch with the Sonicware Liven XFM and Novation Circuit"

'Kerosene' - Live Looping Lo-Fi Techno Jam (Novation Circuit and Chimes)

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"Live Looping some LOFI techno house music from scratch in a dawless setup with the Novation Circuit and some acoustic Aklot hand chimes"

Microhouse/Rominimal Live DAWless Set (Novation Circuit and Liven XFM)

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"Making a live DAWless Microhouse/Rominimal Set/Mix with 2 hardware synthesizers/drum machines: Novation Circuit Sonicware and Liven XFM

#dawless #microhouse #rominimal #livenxfm #novationcircuit

0:00 Staying Around
4:00 Labyrinths
8:35 Steamroller
12:25 The Badlands
17:00 As Above, So Below
21:48 Between the Clouds"

How to Transition Between Tracks in a Live Electronic Setup (DAWless)

video upload by Dylan Ferno

"How to Transition Between Tracks DAWlessly in an electronic live set without any DJ gear like crossfaders, turntables etc.

Feat. Sonicware Liven XFM and Novation Circuit playing some Lo-Fi House tracks."