If you've found this video interesting and you plan on buying a Lyra, a CXM, or anything else, consider doing it through my affiliate link. You won't spend a cent more, but you will help me sustain this growing channel 🧡 - bit.ly/SOMALyra8 - bit.ly/ChaseBlissCXM1978 - bit.ly/Zoom-F6 Thank you
Thank you!@@bondi5000 Unfortunately, Chase Bliss decided to stop offering their pedals through resellers, so now I don't know where to point the link to :(
The magical mystical power of the Lyra fills my whole being with a sense of calm and peace. I don’t own a single music making machine that needs electricity, but my favorite is the Lyra. I fell in love the first time I heard her sounds come from speakers in the studio of the guy who introduced me to this genre of music. The Lyra spoke to me right away, her vibrations even calming the mighty moon power that courses through my body monthly. You make her sing beautifully! ✨✨✨
Thank you so much, and I understand what you mean: Lyra has a soul that I always attributed more to acoustic instruments, and it has been a frictionless shift from playing the cello 🙏🏻
It took some time to adjust my playing to the instrument, especially with the lack of proper envelope adjustment. This video, this recording, is the direct response to that, and it came out beautifully! If you want some extra guidance, I've made a tutorial video for people to take the Lyra in this direction, and I've noticed they found it useful :)
OMG! one of the best demos I've seen on Lyra-8! the CMX is also a big game changer here! would be interested to hear the result with a Big Sky or a Microcosm... big congrats for your video!
Humbled! Thank you so much 🧡 Yes, the CXM is an amazing companion to the Lyra, it complements it very well, and the easily accessible Bass slider helps with the rumbling nature of the Lyra. I have one video with the BigSky, and it is indeed magical, even though you can immediately feel how the BigSky is more of another instrument for a proper duet instead of a simple reverb (that's also why I ended up selling it since most of the stuff I played through it sounded 70% BigSky and 30% instrument). I tried the Lyra many times with the Microcosm, but I've never felt confident enough to record for UA-cam (you can find one lonely video on my Instagram though, with very few notes, waiting for the pedal response). The Microcosm is way too unpredictable and even worse, the slow attack of the Lyra is being tracked really poorly by the pedal, so the results (for my style of playing) were mostly sudden bursts of notes in inappropriate moments, with no control over them. I have to experiment more and try to play with a "Microcosm performance" in mind, but after many hours of trial, I admit I find it more frustrating than anything else.
This jam was magical, and I love it for its simplicity but deep message. If you enjoyed it, you can check out my Lyra album on Bandcamp: it's free or pay what you want :)
Now I want a Lyra8, too. So far I got the Soma Cosmos, which does a similar thing you describe under the video… it catches me for minutes or sometimes hours, no matter what I feed into it.
It is! And in that Baker-Miller pink is absolutely gorgeous. You should definitely try: on the tame side, even just a little bit of reverb will go a long way, but if you have more creative pedals you’re ready for bottomless textures ☺️
It is. It has the nuances of an acoustic instrument, where is the approach, more than the capabilities, to make the sound. CXM is gorgeous, but I'd say it's also picky: it doesn't necessarily play well with all the instruments (you can check my long demo for that!), but when the combo matches... heavenly!
Smashing. Your words also capture the experience of playing a Lyra very well. I love mine, and wouldn't trade it for the world, unless it was for a pink one like yours! Mine is white, which was my only choice at the time. I'm pretty seriously considering a Cosmos....
Thank you a lot 🧡 Especially for taking your time to read the description: I suspect not many people do that ;) Pink is definitely gorgeous, and I even asked SOMA if they were going to release a pink Pulsar-23 before pulling the trigger on a black one (which is gorgeous too!) Cosmos seems like the right direction for my setup. The stereo image, the way some harsher sounds (like an heavily modulated Lyra) roll-off into a cloudy abyss... Let's see when they get in stock. And obviously if they come in pink 😁
what a great video and write up.....Yes, somehow Vlad keeps coming up with instruments which push us to explore and experiment - and it seems like what we create is something very unrepeatable...........gotta love that somehow...........My Cosmos should be here in a couple of days. Can't wait to Get Lost........
Oh now I am a bit jealous: the Cosmos fascinated my since the unveil, and I keep trying to push me to buy it, but damn, it's quite expensive and hard to get. I really hope I will put my hands on one of these in the future. Apart from that, thank you so much, and I completely agree that every time I fire up the Lyra... it is just an experience, I usually just start recording and try to get as lost as possibile during the performance
Don't be jealous, you'll probably end up with one if you you're really interested. I had to sell my Microcosm (to justify the purchase) and then wait a while. They'll be around for a while, and I'm sure Vlad has some other crazy stuff up his sleeve.........be patient with yourself.........thanks for commenting......
Thank you so much! 🙏🏻 The CXM1978 pairs really well with the Lyra, and that's not a given since there are some instruments that do not quite match as the price would make you think.
@@Dexba I wanted pink, but there was a minty green one on sale from PC that I couldn't say no to. And thanks again for your other videos on this synth. I always assumed it was just another dumb drone machine until I heard your first one.
To me, that's the best compliment 🙏🏻 Liking is kinda passive, but inspiring is way more active, and I am happy you've found the push to go create more 🧡
While all possible flowers have been thrown at you for this magnificent piece of auditory delight you've shared with the world through this video, for all the right reasons I might add, the videography itself is another blissful work of art I don't see being called out. So here I am, sharing with you how moved I was by watching your hands move in the perfected balance of light, shadow, exposure, colors, blended to successfully achieve the mesmer I experienced. Please share with us what equipment and settings this was filmed, as I notice my own fear of unreplicability rising. I thank you in advance and in an infinity only the Lyra knows how to bring into this realm 😉🙏
@@jacco1967 I am not, sadly. I thought about signing up for it, but then they announced the price change, then a delay, another delay, probably another price increase, further delay. So I decided to wait for it to be available in the shops, maybe even in the used market, and in the meantime I will keep rocking this nice CXM :)
Getting lost in the beauty of the Lyra-8. Hope to get my "White Angel" soon (after selling my first "Angel" 1 year ago ... and regretting the sale very soon). Playing the Lyra is so much different and a perfect interaction of "man & machine".
Couldn't agree more! And I appreciate you, like me, are very much aware of the power behind the color of the instrument. For instruments like the Lyra, the color is not only an aesthetic choice, but something that draws connection, leading to a better interaction with the piece of gear itself. Have nice explorations!
