Neutral Labs Elmyra 2 x Soma Labs Lyra-8 - That Which Must Be Done

[@OscillatorSink]

Of all the things which must be done, this is the thing that must be done the most. Of course - the Elmyra 2 had to meet the Lyra-8! (This one is best enjoyed loud.) Here, the Elmyra is being fed into the External Audio input of the Lyra-8, so that it can benefit from the Lyra's delay and distortion circuit (which also helps blend the two new best friends together). Doing this also allows the Elmyra influence the behavior of the Lyra's delay as it is being modulated in "Self" mode. In terms of their roles in this piece: the Lyra-8 is performing the more conventional drone underlying the piece; whereas the Elmyra (with the benefit of its internal sequencer) is providing something more melodic and, thanks to the various ways the voices can be modulated and the "ouch" distortion circuit, something which feels very expressive and almost orchestral. It's no shock to me that the two of them work will together, but I am still more than pleasantly surprised at how their contrasting tones blend together. Reverb is provided by the lovely GFI System Specular Reverb in its default mode.

[@HashPram]

Good God that's a gnarly sound. Puts me in mind of traversing an inscrutable, ancient, vast and empty ruin silently tumbling in zero g around a long-abandoned dead star - which is something I'm sure we can all relate to!

[@OscillatorSink]

That was exactly the experience I was recalling while putting it together - I'm planning to do it again next Wednesday, just need to find the right star for the occasion.

[@HisMadness_]

Jeez OS, this piece of music is ... intensely beautiful.

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you so much!

[@noiseentropy]

I have a Lyra 8 and want to buy definitively an Elmyra 2, and your idea to couple these 2 beast is awesome. I love the track

[@kenb7540]

Surely this should have been “That which must be drone” ?? 😂👏👏🎶

[@OscillatorSink]

God dammit! Such a missed opportunity!

[@insan0r]

Add a strega and call it: "That witch must be drone" 😅. Joking aside if you happen to own a MN Strega, I'd love to see it paired with the elmyra 2 🤯

[@OscillatorSink]

@@insan0r I *almost* bought a Strega. It was on the shortlist along with the Lyra-8. I ended up spending the money on the Lyra, but the Strega remains something I'd love to have a play with one day. I'll just need to sell some stuff first. I think that'd be a very interesting triptych!

[@nikjewell]

OMG man! That is massive! Wow. Elmyra kit ordered :)

[@OscillatorSink]

Enjoy! I hear it's a nice build!

[@clonecrow217]

Love this, seriously considering Elmyra two for my rack. Lovely cinematic ambience...subbed.

[@OscillatorSink]

Cheers! It's a ace little box!

[@eamfos]

This is the perfect duo. Well done..!!! Thank you for sharing.

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you!

[@eamfos]

@@OscillatorSink you are welcome.

[@judaslukas]

I have been waiting with bated breath for this unholy union since I saw you got the Elmyra 2! It is everything I've expected it to be and completely beautiful! Fantastic work sir! 😍

[@OscillatorSink]

They make an unsurprisingly lovely combination!

[@BartdeBoisblanc]

Are you trying to summon Cthulhu because this is how you summon Cthulhu,

[@OscillatorSink]

Í̸͍̍ ̶̮̙̖̐͒͌d̷͇̝́̓̓o̴̼̜͓͛͝n̴͗͜'̶͕̚ͅt̵̪̻͑̊̓ ̶̣̈̓k̸̤̝͋n̷̖̠̏̈́̇ơ̴̲͍͌̄w̴̪̬͊̎ ̵̧̥̖̃w̶̭̠̉́̒h̴̭̜͈̎̕a̸̹̖̋ͅt̸̡̞̗̀̎̒ ̸̙̺̘͛̍̍y̷̡̺̍͛͝o̶̙̹̠̒̂̈ṷ̶̆͘͝'̸̐̍͘ͅr̷̛̤͇͛̓ë̴͈͖̤͝ ̷̮̯͎̈́̌t̶̬̫̯̋͠ã̷͕̮̽l̵̙̍́̔͜k̸͒̉̄͜į̴̯͘͠͠n̴̮̰͐̿͜g̵̤͎͒ ̴̧͔͔́a̸̫̮͒͐b̷̰͑õ̶̧̏ͅų̶̛̝̭̾̔t̶͈̘̞́͒͆ ̵̛͉͈̽͒

[@crazyquilt]

I've been waiting for this, and I was not disappointed!

[@OscillatorSink]

It really was that which must be done. A fine pairing!

[@kellytostada9949]

Absolutely haunting and breathtaking. Beautiful destruction. ❤️

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you so much!

[@pablo-939]

This one is something else. Masterful.

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you so much!

[@googleuser318]

Excellent!! 🙌

[@GIPNOZER_SOUND]

It sounds very cool, spatial and inspiring!

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you!

