Sonicware Lofi-12 XT

Also. Are the track fx stereo? If I apply a chorus on a mono sample can ai widen it? Or only the master send fx are stereo?

24khz can sound clean.

What will make the sample LoFi is if you drop the sample on the middle C3 key and play it on upper registers you will notice the quality degrade depending on how high the note is.

The other trick is to play your sample pitched up 1-8 semitones and then pitch down the playback.

That’s where the 12 bit sound gets its shine.

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It’s here, just had a very quick test, sounds a lot like the Liven LoFi12 as expected, which is for me, a good thing, nice hard hitting drums, I can’t wait to put my own samples in, but that probably won’t be for a few days. Can’t really make a comment on if it can sound clean until I do that, as I don’t know what the factory samples sounded like before sampling, but I think it probably can. I have yet to delve too far into the presets.

I’ll post some more thoughts once I have had a bit more time with it, but so far seems quite a nice little box.

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This is a Lofi portable mini-DT that is polyphonic. I had a few hours on it yesterday and I really enjoyed it. The pads on it are some of my favorite. The feel and sensitivity of each pad is amazing for such a small surface area.

The screen is a much better experience than the SmplTrek because they scaled up the UI. Everything is just easier to see and control. I love the filter, and envelope views.

2 LFOs per track and a good amount of target destinations means you can really mangle sounds and I love seeing each LFO in motion.

The fact that you can see and edit every parameter on every step after recording is pretty impressive. Including steps with polyphony!

They added filtering by tags in the sample selection which is such a workflow improvement and reminds me of how I use my DT and ST. And you can have your sequence playing as you preview sounds which will help in finding the right sound for your project.

The song mode and pattern chaining is nice. I haven’t used it yet, but it looks well implemented.

All of the effects sound better to me. I am not sure if they changed them, or if it is just how the DSP is built which makes them sound better in the signal chain. They are easier to edit with more understandable controls.

The only negative to me is that battery life is only 2-3 hours. But the case has room for extra batteries and some in-ears. Big props to Sonicware for designing a case that can fit the charger and some additional gear.

I will update more when I have more time. I do think at $399 this is such a great deal. If you don’t like the Liven hardware (I didn’t), but like the workflow and sound this could be something you would like. I kinda want them to make a XFM XT now. I love the sounds from the XFM, but that hardware is not my fav.

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I feel the same. The pads on my Smpltrek felt Amazing too. I was really surprised. They usually suck.

And yeah. They really nailed the UI and workflow on this.

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Try the rechargeable ones from IKEA. Make sure they’re the higher capacity ones. I never used Smpltrek for more than 1 hour at a time. So I imagine this will have the same performance more or less.

I have the EBL 2800 batteries that I’ve read are decent. I want 4 hours, and then I’d be happy. I’ll check out IKEA’s options.

First very basic test. Only listen if you want to see how it sounds vs creative musical genius. I wanted to see how well the mixtape worked, and to play around with effects + pitching. The fact that you can -/+24 on this thing is wonderful. Stutter is pretty fun. I want to see how well stutter works with different sound profiles next.

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Like to see how this compares to SP

Yes the handling on most things is very nice isn’t it?

I still only had a little time using mine but already can tell it is a keeper.

I just sold my lofi-12 earlier this week for this very reason and just as I sold it this product was launched… It seems to me like its the best Sonicware groovebox by far from a workflow and cohesive design PoV. I really like it and look forward to buying it once it releases in Europe :slight_smile:

(XFM XT would be super fun, pure FM grooveboxes remain rare these days, and fm synthesis always benefits from actual screens to display more infos when creating patches.)

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Available in the EU, now. Prices in stores seem to be a bit higher, though (maybe due to the VAT?)

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Love Sonicware Liven series. It was a hard time picking between a used 8bit warps and a used Lofi-12. I ended up took the 8bit warps for it’s one of a kind sequencer x looper approach. But Lofi-12 is a great hardware device, no doubt.

Fully hand-on control, no menu diving, 10 voice polyphonic spread over a 4 track sequencer plus a fairly usable keyboard layout with the lowest note in F(same as OP-1) instead of C. Even buying Lofi-12(or any other Liven) new is okay.

But as a Liven owner, a new Smpltrek or XT at similar cost of an iPad/Mini is a pass. I can have faster easier better sampling with Apps that allows me to fake their Lofi-6/12 using my 8bit warp as a controller.

But I’m sure Lofi-12 XT is fun as hell. Highly recommend Sonicware, a brand with fresh design and deliver tons of joy at very friendly price.

Enjoy your good time!

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And Koala app for 5 USD is way better than the lofi-12/lofi-6. The point of hardware is that: hardware, keys/pads to press, feel like having an actual instrument.

Indeed. Sample playback is not the only thing a sampler does. Samplers that support MPE offer another level of performance.

But I do own a Liven 8bit warps as I don’t feel comfortable to pull out my iPad in some locations/situations

Why not both, hybird is the best

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This channel is good and have good coverage on Sonicware products

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Can anyone that has it try the LFO time stretching trick with modulating the start point?

How does it work?

You fill the step sequencer with steps
Then a one shot LFO modulates the start point.
I don’t think the LFO is as smart as Digitakt’s.

Hmm it might work. I was watching this

You could set the pad to be note on, and loop a short bit. Then the LFO moves the start point.

I can hardly wait to try it with I get it from customs.

You can do that. The other thing you can do is adjust the bar length to the length of the sample, and have it play the entire step length. It will adjust the pitch to fill the step count.