I just got mine, it's my first sonicware product i've been super interested in there gear. Thanks for the quick tutorial, going to check your lofi 12 vids after.
Great timing. Still a few units left and I was looking for a reason to buy another lofi-12 after giving mine away to my sibling. This one will for sure be a keepsake.
Liven Lofi-6 is it now? I think I'll sit out a couple editions and hold out for the Liven Lofi-0.09375. I'm still trying to get my head round the Liven Texture Lab atm. Please ask Sonicware to make a Liven Drumsynth.
Great demo Chris! This device is amazing, the sound that comes out of it is like honey to my ears! I don't know why, but it just sounds so sweet! And it looks lovely, so sweet, like straight from the 50s! Makes you want to grab it and go to a vacation to compose songs with it - it is so portable! Even runs on batteries!
I think this is an interesting device and I love the color scheme. But I'm still barely scratching the surface on my Lo-Fi 12, so no regrets. I've got the ELZ_1 Play on order along with the Artiphon Chorda. I'm hoping no one else announces anything new until 2024! 😎
Hey Chris, great video. On that "EASY" patch you made, did you use the factory instruments on the LF6 or did you sample in? Its really nice ..i was hoping it was on the factory sounds lol. Is it on the Lofi-12 XT?
Thank you. I make quite a few of the factory preset samples and patterns that ship on Sonicware's machines including the EASY pattern and all it's sounds, so it's all there available to play around with when you receive the machine. The Lofi-12 XT includes quite a lot of the samples library from previous Sonicware machines, but I don't think that extends to sounds from the Lofi-6. It doesn't include any of the patterns either, the included patterns and sounds are tailored to show off the XTs best features so they're very different
Nice demo Chris! I’m excited to get the update on the 12 I own and i still haven’t delved too deeply into the texture lab. So i will have to pass on this one but i do like the sound. Who knows maybe one day. In the meantime I still have to hook mu three livens together. That should be fun.
Yes it's worth chaining them together. You can do that either with the sync sockets on via midi. Sync is simpler but midi gives lots of options like start/stop sync and synchronised program changes though it takes more setting up
@@ChrisLodyMusic since i am always getting into trouble with midi ha ha i will probably start with thr sync cables And then in time perhaps attmept with the din midi Thanks Chris!!
I like this. I tried out a Lofi 12 a while back. I sent it back because I really couldn't spend the money when I had other stuff that already did what it does for the most part. But it was really good and if I wasn't so short on cash and space I would have for sure kept it. This looks and sound cool. It's like the old SP202/303 or something.
Also I think that one thing this mini synth market is missing is a good multi-fx for the end of chain. Something you can run 3 or 4 of these things and get your master filter and or delay for transitions between patterns. None of the minis have done this yet and I've been waiting since the second round of Volcas.
Yes it is really surprising that no-one has released anything like that. Behringer makes a battery powered mixer at least but that has no effects built in. Something that does both would be super useful
@@ChrisLodyMusic there’s the Volca mix as well. Has a sorta compression thing.ok cool. But something like a SP that you throw on the end and play. Or the Octatrack. Or Kaosspad. That kind of idea. I hate just giving out stuff for free LOL but it’s a huge blind spot in the market I think. Plus I want it.
if I could buy it from Juno Records, Andertons Music or another UK store for less than the Lofi-12, I'd snap one up. As is though, it's already more expensive than the Lofi-12; even before adding VAT and associated import costs. Disappointed. Can the Lofi-12 run the Lofi-6 firmware?
Yes it's a shame it's pretty much a US exclusive. I doubt they will be willing to allow the Lofi-12 to be re-flashed as a Lofi-6 as much as I like that idea, I imagine the exclusivity deal with Perfect Circuit wouldn't allow it
darn it Sonicware i avoided the texture lab i wanted and the elz_play but i love my lofi 12 i just might have to get this glad the lofi 12 got the S-maximizer in an update i seen. But that tube seems nice for added warmth. I need to get a usb b to midi cord to update the lofi 12 though i know you recommended a brand name one to handle sysex files . Also thank you for the great tutorials you do on these devices you explain things well ! so i see this lofi 6 a little more expensive i'm guessing cause its a limited run and they had to rework the internals ?
