Liven LOFI 12 by Sonicware - instant lofi vibes!

[@BoBeats]

You can check Sonicware Liven in stores here: Thomann: thmn.to/thoprod/555755?offid=1&affid=623 in stock at Perfect Circuit: bit.ly/LivenLofi (and they are doing a discount on other Livens right now) And you support the channel in the process. Affiliate links means I earn a small % of anything you buy at no cost to you. Your cable purchases fund my coffee addiction!

[@atetraxx]

Doesn't look like the lofi 12 is for sale anywhere yet.. was ready to buy one

[@BoBeats]

@@atetraxx i was told it would be in stores today

[@ChildOfSaturnMusic]

@@atetraxx I couldn't find it for sale anywhere either and their site link for the Lofi-12 gave an error. But if you go to their main site and select Products, you'll see that you can add it to cart. I haven't attempted a purchase there, so I can't confirm beyond adding to cart.

[@TrickmanTerry]

Correction -- Perfect Circuit has Lofi-12 at $239 USD, not $209. They have 8bit Warps at $209 and Bass&Beats at $203.

[@atetraxx]

@@TrickmanTerry it's up now it wasn't when the video dropped

[@ElianaDAngelo]

Thanks for doing a review of the LoFi. Was an honor to help work on it in my own little way.

[@Lil_Grooves]

Love your Patterns on this! Those basslines! Can't wait to get it and program.

[@prestonnunez7]

I agree, your patterns sound amazing, great work!!

[@dchromej]

I never understood the self recognition comments

[@AmiDonk]

I ordered a Liven LOFI 12. Will be happy when it arrives.

[@DaveSmithHayes]

So its essentially a more feature-rich Volca Sample - which is very welcome.

[@BoBeats]

Yeah! I think thats about right

[@PorchBass]

Good perspective on it.

[@squishmusic]

i dunno how it compares 100% with a PAJEN loaded VS. I suspect its a very close competition, plus a VS1 can be had these days for 80€

[@rockhead11]

Ok, now I get it. Thanks…it was making my brain hurt….. And now I want it.

[@johnrobinson5672]

This thing is waaay more than a Volca Sample, Pajen or not.

[@alistairsheehyhutton4201]

Colour coordinating your jumper with the device being reviewed is a power move.

[@squishmusic]

I suspect this is JUST the BEGINNING of Bo's Christmas-jumper-collection show :D

[@davelordy]

And the hair ! The is no more powerful a power move than a hair / sampler / jumper coordination power move.

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Color me surprised 😁 Welcome to the Liven family Bo 🙏🏾

[@noisetheorem]

Why do they tug at my heart strings with that MPC color scheme?

[@BoBeats]

They know their target audience 😅

[@marcusyoung2434]

Never been a Liven fan....but this has my attention.

[@BoBeats]

Same!

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

The potential is very promising from this device imo. 🙌🏾❤

[@Zudden666]

Yepp.. Feel the same!

[@DetroitMicroSound]

What don't you like, about ALL THREE of the previous instruments?

[@Zudden666]

@@DetroitMicroSound For me its not that i dislike them, but i havent felt that i want to buy one of them.

[@ssmith2019]

Wow Bo ! ~ I've been enjoying your show for FIVE YEARS now ! I first watched an early Circuit viddy and then a Digitakt viddy and I decided to slowly build a DAWless set up ! ~ My Digitakt arrived yesterday and it will join the Circuit Tracks and Rhythm and assorted hardware synths, sound modules, effects pedals and mixer ! It will act as the central controller for my rig ! It's gonna be fun ! ! ~ 😁~ Thanks for all your help along the way Bo 😊 ! Peace !

[@chrisdavies9143]

The last thing I need is another sampler but I think this is cool, love the vibe of it all. The effects sound great too.

[@eladreltuc]

I didn’t need another one either… But I ordered one lol. I hope it’s cool!

[@shizzyshawn412]

I just ordered one too😅.

