The Philosophy Behind the Lyra-8 by SOMA Laboratory / Review

In this video I talk about the unique design philosophy behind the Lyra-8 synthesizer by SOMA Laboratory. I end the video with an improvised jam.

[@et4able]

So to answer the question in my thumbnail 😆, the Lyra’s non-linear internal structure is inspired by the way a biological brian works, and therefore, is like an organism - or “organismic”. The biological mind relies deeply on chaotic processes and interconnection in its “circuitry”. The Lyra is meant to be the synth- analogue of this. You may find that the Lyra-8 feels more alive than your typical synth . . . it suggests, decides, and rebels.

[@et4able]

@Grave error. Totally. It has great sounding analog distortion that I didn’t really use in the video.

[@fattymoons]

Mine is due to arrive tomorrow (in Z zanzibar blue). I bought it due to my experience with Moog's Theremini. I play this instrument with my whole body. Picture a dance between a machine and a human. This way I coax sometimes unpredictable sounds in a feedback loop which can produce some gorgeous unstructured music That said, I'm looking forward to the same kind of relationship with the Lyra.

[@et4able]

@@fattymoons I bet it will be fun for people to see you play the Lyra live! Using your whole body sounds interesting.

[@djformalin]

Cool....greetings from the only Lyra 8 in Thailand 🎼

[@michaelkonomos]

Thank you for this video! You inspired me to explore tuning it to my ear instead of a tuner, and i was surprised to find that worked out better than expected!

[@et4able]

Totally! It's sort of hard to get away from quantization in this day and age, but it's a bit of a relief once you do.

[@afghamistam1860]

Sweet! Looks super cool thanks for the vid!

[@et4able]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching. 😌

[@Sypher474]

Great vid. Very excited to get mine and see where it takes me.

[@et4able]

Thank you! And good luck on your Lyra adventures.

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Bought one second hand (not that I have received it yet!) can't wait as you have shown it is quite amazing.

[@TayTayMakesBeats]

You've earned a sub, great vid!

[@et4able]

Thanks! :)

[@erbro]

What I have been wondering about, if I have two independent tone generators, it is very difficult to get them in a harmonious relation, there is always the "floating frequency", the difference between the perfectly matching integer relations. This one somehow seems to "click" in place. When you get very close to the right frequency, it seems to adjust it to a perfect match. Is that really engineered into it? Or am I just imagining it?

[@ortegayecid]

it feels good someone else calls it Leera and not Laira.

[@johnnybeaver8351]

Wonderful video -- not enough people are discussing this, but it seems to sell the instrument very short when it's used just to create cinematic soundscapes and left at that. I'm not convinced that the design goes nearly far enough to achieve what it claims, but it's certainly a step in a very interesting direction.

[@et4able]

Thanks so much, Johnny! I think with AI coming up as it is, perhaps we will see more developments in this direction. :)

[@walterwhitney8530]

I have a question. Does anyone know if the interface they now sell that lays over the touch sensors and using alligator clip connections will allow you to trigger or otherwise control each pad with the new sequencer they make will also be compatible with eurorack signals? This would be a game changer for sure!!!

[@isaacc7]

Looks like the secret sauce is the grounding scheme. In the Ornament video they make a big deal about it. When you touch the two pads on the Lyra you are shorting the circuit and it plays. You have to make the gate signals from another piece of gear replicate what the Ornament does.

[@cubanheelsbeerbelly]

I feel like the problem when with most people who play the Lyra is they try to tame it. Give in to the chaos.

[@et4able]

Yeah you have to approach it openly with the right expectations I agree.

[@petercane6376]

That was a great tutorial and I love this thing. It was a toss up between the sub harmonicon or this. I am a violin player for my sins and I can see me getting attached to the lyre! I particularly like that minty green. It’s the same colour as the inside of a Chieftain Tank! Won,t tell you how I know that. Yes the thing is built like a tank and I like the squareness of it. I am also unpredictable and odd so the machine and I will get on fine. Thanks so much for your heads up on it and yes I join the others in enjoying your quiet considerate voice. I much prefer this to Some of the overkill OTT excitement of other presenters.

[@jeffryarchambeau5441]

I was tempted to buy one from Craigslist, but was too scared that I'd never make any sounds I liked.. Too bad I hadn't seen your video!

[@et4able]

Well thanks so much! Yeah we have a lot of fun with the Lyra. The pulsar looks incredible too, but I'm not ready to bite that bullet!

[@joelizquierdo8624]

If you have an understanding how to control the Lyra then you can take it where you want it to be. It can be highly predictable if you wish. I’ve taken this thing through space and back to where I started from. Explore away without limitations 🎹

[@IvanovSergeyMusic]

this is similar to the story with the theremin - most are convinced that the theremin is only for the sounds of ghosts.))) similar story with the lyre8 - most create alien noise only.

[@PlazaMoon]

i dont agree. this is not for 'beginners'. this would drive beginners mad. its an improvisational synthesiser. you can get incredible sounds out of it. knowing how to use and sequence/loop those sounds takes practice.

[@angelagolota7719]

I had no idea this was actually Ryan’s

[@et4able]

haha yep 😅

[@zobkiw]

@@et4able Judging by this thread I'm going to assume you just blew your brother's ability to buy new synths under the cover of darkness. LOL!

[@et4able]

@@zobkiw purtty much ;)

[@MorrisWildwoolf]

buy a series of synths and realize that the only one you really need to connect with yourself is the Lyra-8

[@ghostinplainsight4803]

A HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE Reverb makes it orgasmic. It sounds like garbage on it's own.

[@joelizquierdo8624]

I disagree with this comment. You don’t have to wash away its beauty with reverb. However, it helps to do so.