It was the first time I liked a video before watching it because I just intuitively knew this would become an incredibly beautiful piece and you delivered just that. Thank you!
Gosh, probably one of the best, or maybe straight the best, compliment I've ever gotten on this channel 🧡 Thank you so much, I am so glad I didn't leave you disappointed! Can't wait to prepare my next jam with the Lyra :)
It is very difficult to watch this video and not end up with a Lyra and a CXM. My CXM finally arrived this morning to join the Lyra that I've had for over a year.
@@mistersimonstrange You should definitely get one then. I think, especially in the used market, they are even sort of a good deal for what you can express with them!
@@DECIMA1 Both yes and no! I am the first to agree with the fact that no reverb pedal should cost THAT much, almost like TWO other big-brands-top-of-the-line pedals (Space + BigSky or name your favorite duo). That said, it sounds amazing, and it's a lovely "natural" sounding reverb, it can be very clean, very usable as a general reverb for everything, good for stacking more spicy pedals in front of it or for more complex jams. I have two more video coming with this pedal: one is a pitch-shifting delay with the Matriarch, that would have been a mess with other reverbs; the other is a whole jam on the Digitakt where everything gets into the CXM at the same time, and that also would have been a gluey mess with other reverbs. But I can understand some people being a bit underwhelmed: it doesn't have the immediately satisfactory wow-factor of a BigSky or the sci-fi huge blackhole vacuum of the Space, to name two, and, myself included, you're left with a "yeah, it sounds amazing, so... what?" I hope I could convey the message 😌
@@Dexba Thank you so much for the detailed response. I do agree the price is quite steep for the CXM and I have actually used the BigSky in a jam before at a friends studio and I was really impressed by it. I haven't really heard about Space but I'll look into it. Cheers, I'll check out your future videos to get a better sense of the CXM1978. Thanks :)
This is mind blowing. I’m an old house dj but been wanting to get into creative production for ages now. I keep buying the wrong gear though - this to me looking a lot more like what I’ve been after - an instrument to create mind blowing soundscapes. Truly inspirational. Thank you! One question, how accessible to a non technical person is the Lyra? I’m musical but not technical. Euro rack stuff for example is too overwhelming and geeky for me. 🙏
Thank you so much! The Lyra is pretty straightforward in its calmer state, so no worries, and since it is completely impossible to control in the weirder states, you shouldn't worry either ;) More seriously, the Lyra goes from calm to impossible to contain, with FM modulation that is not precise or intelligible, so even with the best knowledge, the geekiest approach and an oscilloscope, you would still not be able to anticipate what was going on. If you want to stay on the calmer side of the instrument like in this video here, I made a tutorial that I know many other people found useful!
Pfew, you really got me "on the fence" with your demo's, since I put together my small eurorack rig to be able to ALSO make some moving droning stuff (albeit a little more metallic then this with 2 spring reverbs), but this plays the notes also seperately..8 individual "note organisms" is A LOT when used carefully .. Ha!
..and the Lyra is an object you would also take with you on a couch on a rainy day, a modular case is less..... "huggable" :D haha. Clearly preparing myself for a setup-shift.
I've never had a real spring reverb, but that must be lovely for sonic exploration! And thank you so much, Lyra has been a paradigm shift in my perspective of music and synthesizers, so I am happy you are feeling the same energy here!
@@dawlessstrolling5306 Don't let the modular go just yet! I started realizing, after many instruments and different setups, that there was some truth in the burden of the modular world, and now I miss some extra ingenuity in the sonic explorations I made in the past on modular. I think I should start putting together a new system!
@@Dexba A real spring reverb is something special ; it physically reacts to movement in sound/frequencies. Although sounding metallic, it brings - in my ears- a special organic space to (synth) sounds. Really worth trying.The Doepfer A199 is really not expensive, if you're diving into Eurorack again.
@@Dexba Thnx for the 'advice'. It indeed is a thing with modular: you have to craft your patches carefully and by doing so it always gives you something "extra". Even my analog modular rig, being a playground for analog waveforms, gave me a lot of those moments. But, sometimes there appear secondhand "surprises". I"m trying to sell the modular, since I just bought the kinda rare 48hp semi-modular Pittsburgh Lifeforms SV-1 module. Will put it in a new small 60 hp case, together with some of my "to keep" modules, to do the tricks I like with my sequencers. A thick analog subtractive synth is a must in my setup - although now somewhat smaller. Curious if the change is worth it. The Lyra-8 probably for a later moment! Greets from the Netherlands
Ciao Dexba, video bellissimo come sempre e volevo chiederti se ti fossi mai candidato come Manista perché hai delle mani molto belle! Ciao, baci & abbracci 💐
Ciao, ho inviato il curriculum ma mi hanno preso solo come promoter Microsoft, quindi magari riprovo un altro anno. Grazie dell'interessamento comunque, aprirò presto il Patreon dove saranno disponibili tutte le mie foto inedite di mani + qualche maglietta 🔥🥵😎
Thank you so much! No, everything coming from this live recording, I tend to focus 99.9% on the performance and get it right "in camera", but maybe I should learn how to layer too ;)
Thank you so much! Yes, it is their “Baker-Miller Pink” ☺️ And I can imagine the confusion: it has always been a challenge to properly color correct in post
All synths from soma labs are a journey to the infinite. It's not your standard synth. It's something else and since it's infinite you can easily get lost.
I couldn't agree more. I am craving the Cosmos so much, but unfortunately I can't justify the expense as of right now. But it will eventually join the family, maybe when I will be able to afford a second Lyra too!
Nice improvisation. I have noticed that it is hard to get good bass response from LYRA•8 unless you get the FM going. You achieve this with the EQ part of your Reverb unit, right? Also, it seems to create a great deal of harmonic distortion quite easily and I am working to see how to tame this. Thanks for the video.
Thank you 🧡 Yes, the CXM1978 is vital for keeping the low end from disappearing! And yes again, the volume the harmonic distortion the Lyra creates are frequently unmanageable, and I try to record really, really low, in order to keep everything safe Thank you again for your comment!
@@johnolivermusic Me neither! Especially because I find very hard to spend money in "not fun" stuff :) I partially solved the issue recording with the Zoom F6 in 32bit float, but that only accounts for the recording part, and I still had episodes of signal too hot for the recorder: that's where a limiter would come in handy. I keep looking at the OTO Boum, but man, still $600 for not much fun!
