Lyra Raga 1: Puriya Kalyan (Lyra 8 synth + Strymon Big Sky + CBA Warped Vinyl)

Lyra creator Vlad Kreimer says that the Lyra synthesizer was partially inspired by Indian ragas, a beautiful set of musical forms and moods. Reading that, I thought why not explore the Lyra as an instrument through raga? I know little about ragas (although I love listening to them) so this seemed like a good way of learning about ragas also. This is the first, inspired by the Indian raga "puriya kalyan." The Lyra is going into a Warped Vinyl (which is providing the very slow swells) and a Big Sky reverb unit set to "clouds."
A quick search revealed nothing on KZbin or Google involving both the Lyra synthesizer and Indian ragas, amazingly! So I suppose these are the first Lyra raga videos.
This track was inspired by the following raga performance: • Glory of Dusk - Raga P...
If you want to have fun, play that and this together at the same time or overlapping!
This track and others are available on bandcamp:
modularlanding...

[@burgersmoke404]

If you ever decide to release this on bandcamp or somewhere, can you let us know? I will instapurchase and then use this to fall asleep when my mind won't stop spinning. This is so immersive and moving.

[@ModularLanding]

That's very kind of you! And sure thing. I've put it up on Bandcamp: modularlanding.bandcamp.com

[@burgersmoke404]

@@ModularLanding Absolutely stellar news. As promised, I instapurchased this track and I'm excited to listen to your other works on bandcamp. Thank you so much for sharing this. This might be be night-time chill out track tonight.

[@ModularLanding]

@@burgersmoke404 I am moved by your words and your generosity, and I’m so happy the track is pleasing to you. I couldn’t ask for anything more. Sometimes allowing our minds to immerse in sounds, colors, and sensations can re-regulate our nervous systems and help us re-establish calm and it is an honor that you would use these sounds to such an end.

[@carlosvargas894]

Discovering as many Lyra-8 performances that I can. This is one of my favorites now. Absolutely amazing!

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you. I really appreciate the kind comment! It's not the easiest synth to use (for me), yet it is so interesting and so completely different. I wouldn't have been able to do something like this on any other synth I own, for sure...

[@screamclown]

I love this so much. I use my Lyra for its harshness and industrial edge, but to hear it make such haunting sounds is inspiring and beautiful

[@ModularLanding]

Thanks so much for the comment! The Lyra can definitely go wild, crazy and harsh, but it's also really beautiful, if hard to control!

[@AndyVonal]

This is the best advert for the LYRA 8 I have yet seen. Most of them end up sounding harsh and almost unlistenable, but this is stunning - and I want one! Great job!

[@ModularLanding]

Thanks so much for the amazing comment. It is a quirky synth but also a rewarding one! I think it has a great sound and is really fun to work with.

[@martinocruzcruz4483]

not creepy, extremely peacful, good tuning job

[@skyreadersociety6183]

its really suprising how organic it sounds

[@KiR_3d]

Yes, I've immediatelly imagined some indian music instruments at 1:55. This reminded me a soundtrack from "The Ice Storm" movie... partially.

[@ModularLanding]

Awesome!

[@munkyusm]

Powerful!!!

[@hellf.o]

Awesome!

[@francislabrecque9435]

absolutely beautiful! yes I can hear the influence of ragas

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you!

[@sierpeman]

This is incredibly meditative. Great great work

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you so much!

[@comicKkrakK]

Really nice. I followed your suggestion and played both on top of each other. I'm on the list to get the kit version of the LYRA 8 and videos like this make me want it even more.

[@ModularLanding]

Awesome! I hope you like it, and I'm pretty sure you will. Such an interesting synth -- there's really nothing like it.

[@leNotstrom]

Wow, stunning good! Like it!

[@KimbleMcCann75]

So beautiful - really dig it

[@LesterH25]

Its such a unique 'phenomenon' incomparable. Great job.

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you!

