Sonicware LIVEN 8Bit Warps, firmware 3.0 adds new features to the wave memory synth

Sonicware LIVEN 8bit Warps is a new Volca-style 8-bit wave memory Synthesizer for on the go with many creative features and now on Kickstarter

At NAMM 2020, Sonicware announced the first Synthesizer in their portable LIVEN series. That was the LIVEN 8Bit Warps, a wave memory Synthesizer.  It’s been three years now. How quickly time flies.

Today, Sonicware released a major firmware update 3.0, for the synth with many new creative features, which gives the synth engine a solid boost. Plus, there is a new all-black version of the synth.

Sonicware LIVEN 8bit Warps Firmware 3.0

First, the developers have developed the effects engine with six new algorithms, giving you 10 FX in total. New is a distortion, a phaser, a tremolo, a ring modulator, an auto-wah, and a reverse delay. A nice selection of new effects.

Then, you can work with a new sound-locking functionality and new sequencer features and improvements. Including sequences can be duplicated to double the length, and looping of chain playback is now possible.

There are also 29 new drum patches, which can be easily made into drum patterns with the sound-locking feature. And firmware 3.0 comes with several bug fixes and improvements.

And here is the news in video form.

Firmware 3.0 for the Sonicware LIVEN 8Bit Warps is a free update for existing users. The new all-new black version is available for pre-order for $259

More information here: Sonicware

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Article From Februray 13th, 2020

At this year’s NAMM there will be unfortunately no new Volcas from Korg, but Sonicware has something that fits perfectly into this product range. LIVEN 8bit Warps is a new compact Synthesizer that is based on a digital 8-bit waveform memory engine that is combined with a clever step sequencer.

Sonicware is not an unknown Synthesizer company. ELZ-1 was their first versatile digital synthesizer that they presented at NAMM two years ago. According to the developer, the LIVEN 8bit Warps is the first device in a new series of compact and affordable instruments.

LIVEN 8Bit Warps Engine

As already said, the engine is based on a digital core that offers 4 different engines: warp, attack, morph, and FM). It features a carefully select preset waveform but also editable user waveforms. In this section, you can manipulate the waveforms with the help of different features like warp crossfade, morph, FM and more.

These are then sent to a high-quality filter section (LPF/HPF/BBF) and on the final stage, you can refine them with different effect processors. Onboard are chorus, flanger, delay, hall & plate reverb. Sounds can be saved in the user memory (128 patches) and played in different voice modes: poly, mono, legato, unison or arp (arpeggiator). LIVEN 8bit warps can generate classic retro game sounds of course, but its unique 8-bit sound can also be used in a range of music genres, including EDM, hip-hop, techno, and rock.

Creative Sequencer & Features For Live Interaction

LIVEN 8Bit Warps also includes a 64-step sequencer with 128 patterns including real-time and step recording. You can chain patterns and apply a looper in the sequencer what is a creative feature in my opinion. Further, it offers an octave shift, pitch bend, and swing control. Parameters can also be recorded in the sequencer to give the sequences that certain something.

On the connection side, it comes with full MIDI In/Out support (thank you!), sync in/out, line in/out, a headphone input and power supply input.

Features At A Glance

• Size&Weight: 297mm (W) × 176mm (D) × 48mm(H), 790g
• 27-keys
• MIDI IN & OUT
• SYNC IN & OUT
• Built-in Speaker
• Stereo line output
• Stereo line input
• Headphone output
• 9V DC, 6 AA batteries
• Four 8bit wave memory synth engines ( WARP, ATTACK, MORPH, FM )
• Powerful voice mode( POLY, MONO, LEGATO, UNISON and ARPEGGIATORS )
• ADSR EG
• LPF, HPF, BPF
• Chorus, Flanger, Delay, Hall and Plate Effects
• 1xLFO( for Pitch&Filter Freq )
• 128-patch memory
• 128-waveform memory
• 64-step Sequencer, 128 patterns, Real-time and step recording, Pattern chain, Metronome
• Octave shift
• Pitch bend
• Swing control
• Looper
• Parameter automation

Interview & Presentation From NAMM 2020

Sonicware Needs You Help

So that the product can go into series production, Sonicware needs your help. LIVEN 8bit warps is available now for pre-order via Kickstarter for a starting price of 148€ (retail around 160€).  At first look, a very interesting little digital Synthesizer with a very special character. If you have enough analog synthesizers, you can get here a very different timbre for your setup.

Sonicware LIVEN 8bit warps will be presented at NAMM 2020. Shipping starts in June 2020.

More information here: Sonicware

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