@@Dexba LOL! I have the same problem. Limited budget means fun comes first! So I ride the volume output of the LYRA when it hits a surge. Luckily, everything is a bit slow on LYRA so there is usually time to react. I took a quick look at Boum, but, although the compressor limiter would be useful, LYRA already has its distortion circuit.
I will eventually order one. I resisted the urge, I hoped I could get one used, but it seems almost impossible, so I will probably order one next month. At the same time, I am very excited about the new Strymon Starlab, and ALSO the Soma Cosmos seems like a natural choice for the Lyra. So much to think about!
i'm on recording # thirty-something with the Lyra and Microcosm.... Just no words, dude! High, high recommend for best Lyra buddy!! i've posted one of the recordings on my YT channel so far (the music took 11 minutes, the video took 15 hours) 🤯🤯🌌
@@darkuniversesound I wish I could share pictures as comments, because I was just on the checkout page right now :) I'm gonna get it, that's it. But maybe I will check your video out first, just to be sure ❤️
Sounds like you could achieve the same on any polysynth, sine+noise through a filter + slow envelope + reverb… pure tuning could be fun. But I must be missing the point… 😄
You could indeed, provided the oscillators were comparably good (these are very good sounding, even if quirky). And I did and do that frequently: I love using different instruments in the same way. Tuning is indeed fun, and 8 pots are the right amount (I admit the 50-osc Solar50 was a bit too much), plus the process gives me more... commitment to the recording because of the choice of the scale/progression. Ultimately, t's not even about getting it, I just sincerely hope you enjoyed the atmosphere 🧡 PS: a sine through a filter wouldn't do much, both for replicating this sound and for the sound itself (there are no harmonics to shave from the sine); the Lyra itself makes aggressive kinda triangular to aggressive kinda quares, and a lot of mess inbetween) and the slow envelope is actually one of the things I like less about the Lyra design!
@@Dexba Nice reply, thanks, agree that putting sines through a filter doesn’t achieve much. Interesting to read your thoughts on the oscillator shapes the Lyra produces. BTW, I have a lot of fun with the MiniFreak which offers a superb combination of tweakability + interesting oscillators + analogue filters.
Hi! Amazing Jam. One question: this video is almost two years old. Are you still using the Lyra? It sounds amazing, but I wonder if I people get tired of it quickly. Thanks!
I -kinda- tried to avoid this question for a while, and I'd say 2 months is enough time now. I was still using the Lyra at the time of your comment, but I was in the process of selling it, knowing really well I was doing something... dumb (yes, this comment is going to be long). The first reason why, for me, selling it is dumb is the fact that the Lyra-8 literally made my channel: people noticed me on the internet just because of a fortunate combination of me being one of the first people out there with a pink Lyra, and, probably way down the list of reasons, also because I can play something. The Lyra always sells, on any social platform, no matter the quality of the video. This also grew in me as being a bit the "lyra guy" or later the "pulsar guy" in some (very minuscule, but the whole synth world is kinda tiny) aspects, so I even kept the Lyra for longer than other instruments because I felt like I would be betraying myself if I sold it. But after a while, after very thorough consideration, I decided I had taken (and given) everything I had from/to the Lyra, for my usage. My approach has always been very vanilla, focusing more on the composition, rather than the tone or the capabilities of the machine itself, so what I was actually getting was a very unstable, limited, 8-voice basic synth, with an incredible sound quality, but uneven volume out of the oscillators, no control over the envelopes, no filter, no nothing. So yes, I got tired of it, not quickly, but after a while, and knowing myself, almost 3 years is a lot of time for me to enjoy fully an instrument! The third reason may be a bit of a controversial one: I bought one new and loved the Lyra, I bought one new and loved the Pulsar, and to this day I am still one - if not the most - viewed SOMA musician on UA-cam, surpassing other big names (obviously not Loopop, but BoBeats, OORA, Liam Killen and so on), until SOMA reached out to Hainbach for extra exposure. In these three years, I've offered my (very, very humble) help to SOMA with product showcasing for free, of stuff I've already bought from them full retail, and I did that only because I loved their products and they specifically asked for that on Facebook, and people I didn't know (shoutout to their love: I reciprocate 🧡) tagged me many times, suggesting to have me as a demonstrator. In all this, and I will repeat it again: for free, and in East Asia, the market they're now trying to expand to, they never even bothered to reply to an email of the genuine, lovely, almost fanboyish level of interest in helping them for something they were actively looking for. Obviously, I didn't sell their instruments out of spite, but it surely made me do what I already wanted to do with fewer regrets, given my relationship with the Lyra was already drying out. TL;DR - It is a beautiful-sounding instrument, and your mileage may vary A LOT depending on how you use it, since it is also incredibly limited. Don't be fooled by marketing tho: there is no magic behind it, just 8 very wonky, good-sounding analog oscillators, and it will all be up to you to make it worth its price (and your time!).
@@DexbaThanks a lot for your detailed and thoughtful response! It gives me a lot of helpful information to consider (still evaluating whether to purchase it, since the price is not trivial for me). I also appreciate your take on the (alleged) magic of the instrument. Most reviews on UA-cam emphasize that aspect, and I find that a bit suspicious. It's good to hear a different opinion.
