SonicWare Liven Mega Synthesis - Sonic LAB Review

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Sonicware Liven Mega Synthesis is inspired by and emulates the classic sound of the Sega Mega Drive from gaming's yesteryear. many people will have a fondness for the crunchy PCM , FM and reduced bandwidth of those cartridge games. @SONICWARE have been n a roll with their specialized groovboxes and this one takes that sound world and fully inhabits it.
With input from legendary game soundtrack composer Yuzo Koshiro, the Renowned Composer known for the "Ys", "The Streets of Rage" and "Etrian Odyssey", who has Contributed Sound Banks and Patterns.
Who better to look at this than @magicalsynthadventure3216 who's deep into retro digital synthesis?
Thanks to @Kim_Justice for the game footage
The Mega Synthesis is battery powered or PSU,has 320 FM game sounds, sorted into 20 categories, and 64 diverse drum kits for the PCM track.
- 128 patterns - Up to 128 steps per pattern
- Step length can be set from 1/1 to 1/32
- Real-time recording
Sound Engines:
4-operator & 8-algorithm FM sound module with precise sound editing in Edit Mode
Including extra features like fine-tuning operator ratios, which was impossible at the time.
8-bit PCM sound part of YM2612
Recreate the sound of PCM playback controlled by the Z80 microprocessor used at the time.
Sampling capabilities (8-bit - 12kHz: upto 8 secounds / 24kHz: 4 seconds / 48kHz: 2 seconds, 96 stored samples)
PSG (Programmable Sound Generator) sound module
Synthesize basic waveforms and white noise to recreate iconic retro-game-sounds.
Available for pre-order in batches priced at $329
sonicware.jp/pages/liven-mega...
#soniclab #megasynthesis #sonicware
00:00:00 start
00:00:09 Intro
00:01:50 Demo Track
00:03:03 Overview
00:05:20 sampling
00:06:48 Sequencer
00:08:30 Demo track 2
00:11:46 Sound Lock + FX
00:15:46 Sega patterns
00:18:43 FM Edit mode
00:21:24 Conclusion
|--------|
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[@RobertSaintJohn]

I’ve had mine for a few weeks and I’m thrilled with it. The sounds and sample options are great, but it’s the sequencing and song mode that really blow me away. It’s so easy and intuitive, great UI and flexibility. The bigger manufacturers who make grooveboxes or integrate sequencing into their synths could learn a lot from this. Much more satisfying than, say, my Roland SH-4d or Elektron Digitone. You do raise a good point about the separate FM sound design experience, though. Great demo and review!

[@AaronFoltz]

Flashback and Streets of Rage's music is sooo good.

[@dinogoldie9716]

21:25 (re polyphony): The three FM tracks share 6 voice polyphony. The two PSG voices share 4 voice polyphony. The PCM track has 3 sound polyphony. I'm not sure if FX affect/reduce this as I've encountered unforeseen voice stealing when noodling with the machine. As with the original game system, you've got to be creative and drop all unnecessary note duplication or redundant 5ths or whatnot.

[@enricopallazzoofficial]

Those were some really sweet demo tracks. I'm not that attached to those "old school videogames" sounds but i enjoyed a lot of the tones that you Paulee created with this thing. Great review of a really funny kit.

[@djidmusic7730]

Great presentation and enjoyable musical examples. Thanks Paulee!

[@GeorgeL909]

That jam was fantastic. Definitely gonna enjoy this machine when it finally arrives. I can already hear the dungeon synth, industrial and 16 bit metal it can likely pump out.

[@tomdotcom88]

Thanks for posting this, I just got one and am loving it so far :)

[@EBMZEQUENZER]

Aaaaaa ! Shinobi on the table !! Cheers 🥂

[@ShawnWeigman]

Excited to see this can do more than video game sounds.

[@EannaButler]

Super presentation! You hit some real sweet spots Paulee... 👏👍

[@GRIFFARTCENTER]

Very cool and refreshing kind of review, great demo songs!

[@LauraReynoldsMusic]

Wow, you really got a lot out of that synth, Paulee! Great review and musical examples!

[@askji26285]

Wow this was top notch… you convinced me to get one 🎉

[@MegaWayneD]

You make it look way too easy! Another fab video, Paulee.

[@dinogoldie9716]

One thing I like on previous Liven grooveboxes and do miss on this Liven Megasynthesis is the ability to delay the onset of LFO/sweep.

[@BoopDoopPoop]

I bought this device for the Sega. Thank you for showing me how to use it. Also... Killer songs! I will subscribe.