To be honest I haven'y seen the prices yet myself so I'm not sure about that. The whole tone of the device was overhauled to better suit the features on the Lofi-6 so yes there is more warmth here. Regarding a midi interface, just avoid the really cheap non brand ones. I have an M-Audio one which works well and the same model seems to be available from Roland so try those
Some folks say the FX on Loft-6 n 12 are shit but I think not. FX are wisely choose for low bit rate of the samples, so it its possible to pimp those tones. Nice.
is it possible to use the lofi-12 as a midi keyboard for an external synth? like say for example i plug the midi out into the midi in of a waldorf blofeld, could i use the lofi keyboard as a key controller for the blofeld? think that would be cool. thanks, love the tuts and lofi box
Yes it can do that. By default the keyboard will output the same midi channel as the selected track (tracks 1-4 are midi channels 1-4 by default) but this can also be altered to match the Auto Channel setting which is something I must get round to demonstrating. The Auto Channel is a midi input channel you can chose to play whichever track is currently selected from an external keyboard. By the way, the tracks also send midi on playback so you can also sequence external gear with it. All Livens can do these things though some have a single track while others have multiple tracks
Yeah I can understand people's desire to do that, but they apparently couldn't fit it all in one box at once so they split it off into two with different features. Some Lofi-12 owners weren't happy 😅
I would say don't buy both as there is a lot of crossover. Just depends how lofi you like it I suppose 😄 The 12 is probably more versatile and can be used it not so lofi music, where as the 6 is only really suited to lofi music
Yes and no. The whole overall tone of the device was completely overhauled to better suit the 6khz sampling so it didn't sound too gritty so it's not quite as simple as it seems. As a bonus though the Lofi-12 gains the S.MAX effect which has been added in the most recent update.
It was a commissioned piece by Perfect Circuit...they wanted their own special edition and not just a blue 12. Plus if it's modelling a tube amp it's more like an old worn vinyl record as opposed to the 12 which is more like an old reel to reel tape...
It has the same functionality as the Lofi-12 with it's Drum and Chop modes. They chop up a single sample into even slices across the keys which may do what you need. I show that in this video th-cam.com/video/lwb2UwTPfc8/w-d-xo.html
Yeah they don't come with a power supply unfortunately. You just need to look for one that Korg Volca compatible, there's loads available and not expensive luckily
You'd have to check with them but I doubt this is something the support team would want the headache of dealing with as it would require the os memory, preset memory and pattern memory being wiped and reflashed as it's all formatted differently to accommodate 6khz sampling. It is a shame the features can't be added to the Lofi-12 in an update but features had to be removed to make room for the tube mode, new filtering etc. The Lofi-12 did gain the S.Max effect though in a recent update
I made a mistake and recorded over Pattern Preset Bank 1 #5 SEA ASMR-ish 'By the sea' sample track 1 on the Lofi-6. Is there anyway I can get the default sample back?
Hi. Yes the default samples are available to import in midi sysex format. You'll need to to be able to connect your Liven to a computer or tablet to use these. They are available here: sonicware.jp/pages/downloads The connection process is the same as when performing a system update which I made a video about here: th-cam.com/video/bHxyV0qwFns/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7ZaQMfN-_uAj6jyn Rather than sending the midi like this though you'll need to send it in when the Lofi-6 is in sample edit mode using the import function on the overlay. The process is the same as for the Lofi-12 which you'll find here: th-cam.com/video/2m1ah9p7GpI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2opkUc75sp2QBnfz
It has one and it's the same one as the Lofi-12. But just like the 12 it's only needed for deep editing, copying and naming samples etc so it's perfectly possible to build tracks without using it
That's not the way I see it. It's a special edition so they could have just a blue Lofi-12 and called it done, but they wanted to do something more interesting.