Thank you so much 🧡 As for the reverb, that’s easy, because they are almost all more affordable that this absurd CXM :) My first choice is always the Valhalla Supermassive free reverb. It is simply great, it would be great even if they asked you for money, but it’s FREE so it is even better than great. If you don’t want to use the computer, it gets a bit more difficult: Eventide Space is cool, but I have always felt it lacked a bit in character, BigSky is magic, but has a very distinctive sound and the low end tend to disappear, OTO BAM is the closest thing to the CXM as kind of reverb, but needs a bit of tweaking to find the sweet spot. Last price step before the CXM, there is the SOMA Cosmos. I’ve never tried, I’d really love to, but I don’t have the money for it, so it will stay a dream. To recap: don’t spend “average” money (like ~300$) on reverbs: go low, with Valhalla or even a Boss RV6/Ocean 11 or take the plunge and go for BigSky/OTO Bam, even Cosmos, that to me sounds incredible Hope I helped you a little bit, for anything else feel free to get in touch :)
@@cymbolic_space1832 Unfortunately, I have never had the chance to try the Cosmos. On paper it should have a "sort of reverb" mode, where all the delay lines overlap each other effectively creating a reverb, but I think it would still have a strong character to it, unlike something like the CXM, the Bam or something like the UAD Golden Reverberator (which I didn't try though). But stay tuned, because I definitely want to try the Cosmos and I will do it as soon as I have the money for it :)
Definitely! I find the simplicity and effectiveness of the Interstellar theme very inspiring, expressing perfectly the cardinal concept of music composition: "Something moves while something stays the same". All the most moving and inspiring music has been written this way, and Interstellar theme is like the core version of the concept :)
I think that if you reckon this could be for you, you should get one. In the used market they are sort of inexpensive, around €500, and if you take your time, it will pay you off tenfold
Absurdly enough, I am loving my Lyra xtra tamed! The Attack (and Decay too) are sort of controlled by the Hold knob. Up to a certain point, it will regulate the general amount of "responsiveness" of the "envelope" (with a lot of quotation marks, because Lyra doesn't have proper VCA, the signal is always on), then you will gradually get to the proper hold function, so if you tweak it carefully you will obtain this gentle swell, rise of the corresponding 4-oscillators group :) I'd love to make some sort of tutorial, I will reserve some time these days for that, especially the tuning part, I got a lot of questions about that 😌
@@jordanmuller4735 Thank you a lot, this shade of pink is quite hard to get right, and while beautiful in every lighting condition, it rarely comes out faithful to the in-person shade!
I definitely need to try that! I think the Ornament will help me breaking some boundaries, and I am still thinking about a Cosmos: I'd love to let some Lyra's harshness fly away in stereo in that
If I may, the Lyra-8 is probably not the best place to start for a complete beginner! In any case, the silver buttons you see on the bottom of the instrument are the “keys” to activate the sound of a specific oscillator ☺️
If you've found this video interesting and you plan on buying a Lyra, a CXM, or anything else, consider doing it through my affiliate link.
You won't spend a cent more, but you will help me sustain this growing channel 🧡
- bit.ly/SOMALyra8
- bit.ly/ChaseBlissCXM1978
- bit.ly/Zoom-F6
Thank you
Your link for the CXM takes to a page where the product is no longer available - just letting you know 😊
Thank you!@@bondi5000
Unfortunately, Chase Bliss decided to stop offering their pedals through resellers, so now I don't know where to point the link to :(
This is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard from a Lyra
I'm honored, thank you so much 🧡
The magical mystical power of the Lyra fills my whole being with a sense of calm and peace. I don’t own a single music making machine that needs electricity, but my favorite is the Lyra. I fell in love the first time I heard her sounds come from speakers in the studio of the guy who introduced me to this genre of music. The Lyra spoke to me right away, her vibrations even calming the mighty moon power that courses through my body monthly. You make her sing beautifully! ✨✨✨
Thank you so much, and I understand what you mean: Lyra has a soul that I always attributed more to acoustic instruments, and it has been a frictionless shift from playing the cello 🙏🏻
✨Right on. The cello is pretty magical, too!!
You are playing this machine like a virtuoso violinist......I am very impressed, your emotional input is incredible.
Humbled 🧡
I’ve been (quite a virtuoso indeed) cellist, so it may have trickled down into electronic music!
Thank you so much
What a haunting and beautiful feel. Love the atmosphere!
Like a hazy, synthetic morning in the forest, right?
Thank you so much
Lyra-8 is my must-have in the nearest future. Its blowing my mind
You will have a lot of fun exploring all its nuances 🧡
Wow, you tamed it for moment. I have yet to reach this level taming my beast.
It took some time to adjust my playing to the instrument, especially with the lack of proper envelope adjustment.
This video, this recording, is the direct response to that, and it came out beautifully!
If you want some extra guidance, I've made a tutorial video for people to take the Lyra in this direction, and I've noticed they found it useful :)
@@Dexba Sweet, definitely going to check it out, thanks.
Absolutely gorgeous soundscape the Lyra sounds amazing. Nice one.
Thank you so much 🧡
You will have a lot of fun ;)
Nice job. Sounds great. I've a Lyra 8 for about 2 months now and I'm obsessed.
Thank you so much!
The Lyra can be so much that it takes a lot of time to explore even in its most basic form
OMG! one of the best demos I've seen on Lyra-8! the CMX is also a big game changer here! would be interested to hear the result with a Big Sky or a Microcosm... big congrats for your video!
Humbled! Thank you so much 🧡
Yes, the CXM is an amazing companion to the Lyra, it complements it very well, and the easily accessible Bass slider helps with the rumbling nature of the Lyra.
I have one video with the BigSky, and it is indeed magical, even though you can immediately feel how the BigSky is more of another instrument for a proper duet instead of a simple reverb (that's also why I ended up selling it since most of the stuff I played through it sounded 70% BigSky and 30% instrument).
I tried the Lyra many times with the Microcosm, but I've never felt confident enough to record for UA-cam (you can find one lonely video on my Instagram though, with very few notes, waiting for the pedal response).
The Microcosm is way too unpredictable and even worse, the slow attack of the Lyra is being tracked really poorly by the pedal, so the results (for my style of playing) were mostly sudden bursts of notes in inappropriate moments, with no control over them.
I have to experiment more and try to play with a "Microcosm performance" in mind, but after many hours of trial, I admit I find it more frustrating than anything else.
Amazing work! Really impressive playing! Another outstanding example for the versatillity of this beautiful instrument. 😍
Thank you a lot, I am glad you like it ❤️
^
+-teleportation to the END. absolutly love it
This jam was magical, and I love it for its simplicity but deep message.
If you enjoyed it, you can check out my Lyra album on Bandcamp: it's free or pay what you want :)
Love that last sound and how it was created 😅
I'm glad you watched until the end, and yeah, it is a pretty fun thing to do, obviously through some kind of FX 😁
Remarkably beautiful
Humbled 🧡🙏🏻
Now I want a Lyra8, too. So far I got the Soma Cosmos, which does a similar thing you describe under the video… it catches me for minutes or sometimes hours, no matter what I feed into it.
My favorite Lyra-8 video, I want one.
Thank you so much! And you should definitely get one, there is a lot to explore!
That Lyra-8 is such a beautiful looking thing. I am crap with textures and pads and things but it makes me want to try...
It is! And in that Baker-Miller pink is absolutely gorgeous.