[@jonbirchartist]

Top review! Enjoyed what you got out of it. 🙂

[@dinogoldie9716]

I LOVE this groovebox. So much fun. I hope Sonicware revamp their original Liven 8bit warps and bring out a Liven Gameboy or Liven SNES Synthesis. (basically drop the looper from the L8BW and replace it with a four engine sequencer). Sonicware make such fun and interesting budget rrooveboxes (The Texture Lab granular groovebox is amazing).

[@e-dub808]

The song was absolutely brilliant! Some 🔥 going there!

[@angryeyes-eh3rs]

Oh man I'd forgotten that game Flashback! I loved that as a kid

[@brandonSpivey-vx4eu]

Well done fella. , great demo.

[@luisblanco3619]

So nice!!!

[@PacifierMusic]

Wonderful review. Can you provide a link to your channel? Love your style and music. I want to hear more. I’d love to see more reviews from the host. Really fun and informative vid

[@magicalsynthadventure3216]

Hi, thanks! I have two channels. “Vogue Renege” is music, “Magical Synth Adventure” is more a standard KZbin channel 😊

[@fbisurveillancevan7479]

Good review, thanks.

[@dinogoldie9716]

Could you not link feedback on operator 1 to velocity (while in FM edit mode) and then use the velocity knob (in performance mode) to get your desired effect? Also, have you tried Sonicware's Liven XFM? That has worlds of feedback and other weirdness for all 4 operators.

[@magicalsynthadventure3216]

I believe the velocity knob only effects each new note, it’s not a continuous controller IIRC 😊

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

I promise I haven’t sampled you doing your FM growl impression. Nope.

[@outdatedgear5036]

Very cool. I love my digitone but this one seems more user friendly.

[@mikewatson6830]

I'm struggling to find the right adaptor, mine didn't have the adaptor included when I ordered with amazon, can someone advise or send me a link to buy one please 🙏

[@dinogoldie9716]

4:56 How can you get "lost" in a Liven UI? It'ss basically 2 functions per knob and the occasional cycling option on buttons/keys. There's no menu diving or anywhere to get "lost" in.

[@magicalsynthadventure3216]

I was ok, but I know that there’s a lot of people (maybe the majority of synthesists) who get lost if it’s not knob per function, so I said that sentence for those people 😊

[@marvinjones4415]

I aoooo don't need this groovebox but I MUST HAVE IT!!!!!

[@LightBranches]

Suzanne Mega...nice!

[@markkilley2683]

Sounds good. It's currently sold out.

[@nickdestruct]

$250 cheaper than the twisted electrons megafm. although that ones for more traditional fm stuff and looks more typical semi modular desktop style. this would be great to experiment with. i could recycle my whole loop library again lol. awesome review

[@GeorgeL909]

Even just as a sequencer alone it's a pretty good deal. Polyphonic, battery powered, 128 steps per pattern, and a full sized midi port. I think it can do parameter locks with midi as well, but I don't think the cc values are customizable... Not sure about that one.

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

Absolutely top class knob chatter.

[@johnnycreamsoda7979]

Shwifty!

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

It has ladder effect so I want one! The only thing i think it needs is the ability to make a ROM to play on the real hardware like Deflemask 👍

[@kierenmoore3236]

Great review, Paulee! 😎 Looks and sounds great! Was surprised to learn of the ‘video game’ sounds that can be had out of the B Cat this week, as well. You might want to check that one out, if you haven’t already. Cheers!

[@oscillationcommunications709]

Wow sounding great! ❤️

[@synthsamuraiproductions]

Sweeet review!!!

[@JanavarKan83]

But…….does it PWM????

[@magicalsynthadventure3216]

Could do with the right operator settings!

[@BendApparatus]

@@magicalsynthadventure3216 but...did you get the joke!?

[@paulmint1775]

Very good, very good.

[@MrDejanPesic]

Excellent review! 👍

[@MortChud]

Too bad it can't do fx per track. That's a bit disappointing.

[@googlepigs7027]

I must admit...l really dislike your "look". But your demo's were *very* cool ! Nice !

[@askji26285]

I really dislike your lack of basic decency and respect! This was such a high-quality review, probably took a lot of effort and included top notch music, yet you had to make a comment about looks… grow up please!

[@ChrisPBacon3000]

Projection.

[@AlchemicalAudio]

I love your comment, so honest. You gotta remember, with all people… it is a package deal. Personally, I think it is ok if their look makes you uncomfortable. Sexy Hyperspace Electro Dungeon isn’t for everyone. Well, at least not on the first listen… See you next time!

[@johnnycreamsoda7979]

@@AlchemicalAudio Well said. You don't have to like anyone's "look". Just keep it friendly, and if you can't manage that, be polite. Cheers folks!

[@magicalsynthadventure3216]

@@AlchemicalAudioyou “love” that they’re insulting a disabled person? Wow 😂🤣