SOMA TERRA: Apply pressure to unleash chaos // Review and tutorial

Get exclusive no-talking TERRA audio and my book packed with electronic music ideas, tips and insights, on Patreon!
► / loopop
Price check here (affiliate links help the channel):
► Perfect Circuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/...
► Thomann: www.thomann.de/intl/search_di...
Other gear in this video:
► Equator 2
► Cool Holographic scopes?
The scopes I use aren't real - I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle.
Other places I hang out:
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My music:
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TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
2:20 Note sensors
3:30 Timbre sensors
4:10 Pitch shifters
5:30 Gyro
6:15 Holds
6:40 The Triangle
7:30 Envelopes
8:00 Effects
8:35 Sea & sun
9:10 Engine controls
10:50 LFO & Arp
12:00 Presets
12:50 Connectivity
13:30 Synth params
14:00 POLYPHONIC
17:00 Evil synthesis
18:35 Church organ?
20:15 Dist. ecstasy
20:40 EXPERIMENTAL
20:50 Gyro feedback
21:00 Drum synth
21:20 FM
21:55 Rate @ 50%
22:20 BASS
22:35 Smart glides
23:10 Expressive 303
23:30 SOLO
24:25 Formants
24:45 MIDI out
26:55 Pros & cons
29:30 Outro
Submit review and video ideas here (sorry I don’t offer 1x1 sessions/setup/purchasing advice):
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links to stores like Amazon, Sweetwater, Thomann and others. The content of this video 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.

[@IwatoHyena]

The incorporation of the wood casing adds an unparalleled level of sophistication and charm to the object in question, a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail involved at SOMA labs. Despite the seemingly endless stream of comments proposing alternative uses, such as repurposing it as a serving dish, its inherent beauty and functionality remain undeniable.

[@drbrownmusic]

The Terra looks like a puzzle from a Myst game. I love that there are unique products like this and the Osmose getting made nowadays.

[@GeorgeL909]

You are so right! That's so funny. Totally had a 90s adventure game feel to it.

[@hexwavemusic]

That is exactly what I thought! If you play the right song it will open up to reveal a key 🗝️🤔

[@danopticon]

I feel like these guys owe Peter Blasser a big nod for inspiring them, though … I could be wrong, but I think his were the first synths I ever saw, about a decade ago, that looked like mysterious organic puzzle boxes the hexxenfolk might’ve left behind after Beltane. Maybe an itch from the public for Blasser’s designs is *not* what SOMA Labs were trying to scratch - and I’m not accusing them of anything, and maybe Blasser didn’t pioneer this sort of “woodsy techno-magick from Atlantis” synth aesthetic after all - but I do wish more people knew his work. Who knows, maybe SOMA Labs hired him at some point?

[@cornishwavesmusic]

I dont know any other person who explains these synths like Loopop,great stuff sir

[@HRV_INT47]

Ive been waiting for the terra for awhile now, im super excited to get my hands on one. This video cemented that fact even more. Great video 🔥🐊

[@VirginiaKeef33]

As always, thank you, Mr. Pop. Can't wait to get one of these.

[@raf.raf.]

This looks fun. I can't remember the last time I saw an instrument that looked like pure fun

[@noiseg33k]

It really is the most fun I've had playing anything!

[@stefan1024]

To me, actually many many instruments look like pure fun. Drum set? Fun! Cheapo keyboard? Fun! Egg shaker? Fun! etc.

[@svenjansen2134]

All instruments look like fun to me

[@MickySarge]

In awe with the depth of knowledge and understanding on most of these videos, and then we get this where he shows us how to make beautiful music come out of the steering wheel of an alien spaceship.

[@Daphoid]

A lovely synth inside a natural looking enclosure. On the waitlist I go! Thanks Ziv

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Most inventive synth ever? What a beautiful, insane, incredible instrument.

[@MD_is_me]

Imagine a duo of Terra and Pipe performed by two who have mastered their instruments. I suspect the seeds are germinating somewhere in the world as I write this.