[@djformalin]

Cool...great job, bro' 🎼

[@kirkleblanc5899]

5 minutes in it really takes off into some beauty.

[@ModularLanding]

Kirk LeBlanc ah that’s when I stumbled across using the modulation to add what sound like little trills. Thank you for the comment!

[@IvanovSergeyMusic]

Beautiful. I love the lyre 8 !

[@dystopianvisions]

I really love this.

[@ratikanto]

ati sundar

[@wishpoosh]

Beautiful :)

[@thomasbrown3325]

Pretty cool! I sang a dhrupad alap while I listened to this. I think I'll buy one just to accompany my raga singing.

[@ModularLanding]

Whoah, awesome! Thanks! If you do get one, consider uploading a video of you playing and singing -- that would be awesome. And send it to Vlad. He will likely put it up on his website. He loves ragas.

[@sumchi3690]

Does Vlad have a channel or the website if possible? I love all Hindu music.

[@buschovski1]

I can sit pretty long periods with my Lyra. I love traveling together.

[@ModularLanding]

That’s fantastic! It’s a unique instrument

[@ZenMountain]

This is great, thanks!

[@johnlopez4730]

I usually don't leave commentaries on peoples music, but I have to say this song had me on a tranquil trance and towards the end it was like hard to explain. I felt liberated. It was beautiful. I have been looking into this instrument for several weeks but I am well convinced I want one. Of course it does require a Strymon or some kind of reverb effect so expand on its strange sound characteristics. Well done :)

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you. I really appreciate your taking the time to comment on the video and music. I learned on a trip to India last year that ragas are also used for healing sessions and spiritual purposes -- they are beautiful forms of music, and the Lyra is a beautiful instrument. As you say, it benefits from effects like reverb, built in delay that can go pretty far also!

[@johnlopez4730]

@@ModularLanding :)

[@buschovski1]

i dont think ill ever part with it. I Love it

[@leolearchi7405]

Excellent, reminds me of the best passages of David Sylvian's collaborations with Holger Czukay...

[@ModularLanding]

I had to go listen to that collaboration, and it is great! That's quite a compliment. Thanks for listening and commenting.

[@AndyVonal]

I was thinking the same thing! I need to listen to that album again - it's been years since I did. I bought it on cassette when I was a student in the 80s!

[@chrisleeramsden2077]

Beautiful, deep concept and an awesome listening experience. Liked and subscribed :-)

[@ModularLanding]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked it

[@buschovski1]

those harmonized trills you did were amazing sounding. I didnt know it could do that. Id love it if you could explain how you did it? if its too complex its ok. But that is great. thanks for posting

[@ModularLanding]

To be honest, I have little idea. The Lyra is so interactive as an instrument that it can do very surprising and almost mystical things when you start turning the knobs. But basically it seems that the two frequencies of the Hyper LFO are creating the fluttering LFO, and then this is modulating the individual oscillators depending on the MOD settings (which attenuates how much the LFO is affecting that oscillator). Recreating things on the Lyra is very difficult. I played around until I found sounds that I liked and that would suit the Raga, and then I recorded this. I highly doubt I could re-create this performance. But that is one of the beautiful things about the Lyra -- any further performance would be its own thing!

[@jacobclayton4828]

Stunningly beautiful!

[@ModularLanding]

Wow, thanks for the comment! Glad you liked it.

[@sonalsystem]

so good...cheers

[@ninehorsejohnson]

Most excellent. I want one. Thanks

[@sirosewoudt]

Superf#@ing awesome soundscape!! Guitarist myself, a friend wants to buy the Lyra 8, so we can jam together. I hope he buys it!!

[@synkrotron]

Loving this drone... :-D

[@louiseisobelevans]

Wonderful

[@ModularLanding]

Thanks so much! Do you do modular?

[@abitpoet]

power of the beauty

[@SoundMediaVibes]

Wonderful soundscape! :)

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you!

[@erebus9229]

Awesome work!