You should definitely try: on the tame side, even just a little bit of reverb will go a long way, but if you have more creative pedals you’re ready for bottomless textures ☺️
@@Dexba Don't give me ideas.
Ideas are the first part of a buying list 😉
@@Dexba That's the problem. haha.
The Lyra 8 is so intriguing... and he CXM is just something else! Great video.
It is. It has the nuances of an acoustic instrument, where is the approach, more than the capabilities, to make the sound.
CXM is gorgeous, but I'd say it's also picky: it doesn't necessarily play well with all the instruments (you can check my long demo for that!), but when the combo matches... heavenly!
Smashing. Your words also capture the experience of playing a Lyra very well. I love mine, and wouldn't trade it for the world, unless it was for a pink one like yours! Mine is white, which was my only choice at the time. I'm pretty seriously considering a Cosmos....
Thank you a lot 🧡
Especially for taking your time to read the description: I suspect not many people do that ;)
Pink is definitely gorgeous, and I even asked SOMA if they were going to release a pink Pulsar-23 before pulling the trigger on a black one (which is gorgeous too!)
Cosmos seems like the right direction for my setup. The stereo image, the way some harsher sounds (like an heavily modulated Lyra) roll-off into a cloudy abyss... Let's see when they get in stock. And obviously if they come in pink 😁
Same kind of approach here…
Cosmos is my way to go also.
what a great video and write up.....Yes, somehow Vlad keeps coming up with instruments which push us to explore and experiment - and it seems like what we create is something very unrepeatable...........gotta love that somehow...........My Cosmos should be here in a couple of days. Can't wait to Get Lost........
Oh now I am a bit jealous: the Cosmos fascinated my since the unveil, and I keep trying to push me to buy it, but damn, it's quite expensive and hard to get.
I really hope I will put my hands on one of these in the future.
Apart from that, thank you so much, and I completely agree that every time I fire up the Lyra... it is just an experience, I usually just start recording and try to get as lost as possibile during the performance
Don't be jealous, you'll probably end up with one if you you're really interested. I had to sell my Microcosm (to justify the purchase) and then wait a while. They'll be around for a while, and I'm sure Vlad has some other crazy stuff up his sleeve.........be patient with yourself.........thanks for commenting......
Beautiful.
Thank you so much 🧡
Killer Sounds! Well Done
Thank you so much! 🙏🏻
The CXM1978 pairs really well with the Lyra, and that's not a given since there are some instruments that do not quite match as the price would make you think.
Excellent performance! ...Nice soundscape 😉💯
Thank you so much ⚡️
Coming very soon also a video where I use the Pulsar-23 in a similar way, I think you're gonna like it as well 🧡
Fantastic sound!
Thank you a lot. I love these "mist in the woods" kind of vibe 🌳
Amazing thank you :)
Thank you a lot 🧡
I've got a Lyra on the way on Monday. I'm so excited to get my hands on these gorgeous tones!
Super cool! Which color did you choose?
@@Dexba I wanted pink, but there was a minty green one on sale from PC that I couldn't say no to.
And thanks again for your other videos on this synth. I always assumed it was just another dumb drone machine until I heard your first one.
@@FatSynthDude Mint green is very cool too, with that vintage, soviet nuclear central style.
And thank you again, I am feeling very proud right now 😎
Pure Beauty
Thank you so much!
Inspiring! Right now, while listening to your track, I got off my ass and went into my cosy home studio.
To me, that's the best compliment 🙏🏻
Liking is kinda passive, but inspiring is way more active, and I am happy you've found the push to go create more 🧡
While all possible flowers have been thrown at you for this magnificent piece of auditory delight you've shared with the world through this video, for all the right reasons I might add, the videography itself is another blissful work of art I don't see being called out. So here I am, sharing with you how moved I was by watching your hands move in the perfected balance of light, shadow, exposure, colors, blended to successfully achieve the mesmer I experienced.
Please share with us what equipment and settings this was filmed, as I notice my own fear of unreplicability rising. I thank you in advance and in an infinity only the Lyra knows how to bring into this realm 😉🙏
This is amazing thank you 🪐🦉
Thank you for checking the video out 🧡
I am glad you enjoyed it!
Lyra + cosmos videos are needed 😎
I'd love to get my hands on one 😍
Unfortunately, seems like they're taking ages to come to the market
@@Dexba if you’re on the waitinglist …. Soma is shipping for those on it.
@@jacco1967 I am not, sadly. I thought about signing up for it, but then they announced the price change, then a delay, another delay, probably another price increase, further delay.
So I decided to wait for it to be available in the shops, maybe even in the used market, and in the meantime I will keep rocking this nice CXM :)
Getting lost in the beauty of the Lyra-8. Hope to get my "White Angel" soon (after selling my first "Angel" 1 year ago ... and regretting the sale very soon). Playing the Lyra is so much different and a perfect interaction of "man & machine".
Couldn't agree more! And I appreciate you, like me, are very much aware of the power behind the color of the instrument.
For instruments like the Lyra, the color is not only an aesthetic choice, but something that draws connection, leading to a better interaction with the piece of gear itself.
Have nice explorations!
Amazing ambient piece
Thank you so much! Every time with the Lyra is a blast. A soft blast 🥰
Still best DEMO of this beast on UA-cam. You did a good job demonstrating its musical potential other demos sound like some noise 😢
Humbled 🧡
I am glad you enjoyed it!
Nothing wrong with noise it's beautiful
@@petdoe8938 yes noise can be beautiful ☺️
@@deyanfont lets me know I am still alive,I am one of them people who sample everything,have a blessed time
So nice.
Thank you so much 🧡
It was the first time I liked a video before watching it because I just intuitively knew this would become an incredibly beautiful piece and you delivered just that. Thank you!
Gosh, probably one of the best, or maybe straight the best, compliment I've ever gotten on this channel 🧡
Thank you so much, I am so glad I didn't leave you disappointed!
Can't wait to prepare my next jam with the Lyra :)
Wow, quite a beauty
Thank you so much! This is still probably my favorite combo, even though I would throw in a pitch-shifted delay for some extra layer
It is very difficult to watch this video and not end up with a Lyra and a CXM. My CXM finally arrived this morning to join the Lyra that I've had for over a year.
Thank you a lot! And you will quickly hear how it pairs beautifully, a great match not dependent necessarily on quality or price but just affinity!
I love my Lyra and yours too 😊
I am so glad about that!
My Lyra and I reciprocate your love 🧡
Bravo!
