Bad Gear - Sonicware Liven XFM

video upload by AudioPilz

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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about Sonicware Liven XFM. Is this 2022 FM groovebox able to compete with the big players in both, the groovebox game and field of FM synthesis like Elektron, Korg and Roland?

Thanks to Florian Oberhauser of Studio Deep Space 199 for sending me this XFM.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:07 Overview Liven XFM
01:36 FM Sound Generator, Presets
02:54 The Twist: X-LAB
03:15 XFORM
03:31 X-LFO
03:42 Sounds
03:56 Resonant Filter
04:14 Filter Envelope Presets and Filter Shapes, LFO
04:30 Polyphony, Sequencer
04:58 Program Locks
05:12 Voice Management, Arpeggiator, FX Section
05:38 UI Structure, Deep FM Editing
06:02 Shift/Func Operation, Build Quality
06:15 What else??? Pricing, Thanks
06:31 Hate
06:56 Jam 1 (Groovebox Solo)
07:55 Jam 2 (DAWless setup)
08:48 Finale (Sega Genesis Electropop)
09:15 Verdict"

Sonicware LIVEN MEGA Synthesis User Demos

video upload by Limbic Bits

Two demos - audio only demo from Limbic Bits above, and an overview from ChrisLody below. See the announcement post here (directly below if you are coming off the main page)

Sonicware Liven TextureLab Sound Demo (no talking)

0:00 Stage 5-1
1:10 Club
1:47 Soil
3:00 Void
4:23 Cammy's Impro
5:08 Ambient
6:13 Sea
7:35 PADS
11:58 BASS / LEAD
14:37 Mallets / Bells
17:03 EFX / Drones / Percussion
18:58 Some Drum Samples

Liven MEGA SYNTHESIS - Retro Game Music Production Machine

video upload by ChrisLody

Sonicware Liven first impression using the looper

"This is literally my first hour playing with this Sonicware Liven 8 Bit Warps. Just experimenting. I’m just learning how to design sounds and layer tracks using the looper. All the sounds are from the Liven including the drums."

Polymetric Techno - Sonicware Liven 8Bit Warps Demo

ChrisLody

"The Liven 8Bit Warps in this video was supplied by Sonicware

So here's something a bit more techno that I've jammed out on the Liven 8Bit Warps. I learned 3 things about it while I was making this. 1. It's damn good at polymeters, 2. It's good at synthesizing clap sound, 3. I discovered a method of making analog sounding kicks

The Liven 8Bit Warps is equip with a sequencer that can have up to 128 steps per pattern set out in 16 steps and 8 pages. That in it's self makes it a bit of a monster sequencer wise but it also has a looper that records audio fed into it from the sequencer which is then played back in sync, but brilliantly there is nothing to stop you having these loops being a different length to the main sequence. So basically it's supports polymeters :) It is also capable of poly rhythms because the note length of each sequence can also have dotted and triplet notes assigned to it. I tried to use both in this jam but it sounded a bit messy! So I'll save polyrhythms for another video

I made the clap sounds pretty much by accident. I was aiming for a sharp snare sound made with the FM engine which is easy enough to achieve, but then I dialed in some rapid flanger and this clap sound emerged. It was better than the sound I was aiming for so that stayed :)

For the kick sound I discovered that a fully DC offset custom waveform fed into the highpass filter with maximum resonance and a cutoff setting of around 1 makes some absolutely lovely analog kick sounds. A click is produced by the DC offset acting like an exciter and the peak of the filter acts like a resonator. You can still use velocity to control the volume of the DC click so I've programmed some ghost notes in this 4/4 drum pattern to give it movement. The way these are synthesized is in stark contrast to the crunchy 8 bit drums it can also make. Expect a tutorial on all that soon"

Sonicware Liven 8bit Synthesizer Offers Tons Of Bang For the Buck

Published on Jan 26, 2020 Synthtopia

"At the 2020 NAMM Show, Sonicware introduced their Liven 8bit synthesizer - an affordable synth (about $165) that features an 8-bit waveform memory synth engine with a step sequencer, 32-bit effects and lots of hands-on control.

We talked with Sonicware product specialist Kyle Kilpatrick, who gave us a demo of the Liven's synth engines, sequencing capabilities and more."

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 8 bit warps // ***4K*** // Factory Presets // Part TWO / / No Talking

video upload by LESINDES

"Since my SONICWARE LIVEN 8BIT WARPS was broken (LED N16 of the sequencer was not lit) I had to return it fast to the shop. I could not dive deep into the unit. So I am giving only a short impression of the capabilities of the synth playing some FACTORY PRESET PATTERNS.

PART ONE as the preceeding video will be published soon. And there will be also a PART THREE that is dedicated to the DRUM PATTERNS that the machine is able to provide."

LESINDES Sonicware posts

1010music Bluebox Sonicware Liven First Meet

Dj Puzzle

"Finally dropped my Sonicware Liven into the portable mix. Got a cute little groove developing here. Was stoked to show you my progress. 1010Music Bluebox at the hub of everything. Bluebox is running OS ver .8.6 still in beta testing/ dev mode. Also in the mix Pocket Operator PO-28, Volca Bass, Volca Kick, Volca Modular, 1010music Blackbox. A couple guitar pedals in the mix including WMD Geigger Counter 2. Technically everything you see here can run on battery power so this could be completely portable. I'm absolutely amazed with how well everything is syncing up. #dawless #1010music #Sonicware"

Sonicware LIVEN 8 bit warps // ***4K*** // Factory Presets // DRUM LOOPS // No Talking

video upload by LESINDES

"Since my SONICWARE LIVEN 8BIT WARPS was broken (LED N16 of the sequencer was not lit) I had to return it fast to the shop. I could not dive deep into the unit. So I am giving only a short impression of the capabilities of the synth playing some FACTORY PRESET PATTERNS."