But I need the real grit only the Lofi-3 can satisfy.
Ha! Maybe one day 😂
Nah, the 1.5!
Ensoniq Mirage maybe?
im fine with the lofi 12 ,keep them updates coming thanks
I just got mine, it's my first sonicware product i've been super interested in there gear. Thanks for the quick tutorial, going to check your lofi 12 vids after.
Nice one, really hope you have fun with it 😁
Hey Chris this looks pretty cool! Thanks for the video!
Great timing. Still a few units left and I was looking for a reason to buy another lofi-12 after giving mine away to my sibling. This one will for sure be a keepsake.
Oh nice one, have fun 😁
Liven Lofi-6 is it now? I think I'll sit out a couple editions and hold out for the Liven Lofi-0.09375. I'm still trying to get my head round the Liven Texture Lab atm. Please ask Sonicware to make a Liven Drumsynth.
Ha! It's not lofi until your samples are completely destroyed 😄 Yeah seriously I'd love a Liven drum synth so fingers crossed 🤞
Great demo Chris! This device is amazing, the sound that comes out of it is like honey to my ears! I don't know why, but it just sounds so sweet! And it looks lovely, so sweet, like straight from the 50s! Makes you want to grab it and go to a vacation to compose songs with it - it is so portable! Even runs on batteries!
Thank you. Yes it has very smooth sound I think 😁
Thanks for the video overview, just ordered the Lofi-6, , didn't want to miss the limited release. Might be a collector item someday.
Nice one, I hope you have fun with it 😁
Sounds really good, and authentically lofi. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks very much 😁
Just preordered mine
Looking forward to pumping this full of old vinyl jazz samples
Thank you, have fun 😁
Congrats on having a demo track on the Lofi-6! Sounds great!
Thank you 😁
Cannot help but notice your patterns are better than the presets. Props.
Thanks very much 😁
great walkthrough - fantastic work as always
Wow. Optigan territory from some of those presets. Instantly interested. Thanks Chris.
Yeah it can get pretty grungy like that. I kept ending up in 'Twin Peaks strings' territory with it
I think this is an interesting device and I love the color scheme. But I'm still barely scratching the surface on my Lo-Fi 12, so no regrets. I've got the ELZ_1 Play on order along with the Artiphon Chorda. I'm hoping no one else announces anything new until 2024! 😎
ELZ_1 Play looks like a interesting device Chorda i like you can strum it like a guitar
I look forward to more tutorials on this drum machine/sampler
Mine just arrived today, It's #60/500. Favorite preset is LIFT been having fun doodling with that one a fair bit and its just a lovely tone.
That's awesome glad you're enjoying it. That's also one of the presets I designed too so thank you! Have fun 😁
Hey Chris, great video. On that "EASY" patch you made, did you use the factory instruments on the LF6 or did you sample in? Its really nice ..i was hoping it was on the factory sounds lol.
Is it on the Lofi-12 XT?
Thank you. I make quite a few of the factory preset samples and patterns that ship on Sonicware's machines including the EASY pattern and all it's sounds, so it's all there available to play around with when you receive the machine.
The Lofi-12 XT includes quite a lot of the samples library from previous Sonicware machines, but I don't think that extends to sounds from the Lofi-6. It doesn't include any of the patterns either, the included patterns and sounds are tailored to show off the XTs best features so they're very different
Nice demo Chris! I’m excited to get the update on the 12 I own and i still haven’t delved too deeply into the texture lab. So i will have to pass on this one but i do like the sound. Who knows maybe one day. In the meantime I still have to hook mu three livens together. That should be fun.
Yes it's worth chaining them together. You can do that either with the sync sockets on via midi. Sync is simpler but midi gives lots of options like start/stop sync and synchronised program changes though it takes more setting up
@@ChrisLodyMusic since i am always getting into trouble with midi ha ha i will probably start with thr sync cables
And then in time perhaps attmept with the din midi
Thanks Chris!!
