Soma presents the Soma Lyra-8 Zansibar, an incredibly expressive and organic-sounding drone synthesizer in desktop format. The fully analogue instrument features eight oscillators with variable waveforms that can be used individually with their own envelope but also combined for complex FM sounds.
Expressive
The Soma Lyra-8 Zansibar is played either with the VCA open (Drone Mode) or with the 16 very sensitive sensors below the oscillators. These each represents a pair of contacts; the upper one triggers the envelope, and the lower one the pitch control. Both keys are so sensitive that pressure speed, intensity and duration have a clear influence on the sound shaping. Even environmental influences like higher humidity have an effect on the sensors.
Number 8 is alive!
For modulations, there is a dual LFO with two frequencies that can be used simultaneously. Switchable is also, or one or both show their effect and the second LFO should modulate the first. Complex? No, actually only the Hyper LFO. Further modulations are possible on the oscillator level additively or instead of the LFO: in pairs two oscillators influence another tone generator, of course, this also works with larger groups.
Effects
The final touch is given to the generated sounds of the Soma Lyra-8 Zansibar Drone synthesizer by the DualDelay with attached distortion. The two timelines are separately controllable and can be driven into self-oscillation if needed, which creates resonant and pulsating sound carpets. Also, the timelines can be modulated with different intensities by the LFO. Transformer-like sounds, Flanger sounds and anything you can use for "dub" can be achieved with this in no time. The distortion unit connected after the Delay has an enormous share in the possible sound design.
Control voltages
If you want more control from outside, you can control the Soma Lyra-8 Drone Synthesizer eg. with a sequencer from the modular system in pitch and note length and additionally modulate the delay time with another external CV source.
Audio input
Thanks to the audio input, the instrument can be used perfectly for processing other sources such as a drum machine. The actual synthesizer part is bypassed here, but the signal flows directly through the DualDelay and the distortion unit.
Soma Lyra-8 Zansibar at a glance:
Drone Synthesizer
Desktop design
Full analogue
Very organic sound
Eight oscillators
Variable waveforms
Complex FM
Hyper LFO
Hold envelope
Dual Delay
Distortion
Audio input
CV/Gate inputs
Review: LYRA-8 explained // SOMA LABS
LYRA-8 improvisation by Vlad Kreimer (ART-AURA 2017)
Soma Laboratory LYRA-8 Synthesizer Sonic Exploration // Demo
a 5-year-old child plays cool noise set on LYRA-8
Features:
Manufacturer:
SOMA LABORATORY
Construction / Number of Keys:
Desktop without keyboard
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