Korg KA350 type power supplies also work with this and other devices in the range like the Lo-fi 12, and are mentioned in the manual, so check the price of those.

(manual is here: https://www.sonicware.co.jp/DL/LIVEN...nual_en_r2.pdf )

Yeah, there's a cheap square gun case at harbor freight that is a perfect fit.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1800-w...ack-64550.html

I suggest hi capacity AA rechargeable batteries. I can also use myvolts 5-cable volca usb cable with it (and a usb power brick). But that’s a stupid option when they just run on batteries. The connectivity option on these is massive, can connect to all kinds of machines.

How does this compare feature-wise to the 1010 lemondrop? Aside from the differences in display and form factor etc, what can the lemondrop do that this cannot and vice versa?

They are pretty different. Lemondrop is that more airy higher end sound. It can also take a sound and make a 4-voice chord out of it in real time. And it has more oscillators per voice.
The sonicware has a sequencer and can apparently be used live as a granular fx processor as well.
Conclusion: get both and live the granular dream.

Are the samples stored in flash memory, or do they disappear when you turn the unit off?
Also, is it 6 seconds total memory or 6 seconds x 32 samples?

For me, the more oscillators per voice is a significant difference, whereas the "4-voice chord" feature of the lemondrop is less so. Are there any other such "basic feature" advantages of the lemondrop over the sonicware?

What makes the lemondrop have a "more airy higher end sound"?

Let's just say, for this exercise, that getting both is not possible AND I only want to get the lemondrop if it has clear advantages over the sonicware due to their price difference.

My understanding is that the memory is non-volatile and = 6 seconds x 32 samples.

Maybe the higher bit and sample rate of the lemondrop (32/49k) versus the sonicware (16/32k)?

Okay, that sounds good. I may consider getting one

I know I'm largely hust talking to myself at this point but others may wish to join in or find this more of interest once the texture lab is released...

After rtfm of both devices, beyond the extra osc per voice and higher bit depth and sampling rate of the lemondrop, the two appear to have more in common than not when it comes to features and capabilities.

There are some per grain pitch and pan mod features that the lemondrop has and that I am not sure whether the texture lab has. So, I'll be interested in learning more about that potential difference.

That being said, the texture lab is looking better and better to me, relative to the lemondrop, because (in addition to the price difference) I think I can live with 1 v 2 granular osc per voice (they both have 4 voices) and the somewhat reduced bit/sample (16/32k) specs on the texture lab don't really bother me. Also, while I do see some attractiveness in the lemondrop's waveform display, I think I see more attractiveness in the texture lab's massively increased number of knobs and buttons!

Anyone get an update on when this is shipping?

Perfectcircuit has it in stock and shipping, along with all the other Liven machines and sampltrek too.

I never received my pre-order I made direct

I am getting my direct order mid june. I was surprised perfectcircuit already has em but I have been getting all my Liven direct. Still PC is there for you (probably my favorite retailer).

I love how in Japan effects are called effectors

Shipped today from Malaysia only after I sent them an email.

Lemondrop looks good, but for less than $100 more I can get a Texture Lab and the Lo-fi which covers way more ground.

I preordered mine and it arrived on Monday. Reach out to them.

Mine arrived today, I forget which batch it was (ordered June 6th), but after about 10 minutes of playing around with the factory samples and not really knowing what I'm doing it already feels like a keeper.

I stand by my initial thought that I wish it had at least a second track, to play sounds off each other, but that's what I have other LIVENs for! Never used the sync function before. Now I will.

Handy too, because you can just sample right into Texture Lab, so two LIVENs together with the Texture Lab maybe serving as a satellite of sorts.

Anyways, good stuff SONICWARE!

If you’re into different sounds and into audio nightmare soundtracks or taking ambient for a play in Brian Eno’s playground… Don’t sleep on this inexpensive & very fun/rewarding and great sounding device.
I’m using it in tangent with Lemondrop, both sequenced by Syntakt. Both run through EQD Astral Destiny (Salvador Dali Reverbs).
The only thing that I am not a fan of, just like Volca’s, The input/outs end up sticking up, making placement more of issue, not usability.

I'm also painting it with the Syntakt and think you're spot on with what it can do. I also enjoy mega timestretch and glitching madness. Pretty much a universal truth; it would have been even better with some in built distortion.

I find I have to resort to the shift function a lot, but the midi implementation is good, so mapping the Syntakt controllers to its important parameters is great as I can readily tweak and sequence the Granular.

I do wish it could take longer samples or offer lower bit / sample rate to accommodate this.

Nice styling, good price and all in all it offers something quite unusual in synth hardware.

There is the forthcoming 1010Music Tangerine Sampler. Should pair nicely.
I recently obtained their Blackbox Sampler, just starting to learn it but definitely feeding it granular.

Hi, I'm looking at experimenting and learning granular synthesis and saw Texture lab. I also have an ipad but haven't tried any of the ios app for granular synthesis. How would you compare a hardware like Texture Lab with any of this ios apps? Can the ios apps produce the same with texture lab in terms of sequencing?

I'm considering purchasing this thing.

From the block diagram in the manual it appears that the stereo line-in is mixed with the output and has a send for the onboard reverb processor as well. I know it can process external signals through the granular engine but it appears that the line-in to reverb and output mix is active even when in normal synth mode.

Am I correct about this? I'd like to be able to process an external synth through the reverb while still using the Texture Lab as a granular synth.

Thanks for any input?

UPDATE: Yes it can do this. See Chris Lody's excellent video.
https://youtu.be/Xn1qL0OSJuI?si=Gsmh46H6a-ksDPLt

Honestly the biggest issue that makes me hold off on the purchase is the MIDI SDS sample transfer. That 1986 standard is HORRIBLY slow as one might expect. That's about 1.5 HOURS to transfer all samples IN or OUT of the Texture Lab. Correct me if I'm wrong.

If the Texture Lab had a USB port or SD card it would be so much better.

If that's true about the transfer rate, you might as well sample them in - you'll likely mangle them beyond recognition in the granular engine.

Damn, you beat me to it!

Great news for me, since my 2025 new gear resolution is to only buy stuff from "Bad Gear"