I like this. I tried out a Lofi 12 a while back. I sent it back because I really couldn't spend the money when I had other stuff that already did what it does for the most part. But it was really good and if I wasn't so short on cash and space I would have for sure kept it. This looks and sound cool. It's like the old SP202/303 or something.
Also I think that one thing this mini synth market is missing is a good multi-fx for the end of chain. Something you can run 3 or 4 of these things and get your master filter and or delay for transitions between patterns. None of the minis have done this yet and I've been waiting since the second round of Volcas.
Yes it is really surprising that no-one has released anything like that. Behringer makes a battery powered mixer at least but that has no effects built in. Something that does both would be super useful
@@ChrisLodyMusic there’s the Volca mix as well. Has a sorta compression thing.ok cool. But something like a SP that you throw on the end and play. Or the Octatrack. Or Kaosspad. That kind of idea. I hate just giving out stuff for free LOL but it’s a huge blind spot in the market I think. Plus I want it.
@@koalemos1679 I think Korg really missed a trick by not making the Volca mix battery powered though. I'd have one by now if it was
Some kind of Sonicware Mixer like the Volca Mix with some additional effects and power would be great.
I think I'm glad I never got the 12. This seems more my speed....not with this sort of material, but with synths, and human voices.
Yeah this is doubling down on the lofi vibe for sure 😄
It was a good idea. This crosses over into the really lo-fi samplers of old...@@ChrisLodyMusic
if I could buy it from Juno Records, Andertons Music or another UK store for less than the Lofi-12, I'd snap one up. As is though, it's already more expensive than the Lofi-12; even before adding VAT and associated import costs. Disappointed. Can the Lofi-12 run the Lofi-6 firmware?
Yes it's a shame it's pretty much a US exclusive. I doubt they will be willing to allow the Lofi-12 to be re-flashed as a Lofi-6 as much as I like that idea, I imagine the exclusivity deal with Perfect Circuit wouldn't allow it
darn it Sonicware i avoided the texture lab i wanted and the elz_play but i love my lofi 12 i just might have to get this glad the lofi 12 got the S-maximizer in an update i seen. But that tube seems nice for added warmth. I need to get a usb b to midi cord to update the lofi 12 though i know you recommended a brand name one to handle sysex files . Also thank you for the great tutorials you do on these devices you explain things well ! so i see this lofi 6 a little more expensive i'm guessing cause its a limited run and they had to rework the internals ?
To be honest I haven'y seen the prices yet myself so I'm not sure about that. The whole tone of the device was overhauled to better suit the features on the Lofi-6 so yes there is more warmth here. Regarding a midi interface, just avoid the really cheap non brand ones. I have an M-Audio one which works well and the same model seems to be available from Roland so try those
cord worked for update ty@@ChrisLodyMusic
Some folks say the FX on Loft-6 n 12 are shit but I think not. FX are wisely choose for low bit rate of the samples, so it its possible to pimp those tones. Nice.
Love ur new haircut🥰😊
Thank you 😄 I just buzz it all off occasionally when it gets too much so you've caught me at the short end of things!
@@ChrisLodyMusic hahah🤭cute
Instantly ordered.......thanks, lol.
Thank you 😁
Was this accidentally dropped early? Not seeing anything through official channels.
it's on their website.
This thing is fire......I just got it,,, thank you :)
Awesome, hope you have fun with it 😁
is it possible to use the lofi-12 as a midi keyboard for an external synth? like say for example i plug the midi out into the midi in of a waldorf blofeld, could i use the lofi keyboard as a key controller for the blofeld? think that would be cool. thanks, love the tuts and lofi box
Yes it can do that. By default the keyboard will output the same midi channel as the selected track (tracks 1-4 are midi channels 1-4 by default) but this can also be altered to match the Auto Channel setting which is something I must get round to demonstrating. The Auto Channel is a midi input channel you can chose to play whichever track is currently selected from an external keyboard. By the way, the tracks also send midi on playback so you can also sequence external gear with it. All Livens can do these things though some have a single track while others have multiple tracks
It would be nice to choose 6 or 12 ver only by firmware update. It's not very economical for Sonicware, so it's just a dream :)
Yeah I can understand people's desire to do that, but they apparently couldn't fit it all in one box at once so they split it off into two with different features. Some Lofi-12 owners weren't happy 😅
Hi Chris! Seems PS blew out all 500 units. Any possibility of another run?
