I must have watched a dozen videos on FM synthesis both before and after selecting, buying and receiving my Mega Synthesis and not one of them simply said "Carrier = Volume, Modulator = Tone" as clearly as you did. Maybe this is so elementary that other tutorials don't feel it's worth mentioning, but holy crap - as a newbie to synthesis and particularly FM, that blew my mind. Thank you for this video, can't wait for the deeper dive.
No problem at all, glad you found that helpful. I agree it's strange how often even some of the good tutorials fail to mention that because it's super important to understand and not that difficult to put into words. Hopefully it gives you a good foundation to work on 😁
Your videos were a big reason I ended up ordering one (wont ship till mid March though). I have huge nostalgia for the Mega Drive sound. Regularly listen to games OSTs from streets of rage, thunder force, etc. Also never owned a synth or any instrument for that matter. But your videos make it look like super fun to mess around with, while also giving a thorough overview of all feature and how to sue them. Thanks!
Glad to help 😁 I've heard from lots of people who have chosen this as their first synth purchase so I tried to make the tutorials as beginner friendly as possible
The one thing I find jarring about FM edit mode on this new Liven is that the algorithms work in ascending order (left-to-right). The Liven XFM works in descending order (right-to-left).
Four looping envelopes plus one lfo is a lot of sound design. Hope that we will have access to these parameters via midi CC's - that with external midi controller will be massive. Kind of miss that in normal playback mode. Without this there is not much to play with, in terms of sound when sequence is running in Megasynthesis. It's more like a compositional tool (that is fine to I guess). The same apply for "sample edit" mode in Lofi-12... but there is a lot more going on in these matter (filter, lfo, fx per track + global fx). Well... I think those two Liven's will complement ech other well. Like a time machine on my desk.
The lack of realtime editing of the FM parameters is because it closely matches the original YM2612 and the way the 'drivers' that controlled the music on the hardware operated. The only thing you can alter once a YM2612 voice has started to play is change it's pitch or tell it to stop, so there isn't anything to tweak in realtime. Also on the drivers that were built to sequence music all the sounds were edited in a separate area of the software to where the composition took place, Sonicware have basically recreated this. You can see it in action here ua-cam.com/video/WEvnZRCW_qc/v-deo.html Personally if I want to use the MEGA as a synth I just leave it in edit mode and play it via midi, though since it's firmware update it will also play the sequence of the last track that was used which is also useful
@@ChrisLodyMusic I was looking for some info on how to use the midi on these devices (use a sequencer, or an ipad) I can't seem to get it to work and I can't seem find anyone talking about it either on youtube. Seems that all the videos on the Sonicware devices do not mention how to use midi on them. I could just be simply confused or mixing up a simple error on my part, but it might be a popular subject for a video since no one has seemed to talk about it yet.
@@rustyxof So all the Livens have full midi capability. You can customise the channels but tracks 1-6 are set to midi channels 1-6, they will send and receive midi for all tracks. There is also an 'auto channel' which is channel 8 by default, sending midi in on this channel with play whichever track is currently selected. The auto channel is also used in the FM edit mode. There are a lot more midi settings which are detailed well in the manual. It's also worth checking the midi implementation chart for details on midi CCs, which settings are not received on the track midi channels etc I have been meaning to make a video about this by the way but I'm not sure when I'll have time
Hay sir, can i use this as a subtractive synth, like you did with the xfm? Like a super saw and pwm.....? Please please get back, i loved that xfm video ,your a genius! I hqve an addiction to making the "hoover" or "dominator" on all my synths, reese bass also, s9 if you have ideas about that, i have a liven bass'n'beats and a 8bit warps. Ill prolly get the xfm just because of the video about super saw lol.
No this isn't really made for that. It doesn't have filters unlike the XFM, plus it's FM structure is much more traditional so you can't use the same tricks to have 4 saw running etc. I made a pack of presets for the XFM actually that is available to download from Sonicware's website that expands the idea of using the XFM for subtractive sound design. I found a way to make oscillator sync like sounds so it can now do things like the hoover bass too 😁 Video on that here: ua-cam.com/video/sm_kKbW1FNo/v-deo.html You should be able to make a Reese bass fairy easily on the XFM using the info in my original 'XFM as a subtractive synth' video I think.