LESINDES Sonicware posts

Pro Synth Network LIVE! - Episode 138 with Dan Goldstein & Mitchell Sigman of Cherry Audio!

video upload by Pro Synth Network

"Music Technology Discussion with Rob Puricelli, Ben Simpson, Kent Spong and our very special guests, Dan Goldstein & Mitchell Sigman of Cherry Audio!

This week we're delighted to welcome back Dan & Mitchell of Cherry Audio, a company that in the last few years has grown its reputation for quality, affordable and quite excellent software synths that emulate some of the more quirky synthesizer classics such as the ARP Quadra, Jupiter 4 and Realistic MG-1, as well as classics like the Memorymoog, Synthex and Polymoog, their own Dreamsynth and their latest instrument GX-80!

Join us to hear the story behind the creation of GX-80, an instrument that fuses together two giants from Yamaha!

0:00 - Intros and welcomes
10:17 - Cherry Audio Interview - https://cherryaudio.com/products/gx-80
1:21:27 - Korg Collection 4 - https://www.korg.com/uk/products/soft...
1:32:59 - Virharmonic Bohemian Cello - https://www.virharmonic.com/bohemian_...
1:42:35 - Sonicware LIVEN LoFi-12 - https://sonicware.jp/pages/liven-lofi12
1:53:46 - Sonicware SmplTrek - https://sonicware.jp/pages/smpltrek
2:02:30 - Sonicware Live Stream Announcement - https://youtu.be/-_-z_J77WE0
2:05:36 - Thank yous and goodbyes"

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!"

Sonicware Liven Series & SmplTrek Are Ridiculously Affordable (& Powerful!) Grooveboxes and Samplers

video upload by Reverb

"Looking for high-quality, affordable electronic production gear that's also portable? Look no further than Sonicware.

Renowned for their budget-friendly synthesizers, grooveboxes, and samplers, Sonicware has everything you need, now available on Reverb.

Shop Sonicware now at Reverb.com

#sonicware #groovebox #synthesizer

Filmed at Narwhal Studios in Chicago.
https://narwhalchicago.com/"

Sonicware Liven 8 Bit Warps - Chiptune Jam

ChrisLody

"I'm very excited that the lovely people over at Sonicware were nice enough to send me a Liven 8 Bit Warps for free so I can make them some promotional material with it. I've spent a few days playing around with it and I've been really impressed with what I've seen so far.

At it's heart the Liven 8 Bit Warps is a wavetable synthesizer and sequencer designed to emulate the sound chips in old 8 bit computer and consoles like the Nintendo NES and Gameboy. All it's oscillators are built from tiny wavetables on just 32 samples long so they have a really gritty sound, they are even editable through the front panel by hand.

There are 4 different synth engines including an FM mode which is how I have made the drums for this track, with some harsh modulation and plenty of programming.

It has another trick up it's sleeve too which is a 4 track audio looper meaning I can load a pattern, record it into the looper and play it back along with other loops and/or the live pattern loaded into the sequencer. So plenty to build whole tracks, I have much more to explore too!"

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"

Sonicware Liven LoFi-12 // TWEAKING FACTORY PATTERNS

video upload by

"New to the studio: SONICWARE LIVEN LOFI-12, a 12 bit groove machine.
Checking the factory patterns and tweaking them a little.

CONTENTS

Min. Chapter
00:00 Intro
00:12 RAIN
00:29 PLOV
00:47 INDY
01:09 WAHZ
01:33 O.RUN
01:54 CALM
02:19 AUTM02:42 YEAY (tweak)
03:16 GMBL (tweak)
04:19 FUNK (tweak)
04:46 JNGL (tweak)
05:07 BOOM (tweak)06:15 OVER (tweak)
06:55 FLCT (tweak)
07:44 1999 (tweak)
08:41 SCOM (tweak)
11:43 P301
11:45 CREDITS
12:00 RANDOM, own creation (tweak)"

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 27-Key Synthesizer Groovebox SN 010-000463 w/ Original Box

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via THE NOISE SOURCE Reverb

Note auction links are affiliate links.
See the site's privacy policy for more info.

"This Sonicware Liven 8bit Warps is from the original run from the Kickstarter campaign. It's an 8bit retro sounding synth / groovebox with modern features like parameter locking, 128 step sequencer, 128 patterns, Real-time and step recording, Pattern chain, Metronome. This unit is in excellent condition and comes with all original packaging and accessories."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sonicware Liven 8bit Warps - NAMM 2020

Published on Jan 17, 2020 Sound On Sound magazine

"8-bit wave memory synthesizer designed with live performance in mind"

Sonicware Liven 8bit Warps

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."

Mega Killer - Carpenter Brut “Turbo Killer” cover with Sonicware Liven MEGA SYNTHESIS

video upload by Robert Saint John

"“Mega Killer” - a cover of @carpenterbrut’s #synthwave classic with the @SONICWARE Liven MEGA Synthesis #synthesizer / #groovebox."