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you!

[@LucasMarchal]

I was about to ask you how you did the swells before reading the description. I works very well, well done ! Beautiful piece.

[@theproxyserver7125]

Inspired and inspiring.

[@ModularLanding]

theProxyServer thanks so much! Very glad you like it.

[@hardsync7873]

Sweet waves!

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you!

[@zodchyi]

супер!!!! Потрясающе!!!!!!!!!!! SUPER!!!!!!!!!!Wonderful

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you! Spasibo!

[@charlescowper]

keep them coming please! :)

[@ModularLanding]

Thanks, will try to do more. I have little time for making videos, unfortunately, so can only get a few out every year.

[@jonaseggen2230]

I must try your settings now! Also like what you did at the end with that Ganesha tribute at the end : )

[@ModularLanding]

Awesome! Let us know how it goes! The Lyra is quite a fun and surprising instrument.

[@jonaseggen2230]

Thanks a lot for showing this! What I did now is the best I'v ever managed to do with it, even though not nearly as good as what you do with yours. I mostly used mine to make background drones for other things, so now I found a new use for it : ) My tuning was a bit higher and I also used an Eventide Space on hall settings and played a bit with those knobs to. I'm going to get an expression pedal to try to make waves.. Must get a friend of mine who know these things to help me record something soon. Second time I listened to this piece. It is really beautiful.

[@ModularLanding]

Hey, thanks so much, that is really awesome of you to say. I think the thing about the Lyra is that it is relatively easy to make drones and also make disaster noises--probably that's what a lot of people use it for and it's great for that. It is more challenging and takes more time to find other creative ways of using it--but this is what is interesting to me (because I can get bored of the drones and crazy sounds quickly). The thing is that it's such a complex instrument with so much interplay that it will take time to discover its secrets. I also think it can benefit from being connected to other devices, like reverb, tremolo, and maybe some CV input (I am experimenting now using it with a theremin!).

[@jonaseggen2230]

I'm totally with you there. A Theremin sounds like a good companion to the Lyra, sort of same family really. I tried to connect it to a keystep but I did't get anything Meaningful out of that. Just really silly sequences. Some one else might though. Same with a pitch shifter, but these things might work with the settings you shoved. Actually I will try that this weekend. I tried to use the manual for Lyra before, cord mode and everything, but I couldn't use it for anything before you showed us : )

[@ModularLanding]

Hmm, I have a Keystep and never tried to use it with the Lyra! Interesting... do you have the CV mod wheel turned all the way up? That seems important. I’m going to try this tonight...

[@kenb7540]

Really beautiful work 👏🙏

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you so much!

[@brndnwilliams42069]

This sounds great and was very enjoyable to watch. How do You typically tune the oscillators to make prettt music with this instead of horror sounds ? Thank you

[@ModularLanding]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! Each oscillator is tunable by its tuning knob which goes continuously from extremely low to extremely high. The 8 oscillators are not identical though -- they vary slightly in their range and what pitch they would be at 12 o'clock (going from lower on the left to higher on the right). This means you have to tune the Lyra by ear just like a stringed instrument. It also means you are encouraged to retune it on the fly, as I do in this video, which is fun.

[@ModularLanding]

Oh also I tuned them to a raga scale (you could use any scale) and I didn’t use much modulation, feedback or FM synthesis. If you avoid those, the Lyra stays in organ mode where she is very beautiful and easy on the ears. Once you start turning up the FM and feedback is when she turns into a monster (or deep sea creature, or spaceship, or airplane... etc.)

I also tend to write only creepy music with the Lyra 8.

[@alainbarre7483]

Excellent

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you so much 😀

[@benringer5149]

Amazing thanks

[@tendingtropic7778]

awesome, may I ask what pedal cables you are using there?

[@ModularLanding]

I'm sorry, I don't remember what the cables are called. I have a variety that I've acquired from different places.

[@mtommy84]

sweet

[@heliconcodex]

I was the 666th like. Love this!

