TEXTURE LAB - a portable granular synth and FX processor by Sonicware

This is the new Liven TEXTURE LAB by Sonicware. It is a 4 voice granular synthesizer, sampler & fx processor. Gear provided by manufacturer & video sponsored by DistroKid: distrokid.com/vip/bobeats If you want to upload your music to Spotify/Apple Music and more stores, use DistroKid. It's an affordable and easy to use service that I have used for years.
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CONTENT
00:00 What is the Texture Lab?
03:54 Sound demos
07:10 How you make sounds with it & Sequence
16:05 How do you sample?
17:30 Things I do not like & alternatives
19:20 A message from Bo
SYNTH MERCH
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Direct UK link: bobeats.myspreadshop.co.uk
PRESETS & SAMPLES
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SOCIAL MEDIA
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COMMUNITY
Discord: community.bobeats.tv
FB group: / simplysynthesizer
GEAR I USE (affiliate)
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BUSINESS INQUIRY
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#SonicwareLiven #TextureLab #Synthesizer

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Really glad you enjoyed the Texture Lab Bo 😁 It still weirds me out a bit when I hear my sound design work popping up on big KZbin channels like this though, with my voice this time too! 😅

[@BoBeats]

You did a great job!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

@@BoBeats Thanks very much 😁

[@djpuzzleofficial]

Ha! I can relate bro. I did design for some of the 1010Music gear and it's crazy to hear it on these channels when they review!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

@@djpuzzleofficial Oh nice one, they've been doing some really interesting work too. Hope you had fun exploring the possibilities before everyone else!

[@djpuzzleofficial]

@@ChrisLodyMusic I'm stoked about this new piece. From what I hear your sounds are spot on.

[@SexyNinjaMonkey]

We need more granular synths in our lives. Especially affordable ones.

[@dgoldstein]

Oko

[@isocarboxazid]

I'm really excited about the MicroFreak sampler update that was announced yesterday by Arturia!

[@eyesintheskies]

If you have an iPad, spacecraft is only a tenner & awesome 👍

[@SONICWARE]

Thank you again for the excellent review! We are greatly honored.🙇‍♂

[@Patriotic_Eagle1995]

Does this have any usb connectivity or ability to update firmware?

[@d3tuned378]

You are a synth brand that I am keeping my eye on. I'm not sure what ground you have left to cover. Physical modeling? You've some FM, two sampling devices, a low bitrate chiptune oriented version.. I guess you could see if it's even possible to do a fat mono or duophonic analog version? Specifically aimed at 303 style but with the idea of being able to take it farther and having more of a sonic palette to work with. I'd love to see even a monophonic analog bass synth

[@getinTHEBIN318]

This is a terrible bit of kit. 4 out of 10 units won't work on batteries, it's cheap. If I were you I would grab the Nopia before other offers come in. As I will never recommend you. Every bit of kit I've had a chance to play, with is cheap plastic and you charge far too much. I can get a drum machine and a synth for the same price and they are better and made better. YOu haven't had 1 bit of kit that stands out. I will never buy a product and if i have a chance that someone gives me one to play with I will apologize, but your company is terrible and Behringer and Korg destroy you on price material, and sound. You are in the same price range as the Elektron and the circuit track.

[@d3tuned378]

@@getinTHEBIN318 please explain the "4 out of 10" comment

[@getinTHEBIN318]

@@d3tuned378 Okay math question. if you have ten units and 4 don't work how many are left that work? 6, so what is the percentage of getting one that works 60%. For 289 pound would you like a 60% chance of the machine working or a 100% working machine

[@koishikomeiji7878]

The color scheme of the enclosure of this model is extremely addictive to me. I can't move my eyes from it. Great job Sonicware, always love your products.

