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 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

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - Demo 6 - Morphing Soundscape

video by ChrisLody

"I'm back with another XFM solo demo, this time I've gone for something a bit more relaxed, an ambient soundscape that uses the morphing capabilities of the XFM.

The aim was to create a cinematic sounding ambient jam here, so there's lots of big chords flying around and a lot of modulation to get things moving.

Track one uses the X-LFO engine with a random LFO setting to morph rapidly between two pad sounds. Track 2 uses the X-FORM engine which morphs between two sounds over time. The pitch lock function is turned off here which gives that ring-mod like sweeping sound. Track 3 uses the Library engine which plays back the presets are they are stored but allows you to tweak the overall feedback level and attack setting. This sound uses a 'feedback web' as I started calling it when I was designing it which means all operators are fed into each other which can create some wild sounds. Track 4 is also set to Library but every step has movements of the preset sounds saved into it and the track is set to only trigger it's notes 25% of the time which gets lots of bleepy randomness. Plenty of the different types of filter are used to control the sounds over time and shape them together into a whole."

See the Sonicware label below for more.

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - Demo 5 - Dub Techno

video by ChrisLody

"Time for another XFM demo. I built a very glitchy preset pattern for the XFM last week so I went into the studio intending to make something like that, but as soon as I made the filter pad chords I got distracted into making some Dub Techno. Not a genre I've really tried before but it works really well on the XFM

Both the percussion tracks on this have lots of modulation of their source sounds and some probability thrown in so the hits won't always trigger so there's plenty of glitchiness there. They are both filtered so a bit of tweaking adds some interest there too.

The other two tracks are both built from the DSTR (Distorted Pad) and B.TRP (Bright Trumpet) sounds that I made which creates a nice noisy waveform. The pad is filtered with the band-pass filter opening and closing with the envelope while the noisy lead sound uses the high-pass filter which almost gives a distorted electric guitar sound to my ear. It makes for a nice dark mood but with a worn sound to it somehow. The pan control is automated on both of these tracks too to widen the sound. Lovely stuff"

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype demos

Sonicware Liven XFM Prototype - Demo 4 - Adding Layers Live

video by ChrisLody

"This is something I'd planned to play in a stream at some point and still may do that as a demonstration as it shows how live elements can be added to the Liven XFM tracks live

So when the sequencer starts to play the synth engines, sounds and setting are already loaded in but only the bass has been programmed. You'll see me punch in some rhythms for the drums then unmute that track so it plays. I then use the Parameter Lock to change step 15 to a clap and set the reverb level for the clap on that step only. I then real-time record the slightly unsettling pad sound and play the lead live.

The sequencer also offers non-realtime step sequencing as another way of entering note information which is how the bassline was programmed in which is done in the same way that I programmed the drums, but I'll save the details of that for a tutorial video"

See the Sonicware label below for more.

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!"