Review: LYRA-8 explained // SOMA LABS

LYRA-8 is a synth that behaves like it's from outer-space. From otherworldy drones to modulations that certainly aren't from Kansas, LYRA-8 isn't like any other synth.
But is that a good thing? Check it out if you're ready to step outside your comfort and into the twilight zone...
Want to download MP3 versions of the intro and outro jams, as well as more worldly synth ideas, tips and tricks? Check out my book on Patreon:
► Patreon: / loopop
Check out prices here (affiliate links help the channel):
► Thomann: www.thomann.de/gb/soma_lyra_8...
Look for new and used deals on Reverb (affilaite):
► reverb.grsm.io/Lyra-8
See more info from SOMA (non affiliate):
► bit.ly/SOMA-LYRA-8
Other gear used in this video:
4MS Pods
Divkid Mutes
ALM Pam's New Workout
Befaco Muxclicer
Voicas Mixverter
UNO Drum
For a lot of LYRA awesomeness, check out j bowman's channel (thanks to Lance Drake for telling me about this!):
► / @jbowmanmusic
Other places I hang out:
► Instagram: / loopopmusic
► Facebook: / loopopmusic
► Twitter: / loopopmusic
► Web: loopopmusic.com
My music:
► Bandcamp: loopop.bandcamp.com
► Spotify: bit.ly/LoopopOnSpotify
► Apple Music:bit.ly/LoopopOnAppleMusic
TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro jam
1:35 Overview
4:55 Envelope control
7:45 Modulation
11:00 Cross mod
12:35 Vibrato
13:10 Total feedback
13:30 Hyper LFO
14:25 Delay controls
15:45 Delay modulation
17:05 Drive
17:35 External in
18:45 Hold gate
19:05 CV Delay
19:55 CV Voices
21:00 Pros & cons
22:50 Outro jam
Want to email me personally?
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.

[@RyanGerhardtYimimoto]

"...Costs a little extra" gave me a good chuckle. Haha

[@TheRealHucasys]

Yeah, was gonna say lol

[@tuneboyz5634]

*dabs*

[@MichaelM02]

I'm sorry I removed the 69 likes...

[@bendikbaksaasodin]

hahah his humour and perfect deliverance....

[@hickscorp]

Same here! Whether it's a joke or something else, Loopop's reviews always have that little something that make them so nice to listen to...

[@menzosoft2]

Wow so Industrial voice! It's like Throbbing Gristle synth

[@goaway2174]

Epic horror movie synth - I have a black one and have sat down for a couple hours and just been fascinated at what evolved. The thing is really well built and looks/feels like an instrument out of a 1950s military lab.

[@calxcape]

Thanks @loopop for reviewing by request! SUPER AWESOME OF YOU TO DO SO!

[@stephanmaier5634]

This is by far the most informative Lyra video. Great job as always, thanks!

[@VacancyOfDisco]

I used this in a live performance recently re-scoring a silent movie and it was a wonderful instrument/band mate! There were beautiful patterns and sequences coming out of it where I just had to pause whatever else I was going to do and just listen to what Lyra wanted to do!

[@DiodeMilliampere]

Oh hey aj

[@percussionboy4357]

Gotta say, I was real curious to see how the world’s most lucid synth explainer would approach an instrument that’s completely chaotic ... but by God you did it. I especially liked the various gentle warnings about what NOT to expect, lol.

[@fo76]

"the world's most lucid synth explainer"... I second that...

[@patrizio7]

The Lyra always sends a tingle down my spine when jamming. Great review.

[@GNeuman]

That was brilliantly explained and demo'ed, thank you. I've had one for a couple of years and even so learnt alot from this!

[@DivKid]

ooooh that modulated delay section is great! Tuning those into odd intervals and weird spacey reflections is great. Great to see Mutes in use too.

[@GavinskisTutorials]

Such a great tutorial, really clearly and pleasantly explained, I could listen to you all day.

[@Gavinshortall543]

I was on the fence about this, but your vid made me need this. Beautiful quirky synth

[@xavier-rose]

Thank You very much, also I been waiting for this review from loopop ;-) Outstanding sound box !

[@markschweter6371]

"Feel like a cigarette afterwards, even though I don't smoke." *Ha*Ha*Ha* !