[@leewightman8619]

Can never have too many samplers

[@NunyaB1s]

This is everything the Model:Samples should have been. Stereo. 10 voice. Dedicated Envelope Generators + LFO. Multi FX. Variable sample rates. Bitcrusher. AND IT SAMPLES!

[@NiElsir]

A wise man once said - "Liven' la Vida Lofi"

[@patrickhoelscher8435]

👍😂

[@auralplex]

“And when will a Reiki Martin come?”

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

😆

[@LiamKillen]

Outside inside out 😏

[@smitty80]

Classic

[@EverettVinzant]

I didn’t even finish the video before I bought one.

[@whodemclan]

Lmao same

[@EnviroDouglas]

Best demo of this synth. Thanks Bo!!!

[@scottharris7222]

Yep, this has a vibe. I was on the beta for the first Sonic Liven 8bit warps and found it too lo fi (chip tune) and asked if it could do 12 bits and was told it wasn't in the cards for the 8bit Warp.. I guess there are a lot of people who love that chunky sound. I have a old Ensoniq EPS and this gets there sonically I am sold. Great video as usual Bo.

[@dreamakah]

Those are some really good features in the sequencer for something in this price range. Also really liking the sound set it comes with.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

All the Livens have advanced sequence features.

[@crnkmnky]

First glance, it looks like better features/price than my Model:Samples 😩

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

I didn't know Sonicware sent you this too. Really glad you're enjoying it as much as I am. Great video 😁

[@BoBeats]

Thanks Chris! Gj on your vid. Linked it in the description

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

@@BoBeats Oh thanks very much. Thanks for the shout-out too!

[@NoxBoxdy]

Still not sure what I did! But I will be buying one. Hope all is well Chris! Been a while.

[@alecsbuga]

This brings back memories about the Korg Microsampler. Wish this could be able to slice a beat

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

@@alecsbuga I so very nearly bought one of those, and then regretted not getting it. I can't remember what it was about the spec that didn't quite hit the spot for me, I'll have to go read an old review....

[@NoName-o5q1l]

Thanks

[@CoLD.SToRAGE]

Sounds like someone boxed up an AMIGA computer. Giving me serious memories of composing for Psygnosis games back in the early 80s. 😊

[@mellemellor]

Nice, Psygnosis were the creme de la creme back in the day.

[@brokenscart7989]

Hello person who helped define my taste in music

[@-crash]

Wow, kudos to the Psygnosis game composers (and everyone else who worked on those games)! Your work occupies a permanent place in my brain’s ROM.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Damn, loved your work on all your Psygnosis titles. Plus Music 2000 on PS1 got me into making music! 🤜🤛

[@BlezzBeats]

You serious? Man. Legend! A couple of the presets on there sound like they're straight out of the ST-xx library. With 8-bit and more aliasing with pitching it would be identical.

[@tahiche.]

You got me at 4:30 with the lovely arp. That’s the feature I miss the most on the Digitakt.

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

To me, this is much more interesting and compelling than the OP-1. For the price, the feature set and sound quality is perfect for my type of music-making.

[@captainpawpawchannel]

Exactly, much more attractive than the op1 and pretty cheap, so affordable for everyone (even though i will prefer the mpc one)!!

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

@@captainpawpawchannel Yeah, with a deck saer or case to protect the buttons I could see throwing this thing in my bag to use on bus rides or ferry trips. It might be a good Christmas ask.

[@elsantoproductora]

I love my Op-1 but the lack of quantization and the limited fx can be a bit frustrating. I think the Liven Lo-fi 12 could replace the Op-1 unless you are really set on the 4 track tape workflow.

[@captainpawpawchannel]

@@elsantoproductora The sampling quality is better in the OP1 but the price is crazy (and some will enjoy the lo-fi sound of the lofi), plus I'm not fan of the design of the OP1, the lofi seems pretty fun (I won't buy it but I would have loved it a long time ago)

[@aqueous5099]

The lofi is definitely a complimentary piece, but incredible value and uniqueness ☺️

[@fgpd7710]

The more I break away from having the ability to use 16+ tracks to using only 4, the more I find my musical ideas/work flow getting quite a bit deeper.

