ilovefuzz.com

just watched the demos of these, they sound really great. Are there any other devices that are similar to these but are a bit less expensive? The kits look like they would be a great way to go, but i am not at all experienced with any of that stuff so i would end up having to have somebody help me/pay them to do it for me anyways (i don't know if anyone on ILF does this in really minimal enclosures or not?). I have really been looking at getting into simple synths, but think i am not really ready to dive into modular yet. I also liked the Lab:1 . I have also just been considering getting a drone oscillator box (like a drone thing or something similar) and running that through my pedals, compute, and other stuff. But something like this or the Lab:1 seems like it would be a lot more fun to not only start with, but to grow into and expand with

This guy (from the muff thread) went the DIY route and his LYRA is sexy. He also did a DIY Serge system and does lush TANGERINE DREAM patches with it.
[youtube][/youtube]

Thanks for the link Sharktooth, is he also a member on ILF? I would like to contact him about this build and see how difficult it was and how he did the enclosure

Hi ibaraskishi! I don't think so. Only muff (he's in the later part of the thread thus far). Maybe message him through youtube?

His username is pirx. This is what he said about it:

Pirx: It is hard to tell the exact cost since I already had many parts available. The PCB kit was $144 with shipping to the US, the front panel was $110 (12" x 12" Front Panel Express with printed graphics, expensive, I know), the parts including front panel controls (most expensive ones) probably around $100-$120. So around $350-$400 to build the entire synth. In my opinion, the price of the completed Lyra-8 is not bad deal at all!

That is really helpful sharktooth, I will see what i can find out

Okay, in the spirit of full transparency, let's talk funds. This may help people make an informed decision (this post is catered to continental USA [48 States]).

From $harktoootth's Gmail except where there are brackets []:

[Based around the current exchange rate 1 EUR = 1.19 USD {$}]
Price:
LYRA-8 ------------------------------ EUR 540 [$640.42]
Shipment --------------------------- EUR 80 ( custom on EU side, full insurance - FedeX )[$94.88]

Money transfer commissions (see below)

-------PayPal-------

PayPal commissions (9%) * - EUR 55,80 [$66.18]
==============
TOTAL --------------------------- EUR 675 [$800.52]

* PayPal service takes a commission for every money transfer for buying goods and services.
It consists of fees for the commercial money transfer - 4-5 % (depend on a sender country); fees for currency conversion for non-EUR\USD zones - 2.5 %; and a commission hidden in the low exchange rate - about 1.5%. The purchase is covered by PayPal Purchase Protection. We can't reduce or avoid the commissions, sorry.

So I could have easily saved $66.18 if had I done the direct bank transfer. I'm not upset about that cause I'm lazy and goodness forbid they have a data leak. My PayPal is linked to one of my credit cards so if there was a case of identity theft, I'm covered.

I think the conclusion I'm trying to make for buyers is...at $800...you're in OP-1 territory (a popular item on this board now [and for good reason]). I have no issue paying this amount for the LYRA 8...cause I want one...but if you're on the market for an off the wall synth (structurally), I'm sure you can find something else (or just get an OP-1 ).

The actual 'worth' of this synth will be determined when I actually get to play it. From that I will probably factor that its 'value' is $640.42 (I take it there is nothing you can really do about shipping? I'm cool with it being insured and everything...apparently it is getting to my door in 2-4 business days so that is cool. As mentioned, the PayPal fees were my decision so I am not factoring that into the value. It's like when you need Saltines but go to a 'convenience store' instead of a grocery store.)

This will be WAY different for European buyers. SOMA's European headquarters are in Poland so you will save yourself shipping from that alone.
This is going to take the superlative of my most expensive piece of equipment V V/

^Thanks for this. Probably a bit too steep for me.

raj007 wrote:^Thanks for this. Probably a bit too steep for me.

Of course bro!
I was going to hit you up as it looks like a Wigglin Bro wants to sell their LYRA 4 (I know you're in that thread). They're in France though so it's still going to be a pretty penny for shipping but probably not near that $100 mark. No external in as you know.