Thank you 💞
love it
Thank you so much 🧡
@@Dexba this made me wanna buy a Lyra.... ;)
@@mistersimonstrange You should definitely get one then. I think, especially in the used market, they are even sort of a good deal for what you can express with them!
So good Dexba....
Thank you a lot, I'm very proud of this one 🧡
Almost the "hit song" of my Lyra album, I'd say :)
@@Dexba Definitely, I keep coming back to it!
beautiful
Thank you a lot ✨
@@Dexba Does the CXM1978 pedal live up to the hype? I got my eyes on it :P
@@DECIMA1 Both yes and no!
I am the first to agree with the fact that no reverb pedal should cost THAT much, almost like TWO other big-brands-top-of-the-line pedals (Space + BigSky or name your favorite duo).
That said, it sounds amazing, and it's a lovely "natural" sounding reverb, it can be very clean, very usable as a general reverb for everything, good for stacking more spicy pedals in front of it or for more complex jams.
I have two more video coming with this pedal: one is a pitch-shifting delay with the Matriarch, that would have been a mess with other reverbs; the other is a whole jam on the Digitakt where everything gets into the CXM at the same time, and that also would have been a gluey mess with other reverbs.
But I can understand some people being a bit underwhelmed: it doesn't have the immediately satisfactory wow-factor of a BigSky or the sci-fi huge blackhole vacuum of the Space, to name two, and, myself included, you're left with a "yeah, it sounds amazing, so... what?"
I hope I could convey the message 😌
@@Dexba Thank you so much for the detailed response. I do agree the price is quite steep for the CXM and I have actually used the BigSky in a jam before at a friends studio and I was really impressed by it. I haven't really heard about Space but I'll look into it. Cheers, I'll check out your future videos to get a better sense of the CXM1978. Thanks :)
Well done.
Thank you so much 🧡
Nice. 👏🙏
A nice reverb is the only thing missing from the Lyra, and that is a NICE reverb!
Lovely!
Thank you a lot 💝
that was brutally beautifull
I love this oxymoron, I live by that 🧡
comunque più ascolto il Lyra 8 più mi piace....grande!
Ha un fascino antico e maestoso, vero? ✨
Grazie mille :)
nice
Thank you a lot 🙏🏻
This is mind blowing. I’m an old house dj but been wanting to get into creative production for ages now. I keep buying the wrong gear though - this to me looking a lot more like what I’ve been after - an instrument to create mind blowing soundscapes. Truly inspirational. Thank you!
One question, how accessible to a non technical person is the Lyra? I’m musical but not technical. Euro rack stuff for example is too overwhelming and geeky for me. 🙏
Thank you so much!
The Lyra is pretty straightforward in its calmer state, so no worries, and since it is completely impossible to control in the weirder states, you shouldn't worry either ;)
More seriously, the Lyra goes from calm to impossible to contain, with FM modulation that is not precise or intelligible, so even with the best knowledge, the geekiest approach and an oscilloscope, you would still not be able to anticipate what was going on.
If you want to stay on the calmer side of the instrument like in this video here, I made a tutorial that I know many other people found useful!
Perfect. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and talent so generously. 🙏🙏
Epic.
Thank you so much ❤️
Wow .... @6:27
This is directly thanks to the CXM and its very nice response on the bass part, it's a surprisingly good pair with the Lyra 🧡
I am an advertising proffessional and this made me want to run and order a Lyra 😁
Make sure you get it through my affiliate links 😄
Jokes aside, thank you so much ❤️
Pfew, you really got me "on the fence" with your demo's, since I put together my small eurorack rig to be able to ALSO make some moving droning stuff (albeit a little more metallic then this with 2 spring reverbs), but this plays the notes also seperately..8 individual "note organisms" is A LOT when used carefully .. Ha!
..and the Lyra is an object you would also take with you on a couch on a rainy day, a modular case is less..... "huggable" :D haha. Clearly preparing myself for a setup-shift.
I've never had a real spring reverb, but that must be lovely for sonic exploration!
And thank you so much, Lyra has been a paradigm shift in my perspective of music and synthesizers, so I am happy you are feeling the same energy here!
@@dawlessstrolling5306 Don't let the modular go just yet!
I started realizing, after many instruments and different setups, that there was some truth in the burden of the modular world, and now I miss some extra ingenuity in the sonic explorations I made in the past on modular.
I think I should start putting together a new system!
@@Dexba A real spring reverb is something special ; it physically reacts to movement in sound/frequencies. Although sounding metallic, it brings - in my ears- a special organic space to (synth) sounds. Really worth trying.The Doepfer A199 is really not expensive, if you're diving into Eurorack again.
@@Dexba Thnx for the 'advice'. It indeed is a thing with modular: you have to craft your patches carefully and by doing so it always gives you something "extra".
Even my analog modular rig, being a playground for analog waveforms, gave me a lot of those moments.
But, sometimes there appear secondhand "surprises". I"m trying to sell the modular, since I just bought the kinda rare 48hp semi-modular Pittsburgh Lifeforms SV-1 module. Will put it in a new small 60 hp case, together with some of my "to keep" modules, to do the tricks I like with my sequencers.
A thick analog subtractive synth is a must in my setup - although now somewhat smaller. Curious if the change is worth it.
The Lyra-8 probably for a later moment!
Greets from the Netherlands
Ciao Dexba, video bellissimo come sempre e volevo chiederti se ti fossi mai candidato come Manista perché hai delle mani molto belle!
Ciao, baci & abbracci 💐
Ciao, ho inviato il curriculum ma mi hanno preso solo come promoter Microsoft, quindi magari riprovo un altro anno. Grazie dell'interessamento comunque, aprirò presto il Patreon dove saranno disponibili tutte le mie foto inedite di mani + qualche maglietta 🔥🥵😎
@@Dexba Sarò la prima a sostenerti anche su Patreon!! GRANDISSIMO! Continua così che sei proprio forte, un'ispirazione 💥
Great performance!)…its life prosessing?..or pre recorded layer..
Anyway- love it!)
Thank you so much!
No, everything coming from this live recording, I tend to focus 99.9% on the performance and get it right "in camera", but maybe I should learn how to layer too ;)
unreal beautiful. how were you able to get those notes to come through so beautiful and tame at the beginning?
The HOLD knob can act as a global VCA for the 4 voices it controls, and it has a very gentle response!
