Taming the Lyra-8 (using the gate input)

Рет қаралды 10,306

2 жыл бұрын

The Lyra-8 is a mysterious, unique synthesizer from Soma Lab. It lends itself most naturally to cinematic soundscapes and atmospheric textures... but it also has some less talked about features that let you wrestle it under control for some more predictable ways of making music. In this video I am trying out the HOLD GATE input function, where you can trigger the various oscillators with an external source. In this case, my modular system. Just another aspect of this amazing instrument to explore.
A huge thanks to SignalSounds.com for letting me borrow one of their demo units to try out. Check out their site for a whole bunch of weird and wonderful electronic devices. They're nice folks!
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I post all of the music I make, including WAV stems; sample packs; 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:
/ allmyfriendsaresynths
If you just want individual sample packs or downloads of video footage to use in your own projects, get them on Gumroad here: gumroad.com/allmyfriends
If you're in the US and shop at Perfect Circuit, you can click through to see what they have in stock just now through my custom link. I get a small commission for any purchases made, which keeps me stocked up with whisky and beard oil. link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/...
and a whole pile of other stuff...
Instagram: / allmyfriendsaresynths
My main photo and video art blog: allmyfriendsarejpegs.com
The band I play guitar and sing in: closetorgan.bandcamp.com
The band I play bass and sing in: hogwyld.bandcamp.com
My DIY tape label, Cow Tongue Taco Records: cowtonguetacorecords.bandcamp...
My occasional music blog: unexpectedbowtie.com
Get in touch for possible collabs/offers of large sums of money, etc: allmyfas at gmail 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:
/ allmyfriendsaresynths
If you just want to hang out and chat with me or other (nice) folks, drop by the Discord: / discord
If you just want individual sample packs or downloads of video footage to use in your own projects, get them on Gumroad here: gumroad.com/allmyfriends
If you're in the market for new gear, my favourite place to find new and interesting synthesizers and other electronic music gear is Signal Sounds. They are based in Glasgow, but ship all over the place and often have stuff nobody else does. Find them at www.signalsounds.com/
If you're in the US and shop at Perfect Circuit, you can click through to see what they have in stock just now through my custom link. I get a small commission for any purchases made, which keeps me stocked up with whisky and beard oil. link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/...
and a whole pile of other stuff...
Instagram: / allmyfriendsaresynths
My main photo and video art blog: allmyfriendsarejpegs.com
The band I play guitar and sing in: closetorgan.bandcamp.com
The band I play bass and sing in: hogwyld.bandcamp.com
My DIY tape label, Cow Tongue Taco Records: cowtonguetacorecords.bandcamp...
My occasional music blog: unexpectedbowtie.com
Get in touch for possible collabs/offers of large sums of money, etc: allmyfas at gmail

Пікірлер: 51

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

*What's your technique for incorporating the Lyra-8 into your musical workflow?*

@Jonathan_Doe_ 2 жыл бұрын

Non yet, because I don’t own one, but you’ve made me very tempted to get one.

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

@@Jonathan_Doe_ Don't let me be the bad influence!!

@mgscheue 2 жыл бұрын

I just got mine and, so far, I don’t know. I sure am having fun, though. It is indeed meditative. Thank you for this video.

@PolyporesHQ 2 жыл бұрын

I'm currently using mine as a standalone instrument, with a loop pedal and reverb/delay pedals. I'm enjoying the fact that, compared with my usual modular setup, I have far less to think about. It's a lot simpler to perform on it. It won't replace modular but it certainly gives me more options for doing gigs further afield, because I can carry it on the train.

@2mbst1 2 жыл бұрын

Spending ages to tune it. Then find and practice a routine to get as variation out of it as possible and making it sonically break within the time constraint that the digitakt sample recorder offers. Than use that sample (and only that sample) to create kicks, snares, hats and everything for an entire groove. Super fun!

@alanbg2278 2 жыл бұрын

Nice ! Instead of using the Hold Knob, you can bridge the individual oscillator contacts with coins to further finesse control of those wonderful tones. Thanks for your inspirations !

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

Top tip!

@Thedrumsthebass 2 жыл бұрын

As long as I’ve been watching your channel I never noticed your super cool tattoo artwork. The palm tattoo is gnarly , that must have taken forever to heal.

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Yeah, the palms were awful. I had them both done in one sitting (along with the inner fingers). Never felt pain like it. They took quite a while to heal... but to fully heal took months and months for some of the parts. Worst part is I had to have them done twice!!

