Lyra-8 Masterclass | Because we ain't no dummies.

I wanted to share what I learned about Lyra-8, but I am no master. It's a bit pretentious to even call this a Masterclass, but I don't consider my audience as 'dummies' either. I guess the only true master out there is Vlad Kreimer, and I bet he's still learning Lyra-8.
It's a design, designed to escape the designer. It will play along for a while, but at some point it will just be impossible to control. Once you realize this, you're on your way becoming a master. You would not even try to control it and just enjoy where it takes you. So in a twisted way, Lyra-8 isn't hard to play, it's hard to accept it as it is. If you manage to master this, playing Lyra-8 is easy.
I truly enjoyed making this video, for myself and for you. I hope it will help, and I hope you'll enjoy it too. This video is dedicated to Eric, who is outthere somewhere waiting for the moment when I finally have some time on Zoom.
‪@somasynths‬ #lyra8 #masterclass #tutorial

[@lepoSsam]

This is probably the most educational video I've seen on the Lyra 8, and I watched many. Thank you for that!

[@CinematicLaboratory]

You're welcome!

[@jonaseggen2230]

I bought Lyra8 two years after it came out but this is the most inspiring and useful video I ever seen on it. Amazing

[@CinematicLaboratory]

So happy to read that a video like this still makes sense :). Thanks for sharing this.

[@59Perlen]

Thanks for the nice video. I use the l8 since 2 years but u never stop learning.

[@isaacc7]

Great video! This is the first “synth” that I bought and currently the only one I own. It’s teaching me… something about FM synthesis. One of my favorite things to do is to go into crazy drone mode with all the feedback. It’s just noise. But then you start moving the tune knobs, slowly! Things go into and out of focus as a single band interferes with the others. Sometimes you can hit magical combinations where you have repeating cycles of noise evaporating into several, inevitably detuned, voices clear as day assert themselves only to be swallowed up by the noise again. Most of the time slowly adjusting the tuning knobs in full feedback drone mode is more like tuning in far flung stations on shortwave and trying to hear their voice. Starting with this machine has helped me with my next purchases. I have ordered the new Vanilla synth from STG/Musonics. That thing is an incredible synth voice on its own and I’m looking forward to using my first proper synthesizer. I am excited to use it with my Lyra as well. I think the filter, LFO, and mixer are going to really add a lot of dimensions to the Lyra. I’m particularly interested in using the filter. The Lyra can get a bit screamy and I think a low pass filter could do wonders for it. I also am intrigued with using a phaser with the Lyra. I have my eye on one from Bugbrand. And them of course I need a proper delay and/or reverb and I’m really interested in one of the pedals from Folktek. That’ll also stereo-ize the signal. Would love to hear how you can sculpt the sounds from the Lyra with filters, phasers, and of course the modulation of this things.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks for sharing your journey!

[@michaelkonomos]

This was SO helpful. Owned a Lyra for two years now, still learned a lot from this.

[@SimonHeartfield]

Great video. "Accept that your skills are no longer useful" is the best advice I've heard about the Lyra.

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

OMG ITS HERE !!! saw ya got that RoAT one of the most inspiring synths I’ve touched in years

[@BayMud]

Very helpful, and mesmerizing! Been trying to spend more time with my Lyra 8 and this will help a ton

[@Hessencemusic]

thank you for your tireless drive to create such detailed and really useful content for many of us. You have my full admiration...

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Sorry for the late reply, sometimes I just don't know what to write. But comments like this always make my day while feeling lucky to be able to do this.

[@Hessencemusic]

@@CinematicLaboratory don't worry... I'm glad that sometimes you don't have time to write... (it means you have a lot of comments and a lot of activity). But I really only write like this when I feel it's worth saying something.... If it is worth something to go through stages in life, is to learn to realize the value of saying things ... And as I said, your generosity has entertained me, taught me and made me admire your work from the humble point of view of another music and science lover. :)

[@vevan11]

My Lyra arrives today - I can't wait! Thanks for the detailed overview - I feel ready to collaborate with mine and go to the unknown!