I'd say there were quite a few Lyras bought after watching this
I hope one day SOMA will reach out to offer me a glass of vodka ;)
Wow, that's dope, really nice job! Can I ask you if your Lyra's color is pink or orange? Thanks
Oh, I just realized from another video that is pink...
Thank you so much!
Yes, it is their “Baker-Miller Pink” ☺️
And I can imagine the confusion: it has always been a challenge to properly color correct in post
All synths from soma labs are a journey to the infinite. It's not your standard synth. It's something else and since it's infinite you can easily get lost.
I couldn't agree more.
I am craving the Cosmos so much, but unfortunately I can't justify the expense as of right now.
But it will eventually join the family, maybe when I will be able to afford a second Lyra too!
Every instrument is a "journey to the infinite." An acoustic guitar or a saxophone can get you there.
mr dexba did you coffee before this amazing record
Ahah, no I didn’t, I actually rarely drink coffee: I’m too lazy to make the moka for that tiny outcome 😄
Why this curious question?
I want it sooo bad!!!
If you get one, consider doing it through my affiliate link 🧡
getting lost in listening too
If you want, you can even download it for free on Bandcamp, to take it with you 🧡
Thank you so much!
Nice improvisation. I have noticed that it is hard to get good bass response from LYRA•8 unless you get the FM going. You achieve this with the EQ part of your Reverb unit, right? Also, it seems to create a great deal of harmonic distortion quite easily and I am working to see how to tame this. Thanks for the video.
Thank you 🧡
Yes, the CXM1978 is vital for keeping the low end from disappearing!
And yes again, the volume the harmonic distortion the Lyra creates are frequently unmanageable, and I try to record really, really low, in order to keep everything safe
Thank you again for your comment!
@@Dexba I guess a hardware limiter would be another way to control those sudden outbursts. I've never looked into that.
@@johnolivermusic Me neither! Especially because I find very hard to spend money in "not fun" stuff :)
I partially solved the issue recording with the Zoom F6 in 32bit float, but that only accounts for the recording part, and I still had episodes of signal too hot for the recorder: that's where a limiter would come in handy.
I keep looking at the OTO Boum, but man, still $600 for not much fun!
@@Dexba LOL! I have the same problem. Limited budget means fun comes first! So I ride the volume output of the LYRA when it hits a surge. Luckily, everything is a bit slow on LYRA so there is usually time to react. I took a quick look at Boum, but, although the compressor limiter would be useful, LYRA already has its distortion circuit.
A Microcosm could also be very compatible
I will eventually order one.
I resisted the urge, I hoped I could get one used, but it seems almost impossible, so I will probably order one next month.
At the same time, I am very excited about the new Strymon Starlab, and ALSO the Soma Cosmos seems like a natural choice for the Lyra.
So much to think about!
i'm on recording # thirty-something with the Lyra and Microcosm.... Just no words, dude! High, high recommend for best Lyra buddy!! i've posted one of the recordings on my YT channel so far (the music took 11 minutes, the video took 15 hours) 🤯🤯🌌
@@darkuniversesound I wish I could share pictures as comments, because I was just on the checkout page right now :)
I'm gonna get it, that's it. But maybe I will check your video out first, just to be sure ❤️
Have a Lyra considering getting the cxm how do you find it?
Noice !
TOIT
Sounds like you could achieve the same on any polysynth, sine+noise through a filter + slow envelope + reverb… pure tuning could be fun. But I must be missing the point… 😄
You could indeed, provided the oscillators were comparably good (these are very good sounding, even if quirky). And I did and do that frequently: I love using different instruments in the same way.
Tuning is indeed fun, and 8 pots are the right amount (I admit the 50-osc Solar50 was a bit too much), plus the process gives me more... commitment to the recording because of the choice of the scale/progression.
Ultimately, t's not even about getting it, I just sincerely hope you enjoyed the atmosphere 🧡
PS: a sine through a filter wouldn't do much, both for replicating this sound and for the sound itself (there are no harmonics to shave from the sine); the Lyra itself makes aggressive kinda triangular to aggressive kinda quares, and a lot of mess inbetween) and the slow envelope is actually one of the things I like less about the Lyra design!
@@Dexba Nice reply, thanks, agree that putting sines through a filter doesn’t achieve much. Interesting to read your thoughts on the oscillator shapes the Lyra produces. BTW, I have a lot of fun with the MiniFreak which offers a superb combination of tweakability + interesting oscillators + analogue filters.
Hi! Amazing Jam. One question: this video is almost two years old. Are you still using the Lyra? It sounds amazing, but I wonder if I people get tired of it quickly. Thanks!
I -kinda- tried to avoid this question for a while, and I'd say 2 months is enough time now.
I was still using the Lyra at the time of your comment, but I was in the process of selling it, knowing really well I was doing something... dumb (yes, this comment is going to be long).
The first reason why, for me, selling it is dumb is the fact that the Lyra-8 literally made my channel: people noticed me on the internet just because of a fortunate combination of me being one of the first people out there with a pink Lyra, and, probably way down the list of reasons, also because I can play something. The Lyra always sells, on any social platform, no matter the quality of the video.
This also grew in me as being a bit the "lyra guy" or later the "pulsar guy" in some (very minuscule, but the whole synth world is kinda tiny) aspects, so I even kept the Lyra for longer than other instruments because I felt like I would be betraying myself if I sold it.
But after a while, after very thorough consideration, I decided I had taken (and given) everything I had from/to the Lyra, for my usage.
My approach has always been very vanilla, focusing more on the composition, rather than the tone or the capabilities of the machine itself, so what I was actually getting was a very unstable, limited, 8-voice basic synth, with an incredible sound quality, but uneven volume out of the oscillators, no control over the envelopes, no filter, no nothing.
So yes, I got tired of it, not quickly, but after a while, and knowing myself, almost 3 years is a lot of time for me to enjoy fully an instrument!
The third reason may be a bit of a controversial one: I bought one new and loved the Lyra, I bought one new and loved the Pulsar, and to this day I am still one - if not the most - viewed SOMA musician on UA-cam, surpassing other big names (obviously not Loopop, but BoBeats, OORA, Liam Killen and so on), until SOMA reached out to Hainbach for extra exposure.
In these three years, I've offered my (very, very humble) help to SOMA with product showcasing for free, of stuff I've already bought from them full retail, and I did that only because I loved their products and they specifically asked for that on Facebook, and people I didn't know (shoutout to their love: I reciprocate 🧡) tagged me many times, suggesting to have me as a demonstrator.