[@valdir7426]

I heard the creator said the lack of midi input for anything else other than clock is on purpose. He simply doesn't want people to use the synth as a vulgar "sound module". that's certainly a choice.

[@mallechilie]

Yeah, this is one of the few synths where I understand that choice. Though having an external sequencer sequence the 12 'keys' while still fully modulating everything by hand would be a fun way to interact with it while not _too_ much off from the experience imo. Wish they'd add something like that.

[@WillemZenhorst]

This is exactly what I hate about SOMA: yeah it's a purposeful decision, but it's a totally arbitrary one, he's almost going out of his way to EXCLUDE this functionality, even though you could just ignore it if you wanted, but - like Loopop says - it would add SO MUCH options for those that want it! I certainly would want it; I'd probably need both hands to manipulate just the timbres..

[@usualatoms4868]

I can respect that choice. A lot of the design is to drive towards a certain way of exploring the instrument. Just using it as a voice engine would change the nature of it quite a lot. Many times when some initially infuriating restriction is placed creativity has a way of finding a way to make it a strentgh.

[@ickebins6948]

If there was a midi connection, nobody would be forced to use it... But the option would be there for people that would like that feature. Not really sold on that "purposeful" decision

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

Soma sells everything they make. It's a niche brand and they want to stay that way. I respect that decision to weed out their customers. It's a way to add value and focus to their brand. They make exactly what they want and sell it to exactly the people they want. Some people take their instruments and music extremely seriously, pretty much religiously, and Soma has exploited that niche market.

[@jezstevens]

How on earth do learn the ins and outs of these crazy synths so quickly and then put together such a thorough and well put together review? I’m not sure even Vlad could have described it better.

[@torino1138]

Never underestimate the engineering X-Ray vision of a musical Israeli man 🇮🇱

[@FreeThink1984]

He rtfm

[@ZetaReticulian]

RTFM 😉 best kept secret to all things technically complex 🙄

[@torino1138]

@@FreeThink1984 - and in a 2nd language. King.

[@toi_techno]

The Impaler?

[@Lunolux]

this is some crazy product no idea how you learn so fast with this kind of product, great video

[@mattriley3550]

This is all i kept thinking, wondering how much time it would take me to get to even a fraction of the command he seems to have on this thing.

[@MikeUIibarri]

I lost count of how many times I have scrolled past this. That's pretty cool!

[@zackIV]

I want the full track version of the outro 😍 Also super introduction, as always

[@zackcolbourne6921]

I don't know if I want to play this or serve an assortment of meat, cheese, and olives on it.

[@Lo-fi_Hi-brow]

😂

[@justanothersounddiary]

on a grazing table ftw

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

Now I want meat, cheese and olives. 😔

[@danopticon]

Man, wait until you see what Peter Blasser has been doing this whole past decade…

[@zackcolbourne6921]

@@danopticon I would probably get a Plumbutter before this.

[@ferum2225]

Aaaand the next one on my expanding list of Soma equipment. I use them for experimental music (surprise🤣) and am always fascinated by the degree of awesomeness when these are used for live improvisation. Ok, can‘t wait for this to come my way. Thx, Soma!

[@worthmoremusic]

SOMA....innovative designs. Love the Terra and Cosmos. Thank you for this most detailed review. Much appreciate !

[@ProfessorSaibertin]

Wow, amazing sounds. Thx for the video!

[@LucaRossoDeVita]

Another crazy creation from this genius developer.

[@billyruss]

Love it! Really want one. Brilliant outro jam btw. 🙂

[@wajobu]

I stopped purchasing equipment when I first saw Vlad's demo, and have been selling off some, awaiting word when I can order one of these. An ingenious approach to creating sound. Roger Linn's Linnstrument is another device that is a brilliant approach to interfacing with a synth engine. In both cases I like the very tight footprint. At first I was attracted to the Osmose keyboard/synth, but I think this interface approach is where music (technology) is headed.