[@Grace_Griffin]

My Lyra8 is one of my most treasured possessions. I don't play Lyra, she plays me. When I start a session, my mind is asking "well, where will we be going today Lyra?". Wonderful video and well explained. Thanks!

[@21gramexperiment]

Love this thank you. I'm trying to develop a system using two Lyras, so there's some sense of free running modulation between them and four Morphagenes (for phase shifting) to capture, and then manipulate and generatively recompose the audio, baby steps atm.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

If you manage to run this, you should DEFINITELY start a channel and post a video about it! Sounds amazing.

[@21gramexperiment]

@@CinematicLaboratory kzbin.info/www/bejne/roScg6yfmdWfepIsi=653HJ56N92xGxmlv Have made a first attempt proof of concept type video, but most time goes into exploring, have made some steps though.

[@21gramexperiment]

@@CinematicLaboratory kzbin.info/www/bejne/roScg6yfmdWfepIsi=653HJ56N92xGxmlv Have made a first attempt proof of concept type video, but most time goes into exploring, it’s like it’s own universe in there!

[@21gramexperiment]

@@CinematicLaboratory first proof of concept video up on my channel, baby steps there’s an entire universe in there!

[@arpmoog]

I sense the ghost of Keith Emerson with backwards keying and coins for knife edge sustain. Mexican radio was perfect sonic seasoning for shortwave drifting.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Actually, that's a Russian military communication, responding to an intruder somewhere near a Russian coast. I am pretty sure it was 007 on a mission.

[@aeon136]

LMFAO!!!🤣

[@kesthouserecords]

Thank you for this fantastic video. I love my lyra. That crazy cat like thing!

[@CinematicLaboratory]

You are very welcome, it's been a joy to make this video :)

[@jezstevens]

I modified mine with multi turn pots it’s a semi reversible project because you need to open the holes to fit the new pots. It allows for micro tuning which the original pots struggle with on my change. Great video BTW !

[@jazmanaut]

Best Lyra tutorial i have seen and heard. Thank you!

[@jezstevens]

I modified mine with multi turn pots it’s semi reversible project because you need to open the holes to fit the new pots. It allows for micro tuning which the original pots struggle with on my change. Great video BTW !

[@Abyssolune]

Thanks for making this video, mate! I have been converting my entire setup over to Soma over the last couple of months. I got to meet the SOMA US division yesterday and tried the Lyra-8 and pulsar23. I have a Lyra-8 on order for shipment as of an hour ago. This is a great showcase and inspiration, while I anxiously wait for it to arrive.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

You're welcome! Lyra-8 will be a journey! Pulsar-23 will be a rollercoaster.

[@Abyssolune]

@CinematicLaboratory I can't wait! Lyra should be here next week. It arrives at SOMA US Saturday I think and should arrive by Thursday! Pulsar will be a ways off, but I loved it as soon as I got to play one at the synth expo last weekend

[@jpakaerc]

Thank you for this trip, I also have the Lyra-8, it's really a magnificent instrument, the video will help me a lot, on the routings or functions which remain unclear for me. I don't speak English very well, the drawings and diagrams are really useful :)

[@russ254]

great animations!

[@Reprobus3]

In every way this is the best synth focused channel anywhere. Aesthetically it's amazing, the music is always spot on, and the equipment shown is always either something I'm interested in, or already own, and I learn something new, or get a new idea for using it. And if you comment or ask a question, you always get a response. I really appreciate what you do and the effort you put in. Long may you continue. Thank you

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I think it's the true benefit of not being sponsored, having no pressure, lots of time (I am enjoying early retirement) and having spent over 10.000 hours to figure things out. I guess it's also because I've seen a lot of movies and I just LOVE my canon EOS 6R camera with 13 mm lens. It makes everything look beautiful (except the normally invisible specs of dust). Honestly, it doesn't feel like an effort. Sometimes I hope for a little more engagement in the comments, but now at least I can answer them. Thank you so much for your encouragement!