[@PostingCringeOnMain]

I bought the X-FM when it came out a couple of years ago and I really think the Livenware format is underrated. Everything you need is right there, no menu diving. Sure, a couple of “hold button + function” commands, but otherwise a super clever way to access a ton of functionality with only a 4 digit display. Compared with the overall usability of the Korg Volcas or Roland Boutiques, I think Livenware really nailed the “ton of stuff in a small box” thing and as a non-keyboard player, I’ve always really appreciated the button style keyboard for entering steps into the sequencer. Glad to see they are still cranking out unique and interesting products :) I also just love supporting smaller companies doing something original over ‘the big 3’ who seem stuck in an endless cycle of trying to re-package nostalgia with the same synth sounds they’ve been peddling for the last 40 years.

[@monarcheventservices1711]

Just ordered , this thing looks and sounds next level ! Love the sampler and step sequencer!

[@MistyMusicStudio]

Holy crap, I can't believe what a cool machine that is for such a reasonable price! Thanks for the great demo, this is going on the wish list for sure.

[@doughankins3996]

What a neat little synth I have really been impressed with this company and how much they have put out within the last year or two. Thanks Bo. I appreciate your videos and passion for synths❤❤❤

[@returnofthegoth2220]

Congrats on the new house! Have a pleasant transition!

[@pjm8779]

I watched this video and preordered immediately. Great video and review. The info you provide is always helpful. I was reducing my collection, but for the price, this is too cool. Congrats on the new house!

[@Dan47839]

Love it! Sounds amazing in your capable hands Bo.

[@aubrey5495]

Just ordered mine after seeing ur video!!!cant wait to play with it!!!

[@landonewts]

Great video, great synth - Looks and sounds amazing, and the price point is actually amazingly affordable! May have to grab one of these.

[@ejb5659]

You Sir are a true expert at this and so informative and honest. I own the massive Lemondrop but this vid convinced me of the subtle power and nuance of this Texture Lab- just got it. Thanks so much.

[@Koopakid917543]

Just heard about this thing 5 minutes ago and I needed to learn more. For the price you can't beat it, I'm definitely buying one now

[@scienceofsound]

Excellent demo my friend! I'm adding this little guy to my toys right away.

[@-The-Darkside]

I have the lofi 12 and although limited I love it, especially for sequencing other synths.

[@ayeeidkmusic]

First of all… You’re one of my favorite channels to watch! So, I’ve been looking for a granular synth. Either a vst or a piece of hardware. I was thinking about picking up the 1010 music box and then came across this video of yours. I definitely have some research to do but I’m now leaning more towards this awesome little tool! Thanks for the vid young Bo!!!! You rock 🎸🎸🎸

[@BoBeats]

Thanks!! ♥️

[@maxbosoxfan171]

awesome review video Bo !!

[@koskey06]

This is the perfect name for this device! As i feel this will give your music that little extra texture/ unique sound to take it over the top. Take your music from sounds like everyone else....to, what is that awesome sound im hearing

[@najiramusic]

Love the Bo signature hand waving you got going on around the 5:30 mark ❤

[@BrentODell]

This looks really cool, I might have to pick one up!

[@morpheoist]

so many news this morning.... this is very interesting 🥰.... the colors are also beautiful.

[@BURG]

what a lovely little instrument !

[@mattkaz9604]

Impressive. I've sworn off buying new gear for a few years now, but this is truly interesting.

[@MeerkatMuzic]

Sounds fantastic Bo

[@jonathonkiner7415]

Omg this thing is so good sounding and looking.

[@lamapotato]

Wow, its like they made a synth just for me personally. Im definitely buying this.

[@anx1]

Loving this got to be my next purchase 👌

[@DawlessHouseMusic]

It sure is gorgeous.

[@alhopper2480]

More than a "decent video" Bo. I don't know how you can totally master so many different devices and deliver in-depth reviews. That's quite a talent!!!

[@BoBeats]

Thanks buddy!!

[@Genshi]

This is pretty awesome!

[@edwardfletcher7790]

The sounds are quite beautiful. They have so much depth & presence. 128 step sequencer is awesome 👍 I do wish it had a $3 OLED instead of the horrid LED segment display though 😕

[@lundsweden]

Yeah, it's not the late 70s (Prophet V had a LED display in 1978)

[@CaptainCoffee-III]

Those sounds at this pricepoint... wow.

