the mysterious Lyra-8 (synth review)

For the past couple of months I have been experimenting with the mysterious Lyra-8, an 'orgaismic synthesiszer' from ‪@somasynths‬ of Soma Lab - and have been very pleasantly surprised at how engaging and exciting it is to play with and explore. Far more than just a drone machine, this is a beautiful instrument which has encouraged me to approach music a bit differently. Check out the video to see what I make of it.
A huge thank you to Signal Sounds (signalsounds.com) for letting me borrow one of their demo units to test. They stock a wide variety of weird and wonderful electronic instruments, and are well worth checking out for yourself.
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I post all of the music I make, including WAV stems; sample packs; Dirtywave M8 song bundles; collections of video textures; early access to videos; and a whole pile of other stuff on Patreon. I know I know, I hate doing this as well, but if you like what I do and want to get more of it, while also helping me offset some of my ludicrous gear purchases, this is the best place to do it:
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and a whole pile of other stuff...
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Get in touch for possible collabs/offers of large sums of money, etc: allmyfas at gmail

[@brodylowe644]

It's also best friends with the microcosm, great for meditation. I've seen a performer take this and use it basically in a metal set, it sounded amazing.

[@StephenMcLeod]

That sounds awesome. The microcosm definitely plays well with the Lyra-8. A great combination!

[@darkuniversesound]

Yes, +1 on the Microcosm as BFF.... Cannot stop diving into the depths of sonic irrationality 🤯🤯🌌

[@reinaldoman24]

Who was the performer ?

[@colinbrash]

Using this reminds me of when I was a kid and piling up rocks to make eddies or dead spots or other weirdness in a running stream. Every time I sit down and play around, it’s such a joy to experience it.

[@StephenMcLeod]

That sounds very Buddhist and very fitting!!

[@petercane6376]

I really appreciate your review. I love the thing. I will be getting exactly the same colour in a few days time. I am 73 so it will keep me occupied. Do you know??...there is a 74 year old Lady who wrote back in one of the you tube comments that she found the Lyra8 so exciting yet relaxing and that it became her friend!!! WOW!!!!!! Thanx again. Don't believe you do not like drones...your're a Scot lad!!!!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Hahahaha that last line is perfect.

[@TheNimasan]

Imo the best synth ever made by human being. My number #1 fav synth. It is like a book you need to read it site by site to understand it.

[@StephenMcLeod]

It is a beauty

[@GaitaPonto]

Excellent review, I always had a hard time trying to understand other channels' reviews on this piece of gear, mainly about what kind of music it would work with and you made it very straightforward. Good job.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Oh awesome, I am glad it was useful! Thanks for the kind words.

[@matthewdixon2057]

A brilliant review - thank you. I have one of these, and use it quite regularly, but hearing you discuss it so enthusiastically is a timely reminder for me of what an amazing instrument this is.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@visisydandthevoid]

Looking forward to getting one myself. Thanks for the content about it.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Nice one! Glad it was useful :)

[@finitesound]

My god what a beauty. I love aggressive synth drones and this is perfection.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Especially with the Drive circuit engaged!!

[@Theemilz]

I love lyra, thanks for sharing your useful guide!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@Leo9ine]

This is exactly what I want- hearing the synth in question from 0:00. Thank you!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Your wiish is my command!

[@LabRatWarfare]

I would probably spend hours and hours messing with this thing, what a monster! I can only imagine this thing with a reverb and delay pedal! This seems like a real freaking BEAST!! 😲 Like you, I am also not a big fan of ambient music but oooh man, this sounds really incredible... and it looks freaking sick too! So cool of them to let you borrow this, an awesome review!! 🤘🐀

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks man! It's a strange thing. Pretty fascinating. I've been using it a fair bit lately so there'll be more videos to come!

[@dr.papadopolis7171]

I am in love with this wonderful device 💜

[@StephenMcLeod]

It is a beauty!!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Is your username a Dinsoaur Pile Up reference?!

[@dr.papadopolis7171]

It is not, just spiritual (and into synchronicity), but that's a pretty cool track ... 🔥

[@Aisjam]

This synth is on my want list. been tempted to get the diy kit.

[@StephenMcLeod]

a brave person!! I would 100% muck the DIY up :D

[@Aisjam]

@@StephenMcLeod One day Ill get to try one out, then I will obsess crazily about how I could make all the cinematic noise I want... Then my Lyra-8less days will be numbered :).

[@_yokermoon_]

one day, it's happening! much love for the scottish double-header of yer fine self x Signal Sounds!

[@StephenMcLeod]

I love the Signal Sounds folks! Genuinely dead nice and passionate about what they do .