[@AndrewTSq]

Thats how I started making music, on the homecomputer Amiga 500 in the late 80ies. 4 channel of 8bit samples with a total of 4 voices, and up to 512kB sample ram (usually around 300 or so availble). And its also cause of this Amiga I dont get impressed with 10 voices polyphony 32 years later.. and with a pricetag of the Amiga 500. If it had atleast 32 voices it would be an instant buy. The Amiga you could also sample and edit your waveforms visually. And one channel was usually drums.. one bass. one sampled chords and one for the lead.

[@fgpd7710]

@@AndrewTSq I'm starting to mess with the rhythm/drums channel also having bass. But mixing is difficult with hats and cymbals. It's almost sensible to sequence based on the frequency I will mix, but then I'm scarifying the very limited polyphony on my 4 track.

[@NachozMan]

K.I.S.S Keep it simple stupid. This is true in all kinds of design when you really break them down.

[@mr_floydst]

I liked what I heard here. Great demo, and great video! The price is tempting, as well, haha.

[@leftmono1016]

I’m really surprised that it’s taken until now for a hardware manufacturer to do this. Considering how sought after the old Akai S950 is. Thanks for the video!

[@zalione]

Because is also 12bit? It’s like saying my Toyota Corolla is as fast as a Ferrari because it’s also red. The sound of an s950 comes mainly from its converters and filter.

[@leftmono1016]

@@zalione - it’s not like saying that at all. Some people lust after 12 bit samplers in the same way that some people lust after vintage synths. There a lots of modern analog synth clones but no modern 12 bit samplers. Do you see my point now? Shame about the Corolla 😉

[@zalione]

@@leftmono1016 my point is that people often think 12bit stands for a special sound but it don’t. 12bit will not automatically give you THAT „lofi sound“. It’s in the converters, the analog circuit, filters, and in case of an akai s950 that it not have pitch interpolation but can change the samplerate for each voice independently in real time.

[@leftmono1016]

@@zalione - I see what you mean, it’s the complete package, but it’s still surprising that no one has tapped into the ‘old sampler’ market. Not a complete S950 copy 👍

[@zalione]

@@leftmono1016 its not just 12 bit samplers. There is almost no modern professional samplers out there. I mean pure samplers and not groove boxes and funny toy machines. That’s because people today use software for this task.

[@TheLexikitty]

Oh my goodness I need it.

[@ciaranmulhall6123]

Sounds great

[@bertokleine280]

Well people bought for a bigger amount of money a op1. They told us that it was the limitation from the op1 that worked inspiring. Nothing wrong to make music for only yourself. For my self making music means to express myself and I don’t care what other people think about it. My music is at first ment to be for myself. The simpel joy it gives to creat something is the reward of the mind. And that’s why I think the lofi 12 is a wonderful low-priced machine. Greetings from Germany ( but I am Dutch and live in, like the Romans spoke, Germania Superior 😝)

[@leewightman8619]

Pretty cool little sampler the xd version looks good too with having more tracks and a proper screen

[@elissitdesign]

I’m going to team this up with my AKAI Force for some deep house and lofi flavors. Instant buy. I hope they will continue to add features as it gains popularity and feedback.

[@jacobshields718]

I have a sonicware elz 1 and it’s still getting updates that take it next level.

[@MattGreerMusic]

Dang it. Did not want to buy another sampler but I really like the sound of this. On paper this really doesn't have much power as compared to my Circuit Rhythm (closest modern comparison I can think of) but the sonics really catch my ear. It's also exactly what I hoped they would do next from the Liven series. Odd to release two samplers at the same time but Sonicware does things their own way.

[@BoBeats]

Rhythm is indeed much more feature packed… except no poly sample playback and no arp and those are the huge pro’s for this one

[@elsantoproductora]

@@BoBeats Together they make a great, budget setup. You can use the rhythm as a drum machine and the Liven for bass, chords and melodic lines.