[@Pheonix0114]

Whoa, that's beautiful

[@aseomg]

@2:05 ...like a boss! 😎

[@debrixlive]

I plugged a WIDI Master into my Texture Lab and am using it completely wireless now as a Bluetooth MIDI keyboard and sequencer. The sound is great and doesn’t really seem lo-fi to me. Maybe that perceptions comes form when using the 8bit before? Great video. Thanks!

[@dinogoldie9716]

The first ever Liven (8bit Warps) offered 128 step patterns.

[@emiliomartin9815]

The processed vocals in 6:23 remind me a lot of Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith's work. Which is good.

[@Dudderlyful]

I could make whole albums with this, really next level stuff. Beat based stuff can be added as and when but the raw material for so much is right here, I'll try not to smaple the audio from this video ha!

[@Dudderlyful]

Happy with that price!!!

[@VJFranzK]

great grains, batman!

[@RJ_Eckie]

This looks very very very cool. I just got the Hydra which does basically anything - but no (easy) granular. And mine doesn't have external input either. The external input + granular + multi(?) fx on this one could be extremely powerful if you do acoustic instruments + vocals, like me.

[@BoBeats]

Only reverb as fx beside the granular, so not rly multi i guess

[@RJ_Eckie]

@@BoBeats I must have misheard something somewhere. I’m really interested in more in-depth videos for this to appear. Especially with the efx mode and how it works with the external input. (“Live” audio versus a static sample.)

[@effebidi9677]

128 steps , wow they got it 🎉

[@davidloh3325]

The Liven 8bit had a 128 step sequencer, they seemed to lower the number for the following devices.

[@SonicVibe]

It would pair good with my lofi 12 but I love love the sound of my lofi 12

[@SampathHebbar]

I dig this

[@GerenM63]

Great review, Bo! The workflow looks really good, but I agree that, at least in the KZbin video, the Lemondrop (which I already own) sounds a little better. If the best bits of the two could be combined.... Anyway, good luck with the move, and enjoy Superbooth! I hope to get there one year....

[@VJFranzK]

6:15 idm beat! good to know it can be done. (so, could you theoretically "multisample" by P-Locking the Start Point?)

[@suga4all]

Nick batt just called, he wants his synth back 😂

[@lundsweden]

Instant ambient! Reminds me a little of a modern string machine, sound wise

[@tothefxckinmoon4540]

This is like the old Ensoniq transwaves, but better!

[@blossombisquits]

Hi, I've never owned a Sonicware product but I decided this set is very interesting, so I bought. But now I have some doubts.... 1) Is there and where is the USB connection? 2) Can I connect the tool to pc and use an editor to create, manage, move, save, backup patches? 3) Can I quickly import many samples into the product memory? 4) is the adapter included?

[@shaunmadison99]

Which should I choose between this or the minilogue bass?

[@synthnerd4539]

I like the sound and vibe of this and the lofi - but would it kill 'em to put the jacks on the back and use 1/4" out?? 😢

[@voodoohex72]

seriously what a horrible design.

[@briannhinton]

I like the jacks on the top for portable gear. Easier to unplug.

[@----248]

Same reason as for volca, people are sitting them close to another.

[@Alphonso_026]

This is actually the first Liven that I really like! The European price point is also really good now with a hefty discount. One thing though, I hope the shimmer-part of the reverb can be altered or disabled all together because I find it a bit to ‘signature heavy’ to incorporate it into every patch. Shimmer for me is more of a sound design choice. I can image granular synthesis ‘needs’ a bit of reverb smear, but at least give us control over the effect. Wouldn’t you agree @sonicware?

[@BoBeats]

The shimmer has its own level. So you can add reverb but without the shimmer part

[@Alphonso_026]

@@BoBeats really?! That’s awesome! Thanks for the reply Bo. Can’t wait to try it out!

[@MidiFister]

Can you parameter lock the sample selection? Different sample per step would be killer

[@BoBeats]

The current firmware dont allow for this. At least I couldnt figure out how to do it.

