Full Description

Weird and wonderful

The SOMA Lyra-8 is not like your conventional synthesizer. The module is intertwined by many nonlinear connections and works in an entangled state, thus allowing for the creation of many complex FX and drones rather than melodic sounds. Nothing is synced and quantised, which makes it all the better for creating drones. This is what makes the synthesizer excel at creating weird and wonderful sounds.

Without numbers on knobs or presets, the Lyra-8 wants you to get straight in and delve into exploration. It is the ideal synthesizer for creating modulating drones, FX, atmospheres, pads, soundscapes and textures. The Lyra-8 produces a palette of darkly fractured tones. The Lyra-8 is the big sister of the Lyra-4, offering double the voices, 2 delay lines, more FM modulation, and more synthesis algorithms.

In-depth controls

On-board are 8 voices, each with their own pitch (TUNE) knob and envelope generator. There is no quantisation for the pitch, allowing you to get everywhere in between notes. Each voice also has its own modulation source selector and its own LFO that is tuned to a dedicated frequency, allowing you to avoid that primitive sinusoidal vibe you hear when only 1 LFO is used on all the voices.

The SHARP knob allows you to move between a sine and triangle waveform. The HOLD knob lets you create a continuous sound and bring up the volume of all the voices, and the transpose knob allows you to set the pitch or key for the whole group. This then allows you to start adjusting other knobs whilst playing to create slowly evolving textures.

Each voice has a sensor that allows you to activate the sound. Each voice also has a MOD knob that sets a selected voice pair's modulation depth with everything from sonically extreme to bright-sounding effects.

Premium-grade effects

The Lyra-8 also offers a range of effects designed to enhance your sound. It features integrated FM, vibrato, LFO, distortion and delay. The FM is dialed in by three 4-way switches, allowing for 81 variations of FM synthesis. Each voice has its own unique vibrato frequency, as there as 8 independent vibrato generators in the instrument.

The HYPER LFO consists of 2 separately tuned low-frequency oscillators, which a complex waveform can be synthesized. The Lyra-8 also features 2 independent delay channels, each with their own individual time adjustment and option of modulation. There is also a SELF/LFO switch which allows the delay time to be modulated by its own output signal, thus creating interesting FX.

The distortion allows you to mangle the sound. It features a drive and mix knob for setting the required amounts. Additionally, the Lyra-8 can be used as an external effects processor. For example, you can connect a drum machine and use the effects on the Lyra-8 to add delay, distortion and LFO to the drum machine.

Reviews

"A very responsive if unpredictable form of analogue FM synthesis with voices interacting to produce brain-twisting textures. Not all synth players are going to be immediately drawn to the Lyra-8's sometimes abrasive, droning tonality, but those who are will find it refreshingly, genuinely different!" Sound on Sound

Read the full review here.

Features

• Module is intertwined by many nonlinear connections and works in an entangled state
• Ideal for creating drones, atmospheres, complex FX, soundscapes, textures and pads
• 8 unique voices, each with their own pitch, envelope generator and modulation source
• Each voice's LFO has a different dedicated frequency
• Sine and triangle waveforms
• HOLD knob for providing continuous volume of voices
• Sensors for activating voice
• Each voice has its own unique vibrato frequency
• Integrated FM allows for 81 variations of FM synthesis
• LFO with 2 separately tuned low-frequency oscillators
• 2 independent delay channels, each with their own time adjustment and option of modulation
• Delay time can also be modulated by the delay’s own output signal, which enables many effects
• Distortion with drive and mix amount
• Can be used as an external effects processor

Specifications

• Max Output Voltage: 2 v 0-to-peak
• Output Connector: Mono 6.3mm TS or TRS (balanced) jack
• Output Resistance: 100 Ohm
• EXT IN: 1 v 0-to-peak
• EXT IN Connector: 6.3mm TS jack
• HOLD GATE: Full HOLD volume +5V
• HOLD GATE Connector: 6.3mm TS jack
• CV DELAY: Unipolar, range of 0 to +5 volt
• CV DELAY Connector: 6.3mm TS jack
• CV VOICES: Unipolar, range of 0 to +5 volt
• CV VOICES Connector: 6.3mm TS jack
• Power Supply: Stabilised, +12V, 0.2A, center positive
• Power Consumption: 2 watt
• Dimensions: 266 x 266 x 62mm
• Weight: 2.5kg