▶ Subscribe: ru-vid.com ▶ Purchase Link* Sonicware LIVEN Mega Synthesis (Thomann): www.thomann.de/intl/sonicware_liven_mega_synthesis.htm?offid=1&affid=397 ▶ Sound Packs for Synths: limbicbits.com ▶ Book "Electronic Music Production": limbicbits.com/book-electronic-music-production/ For more information ▶ sonicware.jp/pages/liven-mega-synthesis
My 2 cents and a short disclaimer: Since I had been asked to be a part of the sound design team for this synth, I'm quite familiar with it. However, I might be too close to the project to provide an objective opinion. With an attractive price, FM synthesis, lo-fi sampling, and chiptune charm, the LIVEN Mega Synthesis offers an intriguing package for fans of arcade and retro gaming sounds. Using the Mega Synthesis alone, one could potentially create an entire chiptune live set. In the everyday studio environment outside of this genre, I primarily see the MEGA Synthesis as a complementary device for exploring different sonic nuances. I would have appreciated additional individual outputs, especially to process drum groups and PSG synthesizers separately with effects. However, this, like with other LIVEN models, seems to have been sacrificed for the budget-friendly concept. Nevertheless, it's a well-rounded product worth trying out.
Seems to me like a cool device for on the go fun & play. How does one design the FM sounds on this? I don't see an interface for that, is it possible without a computer? Does it come close to Twisted MegaFM in this regard? Or do you have to rely on the presets here?
If I'd known this was coming a year ago, I would've got this instead of the LOFI12. Haha. The Genesis was my console growing up, so this sounds amazing. Thanks for the demo.
I have no base of musical knowledge to pull from but I put an order in for this thing after a day or two of seeing vids. I love that Sega sound and want to tinker with it. It just looks fun. I’m curious if I’ll be able to export to GarageBand or something. No idea what I’m getting into but I’m excited!
This is a beautiful thing and it's so great you were involved with it. When I was a kid, the mega drive arriving was just mind blowing. All of these games that normally required coins in the arcade were suddenly available in my friends living room. These sounds to me are the sounds of an extravaganza of gaming abundance. Pure dopamine! Great compositions too.
cool! i'm definitely in favour of style-specific instruments, i think there's a place for them in the hardware market. having tactile control over equipment that's made to make a very specific sound or type of sound is a good thing. i'm just waiting for someone to make a Hoover synth/module.
thanks for the nice demo. had been wanting to get a megaFM for a long time and but never pulled the trigger in spite of really liking the sound. This looks a bit more approachable as a standalone device and the price seems very good too. Maybe not 100% the perfect sound but still very good IMO.
I cant unsee the keys anymore the way i see them 😂.. There is 2 person kissing or 2 kissing middle ones cheek. And the last one in right is alone shoulders down :
Just ordered one & i haven't got a clue about music ot how to use it😂...but I absolutely adore the Sega Megadrive & what the games & music meant to me, & still do!
Just placed an order on this. The first time ever since the dawn of internet that an advert got me. Instagram suggested this and I bought one within 20 minutes. I’ve spent the last year searching for keyboards that replicate the mega drive sound like the PSR series, but none come close to this. Amazing!
No need to. Both units sound surprisingly different given that they are partially using the same fm synthesis. They can complement each other quite well.
@@IgnacioChavez agreed! I have 2...but this still has me very excited as I have grown to love the Liven units and this just looks a dream for sound design
Excellent work as ever sir 😁 Looking forward to checking out which of the presets and patterns onboard are yours. There's some super tight stuff on there 👌 Edit: so VOID is yours then, nice!