[@Indianabones007]

Ditto

[@MD_is_me]

I feel a bit the same. The "commercial" musical instrument manufactuering world is finally converging with mid-20th century electronic sensabilities. So much of my electronic instrument aquisitions over the years were chasing the dragons I'd heard on old expeiementsl records. Instruments like this didn't exist outside of one-offs in academic settings and private studios. For the first time I am considering selling off my collection of trad synths. At the moment my fav instruments are the Lyra-8 & Ornament-8, Pip, and Arturia Microfreak (the capacitive "keyboard" is key).

[@iambillions]

osmose feels so natural, this is a fun idea and a neat engine that Vlad said is partly inspired by Eagan Matrix, which imo, is for sure correct. the idea of multiple modulations controlled by touch along different ratios/curves is really neat and hopefully a big part of future music. Keyboards are kind of amazing though, so Osmose is gonna be at the forefront

[@dexime]

Amazing video again, and what a cool chaos bringer 😎

[@mikenoface]

I like that someone called it the "Charcuterie Synth"... that's what it's called now. Charcuterie Synth.

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

I love that! 😂 It serves good chunks of tasty audio.

[@stateazure]

Thanks for the review! I wish Soma had gone a step further and integrated a little of the Cosmos into this, to make it a standalone soundscape designer with some basic looping. Sure you could use the Cosmos alongside it. Visually they don't really match well, but will make a great pairing I think.

[@loopop]

My pleasure - indeed it's such a good pairing! Had I brought it into this setup, the video would never have been made...

[@stateazure]

@@loopop Haha, I'm sure. That would just be endless amounts of fun and exploring!

[@macronencer]

I thought the same thing! Using Cosmos with Lyra 8 is a lot of fun, and Terra would be a step beyond.

[@agentmith]

That was exactly what I had thought after seeing this. A looper would have helped a ton with creating soundscapes.

[@TheNimasan]

I will exactly do what you say. Just can‘t wait to use the terra with the cosmos. ❤❤

[@GeorgeL909]

I freaking love everything about this

[@hexwavemusic]

Same George, same 😎 🔥

[@MichaalHell]

What a wild wild synth.. this seems like a dream for people doing movie scores or any score or any sound 😂

[@electronicbagatelle]

I tried it at SynthExpo in London, absolutely loved it. I like it how hangs it is, I didn't try the LED modes much as it was super busy but the 10 mins I had with it were brilliant. Yes midi control would be excellent, esp with an Osmose.

[@benedictjohnson2176]

Excellent overview, thanks! I hope we see more crazy, innovative jamming tools like this, without traditional interfaces that are all derivatives of a model D

[@MikhailMedvedev]

watching this the 5th time... and I guess I will watch again and again... great instruction with meaty sounds!

[@architectsofrock1984]

Elven ingenuity at its finest. The Sindarin in Rivendell have created a masterpiece that rivals Gandalf's staff and the palantíri made by the Elves of Valinor in the First Age.

[@robst247]

Which mushrooms?

[@vincentprimault4380]

The flying ones

[@robst247]

@@vincentprimault4380 ... are leading you where?

[@svenjansen2134]

Rob Tolkien

[@MD_is_me]

Buchla would be proud. This is an instrument looking for it's Clara Rockmore of the 21st century.

[@end-quote]

Man I love this channel

[@jackduxbury1632]

So so dope - killer vid Sensei ❤

[@loopop]

Thanks - Waiting to see what you do when you get your hands on one!

[@jackduxbury1632]

@@loopop I wish I could get my hands on one - this is way too cool for Andertons!! Sending lots of love and thanks for what you do mate 🫡

[@darkeldarblade916]

I am excited to get this synth. It will fit in my music especially the "Evil" synth.

[@ndguardian]

The evil synth is what has my interest as well. Seems like that would be extremely useful.