[@lesynthlofi]

The GAS meter just reached Red for the first time! Great demo, super video (love the b & w)

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Regardless, it will remain a totally unpredictable alien machine that will never do what you want.

[@EricWhitacre]

THIS IS SO GOOD.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks, Eric! I hope it will inspire you to make something nobody has ever done before.

[@EricWhitacre]

🙏🙏🙏@@CinematicLaboratory

[@VisionsMusicGroup]

ohmygosh​@@EricWhitacre(thank you for your beautiful choirs❣) and @CinematicLaboratory as always, thank you for inspiring me to dust off the Lyra-8 and make some squeals!

[@mauriciomandara5946]

Nice animation and the background voices ties everything together … I wonder how Lyra will sound together with some of your modules. I bet the make noise micro sound system will be a good companion. Thanks for sharing!👍🏻

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I am planning to rebuild the Tape & Microsound Music Machine for my other series. It's a cool idea to process Lyra-8 with it and see what happens. It will also run through a filter this way. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@kveye]

The voices are irritating to me since I understand what they are saying

[@CinematicLaboratory]

@@kveye Sorry about that. I was not aware it would ruin the experience.

[@jaixiviii]

WoW, that was great!

[@wickedcurve1975]

this is very beautiful. Thanks!

[@CinematicLaboratory]

You're very welcome!

[@bassimat]

Thanks! amazing video

[@BisquitGecko]

Best explanation of the Hyper LFO I have seen

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Thanks! Just doing my best!

[@cohaagenup]

Not a single day passes that I don't regret selling mine. I bought it too soon, I think: I was not ready.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

There have been times where I regretted buying it. I still feels this way for the Pulsar-23 which is stored 355 days of the year. Honestly, I think you made the right decision. Lyra-8 either grabs you or it doesn't.

[@PlazaMoon]

love it. i get home and want to use it. addiction.

[@tonysharp1615]

Many thanks for creating such an inspirational video. I will probably loose days developing sounds beyond my current level of understanding thanks to your tutorial . 😃❤️👍🏻👍🏻

[@mustafaalmadi7351]

Wow now I fall in love with Lyra! Thank you. Can you explain the audio process? How you get your sound amazing stereo!?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I do this in post, in the DAW, with a bit of autopanning, delay and reverb. Nothing special, but very needed. If you love the Lyra, also check out a cool external effect unit like the H90, NightSky or Microcosm. SOMA's own Cosmos is also amazing and will covert to stereo.

[@tytrdev]

This is incredible

[@PodOfHeat]

Great video 😊

[@ortegayecid]

Thanks so much for your video, now I can master Lyra 8 lol.

[@SidJ8300]

How many drinks down when you said this, dude ? 😅

[@tgiencke]

I wonder if the FM techniques of the Digitone (operators) could be applied to the Lyra 8

[@CinematicLaboratory]

In a way, this is what happens. Each voice on lyra-8 has a tone, a slow/fast envelope and a built in VCA to open/close it. That's an operator by definition. Algorithms define how they come together and how they FM each other, ranging from additive (organ stack of tones) to any combination of FM between the voice pairs and groups. But you'll have to switch the algorithms on/off yourself - and it will probably not sound like a digitone.

[@petercane6376]

That was interesting and thanks. I am not clever enough to know what modulates what and crosse a morph into a thingey!!!so when I get mine next week I will just twist knobs and let it take me away literally. I think it was designed to do that. It is the most unique sounding synth snd has a powerful sound. Apparently very well built too.

[@steveMonchs1916]

But watch some ‘getting started’ videos. It can be pretty complex but knowing the basics really helps. I’ve only had mine a week and I’ve written some awesome ambient tracks. I use it either my Walrus Audio Fable pedal, or my Nightsky pedal.