[@sapbucry]

just quit smoking, I am not buying Lyra then, thanks. :)

[@markus9541]

That was indeed epic! :D

[@dhamaryder]

Yeah, that really made me laugh too

[@SonGoku-iw4zk]

@@sapbucry Listening to it makes me want to smoke some Cannabis, more than anything. I really want this synth for dazed hours-long sonic explorations.

[@mymockumentary9716]

@@SonGoku-iw4zk the whole point is that it stimulates one enough to not need the ganj... Experiencing music on drugs is very intriguing, but experiencing music with a clear mind is far more wholesome. The less ganja you smoke, the more you will appreciate the magic of cannabis, and the more you realise consciousness with no ganja is equally magical

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

just gorgeous!! I love it, ziv, when you are so obviously enamored with an instrument... there's this spaciousness to your intro/outro, & this extra warm & loving tone to your voice... haha!! it's wonderful!!

[@Ecotechnologist]

Been waiting for this by watching other Lyra-8 videos all morning, cheers

[@sonicbiscuitrecords9223]

This may be your most entertaining review to date. Thanks.

[@carelessfounder]

I love your reviews and way of explaining things. I always look forward to them! Keep up the great work!

[@loopop]

Thanks! :)

[@h2o1969]

I love the idea and sound of this synth. Someday I will get my hands on one.

[@inthecityish]

This is by some distance the best expaination of any instrument I have ever heard or seen, Brilliant. Thank you.x

[@jimmy_jamesjams_a_lot4171]

You do a fantastic job of conveying your thoughts with your words. When you’re describing a unique synthesizer like the Lyra 8, it becomes apparent that you’re really putting this attribute to good use. I’m just seeing that you’ve only just posted this. Do I detect a Soma Pulsar 23 demo coming in the near future?! As I understand, Vlad is a very serious and eco-friendly engineer, and I’ve noticed in what a unique and non-boastful way he’ll share his concerns for the importance not only of building gear that will outlast its human counterparts and their successors, but how dedicated he is to delivering a product that he isn’t using to just take money from. His virtues are well in line and that’s really got to be so much more than a selling point in this present time when we constantly remind ourselves of our own negative impacts on our environment. Thanks for sharing! You can really make that Lyra sing!

[@whoozl3540]

As usual, a very well produced video as well as a great presentation of the Lyra-8 synth. I understood only half of it, but that's definitely due to the synth's properties and not your explanations. And, although I'm repeating myself, I really like the index on the left side of the video frame and your calm voice. Thanks a lot!

[@loopop]

Thanks very much! Trust me if you understood half of it you already know more than me about it ;)

[@wulyf4lyf]

Just got notice yesterday that mine was on its way from Perfect Circuit. I absolutely cannot wait. This video was a big push for me to grab the orange model I found. I think this will go well with my semi modular synths, eurorack rig and guitar effects pedals. This is almost exactly up my alley, as I love drone, experimental noise, ambient, .. this is definitely for me. I wish I shad the scratch to pre order an Erica Syntrx, which is also an experimental looking beast. Fantastic video.

[@walterkhan7120]

Excellent review and explanation, even better than the manual itself! Thanks!

[@nelio123]

Thank you very much for the review. A bought a Lyra after watching it and it arrived today. Amazing machine!

[@mcfproject]

excellent presentation, ty!

[@traktorfaktor]

It really sounds beautiful!

[@asynchronicity]

More Lyra only videos, please! You are a maestro on that thing

[@CinematicLaboratory]

That starting soundscape is just amazing.

[@MaurizioDiBerardino]

You have the best reviews in the known Universe! Thank you for all the great work that you do for us! Now I've got to find myself an excuses to buy a Lyra asap! :D

[@RobHurd]

I’ve had a LYRA-8 for 18 months and record with it all the time but after watching this video I’ve found a whole lot of new ways of getting sound out of it. Thanks so much. And what an incredible instrument!

[@kirkegodfrey414]

Always the MOST ELEGANT reviews in the Biz…

[@SpiderofPnyx]

Possibly my favourite synth, along with the DFAM. Making music with it is just plain enjoyment. Looks good on videos too which is a plus fo me xD When i saw you reviewed it i clicked so fast as if my life depended on it. Gonna try that "weird guitar" thing you did on my next jam video with it

[@quinxx12]

Your control over it is astonishing.