In all this, and I will repeat it again: for free, and in East Asia, the market they're now trying to expand to, they never even bothered to reply to an email of the genuine, lovely, almost fanboyish level of interest in helping them for something they were actively looking for.
Obviously, I didn't sell their instruments out of spite, but it surely made me do what I already wanted to do with fewer regrets, given my relationship with the Lyra was already drying out.
TL;DR - It is a beautiful-sounding instrument, and your mileage may vary A LOT depending on how you use it, since it is also incredibly limited. Don't be fooled by marketing tho: there is no magic behind it, just 8 very wonky, good-sounding analog oscillators, and it will all be up to you to make it worth its price (and your time!).
@@DexbaThanks a lot for your detailed and thoughtful response! It gives me a lot of helpful information to consider (still evaluating whether to purchase it, since the price is not trivial for me). I also appreciate your take on the (alleged) magic of the instrument. Most reviews on UA-cam emphasize that aspect, and I find that a bit suspicious. It's good to hear a different opinion.
Seriously i got one recently picked one up and i swear i could do full set with it a couple fx's and an 808
Wow, I'd love to hear something with a more "traditional" setup, it would be inspiring for sure!
@@Dexba ill probs poop out some jams soon
I need to subscribe then 💅
BIG.
The Lyra (and the CX1978 too) is MASSIVE, it sounds ancient and huge
Gotta have one now great performance, amazing atmosphere and sounds. What more affordable reverb would you recommend that can still deliver?
Thank you so much 🧡
As for the reverb, that’s easy, because they are almost all more affordable that this absurd CXM :)
My first choice is always the Valhalla Supermassive free reverb. It is simply great, it would be great even if they asked you for money, but it’s FREE so it is even better than great.
If you don’t want to use the computer, it gets a bit more difficult: Eventide Space is cool, but I have always felt it lacked a bit in character, BigSky is magic, but has a very distinctive sound and the low end tend to disappear, OTO BAM is the closest thing to the CXM as kind of reverb, but needs a bit of tweaking to find the sweet spot.
Last price step before the CXM, there is the SOMA Cosmos. I’ve never tried, I’d really love to, but I don’t have the money for it, so it will stay a dream.
To recap: don’t spend “average” money (like ~300$) on reverbs: go low, with Valhalla or even a Boss RV6/Ocean 11 or take the plunge and go for BigSky/OTO Bam, even Cosmos, that to me sounds incredible
Hope I helped you a little bit, for anything else feel free to get in touch :)
@@Dexba Wouldbyou consider the cosmos a reverb pedal? can it do just straight up reverbs? i havent seen that covered anywhere before.
@@cymbolic_space1832 Unfortunately, I have never had the chance to try the Cosmos. On paper it should have a "sort of reverb" mode, where all the delay lines overlap each other effectively creating a reverb, but I think it would still have a strong character to it, unlike something like the CXM, the Bam or something like the UAD Golden Reverberator (which I didn't try though).
But stay tuned, because I definitely want to try the Cosmos and I will do it as soon as I have the money for it :)
@@Dexba I feel the same. Thanks for this comment
For that part around 3:35 were you inspired by the Interstellar theme? Amazing piece
Definitely!
I find the simplicity and effectiveness of the Interstellar theme very inspiring, expressing perfectly the cardinal concept of music composition: "Something moves while something stays the same".
All the most moving and inspiring music has been written this way, and Interstellar theme is like the core version of the concept :)
i am beging if i am goona die tomorrow, bury this synth with me!
🙏
I wish you a long and healthy life, but that's an amazing thing to say 🧡
fuck yeah , that was awesome , man i want one
I think that if you reckon this could be for you, you should get one. In the used market they are sort of inexpensive, around €500, and if you take your time, it will pay you off tenfold
@@Dexba going to start looking and I love it in that hot pink , tnx for the message
wow this is so unlike what i've heard from lyra. how can it be so tame? the long attack? could you do a tutorial sometime?
Absurdly enough, I am loving my Lyra xtra tamed!
The Attack (and Decay too) are sort of controlled by the Hold knob. Up to a certain point, it will regulate the general amount of "responsiveness" of the "envelope" (with a lot of quotation marks, because Lyra doesn't have proper VCA, the signal is always on), then you will gradually get to the proper hold function, so if you tweak it carefully you will obtain this gentle swell, rise of the corresponding 4-oscillators group :)
I'd love to make some sort of tutorial, I will reserve some time these days for that, especially the tuning part, I got a lot of questions about that 😌
@@Dexba did not realise that, will work with the hold more...
@@Dexba and ps: please do make that tutorial, you would make a lot of us (including me) happy!
@@tendingtropic7778 wanna send me a message over @dexbasynth on Instagram? I'd love to brainstorm some ideas for a video!
@@Dexba will do!
Mind sharing what you used to film this?
Sure!
This is a Sony A7SIII + Sony 85mm f1.8 :)
@@Dexba It's a lovely image quality. I have the pink Lyra as well. It's a beautiful color in person and you captured it well.
@@jordanmuller4735 Thank you a lot, this shade of pink is quite hard to get right, and while beautiful in every lighting condition, it rarely comes out faithful to the in-person shade!
whats your camera？dexba
I use a Sony A7SIII with the Sony 85mm f1.8 lens
Try to give up on tuning and use it to generate drones that intertwine using mod, sharpness, feedback and its mix.
I definitely need to try that! I think the Ornament will help me breaking some boundaries, and I am still thinking about a Cosmos: I'd love to let some Lyra's harshness fly away in stereo in that
how are you connecting lyra to daw?
I am not! The Lyra doesn’t have any kind of MIDI or USB connection ☺️
@@Dexba oh ok! as a newbie how u made it sound?? I'm thinking on getting one too
If I may, the Lyra-8 is probably not the best place to start for a complete beginner!
In any case, the silver buttons you see on the bottom of the instrument are the “keys” to activate the sound of a specific oscillator ☺️
al punto 6:27 si inizia a fare sul serio😁
se fa bbbordello!
Forse dovrei postare anche qualcosa meno melodico e più casinista, è anche tanto che non tiro fuori il Lyra 🤔
mo ci penso :)
@@Dexba lo 'sporco' ha sempre il suo perche'😙
Beautiful
Thank you so much 🧡