[@cresshead]

good video i like their approach to sampling in lo fi here - nice one

[@BoBeats]

thanks!

[@ichiro-ota]

I couldn't get along with Bass & Beats well for various reasons, and I was not sure if I wanted to get lofi-12. This video convinced me to get one, and I'm pretty satisfied with my purchase :)

[@BoBeats]

Glad to hear it!

[@TigroGumi]

I wasn’t a fan of the others either but this is looking like a wonderful addition to a small setup

[@RANDOMLOOPGENERATOR]

I'm really looking forward to getting this, the Bass & Beats has proved a worthy addition to my set up and sound. This is just what I've been looking for to add some extra old school crunchy breaks! Nice run down Bo 👍

[@UncleBenjs]

Ahh I have an mpc (did have 3 mpcs and multiple akai rack samplers, Roland rack samplers, and some extra sequencers etc.. I downsized to just one of the newer mpcs. Didn't think I'd be wanting to buy anything else sampler/sequencer related, but I'm really being sold on this

[@chadpescod-realtor3308]

That's me too.

[@DJb-ill219]

You are a Beast 😮 I have one and haven't really had a chance to learn the machine yet

[@iamsimonmorris]

Niiiiice, snuck that one in. Just waiting for my Smpltrek to arrive and now another one..........

[@huntergalloway3944]

Wow! I actually like this more than the SampleTrek. I’m such a big sampler fan, especially old 12/8 bit samplers. My first sampler was the Mirage and nowadays I mostly use either my MPC for clean sampling or my Emax SE for character sampling. I’m really digging the classic Akai-esque aesthetic of this thing. Kinda sounds like an old S900 too! Great demo!

[@AllThatsGone]

Hi Bo. So glad to see these sleepers getting love on your channel. NB I think the ‘different filter types’ are actually different envelope types. IE low pass with attack, decay and both. Then high with envelopes, band etc.

[@BoBeats]

yes, correct. The filters have different envelope types/responses. So there are different filter types, ie bandpass/hipass and a few others and also two different lowpass modes to choose from

[@AllThatsGone]

Thanks Bo.

[@BravosReviews]

Wow I’m In love

[@ErikAnders]

Can you export patterns as midi files to import into a DAW?

[@mattcero1]

How would I snag a sample from audio being played on my computer? I'd love to see a h/w device that has XLR, just one would be fine, and would double as an audio interface so you could use it for zoom calls and grab samples in real time while playing music on your PC outputted to the sampler over USB. Why the heck isn't anyone adding this feature?

[@jayneural]

Sonicware is firing on all cylinders lately ! Receiving the SimplTrek soon 😉

[@glenesis]

Hi :) Great run through, Bo! Thanks for the great info. Best regards, Glenn

[@Niko80s]

Any info when it's gonna be available in EU? It's not listed in Thomann's search..

[@dinogoldie9716]

I have identified a broken/incomplete feature of the Liven Lofi12. Stutter and Random only work with samples that are 1 step long. If you sequence a sample that's 16 steps long then try to use stutter, touching any steps will either mute the track or repeat the first step's worth of the sample. Ideally, using stutter on a long sample would move the playhead to the point in that sample corresponding with the pressed step. Same goes for the Random feature.

[@elsantoproductora]

I would love to see Op-1 style drumkits on this device. I think this is an absolute winner but I don't like the drum programming workflow. It has a step sequencer, a keyboard and parameter locks so I guess some sort of drumkit mode could be implemented via firmware. Thanks for the video!

[@BoBeats]

Solid idea!

[@benjaminbrodie9801]

Awesome video Bo! Great job! This is the Digitakt Syntakt killer that was rumored to come out. Cheers!

[@manuelsirotti3793]

Nice, I have two questions : Can you reprocess the input tracks as external audio without recording them, I mean effect them. Another question can you use it as a midi sequencer to sequence for example a Vermona analog drum machine ? Thanks!

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

Interesting question...did you find your answer?

[@michaelh8854]

why do synths like this usually start the keys on F instead of C?