[@kenzgbr]

Zelda: Help me, Link! Hyrule needs you! Link (gazing at his beautiful TERA): Be with you in a minute.

[@Griuofficial]

Thanks for a such big review ✌🏻

[@TheNimasan]

Yet another fantastic otherworldly soma instruments. Mine is on its way and I just can‘t wait. This is soma… not Roland, Korg, sequential, Moog or Arturia. Love it or hate it. I personally love it. Being a modular addict lyra, pulsar, cosmos are my fav gears in recent years. I am sure Terra would be as well. On top of all that it is such beautiful piece of furniture, is it? Thanks for this great video!

[@Netsuko]

This looks like an alien instrument. Love it.

[@kenb7540]

Beautiful outtro 👏👏🎶

[@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND]

Love everything what this company do, sounds always dope. Now let’s hope they will make a more classic analog poly all through hole inside like Lyra

[@rockanthems]

I’m agreeing Vlad loopop is definitely the best synth review nonstop/complete/and the mind of an alien LOL Spock and very logical 👍

[@humanprogram]

Where he says “as you can see on the screen” I knew we had entered another realm…3:10

[@loopop]

I maxed out the air quotes quota early in the video

[@ringopaulusch]

The Outro is just great!

[@lundsweden]

At first I thought there was a cat fight outside my window... then I realised the sound was coming from this video at 1:00 !

[@PawelKaminski-cq1fr]

"This one, I think, speaks for itself" 🙂🙂😻

[@soundokapi-music]

Brilliant! Just want one NOW! :)

[@moss2309]

Love your content!

[@loopop]

Thanks very much - I appreciate that!

[@wedream2]

This makes me think about what kind of instruments the Krell from Forbidden Planet may have used for music making.

[@RobinParmar]

And just look at where that got them!

[@deepspacetheater]

"Forbidden Planet" is a classic!

[@mesadeco1]

We were shown examples from Krell musicians. Jusdging from their physicality, I’m thinking more theremin than buttons and knobs….maybe sledgehammer and bells 😃

[@beenmicrophone5817]

this is beautiful

[@moralboundaries1]

absolute firecracker of a synth!

[@e-conrecords4665]

I didn’t think I’d like this but I very much do! ❤️ Having said that, one drawback I can see with the bespoke interface is that it’s probably quite difficult to pick back up after some time away from it.

[@ChristopherGwinn]

I'm eagerly awaiting the release of this.

[@paulmint1775]

looks like a work of art :)

[@gabrielepierattelli3948]

Simply fantastic ❤

[@Yovavision]

Much appreciation ❤

[@petermgruhn]

I saw this on some other channel. They quickly made me dismiss it. I forget why. Keen to see how Loopop can show me why it was even made. If it can be done, this is place.

[@JamesBermingham]

Stunning !!

[@ericpeters0n]

I sooooo hope they don't lose my waitlist entry from ~1.5 years ago...

[@ezrac9578]

I've been looking forward to this synth for a while, I'm excited to see the price

[@mark35mi]

1300 euros

[@Digithalis]

This concept of musicinstrument is very interesting.

[@CorrectiveInvective]

great demo

[@mortgagejunglist]

insightful review

[@XSpImmaLion]

Super interesting... it looks less like an instrument and more like something you'd find embedded in some magical tree in a magical forest. xD Neverending Story style perhaps? The knobs should've been styled as little branches acting like levers or something. xD Incredible amount of creativity to use sensors and tones to match the general feel of it... it's kinda like an atmospheric mood environmental sound machine. Reminds me a bit of Vangelis music....

[@TvMacfly]

WOUAW !!!! AWESOME !!!

[@droid-9]

Cheers for your excellent description of another unique piece of abstract hardware from Soma.Just got my hands on the Enner to team up with my Cosmos and Lyra-8 and am losing hours of my day in blissful sonic soundscapes! There is something about Soma gear that just clicks with me that plugins and menu diving synths left me cold and frustrated.Please if possible could you do a review of the Enner I would love to know your opinion and all round knowledge of the Enner.