[@luckynumberyou]

oh yeah, that's the vibe

[@OscillatorSink]

Ominous Boy Autumn

[@bondi5000]

You have inspired me to add an Elmyra 2 to my setup and join my Lyra 8. I’m not highly technical but wondering if you could give me specific details on how you’re feeding the Elmyra into the Lyra? 😬🙏

[@OscillatorSink]

I hope you enjoy your new Elmyra2! It's just a mono minijack from the output of the Elmyra2 with a quarter inch adapter on the end, and that's going into the external input on the Lyra-8.

[@scunnerdarkly4929]

Beautiful.

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you!

[@keithraney2546]

OMINOUS

[@OscillatorSink]

YES

[@rgrant]

Settings,: Loop Video - switch to On.

[@OscillatorSink]

Never-ending drone is very 2023 vibes.

[@mosesve1]

I love those raw and organic distorted sounds. I tried to recreate something like that in VCV - but it always sounds to clean - regardless of what modulation and distortion I used... maybe a sound design tutorial from you would help? ;-)

[@OscillatorSink]

I need to take a look at VCV again - I haven't touched it for years. One of the magical parts of the lyra is how the individual parts of the instrument cross modulate and affect the others. Also the delay has a naturally noisy, unstable character which really helps.

[@rayderrich]

I would not be able to find a use for these sounds but man do they sound epic through my monitors!

[@OscillatorSink]

Sound for the sake of sound is a good time. I'm glad you were able to play them loud!

[@sunnyschramm9650]

this is great 🥰

[@Hart8]

That's sounds amazing

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you! They're two lovely sounding instruments.

[@vvcv__00]

I read the. Elmyra 2 was influenced by Lyra-8's sounds. I believe that the E2 team pays homage to the L8. Their sounds are too similar for me to use both in the same piece. However, i couldn't live without either .

[@Bobo]

Just lovley! I was thinking about selling my Lyra to invest in the Elmyra but now I’m not sure that’s a good idea 😁

[@OscillatorSink]

@@Bobo I'm not saying that you need both...but... In all seriousness, despite the inspiration drawn from the lyra-8, the Elmyra2 is very much its own thing, and in use it's really quite a different vibe.

[@Bobo]

@@OscillatorSink hehe you are so right! There are so many nice synth that you just need one way or another 😄 I’m have invested in the Ornament-8 so that’s also a reason to not let go of the Lyra and I do like it but would like something like the Elmyra or Strega with a bit more melodic touch. So much good stuff 🥲

[@OscillatorSink]

@@Bobo if you're looking for something inexpensive to run as a "side car" to the lyra in the meantime, you should check out the Ovum: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXeygoF4f5mrpsk Simple but effective. I've also been having a lot of fun with the RoAT.

[@mathewbinder]

Amazing sounds! If you could only pick one to build which would it be? Its the dilemma Im having right now haha

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you! They are actually quite different devices, despite the surface level similarities - I would watch some workflow videos (I have one for the elmyra on my channel) and see which one appeals to you more from the perspective of actual use.

[@raffaelesantabarbara1449]

I thought I’d never see this tandem. It’s like seeing a Ferrari and Lamborghini collab making the naughtiest hyper car ever! 😅

[@OscillatorSink]

It's a potent combination!

[@He-Banshee.]

Such a wonderfully massive sound. Super late to the party, but I'm struggling to decide between either if these or the eowave swarm (wish I could afford all 3 but, just which ti get 1st! Between these 2 donyiu have a favourite?

[@OscillatorSink]

It boils down to *touch*. The Elmyra2 is more powerful if you want to set something going that can perform itself (more flexible LFOs, sequencer, patching), but if you want to physically perform, the lyra-8 is simply wonderful with how the voices react as you play it, and the overall feel and build quality is undeniable. They're actually, despite how it appears at first glance, very different instruments.

[@wildphilpresents]

I was going to buy the Elmyra 8...but all other demos made it sound like shite...you did great with this...I ended up getting a Hector instead...but dang...now I'm really debating my decisions. Between my Grone and the Hector, I think I'll be able to make textures not too unlike this though. Also having 3 Clouds in the modular helps lol. Such a beautiful demo. Screams "Quake 1 soundtrack."

[@IncompressibleOnboarding]

Do you think these new friends would play nice with the opsix?

[@OscillatorSink]

I suspect that they would.

[@Lo-Fi-Si]

Now I want a Lyra (again)

[@StopTheWorld.I.WantToGetOff]

That was beautifully filthy. I shall be joining with the monstrous tones of the Lyra in the next few days.

[@OscillatorSink]

Thank you! Enjoy the Lyra! It's a inspiring instrument.

[@HisMadness_]

Wow

[@OscillatorSink]

❤️

[@frédéricleminoux]

HEY comment tu cable le ELMYRA2 sur le LYRA8 ?

[@OscillatorSink]

Output from the Elmyra2 into the Ext Input on the Lyra-8, with a quarter inch to mini-jack.

[@88keyz]

👍🏾🔥👍🏾

[@spectralknights2]

Hi. Can u do a video or review of new Erica synth 'Bullfrog'? Thanks

[@OscillatorSink]

If you can get them to send me one! It's not really on my radar as a purchase for myself I'm afraid.