@@ChrisLodyMusic thankyou very much. All i have is liven bass and beats , mega synth, and 8bit. If you could point out some real real nice reese and hoovers for any of thoes, i know its "easy" on bass and beats, but i need a real sounding juno hoover and more reese thats not on the machine now. Do you have any patches like these to sell/pass on, ill get a xfm when i can, but i fear itll be years:(
@bonepileofficial It's something I can add onto my to do list but I'm ridiculously busy at the moment so I'm not sure when I'll have time. It would be a fun thing explore in a tutorial though. In the meantime it might be worth asking on the Sonicware unofficial Discord 👉 discord.com/invite/aDTK3hXy
Please confirm whether I've read the algorithm diagrams correctly: Alg1: M1 modulates M2 modulates M3 modulates C4 (Serial modulation. good for bells). Alg2: Both M1 and M2 modulate M3 separately which, in turn, modulates C4. Alg3: M2 modulates M3 modulating C4 but then M1 also modulates C4 separately. Alg4: C1 modulates M2 modulating C4 but then M3 also modulates C4 separately. (similar structure to Alg3) Alg5: M1 Modulates C2, M3 modulates C4. (2 MC pairs. Good for E piano) Al6: M1 Modulates C2, C3 and C4 (super wave stylee). Alg7: M1 modulates C2 but C3 and C4 are independent carriers without modulators. (so you can use these unmodulated carriers as a sub bass and/or a hiss/crackly noise) Alg8: C1234 all carriers (organ style)
I've updated the document for this so you'll find it here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/clen3znifi2ubr3xi0ng8/SONICWARE-Liven-MEGA-Synthesis-Accessibility-Guide.docx?rlkey=89wjo2fecrwo9j2wsy2xg657j&dl=0
There isn't no. It's strictly a manually dialled in level. There are a few presets that appear to do that but it's a nice trick that can be pulled off by setting one of the operators to a low fixed frequency which turns it into a sine LFO, then you can use the envelope to fade it in and out and even use velocity to control its level. That's one of the tips I've got planned for later tutorials
@@ChrisLodyMusic Thanks - and thanks for answering my next question which was going to be "What do I do with the spare operator in the standard 3op harmonica recipe?" I'll use the 4th operator in either algorithms 3 or 4 to do that. Thanks.
Yes you can. Each of the tracks sends midi out on different tracks, channels 1-6 by default but you can change this. You can turn down or mute the tracks if you don't want to hear both the internal sound and the Nord at the same time. I have a Nord Lead too so I know it has a 4 channel performance mode so if you use that you can send more than 1 channel if you want to and sequence the whole synth with it
@@ChrisLodyMusic That's great! Thank you for the information and for the training videos on the channel, I will be waiting for new videos about nord lead and Mega Synthesis.
I must have watched a dozen videos on FM synthesis both before and after selecting, buying and receiving my Mega Synthesis and not one of them simply said "Carrier = Volume, Modulator = Tone" as clearly as you did. Maybe this is so elementary that other tutorials don't feel it's worth mentioning, but holy crap - as a newbie to synthesis and particularly FM, that blew my mind. Thank you for this video, can't wait for the deeper dive.
No problem at all, glad you found that helpful. I agree it's strange how often even some of the good tutorials fail to mention that because it's super important to understand and not that difficult to put into words. Hopefully it gives you a good foundation to work on 😁
Your videos were a big reason I ended up ordering one (wont ship till mid March though). I have huge nostalgia for the Mega Drive sound. Regularly listen to games OSTs from streets of rage, thunder force, etc. Also never owned a synth or any instrument for that matter. But your videos make it look like super fun to mess around with, while also giving a thorough overview of all feature and how to sue them. Thanks!
Glad to help 😁 I've heard from lots of people who have chosen this as their first synth purchase so I tried to make the tutorials as beginner friendly as possible
Many Thanks for this and all your help with all the gear.
Thank you, very much appreciated 😁
The one thing I find jarring about FM edit mode on this new Liven is that the algorithms work in ascending order (left-to-right). The Liven XFM works in descending order (right-to-left).
Oh damn yeah I hadn't noticed that. I never actually used the algorithms on the XFM to be honest as I always preferred to create my own.
Just thanks.... MANY THANKS...for the time you take,,,,,
Awesome video man
Thank you 😁
Thank you for this, you're the man as always.
You're welcome, have fun 😁
well that got deep
Ha yeah 😄 There's a lot more depths to plunder yet, bottom of the iceberg stuff 😁
Thanks a lot for this very helpful video
You're welcome. Have fun 😁
@@ChrisLodyMusic When I'll have mine, I'm waiting for it, waiting for it, waiting for it... 😅
Thank you very much!!
You're welcome, hope you find it helpful 😁
Four looping envelopes plus one lfo is a lot of sound design. Hope that we will have access to these parameters via midi CC's - that with external midi controller will be massive. Kind of miss that in normal playback mode. Without this there is not much to play with, in terms of sound when sequence is running in Megasynthesis. It's more like a compositional tool (that is fine to I guess). The same apply for "sample edit" mode in Lofi-12... but there is a lot more going on in these matter (filter, lfo, fx per track + global fx). Well... I think those two Liven's will complement ech other well. Like a time machine on my desk.
The lack of realtime editing of the FM parameters is because it closely matches the original YM2612 and the way the 'drivers' that controlled the music on the hardware operated. The only thing you can alter once a YM2612 voice has started to play is change it's pitch or tell it to stop, so there isn't anything to tweak in realtime. Also on the drivers that were built to sequence music all the sounds were edited in a separate area of the software to where the composition took place, Sonicware have basically recreated this. You can see it in action here ua-cam.com/video/WEvnZRCW_qc/v-deo.html
Personally if I want to use the MEGA as a synth I just leave it in edit mode and play it via midi, though since it's firmware update it will also play the sequence of the last track that was used which is also useful
@@ChrisLodyMusic thx for the link, very interesting. As I was thinking, its more for composition than live tweaking.
Thank you for the hard work!