[@travislee9662]

Yeah I was thinking it’s weird too

[@rodolphep0nthus555]

That drum loop sample you're using at 5:25 fits perfectly to the to the sequencer BPM and measure length. Is there some time stretching going on?? Or is it because the sample is exactly the length and tempo to fit the measure, if you see what I mean..

[@BoBeats]

there is no time stretching so you have to make sure you set bpm correctly

[@rodolphep0nthus555]

​@@BoBeatsthanks a lot for the answer! So does the new firmware update on the Circuit Rythm 2.0 can solve this? I m' not what new that time function really does?

[@Art_Travel_and_Hobbys]

Dope sounds

[@fallenshallrise]

I have the Elektron Model:Samples and it can do most of this stuff but it can't sample, which oddly makes it less fun because you have to bust out the computer to make samples on the fly and that breaks the flow. This is the last thing I need but it actually looks really fun for building out some DAW-less sections or intros.

[@HomeworldChanal]

Any ideas at using this thing to achieve Linn Drum/DMX/Drumtraks kind of sound qualities?

[@snörre23]

This is the formfactor i wish the Roland Aira Compacts were. Trying to decide between this and the P 6.

[@Nobody-hc2bo]

I have an old boss sp-202 that’s been needing a friend 🤔

[@BigBadWolf..............]

My big question is are the tracks on separate midi channels. I would like to have 2 4 track poly midi channels I control with the digitakt

[@johnthebigtree]

I really like those, per track, beat repeat fx you used in the demos. Do you happen to know if that's a feature that's shared between all the other units too?

[@theshinyobject2438]

Honestly I am a synth guy, I love the lo-fi sound and I want to incorporate those beats into my chillout sessions but I have never really been a sample guy. Do you think this is a good place to start?

[@marsoblivi0n945]

I’m a synth guy as well. I got into samplers a few years ago with octatrack. This seems like a good one to start on. I’m thinking of getting this for when I don’t feel like dedicating a day to just doing insane things on octatrack. This seems more quick and inspiring. Then you may want an octatrack one day. It’s very sound design and synth once you get to know it. It’s worth the learning curve.

[@Berus7777]

Do I like the sound? From what I can tell from the constraints of a KZbin video, yes. Do I think it's somewhat gimmicky? Yes. Do I see actual potential for it to be a useful tool? Yes. Do I think it's a good value proposition? Yes. Am I somewhat surprised it has a full size Midi plug? Yes. Do I wish that, pretty much across the board, the manufacturers of these small desktop "value" synths would use better materials and just charge us an extra $30-$50? YES. Will I buy it? Hmm... Maybe. Yes. (But would I be just a little MORE likely to buy it if it were a VST? Probably.)

[@indirektdjs]

Great review as usual 👍

[@dariusmorgan8302]

Very cool. Thanks man

[@AmiDonk]

I love your sweater.

[@hazuinf]

Do you know if it’s possible to use the sequencer on this to sequence external synths? And if so, is it possible to trigger one-shot samples on the Lofi 12 while the sequencer is controlling the external synth?

[@trevormalcolm4328]

Whoa! WTF. For the last couple of months I’ve been waiting for the Smpl trek then you sneak up with this!!!

[@slakk5093]

I wonder if that clock sync will work with sync out of the beatstep 🤔

[@AndrewPRoberts]

Literally just ordered a volca sample and then I see this

[@JamesVytas]

Great colour scheme. Like the tr909 or any old beige PCs or macintosh

[@waredzzzzz]

Hello ! I've a question : is it possible to parameter lock the sample start, sample length, loop start and length fonctions ?

[@C0llinsW0rth.]

is there way to add samples to it? Sounds really really nice, and not crazy expensive which is cool

[@C0llinsW0rth.]

NVM, didn't watch till the end when i posted haha

[@AJC19811]

How do I clear a sequence

[@trevorbarnhart7501]

Are you able to program 2 drum sounds on one step when making a drum loop from scratch in 1 track?