[@RealisticExpectations]

6 seconds, just large enough for an Amen. 🙏 Almost like it was meant to be.

[@this_connor_guy]

With every demo, my "woah" got louder and louder. Haha. I'll have to pick this one up!

[@francoisc4512]

Merci pour votre vidéo. J’aurais une question. Je mixe (djing) avec Traktor 4 decks, 2 X K2 Allen & Heath et Xone 62. J’aimerais ajouter de la texture à mes sets sans être obligé d’utiliser Ableton + Push. Est ce que Texture Lab avec le Key step, serait un bon outil à utiliser lors de mes sets ?

[@PrimitiveInTheExtreme]

4:34 🤘

Wow, for the price, sign me up!

[@Jorn2u]

House tour!

[@MeerkatMuzic]

That’s the lemon drop dropped !

[@morpheoist]

Perhaps... you literally put the Lemondrop in your pocket, even if at first glance they seem like two different things that do similar things... 🧐 better to have both

[@GizzyDillespee]

There's also the granular thing Jeremy from Red Means Recording just reviewed, from the people who make Vector Synth. I kinda think I prefer how the Texture sounds, between the 2 demos, at least. Vector is really nice, so I'll still check that Texture out further, just due to knowing Vector is so well-designed

[@morpheoist]

@@GizzyDillespee you mean the "Tempera" (😍), yes I like it, but it's something else, so at first glance it seems more focused on sequences and winks at live performances: only four knobs with their own four small screens and a "chessboard" to interact with and nothing else. I don't mean that it's worse or better. I like knobs😅, it's easy to understand where my preference will go. without detracting from the other two.

[@GizzyDillespee]

@@morpheoist Yeah, that's the one. The chessboard on it seems to be used almost like the screen on Vector, in the RMR demo. There were times when he'd push a square, and other squares around it would light up, in sort of similar motion as the sub-orbiters on Vector Synth... that developer seems to be all about morphing between different anchors (squares, or corners, depending on the synth). Texture seems to be more traditional ambient/freeze style granular, instead of morphing/modulation emphasis? Maybe I'm missing something tho - only seen a couple demos so far

[@cresshead]

all liven should either ship with a PSU or should be able to be powered via a usb lead if they don't ship a psu (they are not)

[@mastaboog749]

one of these days I will try one of these sonicware liven series

[@brian_hibbs]

Why do the keys start on an F note though?

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

An incredibly affordable instrument. Very interesting. Budget Elektron, but that is in no way a diss.

[@Dyowrrrryyy]

6:21 anyone know what effects could be on this vocal?

[@wul01]

Wonder if the livens firmwares can be interchanged like the electribe2’s

[@BoBeats]

Unlikely and wouldnt be practical as buttons do very different things on different devices (and i do believe placement is different too, if ever so slightly)

[@mattcero1]

Can you use this as a computer audio interface? Thanks Bo.

[@BoBeats]

I do not think so. But it was a while since i read the manual. If I dont missremember it doesnt have any audio over usb

[@GeorgeLocke]

Reminds me of the sample mangling you find on old school hardcore. I like granular synthesis including sample granulation, but this feels like it's only useful for making pads.

[@tricitytypebeat8622]

Not at all. Also amazing for effects, leads, keys, so many things. Pads are just the first thing that is obvious

[@theo-feels]

Hello @bobeats ! I just bought it but I dont know how to get to the SING preset! i tried everything... Is it a preset? or you made it??? thank you!!

[@diegob6729]

I was expecting for a tasty chips Gr1, smaller and more affordable, but the sound is not there.. 😔

[@symbiat0]

I don’t know about anyone else, but that green case looks blue to me 😂

[@EverettVinzant]

Mr. eats… uhm Bob…. Uh…. Anyway. Whenever I search for the Texture Lab on KZbin, this video does not come up. At all. Just letting you know my experience. I like video and appreciate it.

[@BoBeats]

Thanks! KZbin sometimes work in mysterious ways. I will look into it

[@boimesa8190]

Price & release date?