I would love to see a LIVEN voice synth 8-bit! Or, maybe they can just do a sample back add-on? Although, still rather a dedicated kit with sick about of 70's-80's old school voice syntheses, custom phrase enabled. !
despite both are heading in a similar direction just looking at the FM synthesis part, they still sound quite different. In a nutshell: In the MKI version, the MEGAfm one used two original YM2612 chips, which were replaced in the MEGAfm MKII version by the YM3438s due to scarcity; the latter is also found in later SEGA Mega Drive consoles. The MEGAfm sounds even grittier, but at the same time, it appears more studio-friendly due to its processing and professional connections. This is also due to the rather particular VCA section of the MEGAfm, which adds more artifacts and overdrive, something that you might have to appreciate (I definitely do). In terms of genres, I would generally prefer the MEGAfm for (Dub) Techno, IDM, and Ambient over the MEGA Synthesis. When producing Chiptunes, the MEGA Synthesis takes the lead for me. However, both can complement each other excellently. But since most people will probably only bring such a special chip sound into the studio once, the genre classification might serve as an indicator.
Polyphony? Are the drum parts seperate from the melodic parts? I mean, could I have a drum kit(at least 4 parts), then have at least 4 voices on top of it?
according to the manual the manual the FM tracks (1, 2, 3) are 6 voice each, then the PSG tracks (4, 5) are 4 voice polyphony. The PCM track (6) is 3 voice polyphony.
Completely different things. XFM is just a 4 OP FM synth with some almost wavetable like morphing between sounds. While the Mega is an emulation of the sound hardware of the SEGA Mega genesis console
@@tudorcris4953 I watched a video demo of the XFM is also 4 OP and it also plays those 16/8 bit tones pretty well. So just confused if this is a rebrand with Yamaha chip emulation.
the unit runs standalone, meaning, that if you want to play it via Ableton Live and record its sound you'll need a MIDI interface and an audio interface. @@mantistobbogan6728
Actually, I tried. But I was really struggling and what you can hear in the "CLUB" pattern was my closest attempt. With enough outboard, you can get there but I find the MEGAfm to be better for these sounds. The MEGA Synthesis is great on its own, though.
Funny thing is that despite both are heading in a similar direction just looking at the FM synthesis part, they still sound quite different. In a nutshell: In the MKI version, the MEGAfm one used two original YM2612 chips, which were replaced in the MEGAfm MKII version by the YM3438s due to scarcity; the latter is also found in later SEGA Mega Drive consoles. The MEGAfm sounds even grittier, but at the same time, it appears more studio-friendly due to its processing and professional connections. This is also due to the rather particular VCA section of the MEGAfm, which adds more artifacts and overdrive, something that you might have to appreciate (I definitely do). In terms of genres, I would generally prefer the MEGAfm for (Dub) Techno, IDM, and Ambient over the MEGA Synthesis. When producing Chiptunes, the MEGA Synthesis takes the lead for me. However, both can complement each other excellently. But since most people will probably only bring such a special chip sound into the studio once, the genre classification might serve as an indicator.
If I’m not mistaken by the demo, this seems very similar to the Twisted Electrons Mega FM in sound programming capability but operates more akin to an Elektron Digitone…?
The MEGAfm is specifically using just the YM2612 FM synthesis chips used in the Megadrive, and it uses the real chips for the authentic sound. The Liven Mega seems to use emulations of three classic chip synthesis methods, a broader but perhaps less deep approach.
Funny thing is that despite both are heading in a similar direction just looking at the FM synthesis part, they still sound quite different. In a nutshell: In the MKI version, the MEGAfm one used two original YM2612 chips, which were replaced in the MEGAfm MKII version by the YM3438s due to scarcity; the latter is also found in later SEGA Mega Drive consoles. The MEGAfm sounds even grittier, but at the same time, it appears more studio-friendly due to its processing and professional connections. This is also due to the rather particular VCA section of the MEGAfm, which adds more artifacts and overdrive, something that you might have to appreciate (I definitely do). In terms of genres, I would generally prefer the MEGAfm for (Dub) Techno, IDM, and Ambient over the MEGA Synthesis. When producing Chiptunes, the MEGA Synthesis takes the lead for me. However, both can complement each other excellently. But since most people will probably only bring such a special chip sound into the studio once, the genre classification might serve as an indicator.
@@limbicbits you're right..! The Mega FM has metallic distortion. I saw it inside. There is very less components than you expect. Only 2 big OPL3 and nothing. 😂😂😂 But the sounds are unique. And the musician pay this..😜 Cheers!