@isoldeisobelle552 2 жыл бұрын

I have owned a Lyra for about a year or so and use it fairly often to just make sound for myself. I am hoping on getting the Soma Cosmos to help capture some of Lyra's more fleeting moments of sui generis. Superb channel here and also another 'thumbs up' for Signal Sounds who, even though, are 125 miles away are essentially my local emporium of sonic adventure with excellent service.

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

The Cosmos looks amazing too! The build quality from Soma is wild.

@grayhutchisonnoise 2 ай бұрын

killdozer omg yes

@elijahryder313 2 жыл бұрын

It’s a very soothing sound I enjoyed

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!!

@AnotherMachines 2 жыл бұрын

AMAZING ! GREAT WORK !

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Got some more coming. :D

@pigg0814 2 жыл бұрын

Very tempted now to get one!

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

Don't blame me!!

@PodOfHeat Жыл бұрын

Great video man. I really want a Lyra 8... was thinking of using it like this only with the side chain function on my TR-8S 😊 There's about 9 different types of side chain which I think just vary where the sound external input signal dips but I think there's a bit of noodling and experimenting to be done there. Cheers for the inspiration dude!

@StephenMcLeod Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad it was of some kind of inspiration :D

@RedHedDes Жыл бұрын

Glad this came up on my feed. Now I realize I can probably get my OP-Z controlling my Lyra8 :O

@StephenMcLeod Жыл бұрын

Good luck!!

@brianparker3630 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your tutorials! I’ve been kicking around the urge to purchase a Lyra, I just purchased one from your buddies that loaned you one to demo for us! Hopefully it won’t take too long to make it to the US!

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

Ah nice one! Signal Sounds are usually dead speedy, so hope you like it! What colour did you go for?

@brianparker3630 2 жыл бұрын

@@StephenMcLeod Orange! It made it here in only six days, I’ll be checking with them on other items as well.

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

@@brianparker3630 The orange one is beautiful! Solid choice :D

@TheNimasan Жыл бұрын

got the lyra couple of days ago, no idea how to icorporaqtng into my flow. but it might arguably be my fav syth of last couple of decade, despite beeing a modular junkie. using it with soma cosmos and the h90 is a blessing in the sky!

@StephenMcLeod Жыл бұрын

Oh now that sounds like a delightful combination

@stewarthenson7558 Жыл бұрын

Very cool

@StephenMcLeod Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@Mr.Tubster 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds interesting 🙂 Nice one mate

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@TerekkiTerekki Жыл бұрын

Thanks good approach, so the Lyra 8 can react to envelopes on the gate in as opposed to just on/gates?

@StephenMcLeod Жыл бұрын

I believe so yeah. That's what the manual suggests!

@brunodadivore9606 2 жыл бұрын

HI Nice introduction to this instrument. For me it is the only easy-to-use direct synthetic sounds producing machine. I have a Touché which can send CV, not gate I think. Do you have an idea how to use CV signal in to ...modulate or whatever word to say modify the sound from the beast ? Thanks for your videos

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Bruno! Yeah it is beautiful. You can use CV input, but it doesn't track fully/neatly to 1v/octave. For that reason I think it's probably more useful for subtle LFOs etc for tremolo and what not. The gate input is far more... musically useful I think

@brunodadivore9606 2 жыл бұрын

@@StephenMcLeod ok Thanks for the answer I own a Beatstep should be ok to start I also read here and there that tuning stability is a worry except if we consider it is part of the uncertainty of the sound journey…

@StephenMcLeod 2 жыл бұрын

@@brunodadivore9606 Yeah, it's less about the stability, and more that the steps just don't track in a linear way to traditional instrumentation, so using the CV input and expecting to be able to 'play' the Lyra in that way isn't really how it works, but like you said - there's a bunch of interesting things you can experiment with with that idea!

@mescaLEO 2 жыл бұрын

3:05

@mntlpics Жыл бұрын

I think it's cool to do whatever you want with it, but I do think trying to "tame" it is sort of missing the point of this instrument. It's like a lion in a zoo, yes, you can tame it, put it in a cage, feed it at the same time everyday, but let's face it, the essence of the lion is lost. The wildness that makes it unique in the world is lost trying to tame it to fit into a slot. The Lyra seems like a live thing inside that box that you have to learn, over time, how best to work with. Like most interesting things, it's unpredictable. Nice video, flame on my friend!

@StephenMcLeod Жыл бұрын

Like any great lion, it can never be truly tamed. Only constrained.

@skelly790 Жыл бұрын

@@StephenMcLeod It's not, and will never be, a well tempered clavier. The unruly 8-oscillator bastard makes the rules, and everything else has to abide or gtfo.