Liven MEGA SYNTHESIS - Tutorial Part 2 - FM Edit Deep Dive

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Trailer: • LIVEN "MEGA SYNTHESIS"...
Yuzo Koshiro's Patterns: • Yuzo Koshiro Preset Pa...
My quick overview video: • Liven MEGA SYNTHESIS -...
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As promised, here is part 2 of the tutorial for the Sonicware Liven MEGA Synthesis, this time covering everything you need to know about using the FM Eit mode with a bit of FM theory thrown in to get you going.
0:00 Intro
0:40 Entering FM Edit Mode
1:33 FM Terminology
1:38 Operators
2:16 Algorithms
2:29 Carrier
2:34 Modulator
2:46 Feedback
2:54 Envelope
3:15 Control Layout
4:06 Envelope Controls
6:40 Initialise Sound
7:02 Select Algorithm
7:13 Operator Mute
7:27 Adjust Feedback
7:58 Feedback Noise
8:32 Multiplier/Freq
9:09 2 Operator Patch
9:38 Carrier = Volume
9:46 Modular = Tone
10:07 Save a Patch
10:18 Carrier Envelope
11:00 Modulator Envelope
11:25 Multipliers
11:30 Fine Frequency
13:09 Fixed Mode
13:40 Amp LFO
14:32 SSG EG
15:18 Operator Velocity
16:10 Detune
16:32 Sweep
16:54 Misc. Settings
17:44 Save Edits
18:13 Copy a Patch
18:57 Cancel Edits
19:23 Outro
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#ChrisLody

[@elmardekoning2713]

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!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

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

[@Illuminihilation]

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.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

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 😁

[@dinogoldie9716]

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).

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

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.

[@williammatthewspiano9064]

Awesome video man

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Thank you 😁

[@dinogoldie9716]

Many Thanks for this and all your help with all the gear.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Thank you, very much appreciated 😁

[@GeorgeL909]

Thank you for this, you're the man as always.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

You're welcome, have fun 😁

[@rustyxof]

Thank you for the hard work!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

You're welcome, thanks for watching 😁

[@rustyxof]

@@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.

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

@@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

[@BobOscuro]

Thank you very much!!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

You're welcome, hope you find it helpful 😁

[@emilegravier8758]

Thanks a lot for this very helpful video

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

You're welcome. Have fun 😁

[@emilegravier8758]

@@ChrisLodyMusic When I'll have mine, I'm waiting for it, waiting for it, waiting for it... 😅

[@SonicVibe]

well that got deep

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Ha yeah 😄 There's a lot more depths to plunder yet, bottom of the iceberg stuff 😁

[@dinogoldie9716]

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)

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

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

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

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

[@dinogoldie9716]

Is there a way to dial in a delay to the onset of LFO/sweep?

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

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

[@dinogoldie9716]

​@@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.

[@gwilkinson418]

Would it be possible to import DX7 compatible FM sounds via Sysex

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

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.