[@kaosmosmusic]

I'm in love!!! Amazing LYRA

[@TROGULAR10000]

like when looking at a Kiss video, that mesmerized/bewildered feeling: "where on earth does one get such accessories?". (link in description of course) Awesome synth!!!!

[@mundelator]

Crystal clear and inspiring. Thx it really helps !!!

[@djformalin]

Your video is the reason why I bought my Lyra....thx 🎼

I've had a Lyra almost two years and I still learnt something watching this video.

[@RonCavagnaro]

Yeah Lyra is awesome! And I'm getting a black pulsar once I come up in the waiting list!!

[@MikPeterRasmussen]

Outstanding demo 💯👏🤘

[@videomove]

you're doing a great job, man! 🙏🏼

[@petdoe8938]

I need a sixteen so bad ,great video ,more on this one please , blessed be.

[@jonaseggen2230]

"Finding my self wanting a cigarette, and I don't even smoke" Lol! : D I love my Lyra. sometimes it meows and purrs like a kitten, other times it roars like a bunch of seagulls, lions, tigers, T-rexes, whales, spaceships, those sort of things. You could have mentioned the Eurorack version of this instrument though. Lyra 8-FX. Anyway, thanks for showing me new tricks, love your work

[@oiartsun]

Thanks for a great review. I have a Lyra-8 and I learned some things from your video that I hadn't discovered on my own. I recently got a CV and gate sequencer in order to modulate its voices and hold times. I've also paired the Lyra-8 with a Sherman Filterbank 2, and the two together take you into crazy ambient/noise heaven/hell!

[@jnny7182]

Beautiful combo

[@dr.feelicks2051]

Far out, truly insightful. That was fun

[@macronencer]

I kept coming back to watch this... and eventually I realised that was probably significant. So I bought a Lyra 8! Can't wait to get my hands on it :)

[@josefk5659]

I’ve used the hell out of mine. I often use the delay as a guitar pedal too. It processes guitar sounds beautifully when you drive it a little.

[@v47_music]

You're always so calm in your videos, but in this one there is so much pure joy in you, I feel like you can't hold it when tweaking this synth! Thanks for these emotions, Loopop!

[@focalsounds4920]

love the coin trick @6:35 :)

[@fiddlestickzmuzik]

Absolutely love the way you have to put two hands on this thing at all times to make something, the human interaction is just spot on, if there is one thing I find really hard to understand is why no filter of any type..? I mean I get it's all about feedback and cross mod but adding a filter would let you take it so many more places..? * edit damn that stuff at the end you did was epic..!! the opening passage was so nice..

[@nickademuss42]

I agree that a filter of some type would of been nice, I run mine into a Moog Grandmother and into guitar effects pedals. The sound is greatly enhanced.

[@skelly790]

Just got one. It's fantastic. A nice chorus - Dimension D or whatever - makes it even more fantastic and partly gets around the no stereo limitation.

[@laurencevanhelsuwe3052]

I've had my Lyra-8 for about four months and it doesn't cease to amaze me. So much that, if I were forced to sell all my other synths, I would keep the Lyra-8. This review doesn't even scratch the surface of the sounds this thing generates. It is unique, always surprising, always a delight to operate. There's nothing else like it on the market.

[@MinPlanck]

Awesome! I Love mine.

[@ThreadedNail]

I love this video. This is my users manual, I always come back here when I cant remember something about my lyra 8.

[@powermix24]

This will take your Ambient "game" to a whole new field.

[@Ginkeh]

Yea this just jumped to the top of my wishlist :O

[@MattSmith-xm4eq]

That outro jam was rad.

[@vurnt22]

Love the Coin Hold hack!

[@bensmith5836]

Love this "Thing" so haunting!

[@konradhoroszko255]

man, love your vibe! :D

[@Gingerzilla]

6:54... Great Dad Joke. :-)

[@sov2545]

OMG I need this

[@joeyrivers8845]

god it’s such a beauty

[@thedrumunkey8582]

Awesome review. If anyone is interested in playing with these kinds of sounds interactively, I can’t recommend the iOS sythn Shoom highly enough. Then run Shoom into an fx network in AUM and you will not come out of that hole for hours...

[@CraigSueSound]

Great review... thankyou :)

[@SimonHeartfield]

Just bought one today - I have a feeling this video is going to be a BIG help :-)

[@bonsaibloom]

6:53 🤦‍♀️ i'm so proud of u

[@jaderington]

Nice kit , funny wit . Big bucks , worth saving for.

