Soma Laboratory LYRA-8 (Green)

Desktop Organic Analog Synthesizer

• Performance-oriented 8-voice professional analog synthesizer.
• Unique architecture based on "voices" inspired by electric organ generators, not traditional VCOs.
• Organic and unpredictable sound, ideal for drones, soundscapes and experimental sound design.
• Includes complex Hyper LFO, Mod Delay with inter-line resonance and distortion circuit.
• Interface with expressive touch surfaces and playback capability via metal voice contacts.
• Professional instrument with dynamics and frequency response optimized for live and studio use.

The SOMA Laboratory LYRA-8 (Green) is a state-of-the-art professional synthesizer based on a unique structure of 8 oscillators, or as the manufacturer prefers to call them, "voices." Unlike classical subtractive synthesis with VCO, the sound engine of the LYRA-8 is reminiscent of the complex and rich sounds of old electronic organs, offering a distinctive and organic sonic character.

Lyra-8: The Performance-Oriented Drone Synthesizer

This instrument is a fully analog drone synthesizer designed for live performance and bolder sound design. Its eight voices can be used either individually or in complex FM configurations, where the impact of each voice on the FM synthesis decreases as its envelope decays. This nonlinear structure is at the heart of its sound that is so vivid and ever-changing.

Unique Sound Architecture of the LYRA-8

The voices of the LYRA-8 are organized into four pairs (1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8), further subdivided into two groups (1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8), creating a complex tree-like structure that encourages unexpected sound interactions. Each voice is freely tunable over a wide range, with a mix of triangular/square waveforms and an adjustable FM modulation for each pair of voices, allowing extremely detailed and unpredictable sound sculpting. The AD envelope for each voice, with both slow and fast response times, contributes to the expressive dynamics of the instrument.

Integrated Effects and Advanced Features for Your Lyra.

To push the boundaries of sound design even further, the LYRA-8 includes powerful and well-integrated effects blocks:

• HYPER LFO: A complex low-frequency generator whose waveform is synthesized from the sum or multiplication of two LFOs, with a synchronization mode. It modulates selected pairs of voices and Mod Delay.
• MOD DELAY: Composed of two delay lines with cross feedback and a special architecture that allows resonance. The delay time of each line can also be individually modulated by external sources. Features a unique auto-modulation function, where the output signal modulates the sampling rate of the delay, creating unique sound effects.
• DISTORSION: Placed in a chain after the delay, it allows the delayed signal to further influence the distortion, adding character and aggression to the sound.
• Feedback Path: A switchable feedback path that adds further unpredictability and timbral richness.
• Drive Knob: With a wet/dry controller, to dose the intensity of distortion.

Thanks to the touch surfaces, the LYRA-8 can be played extremely expressively, with the ability to activate voices via 2 metal contacts for each voice. Despite its experimental nature, the LYRA-8 is a professional instrument: its output dynamics and frequency response are optimized for the highest quality live performance or studio recording, without the need for additional processing. A unique and very inspiring musical instrument for artists, producers and sound designers.

Technical Specifications.

• Max output voltage: 2 V 0-to-peak
• Output connector: mono 6.3 mm TS or TRS (balanced) jack
• Output resistance: 100 Ohm
• EXT IN: 1 V 0-to-peak
• EXT IN connector: 6.3 mm TS jack
• HOLD GATE: full HOLD volume +5 V
• HOLD GATE connector: 6.3 mm TS jack
• CV DELAY: unipolar, range of 0 to +5 volts
• CV DELAY: 6.3 mm TS jack
• CV VOICES: unipolar, range of 0 to +5 volts
• CV VOICES connector: 6.3 mm TS jack
• Power supply: stabilized, +12 V, 0.2 A, center positive
• Power Consumption: 2 watts
• Dimensions: 266 x 266 x 62 mm
• Weight (without power supply and packaging): 2.5 kg