[@BoBeats]

One sound per step

[@Art_Travel_and_Hobbys]

Yoooo. This Lo fi is sick... I will be getting this machine 🤓👍🏿

[@LukeSnowmaker]

I honestly wanted to avoid buying this, but I couldn't resist...just ordered one and looking forward to put my hands on! Thanks for the video though!

[@groovebox.academy]

This seems super interesting. Great review and tracks. Probably need to snag one later :)

[@ActionlessLoveless]

looks like Volca Sample done right 😺👍 i wonder how Sonicware positioning it in compare to their just-launched SmplTrek groovebox/sampler? 🤔

[@BoBeats]

SmplTrek = can do long samples, live loop (in future fw), drum kits, and much more. This one is super basic in comprison but has per track insert fx and an arp. And samples super short lofi samples

[@ActionlessLoveless]

@@BoBeats i wonder now how soon to expect some first analogue synth in Liven series 😸

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Why does it have such low sample time? Missed opportunity i think. Does it come with sample library? Volca sample much longer. Teenage engineering KO is like a minute

[@BoBeats]

It comes with a small sample library. You can have 128 samples, and they can be up to 4 seconds per sample so over 8 min total sample length

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Thank you for that information, 8 minutes is enough to work with. I appreciate the response and all you do !!

[@BearlyVT]

Watched this video...then some others...then due to my new rule, waited 24 hrs...and just placed order! Looks totally FUN!

[@BoBeats]

Good rule imo. After a bit more than a month I still think this is a fun device

[@_cocoalabs]

Great video! Tried to order direct from sonic ware who says they ship to the USA for free, but I kept getting errors on the order page. 😓

[@mistakeibler]

Happened to me yesterday too. I just tried again this morning and the shipping issue seems to be fixed. Mine is on the way now!

[@tlatsegms]

Great sound👍👍

[@stysnappin]

How does it compare to the Circuit Rhythm?

[@mattcero1]

Great review man! Did you make a shirt out of that rug I gave you? It looks familiar.

[@NimbusAbi]

is it possible to start the sequencer from external source by e.g. an sp 404 mk2?

[@aseomg]

Sonicware just pulled a WTF! moment out of me!!!

[@MrThecarrott]

So, how does one buy one ? When does it come out?

[@PassportGods]

D'you have the beat at 1:16 up anywhere?

[@BoBeats]

No im thinking of finishing it tho

[@dzaxys4643]

Nice always love good value gear

[@b33lz]

This video is very helpful, much obliged.

[@murrrr8288]

it seems like a pretty capable little box

[@macdemarco1476]

Can u upload ur own sounds from pc usb to midi

[@xisotopex]

how does this compare to the model samples? other than model samples doesnt actually sample...

[@strelokknoize]

Kinda like it. It even looks like a Volca Sample on steroids.

[@taylorstep8135]

This is an improvement

[@jordanbenson2980]

Is this going to be available in the UK at any point?

[@joshuamorganmusic]

It’s like a sp-202 mk2🤘 (the best lo-fi sampler imho)

[@MayukhTatai]

Is it available to purchase outside of US

[@StrillLife]

Interesting how a supposedly less capable device has more control over parameters than the SmplTrek... Probability, global swing, effects on every track. Granted it only has four tracks but it seems to be more flexible in many regards.

[@blazrodic]

Smpltrek will get at least some of those controls - they prioritized stability to ship it sooner.

[@StrillLife]

@@blazrodic makes sense. I'm hoping the features are expanded and work flow simplified. I haven't gotten my unit yet but ppl seem to say working on it is convoluted. It would be a shame if using it was more a chore than fun.

[@lionelluney3063]

So can you make your own drum kit ? I was told this was like a 4 track eps . What about a sample per key or a different sample per octave per track. Everybody demonstrating this just been using a drum loop and an instrument per track

[@JeffMyers-ir3pn]

Would love a video on the Lo-Fi & the OPZ singing together. J

[@hobbowizardanimations]

This is amazing sonic ware are making fools of the big names with this liven series and so affordable