[@_yokermoon_]

@@StephenMcLeod same! looking forward to the proper opening at the new spot

[@StephenMcLeod]

Aye! I've been in as a preview and it's already looking awesome. So here's hoping.

[@tweakingtuesday1743]

Super! thanks. How did I not realise you would be pals with the inimitable Aleks 😉

[@StephenMcLeod]

Haha actually it's the other partner in crime I know, Jason!

[@Mr.Tubster]

Goodn! Thx for sharing this 🙂 Wish you a ncie day! Cya greetings

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thank you! You too!

[@audiblevideo]

I hope you post more vids just noodling around on it and maybe demoing the gate/cv stuff Hope you're well and suffered none too much from your c19 experience.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Got a couple more coming! There's a few on the channel already. Recovering slowly ha. My brain isn't quite up to speed yet mind.

[@dialnfornick]

I bought the lovely zanzibar blue one few weeks ago, and enjoying exploring every corner of it. Sort of wish the lfo was clock/sync-able tempo wise, but the delay section is nuts 😁 great review!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Nice one! My favourite is the pink I think. Love the powder-ish colour selections. It's a much deeper device than I expected!

[@dialnfornick]

@@StephenMcLeod it's a great synth, I had to get one eventually! Just shows its still intriguing people even after 5 years or so. The pink is cool 😎. Apparently it's the same pink as was used in prison experiments to calm inmates

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@dialnfornick Oh yeah? I had no idea. I've seen it on old Soviet nuclear power station style designs, which is beautiful.

[@dialnfornick]

@@StephenMcLeod I think it's called Baker-Miller pink. 1gallon white + 1pint red. Scaled down if you don't have a whole prison to paint 😂

[@StephenMcLeod]

The only prison is my own mind

[@colinbrash]

Have to share a new discovery: this is amazing through a Jomox T-Resonator II. I bought the T-Resonator on a whim because someone was selling one really cheap… so glad I did. Pairs SO WELL.

[@colinbrash]

I made a video on my channel if anyone is interested. Audio quality sucks because I'm not a KZbinr in any way and just recording through an iPhone, but you can at least get the general idea of some possibilities.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I'll have to check that out!

[@cray56]

Love your vids! Do you have the link for tje vid of person opening it?

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks! An unboxing? I don't know of any unfortunately!

[@CmdrMic]

Bloody well marvelous and truly honest review of the Lyra-8. Indeed it is wonderful and very special. I think it's a real winner for Soma, since they are now making it in so many colours. LOLz. But the price, OMG, is still a bit of "nose bleed range" for me self. $800 U.S., last time I looked. I do have a few other Soma instruments and love them, they include the ROAT (Rumble of Ancient Times), and the Ether 2. Both are amazing and well worth the cost. If you like the Lyra-8, you might wish to have a go with the Moffenzeef Stargazer, while not exactly the same, and without the lead voice keys, I do think there are some interesting similarities, particularly in sound exploration between the two... even through the Stargazer is $300 less... Well, thanks again & Cheers to yah, mate.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks! Soma make so many cool things. I've never heard of the Moffenzeef Stargazer before, but I am going to go check it out!

[@rrg144atgmail]

"Over eggin' the puddin`." Thank you.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Cannae risk it

[@stewarthenson7558]

Over egging the pudding. Love it

[@StephenMcLeod]

Nothing worse than an over-eggy pudding.

[@stewarthenson7558]

What's it like through a sequencer? Can you get a nice fast pulse from it? My mate techno wants to know

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@stewarthenson7558 Check out my video on using the CV Gates for more!!

[@stewarthenson7558]

Yeah saw this. Awesome. Ever tried the soma ornament 8?

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Just got mine (second hand) Wow! that is all I can say. You don't play this instrument you play along with it.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I think that's a good way to put it!

[@isoldeisobelle552]

I feel that, maybe, perhaps, each individual unit is imbued with its own essential pneuma.... the anima of living through-hole circuitry. But, FFS, don't quote me on that!

[@StephenMcLeod]

I've definitely heard other folks saying this. Whether just lore or not, I can get behind it

[@CNTRRNDM]

Oi mate, just a quick question...if you're subscribed to a channel, you can be considered a "friend" of the channel in question, right? I'm subscribed to your channel and, hence, a "friend" of your channel. And if we follow that logic and considering that all your friends are synths...does this mean...I'm a synth?!😳

[@StephenMcLeod]

Unfortunately yes. I'm sorry to break it to you.

[@CNTRRNDM]

@@StephenMcLeod 😂😂😂