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you so much!

[@2of238]

Hey love the experiment , how do you recognise that this belong to that particular raga?

[@ModularLanding]

I looked up the notes for this raga and listened to a few of them. then I tuned the oscillators to the notes of that raga's scale.

[@2of238]

@@ModularLanding I wanted to tell you that progression in Indian classical music happens very different than western classical. In western music the notes are specific to a frequency and stays like that with every instrument but in Indian classical music it varies and progresses in a manner of ratios , for example the root note ‘Sa’ will decide the frequencies of the whole scale and it will be 1.5 of the note ‘Pa’ like ‘Re’ will be 1.5 to ‘Dha’ and ‘Ga’ as 1.5 to ‘Ni’ and in the end closing the loop with ‘Ma’ as 1.5 to ‘Sa’ on a octave above completing (Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni) with more than 22 microtones(Shruti) in between (black keys on keyboard) , it is up to the artist if he can find more by critical listening. The frequency of root note ‘Sa’ can be choose by the artist and whole scale can be formed with the help of ratios. There is a reason why there are no keyboard instruments in classical music because it cannot be that flexible like the string instrument, Indian classical music avoids Harmonic chords and solely depend of exploration of frequencies , that’s why you will see many classical musicians avoid using harmonium which was introduce recently in the classical sphere.

[@ModularLanding]

@@2of238 This is fascinating, thank you for sharing. I have only studied western music (despite being Indian myself). But I want to study Indian music at some point. The ragas and the playing of tabla is all just fascinating. On this Lyra synth, it is nice that the buttons on the bottom are not like a keyboard. Each oscillator can be individually tuned. I could not get everything perfect, but if you play this synth piece over a Puriya Kalyan raga, you can see that they "fit" together. This was the closest I could get with the synth and my very very limited knowledge of the raga.

[@2of238]

@@ModularLanding well it is always a struggle to tune electronic instrument with Ragas , I’ve also tried it but over the time I learn to use my own critical listening method to tune the notes. I am an Indian too and classical music fascinates me , it is just too mystical and very much subjective in nature. It’s about experimentation man do what you find correct and apply it. :-) LYRA is one top notch additive synth.

[@ModularLanding]

@@2of238 Excellent! If you record or post your music online, let me know the link so I can check it out.

[@jan-martinulvag1953]

though music has sound, sound does not have to have music

[@alainbarre7483]

looking to make raga whith my Lyra too

[@ModularLanding]

Awesome! Hope you post it or share it somehow.

[@alainbarre7483]

Modular Landing not ready yet i havé to practice my set and i dont't have gear to catch video and sound : what do u use for that ?

[@ModularLanding]

@@alainbarre7483 I use a DSLR camera or my iPhone for video. For audio, I record into my computer (you need an audio interface for that). I then put them together in iMovie. It's a bit tricky if you don't have an audio interface, because it makes it hard to get good sound quality.

[@alainbarre7483]

@@ModularLanding thanks a lot i got 4 tracks audio interface and Live10 but no iphone so i have to buy a DSLR camera. when im ready i make videos on KZbin whith Lyra, test equipment, Audiodamage Quanta ( granular vst synth ) and some vst effects. I found mynoise.net/noiseMachines.php to add noises into Lyra . I also wil connect Korg SQ1 to modulate voices and delay in Lyra so a lot of addictives hours in the studio !!!!!!!

[@ModularLanding]

@@alainbarre7483 That all sounds fabulous! I look forward to seeing and hearing the results!

[@wilkkick]

whats the tuning Sir ?

[@ModularLanding]

The tuning is taken from a traditional indian rAga as mentioned in the notes. Thanks for listening and sorry for the delay in replying!

[@knobtechnology]

Very good sound. Cool review! We made a semi-modular synthesizer for drone and ambient music! Check our channel if you're interested

[@franciscoraupp]

Amazing!

[@ModularLanding]

Thank you!