You're welcome, thanks for watching 😁
@@ChrisLodyMusic I was looking for some info on how to use the midi on these devices (use a sequencer, or an ipad) I can't seem to get it to work and I can't seem find anyone talking about it either on youtube. Seems that all the videos on the Sonicware devices do not mention how to use midi on them. I could just be simply confused or mixing up a simple error on my part, but it might be a popular subject for a video since no one has seemed to talk about it yet.
@@rustyxof So all the Livens have full midi capability. You can customise the channels but tracks 1-6 are set to midi channels 1-6, they will send and receive midi for all tracks. There is also an 'auto channel' which is channel 8 by default, sending midi in on this channel with play whichever track is currently selected. The auto channel is also used in the FM edit mode. There are a lot more midi settings which are detailed well in the manual. It's also worth checking the midi implementation chart for details on midi CCs, which settings are not received on the track midi channels etc
I have been meaning to make a video about this by the way but I'm not sure when I'll have time
Hay sir, can i use this as a subtractive synth, like you did with the xfm? Like a super saw and pwm.....? Please please get back, i loved that xfm video ,your a genius! I hqve an addiction to making the "hoover" or "dominator" on all my synths, reese bass also, s9 if you have ideas about that, i have a liven bass'n'beats and a 8bit warps. Ill prolly get the xfm just because of the video about super saw lol.
No this isn't really made for that. It doesn't have filters unlike the XFM, plus it's FM structure is much more traditional so you can't use the same tricks to have 4 saw running etc. I made a pack of presets for the XFM actually that is available to download from Sonicware's website that expands the idea of using the XFM for subtractive sound design. I found a way to make oscillator sync like sounds so it can now do things like the hoover bass too 😁 Video on that here: ua-cam.com/video/sm_kKbW1FNo/v-deo.html
You should be able to make a Reese bass fairy easily on the XFM using the info in my original 'XFM as a subtractive synth' video I think.
@@ChrisLodyMusic thankyou very much. All i have is liven bass and beats , mega synth, and 8bit. If you could point out some real real nice reese and hoovers for any of thoes, i know its "easy" on bass and beats, but i need a real sounding juno hoover and more reese thats not on the machine now. Do you have any patches like these to sell/pass on, ill get a xfm when i can, but i fear itll be years:(
@bonepileofficial It's something I can add onto my to do list but I'm ridiculously busy at the moment so I'm not sure when I'll have time. It would be a fun thing explore in a tutorial though. In the meantime it might be worth asking on the Sonicware unofficial Discord 👉 discord.com/invite/aDTK3hXy
Please confirm whether I've read the algorithm diagrams correctly:
Alg1: M1 modulates M2 modulates M3 modulates C4 (Serial modulation. good for bells).
Alg2: Both M1 and M2 modulate M3 separately which, in turn, modulates C4.
Alg3: M2 modulates M3 modulating C4 but then M1 also modulates C4 separately.
Alg4: C1 modulates M2 modulating C4 but then M3 also modulates C4 separately. (similar structure to Alg3)
Alg5: M1 Modulates C2, M3 modulates C4. (2 MC pairs. Good for E piano)
Al6: M1 Modulates C2, C3 and C4 (super wave stylee).
Alg7: M1 modulates C2 but C3 and C4 are independent carriers without modulators. (so you can use these unmodulated carriers as a sub bass and/or a hiss/crackly noise)
Alg8: C1234 all carriers (organ style)
Yes that's exactly right 👍 I'll get the accessibility sheet updated as soon as possible by the way and share the link with you when it's done
I've updated the document for this so you'll find it here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/clen3znifi2ubr3xi0ng8/SONICWARE-Liven-MEGA-Synthesis-Accessibility-Guide.docx?rlkey=89wjo2fecrwo9j2wsy2xg657j&dl=0
Is there a way to dial in a delay to the onset of LFO/sweep?
There isn't no. It's strictly a manually dialled in level. There are a few presets that appear to do that but it's a nice trick that can be pulled off by setting one of the operators to a low fixed frequency which turns it into a sine LFO, then you can use the envelope to fade it in and out and even use velocity to control its level. That's one of the tips I've got planned for later tutorials
@@ChrisLodyMusic Thanks - and thanks for answering my next question which was going to be "What do I do with the spare operator in the standard 3op harmonica recipe?" I'll use the 4th operator in either algorithms 3 or 4 to do that. Thanks.
Hi, can I connect my nord lead via midi and assign its sound to one of the sequencer tracks?
Yes you can. Each of the tracks sends midi out on different tracks, channels 1-6 by default but you can change this. You can turn down or mute the tracks if you don't want to hear both the internal sound and the Nord at the same time. I have a Nord Lead too so I know it has a 4 channel performance mode so if you use that you can send more than 1 channel if you want to and sequence the whole synth with it
@@ChrisLodyMusic
That's great! Thank you for the information and for the training videos on the channel, I will be waiting for new videos about nord lead and Mega Synthesis.
Would it be possible to import DX7 compatible FM sounds via Sysex
No the YM2612 that this was based on is very different to the architecture of the DX7. The DX7 has 6 operators and this has 4, so it would never work.