[@rockinzhu7998]

谢谢！学到了很多~ lyra-8 有东方的混沌思想，“玄之又玄，众妙之门”。

[@CinematicLaboratory]

不客气！

[@bulentkamali]

If you had to choose only one outboard fx gear, which one would you choose among the microcosm, cosmos, bigsky, h90, astronaut?

[@GoodAfternoonDave]

Strymon Nightsky

[@synkrotron]

I am now a Class A Lyra 8 Master But I don't have a Lyra 8 I am sad 🙁

[@CinematicLaboratory]

That's sad indeed. But this thing is so uncontrollable someone, somewhere will probably sell it.

[@KymoKyms]

It’s the forgery sounds I crave the most 🫠♾️💖

[@studio48nl]

Finally I got myself a (minty green) Lyra 8 😄

[@CinematicLaboratory]

I hope you'll like it!

[@studio48nl]

@@CinematicLaboratory Yes I do! Looking for a reverb pedal now... 😅 Cloudburst or Blackhole...

[@CinematicLaboratory]

@@studio48nl Don't forget to check out the Cosmos too :).

[@studio48nl]

@@CinematicLaboratory haha, yes, but... the price, jees! The Cloudburst fits in the original box the Lyra 8 comes in 😅

[@studio48nl]

​@@CinematicLaboratory No Cosmos, but this weekend I got a Pulsar 23, also minty green, 'turret version' for a price I could not resist 😅

[@MichaelSyrrakos]

Lyra-8 is alien communication device 👽

[@chipsngravy321]

The beginning of this sounded like the Hawkwind track sprit of the age, was that intentional?

[@freezerman5871]

Very good tutorial here. But just for context, but this is not the dry Lyra sound right? it is processed by the Rumble on the side?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

No, Rumble is processed by Lyra. Just using DAW effects on this one...

[@freezerman5871]

@@CinematicLaboratory Thanks. I've been trying to replicate your settings on my Lyra without any FX at all, and the sound was nowhere like yours. I have very mixed feelings about this unit, and after many hours pent on it I still can't get the hang of it. 99% of the time it just drones at mid frequencies, or shrieks in hi frequencies. I can't find any way to make it work with my other gear, and I even find it very hard to sample, as it hardly produces usable stuff IMHO. I will probably put it on the 2nd hand market for someone whose better than me at this.

[@CinematicLaboratory]

@@freezerman5871 Thanks for shaing your honest experience. I find the Lyra a bit overrated too, especially with no external processing. On mild settings it doesn't sound so well and on extreme settings it's completely out of control. Then, build quality is irrelevant. For me, Soma Cosmos really made a difference since you can layer stuff from Lyra. Soma's Terra is pure beauty. I am sure your Lyra will find a new home very quickly. Personally, I will only part with it when I really have no choice.

[@Impandex]

Я внезапно понял,что он мне не так уж и нужен вот прям сейчас,но он восхитительный

[@jon-michael1524]

I was on the fence but this video pushed me right off. Well done and thank you (my wallet does not thank you).

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

So that’s where all the damn 10mm sockets in the world disappear 🫥 to.. 🤨 *looks more like an 8mm but that’s not as funny

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Clueless here. Could you explain?

[@halcyonwinds1970]

@@CinematicLaboratoryI think he’s referring to your use of a socket extension at 5:25. 10mm sockets are the most commonly used and thus, the most commonly misplaced so whenever you go looking for your 10mm socket in your set it’s always gone missing. At least, that’s my experience too. 😂

[@CinematicLaboratory]

@@halcyonwinds1970 Ah, I see! Thanks. I had no idea what they are called, not even in my Dutch native language :). It's a diatonic chord bar...

[@halcyonwinds1970]

@@CinematicLaboratory 😂 I think I’ll have to call mine diatonic chord bars from now on. No one will know what I’m talking about but I’ll get a laugh out of it.

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

@@halcyonwinds1970thanks m8 !

[@kgbinfo]

a “masterclass” in under twenty minutes? ummm… ok

[@anarchopx5379]

Brilliant - just brilliant