[@loopop]

Thanks! Enner seems interesting for sure

[@OMEGAGENESIS-gw2fx]

I put in a request at Soma for the Organic version. I hope the cost is reasonable, because I've wanted one of these since I first seen it last year. The square version would obviously fit better into a setup, but the organic is too cool to not want. If these come in at a reasonable price, I'm definitely getting one.

[@ChristopherGwinn]

They are going to be in the area of 1000 Euros.

[@heimlichvonbladderburst8348]

What is the Organic version? I can't find that referenced on their website.

[@HarryStone]

I'm surprised you didn't tell us about the physical construction. Is that top panel real wood or synthetic? Can you feel the grain through the finish? What does it weigh?

[@Musicninja007]

vlad talks about it elsewhere...multiple planks of real wood glued together with grains in an orientation that resist warping from moisture changes

[@indigosnow_]

so dope

[@niveketihw1897]

Excellent review. I wish you'd publish another version with your mic turned off too. :o)

[@loopop]

Thanks! I actually did sort of - 11 minutes of audio just the musical bits on my Patreon

[@radred609]

Soma once again throwing out an awesome product with a beautiful sound and fascinating underlying grittyness. all packeged up in a really evocative form factor. unfortunately, all their stuff is way out of my price range... especially considering the sheer experimentality makes them even harder to justify within a standard workflow. 😭

[@Eli_B3000]

Try the rumble of ancient times. It's fun to experiment with and it can get really harsh and gritty, but there is a filter so you can surprisingly coax more soothing tones out of it. Battery operated and has touch plates and a sequencer for making weird blip rhythms. I have dozens of synths but keep picking this thing back up...

[@heimlichvonbladderburst8348]

Ever since Lyra raised Soma's profile, I feel they have been pricing themselves out of the market that would buy their stuff. At this price level, if it doesn't work for you, you're never going to come back for another risky synth.

[@AlexReidStudios]

Man I've seen so many memes about this, finally a in depth demo

[@PixelNotesMusic]

"Apply pressure to unleash chaos" sounds like the stomach flu.

[@addLADN]

I’m really liking this company. Received a Cosmos a few months ago and I’m addicted to it.

[@Judasz696]

Cosmos still worth it in your opinion?

[@ChristopherOrth]

Really cool instrument. Seems like a big space commitment though. Would be cool to be able to mount that stuff in a custom enclosure.

[@Musicninja007]

they're also producing a square version

[@samthursfield3165]

Next id like to see a review of the Tetrax Organ and Old Mr Grassi! Lets get as far out as possible

[@iosifkalpaktsoglou2045]

Very nice. How does it compare quality wise to Landscape stereo field? Thank you.

[@loopop]

quality isn't the word I'd use - this has a much broader timbral range, more controls and features, but it's different (I've not used Landscape myself BTW)

[@iosifkalpaktsoglou2045]

@loopop Thanks, I kept on watching and realised it's digital so I'm not interested. Maybe the enner is better for me.

[@jens-orbangraregn3666]

You can be a neighbourhood Merzbow artist in no time with this!

[@subiesojourner777]

Both links are not showing this synth, are they not available yet?

[@Andronicus2007]

Should I put the time and effort into actually learning to play my instrument properly, or buy a new and crazy one-off unique electronic crazy device to impress my (synth) friends?!

[@ronnham]

Wow absolutely gorgeous! Have you checked the Nunomo QUN Mk2? I think it has the potential to dethrone a ton of gear. It seems too good to be true as a fully fledged groovebox haha

[@loopop]

I explored it briefly, it's a fun small box but I don't think it's dethroning anyone

[@haroldgiraffe3635]

I want it!!!!

[@itsmaeday_2105]

God I love SOMA but I remember at NAMM 2022 the lady at the SOMA table expected me to be able to play with the pulsar perfectly. For my first hands on with it. In my first 30 seconds of holding it lmao.