[@gerardopujado1868]

loopop: the review will begin in just a bit, I promise... me: take your time man, better take the whole video!

[@massimookissed1023]

This sounds like what I imagine Col. Walter E Kurtz listens to over his evening breakfast. Haunting.

[@scottglasgowmusic]

What a BEAST! A must have for utter creative improv... but always have ProTools recording! It is like a new animal.

[@andersschroder2483]

Great tutorial!!!!!!

[@nordok2757]

I know this video is a couple of years old but, for the hold function you could use a magnetic low voltage jumper cable to connect them, if they used a ferrous metal for the conductive pads, they might work a little better than coins. I use them in my line of work as an HVAC technician.

[@ArtemiTV]

I hope to see some Soma Pulsar Drum overview as soon as its possible!!!

[@jbowmanmusic]

seconded!

[@elissitdesign]

Third

[@ModularLanding]

Fourth’d

[@GeorgeCopperfield]

I'm ready for the Pulsar 23!! I'm gonna be 50 years ahead of the game with those analog drum sounds ❤️ Sixth'd

[@christoroppolo8742]

Zak Kramer I am waiting for the ok to order one! It is my most anticipated tool for sound design. To date ! Peace Christo 👽🐕🎶🛸☮️

[@fabkie]

Damn i love it. Played it on Superbooth... had no idea what was happening.

[@Duplanmodular]

16:30 reminds me of delay time modulation on Moog MF104M delay pedal when set to random wave... Fantastic sounding time jumps :)

[@alifeinyellow]

I can’t wait to get this damn thing

[@petercane6376]

A really great job loopop. You really did give it a chance and I felt that you actually liked it because its so different. Someone described it as the " cat " of synths which was pretty accurate. Your tutorial was superinformative like all you do. I enjoyed your jams. I think you did too. I get mine in another 48 hours from now. I will call it " Felix" the teenage cat!!!

[@MilanTehVillain]

David Levy used one of these for Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part # 2 DLC for both the menu & end credits. His co-composer, Andrew Hulshult was so inspired by it, that he got one too!

[@nielsverhaegh6744]

You made me buy one

[@Gonzomat0]

LYRA-8 reminds me of Reaktor's Kontour-Synth which is especially beautiful for evil-sounding basslines. I guess you can achieve with LYRA-8 quite similar results. Nonetheless, the sounddemos are really beautiful and I have to bookmark it for future purchases. Love the random behaviour due to the pitch modulation. Really lovely synth.

[@brianreilly6545]

Nice vid, thx for the info.

[@hakonsoreide]

I love that sound at 10:26

[@mickhicks469]

Yep , Bebe and Louis Barron`s Forbidden Planet sounds.Brill.

[@Psionetics]

There is something magical about this puppy

[@billychanxtreem]

Using coins to hold notes seems like the most black magic thing ever and I'm totally down for it :3

07:49-08:32 - write down, paste above mirror, read everyday to understand Lyra's LFO.

[@chadsix4838]

I could totally see that outro jam being used in some weird indie scifi movie.

[@carlospinho3303]

Awesome 📈

[@confusedmachine]

This video was damn amazing. Thankyou.

[@christoroppolo8742]

I love mine . And finally it gets a proper look by the man himself! And what do you know ! He likes it too! Peace Christo👽

[@dialnfornick]

Zanzibar blue version for me 😁. Can't wait till Monday!

[@nebuladus7850]

Loopop💥🙏💥You are truly the at this💥💥💥💥💥I love it thxsomuch💜🎹🔊🎶

[@gavinocorda3415]

Incredible😍😍

[@guntherkuhlschranktur2121]

you literally made me buy this 🙈🙈🙈

[@LimGiong]

THANKS.

[@alexanderthomas542]

Amazing omydays

[@maxmatson1578]

I wish "coil" could have used a instrument like this¿? rest in peace John&Peter!🎹🎧💫💀😵😔🙏✋✌

[@nickademuss42]

So, I must say that this one is addictive to me, I got a black friday deal from perfect circuit and I havnt been able to stop playing with the darn thing. I ran it into a Moog GM and use its filter and routings... its nuts. I think this one ran into eurorack will be random heaven....