SOMA Laboratory LYRA-4: a synthesizer for communication with whales
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SOMA Laboratory LYRA-4 · Source: SOMA via Gearnews.de
SOMA Laboratory LYRA-4 · Source: SOMA via Gearnews.de
A new video of the finalised production ready version of the LYRA-4 has emerged. It’s wrapped up in an intriguing and possibly believable story about its origins in the Soviet whale communication experiments of the 1960’s. The Russian voice over (with English subtitles) gives the impression of a serious documentary running over the top of some amazing drone and whale-like soundscapes coming from the LYRA-4.
LYRA-4
The LYRA-4 and it’s larger brother the LYRA-8 appeared for the first time last month and generated quite a bit of interest. The creator, Vlad Kreimer, has been building synths for his own performances and was inundated with requests to buy them. The LYRA Organismic Synthesizers are the result. They are analogue, with a digital delay, with 4 voices, distortion, modulation and LFO. It’s designed as a drone generator and soundscape manipulator. The metal buttons along the bottom are not really about pitch, they trigger and introduce sonic occurrences. The larger LYRA-8 basically doubles up on all the features of the LYRA-4.
Whale song
However, legend would have it that Vlad discovered the schematics for the LYRA from a long forgotten soviet research station. They were experimenting with whale communication in order to harness these mighty sea beasts as potential weapons. Instead the scientists were overwhelmed by the friendship that evolved between them and the whales, until the government put a stop to it. All knowledge of these activities were lost in time.
With the whale communication circuitry built into the heart of the LYRA that relationship can now continue. SOMA laboratory describe the main features as:
“The first generator produces the feeling of devotion. The second creates a sense of wonder. The third generates three desires. And the fourth one instills a feeling of completeness of existence. Then the delay modules transfers the feelings and perceptions onto the sub-conscious level, while the distortion module strengthens them. This enables transmitting the signal using the information-transferring properties of water.”
That’s completely awesome.
The bad news is that currently the LYRA-8 has a 6-8 month waiting list. The LYRA-4 has 3-4 month wait. They are all made by hand and Vlad is looking into producing a kit version to speed things up a bit for the DIY community.
I’m a huge fan of the synthesis that’s coming out of Russia at the moment. It all has an edge that the west just can’t seem to capture.
The LYRA-4 can be ordered for €350 or the LYRA-8 for €500 plus shipping. It doesn’t cost anything to get on the waiting list. Simply email omhohom@gmail.com and tell them which one you want to pre-order.
For more information check out the new and improved SOMA laboratory website.
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