[@obshaky]

last synth I saw this creative was the Buchla Easel

[@DrummerMark20]

What kind of portal does this open?

[@jaimeross7507]

Bravo!!!!!

[@CybreSmee]

Kinda reminds me of a tree trunk, haha. Sounds amazing though. Bet its a small fortune to buy.

[@KorhanErel]

A possible con: the myriad synthesis options also present a problem. This is not one single instrument but many - each algorithm requires different gestures and finger combinations. One might end up having to learn dozens of different instruments that live in a single enclosure. This might make it rather difficult to learn to play the Terra live, unless one focuses on only a few algorithms/presets. Basically, it might end up being a synth that tries to do too much. I'd love to be proven wrong though, as it is also a beautiful instrument with a very tactile interface. Played a preliminary model at Superbooth '22.

[@mark35mi]

I wants it... my precious.

[@simplyinsaneyt]

Is this out? I can’t find it online

[@learnerslikeus]

This into Zen Delay would make rainbows and lava appear in the form of a million butterflies

[@davidbanner9001]

I could definitely see Jarre playing something like this. But it would probably required lasers as well? But I love that there are companies out there making synths like this. Personally I really like it.

[@jobananas3052]

Really cool. I can only imagine what someone who has mastered it will sound like in a few years.

[@Patriotic_Eagle1995]

Pretty much the same as someone who has been playing it for five minutes, but they'll have had a lot of fun so it doesn't really matter

[@jobananas3052]

@@Patriotic_Eagle1995 I doubt that. Someone with the muscle memory to know just how hard to press to get the precise sound they want and can play skillfully and better yet program unique patches will take this to a new level of expression.

[@Patriotic_Eagle1995]

@@jobananas3052 Nah, I reckon people with the commitment to learn an instrument's controls and develop muscle memory in that way will probably stick to real instruments like keyboards or grid controllers. This will be a fun "atmospheric ambient jamming" toy for someone who just enjoys making sound and has deep enough pockets to invest in a four figure toy. I think for the right person it will be a fun hobby/ novelty piece.

[@Patriotic_Eagle1995]

@@jobananas3052 You could learn that in a few minutes 👍

[@naakkve10]

@@Patriotic_Eagle1995 I am learning Terra right now with that level of commitment, and I play other instruments, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It's more expressive than most synths for me and feels more like an actual instrument. It may be accessible but it absolutely takes practice just like any other musical tool

[@psider3239]

You can easily compare this to MicroFreak. The touching of the surface, the different engines and the A,B,C is like the Wave,Timbre and Shape.

[@davidjazay9248]

Wow. Just wow.

[@robst247]

Vlad has excelled himself again. The price is still a mystery (like the workings of his mind). I just bought a Lyra-8. Now this demo is giving me bad GAS.

[@ingolf7411]

The Lyra is also a great instrument by Vlad. I once opened mine and the "interior" is fantastic engineering. Not only the sound but also the build quality is excellent.

[@daemonicflame]

He said they are trying to keep it under 1k

[@VirginiaKeef33]

Last I heard, it was going to be around $1300 USD

[@robst247]

@@ingolf7411 Indeed, I saw some views of the impressive innards of the Lyra-8 in this review video from Sonicstate (with Nick 'Pulsewidth Mod' Batt): kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2rdf3ahl8qoaLs

[@robst247]

@@daemonicflame That's a lot of dosh I'm not sure I would be willing to part with for this particular Vladdevice. I already have The Pipe and the Lyra-8.

[@sgriffett541]

soma terra u a new one! wow

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

but is it worth 1500 for a basic wood synth?

[@ZetaReticulian]

links to the soma site are dead

[@smkh2890]

Looks like fun, but if you find something interesting, could you ever reproduce it at will?

[@felipesancho]

This is really cool but how about making it look something like an eXistenZ pod instead of a charcouterie board... A bit of a missed opportunity!