Using the Lyra 8 Synth with a Theremin

This video uses a theremin to control a Lyra 8 organismic synthesizer. According to Vlad Kreimer, the creator of the Lyra, the Lyra was inspired by the theremin. So in this video we explore that and find that there is indeed a natural affinity between the two of them! If you enjoy, please subscribe, join my Patreon, or check out my modular synth album! Oh, and if you want to see a theremin properly played by a pro, check out Carolina Eyck!
• Sergei Rachmaninoff - ...
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** Modular Album **
For those interested, I also have an experimental album made entirely of live, improvised modular performances made with my set-up available here:
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[@Tfrne]

I know this was three years ago but wanted to let you know that these are some of the very coolest sounds I've ever heard in my life, ever.

[@ModularLanding]

I'm only seeing this comment now. That's awesome. Thanks!

[@consciouscoma85]

I have a strymon night sky and only scratched the surface with what i might be able to achieve.have you ever tried using just the big sky with the theremin?

[@ModularLanding]

Not yet! I'm sure it would sound great. I have recorded the theremin and put a lot of reverb and delay on it using plugins, and it sounds great.

[@MelloCello7]

I always thought that if the Theremin was just Control Voltage, what could it sound like you have thoroughly satiated my every curiosity;)

[@ModularLanding]

That's awesome. thank you so much for the kind comment!

[@RedRooster5881]

This may sound like a funny question to you but I'm still new to synthesis. Will the newer Moog Theramini be able to connect to the lyra the same way and do the same?

[@ModularLanding]

Good question. The answer is not quite. The Theremini is not a real theremin -- it is a digital emulation of a theremin. Also it only has 1 CV out. So while you could send CV out, you could not send gate output. This makes it very limited for controlling a separate synth. If you want to be able to control other synths, I would suggest you get a Moog Etherwave Plus Theremin instead, like the one in the video. It is more expensive, but it is an actual theremin, and it has 2 CV out's and 1 gate out.

[@RoadRickWanderer]

Nice combo for making horror movie sounds :D

[@Phargoomax]

Thank you for this video! Also have an Etherwave+ (with ESPE01 integrated that makes 2 more octaves) and a Lyra 8. It's really useful for me to see how you adjust the Lyra to the Etherwave, how you tuned it! I'll try this! Before, I only connected audio out from the Etherwave into the Lyra 8 as FX.

[@ModularLanding]

Awesome! I wasn't sure if anyone would have the same set-up or find it interesting or useful. I'm glad you're going to try it. Play with the pitch and hold knobs to get the most "play" out of the theremin's range. The Theremin and Lyra are two of the most unique and fun (and challenging!) instruments in my studio :)

[@Donato8nacho]

Sounds like bits from the It Follows soundtrack....which is awesome

[@ModularLanding]

Thanks for the comment. I didn't know that soundtrack and instantly went and listened to it. Amazing stuff! I love the use of synths to create amazing atmospheric feelings like this.

[@talvinsinghmusic]

Amazing. imagining Dhrupad Alaap with this Combination. Om

[@ModularLanding]

Thanks for the comment. Maybe we could do a tabla - synth jam sometime :-) That would be a blast!

[@talvinsinghmusic]

Modular Landing let's do it and have an idea to host the session.

[@ModularLanding]

@@talvinsinghmusic Hi Talvin. That sounds great. Any good way for me to contact you?

[@LouisSerieusement]

lol theremin polyphony, that was ambitious but awesome at the same time, you could do really great moving/ambient soundtrack with this technic ! but you have to have muscle in your arm, personnaly I couldn't do that for that long XD cheers

[@ModularLanding]

TheOrangepeak yeah when I watched it back I realized what bad theremin technique I was using! But the CV input of the Lyra isn’t nearly as sensitive as the theremin itself, so if you do small movements with your hand, it doesn’t do much (unlike playing the theremin itself, which is super responsive).

[@LouisSerieusement]

well I was not trashing your technicat all, I find it cool ! imho, it's a really clever use of both device, and you could use it to make long evolving ambient pad :) :) :)

[@LouisSerieusement]

maybe you could trig the theremin/Lyra duo with object that " move themselves " to create more or less random sound ; like with a fan machine (don't know the world in english) or everything else ; is that possible to trig the theremin with other things than your hand ?

[@ModularLanding]

TheOrangepeak thanks! Yes when I reread your comment I realized I had initially misunderstood it. I thought you were saying you don’t need to move your whole arm. Which is true. Good theremin players only use their fingers, whereas I move my entire arm! And yes, this would be cool to do some kind of weird ambient soundtrack. I actually would love to do soundtracks one day...!

[@LouisSerieusement]

you could try to speak with director or scenarist, it's not too difficult if you live in a big city, usually you'll find a friend of a friend who somehow works for the film industry or such ; your music is cool, you have a little community following you on youtube, which is reassuring for futur collaborator :) .. try it ! you could also approach people on youtube to offer a collaboration :) !! I'm sure you'll find something :) :) :) If you have time to spare, could you give me your sincere opinion of the live extract I post on youtube? it's a acid house track but I fear I might have taken too much time to developpe the theme ; anyway, it would be interesting to have your point of view ! :) :) Cheers from france :) Louis

[@liamsparling]

i thought the lyra 8 was inspired by indian raga's? thats what im very certain on.

[@ModularLanding]

In part, yes. The inventor has written this in the manual.

[@OceanPuddle]

Theremins are cool, but they're a bit too touchy for me.

[@ModularLanding]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnvUf4BnbtqYg9U

[@vaspers]

Too much talking, just play the darn things.

[@ModularLanding]

Steven Streight its an explanation and exploration, not a performance, because some people have been struggling figuring out how to use the Lyra’s CV inputs.

[@vaspers]

That's fine. But I think if you explain such things at the start, very quickly, and then just jam on the synths, it might be more interesting and enjoyable. But you do it the way that makes sense to you. Very happy to see the Lyra 8 and Theremini being used together.

[@ModularLanding]

Steven Streight Fair point. Unfortunately I’m not good enough on the theremin to jam on it. But just for you, the video I made and uploaded today doesn’t have a word of talking! Just jamming on synths :-)

[@kierenmoore3236]

Great, if you want to make annoying alien sci-fi FX ... otherwise ... D:

[@ModularLanding]

Yeah, well it's hard to use the Lyra and a Theremin...! If you don't like experimental and ambient stuff, they are not easy to use in conventional ways (unless you're super good at theremin).

[@kierenmoore3236]

Indeed - and no slight upon the user! Of course, tastes will vary - more than enough wackiness/variability in 'just' a theremin (add lush reverb!!) for my taste. Ymmv. :)