[@darkambience]

Not for me, same reasons I avoided the Lo-Fi 12. Tiny memory, low bitrate/samplerate and no sd card slot/usb for easy transfer in and out. Desperate for a mini keyboard type sampler with an adsr.

[@renegrautstueck3468]

Instead of a pointless loudspeaker, they would have installed more useful connections. Shopping list addition: A 6.3 > 3.5mm cable for the input signal and a stereo L/R 6.3 > 3.5mm cable for the output signal and to top it all off, a 9V power supply unit, depending on the case, a USB>MIDI cable... at thomann right now 40 EURO discount on the Sonicware products (where does the saved money go?).

[@anywherenearzero]

What synth would you say is already out on the market that this is closer to because I’m worried that I’m going to keep purchasing synths that all pretty much sounds the same

[@BoBeats]

Bastl microgranny and lemondrop

[@anywherenearzero]

@@BoBeats just had a look and for the money, it would seem that Texture Lab is the better for your money

[@kowa1-everellphotographic306]

@@anywherenearzero hasnt the micro freak just had granular and sample playback added?

[@richardnagamitsu1582]

So I need another mini synth? Yes, I guess I do…

[@We.Are.Lockhart]

Granular synthesis without reverb is like Juno without chorus.

[@BendApparatus]

You mean because he didn't use it? Because all the liven series have multiple types of reverb...

[@benthies9531]

Meanwhile I’m over here happy to finally hear it without reverb! You can actually hear rhythms and grain and texture.

[@user-lw8dr6xx8i]

Which is better, Lemondrop or Liven Texture Lab??

[@BoBeats]

Lemondrop i think

[@WotanSkyFather]

10:20 Let's dance in style, let's dance for awhile Heaven can wait, we're only watching the skies Hoping for the best but expecting the worst Are you going to drop the bomb or not? Let us die young or let us live forever We don't have the power, but we never say never Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip The music's for the sad men

[@bertokleine280]

I call it a naughty little techno machine …..

[@marcbrasse747]

Stereo or mono? Envelopes: Only attack and release? Price?

[@alistairsheehyhutton4201]

I think $239

[@marcbrasse747]

@@alistairsheehyhutton4201 Of that is true it is a bit of a market breaker. The Lemon Drop costs twice the amount.

[@alistairsheehyhutton4201]

@@marcbrasse747 It is more expensive in the EU, looking at 319 Euros.

[@jodd5534]

I wish they charged a bit more and put a proper display on it.

[@BoBeats]

they just unveiled a new version called Lofi 12 TX or something like that, on kickstarter, it is very similar to this but with a proper display and easier sample chopping. Maybe an option?

[@beans2874]

10:33 shawdow wizard money gang we love casting spells 😈

[@hoagy_ytfc]

Where’s the USB?

[@Patriotic_Eagle1995]

Looks like there isn't USB or SD card interface of any kind... Hope it doesn't have any firmware bugs or glitches!

[@----248]

@@Patriotic_Eagle1995 you can update them through midi 5pin.

[@drjandethlefs2257]

Why is every new synth just 4 voice? Really puts me off so many synths that I would otherwise have bought…but baby chords, no thanks. At least give me 6!

[@MrTimconaway]

Looks good for tweakers, maybe not for musicians.

[@Dolores5000]

Want

[@TheLordcasio]

"If you want to see a video on our new house set-up?"...duh! Any studio build geekery (and your logic behind your decisions) is pure cat nip. Be cool to your cats!

[@DickTracy420]

Buying this to go with my qs8 and mpc 5000 and MM6

[@BoopPOPO]

No pan poo

[@Jason75913]

Not even a minute in on a video about a granular synth, and I hate that little display already.

[@christianvandalstrom8337]

Vsti in box. Pointless.

[@isocarboxazid]

Lmao, you could say that literally of any synth. Ridiculous.

[@getinTHEBIN318]

This is a terrible bit of kit.

[@warius1]

This video is pretty low effort.

[@corneliussucks]

hey @bobeats do you think it's completementary to the microfreak?

[@NEMESISISDEAD]

Why didnt they make the bottom red