I think that's it tbh, it was always meant to be a limited run. There are probably second hand units around though
can make my mind on this or the lof12, do we need both ?
I would say don't buy both as there is a lot of crossover. Just depends how lofi you like it I suppose 😄 The 12 is probably more versatile and can be used it not so lofi music, where as the 6 is only really suited to lofi music
This easily could have be added to a firmware update for the 12.
i'm guessing different sound engines idk
exactly what i was thinking, i have a lofi 12, and there's still a lot of stuff that could use some updating imho.
Yes and no. The whole overall tone of the device was completely overhauled to better suit the 6khz sampling so it didn't sound too gritty so it's not quite as simple as it seems. As a bonus though the Lofi-12 gains the S.MAX effect which has been added in the most recent update.
It was a commissioned piece by Perfect Circuit...they wanted their own special edition and not just a blue 12.
Plus if it's modelling a tube amp it's more like an old worn vinyl record as opposed to the 12 which is more like an old reel to reel tape...
Is there a way to assign different samples to different keys to create a drum kit or is resampling the only way? Thanks in advance.
It has the same functionality as the Lofi-12 with it's Drum and Chop modes. They chop up a single sample into even slices across the keys which may do what you need. I show that in this video
th-cam.com/video/lwb2UwTPfc8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks
My lofi 6 did not ship with a power cable. Do you know any brands that fit the input pin size?
Yeah they don't come with a power supply unfortunately. You just need to look for one that Korg Volca compatible, there's loads available and not expensive luckily
What about the Korg Volca Sample? I have the cord for that.@@ChrisLodyMusic
Could the lofi 12 run the software for the lofi 6 ?? Cause that would be amazing!
You'd have to check with them but I doubt this is something the support team would want the headache of dealing with as it would require the os memory, preset memory and pattern memory being wiped and reflashed as it's all formatted differently to accommodate 6khz sampling. It is a shame the features can't be added to the Lofi-12 in an update but features had to be removed to make room for the tube mode, new filtering etc. The Lofi-12 did gain the S.Max effect though in a recent update
I made a mistake and recorded over Pattern Preset Bank 1 #5 SEA ASMR-ish 'By the sea' sample track 1 on the Lofi-6. Is there anyway I can get the default sample back?
Hi. Yes the default samples are available to import in midi sysex format. You'll need to to be able to connect your Liven to a computer or tablet to use these. They are available here: sonicware.jp/pages/downloads
The connection process is the same as when performing a system update which I made a video about here: th-cam.com/video/bHxyV0qwFns/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7ZaQMfN-_uAj6jyn
Rather than sending the midi like this though you'll need to send it in when the Lofi-6 is in sample edit mode using the import function on the overlay. The process is the same as for the Lofi-12 which you'll find here: th-cam.com/video/2m1ah9p7GpI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2opkUc75sp2QBnfz
@@ChrisLodyMusic Thank you so much!
Does the lofi 6 require an overlay like the lofi 12 had for functions?
It has one and it's the same one as the Lofi-12. But just like the 12 it's only needed for deep editing, copying and naming samples etc so it's perfectly possible to build tracks without using it
When the acoustic sound of pressing the onboard buttons sounds better than the output of the device itself.
so its basicly a lofi 12 with other firmware? a bit grifty init?
That's not the way I see it. It's a special edition so they could have just a blue Lofi-12 and called it done, but they wanted to do something more interesting.
This is basically like an April fools post. In August. So, not. How lofi is too lofi?
Well, the SP-202 could go more lofi than this. 3.91kHz on the lowest setting
lol this sounds so bad