Abstract Instruments Avalon Bassline is also in this price range. I just wanted to call attention to the price and 'more flexible synths' as this is a very specific thing.

again, this is really helpful ^ I will be interested to see what everyone thinks about it once they actually play it too. I hope you post some videos as well, as it would be really cool to see it in action and how you are planning on using it

It is done...my time in this dimension has ceased and I have entered the realm of...LYRA...

So far my reaction has been this...
[youtube][/youtube]


LYRA (I am going to refer to it as a living being, ergo calling LYRA by its name) is straight up from 'The Music of Erich Zann'. I don't plan on leaving my room much between playing LYRA and my infatuation with VR pornography.

On a logistical end:
I. The 'eco-friendly' case, that was alleged to have come with this, is just a cardboard box and I plan on recycling it (it is of no use to me). If you have a friend with a Guinea Pig, this would be a great treat for said Guinea Pig. It helps keep their teeth strong and they seem to enjoy chewing! Everyone wins!
II. LYRA is a lot smaller than I imagined (and thank goodness). I'm not sure if it was the focal length of the lens in videos or perhaps my frame is larger than the human subject in said videos (I am not a large person; I though I had a similar frame as Vlad's) alas, LYRA is very a convenient size. The depth is obviously going to be larger than the average laptop but LYRA's length and width is similar to that of my MacBook.
III. Which brings me to the case; I'm just going to keep LYRA in one of my padded laptop bags.
IV. It was VERY VERY nice of them to include a power supply with multiple adapters. I don't travel but, if I did, this would come in handy.
V. Somebody on Muff said it took them 15 minutes to open up the packaging...it took me all of 90 seconds from the first rip, to having LYRA plugged in and playing.

I am happy to answer any logistical questions (build quality, what to expect from FedEx etc.). I wouldn't hold your breath for any demos on my end (I am a notoriously slow learner). I will say from initially playing LYRA, previously I 'was' excited to throw this through pedals but now, I think LYRA does so many cool things on LYRA's own. The sound is hard to describe...very clean...cleansing? Even with the distortion. I don't know, I like the sound though. I can see LYRA being a therapeutic instrument. The inspiration is self-contained.

SOMA could not have been nicer with support and customer service (not from an instrument operational perspective [although I'm sure that is fine, just not in my needs] but with shipping and errors on FedEx's end [FedEx made exactly three careless errors on their end and I had to go into 'micro-manage mode' {which I loathe doing}]). Grzegorz (SOMA EU Division) is very sweet and was kind enough to send me some of his tunes (I asked in our correspondence "what kind of tunes" he was into and if he made music).

Last thought: But, as you know, LYRA a very expensive entity. I would not recommend LYRA for everyone. I only got LYRA because I specifically wanted something LYRA. There may be 1500 floating around by the end of next year, so if you are hesitant, just wait for a used one to pop up (I can't imagine they are going to retain much second hand value per the niche market).

Thank you for the detailed report on LYRA. Still stoked for my turn to come up (prob. Dec. or Jan.). --- ! ! ! To conclude, LYRA. The demos remind me a lot of Ciat-Lonbarde stuff, which I like, so I anticipate enjoying LYRA.

Such a shame they're using FedEx. Fuck FedEx so hard

Welp!! Had to run out and buy some more lube for FedEx to continue fucking me. Slapped with a $41.95 invoice per VAT and taxes. Snide remarks and disparaging comments welcomed and encouraged.

LYRA is wonderful though...no complaints on LYRA...

RAAAARGHH DIE FEDEX DIE!

But seriously was it $41.95 for the Lyra? That's not at all bad. When I ordered my double knot from Perfect Circuit I got smacked with a £120 customs+fees bill from parcelforce. INSANE

In the UK customs charges are pretty much entirely unavoidable. In fact, the only time I got away with it was a CT5 pedal direct from MA. I don't know how they labelled the box but clearly it worked some magic on the customs people.
Despite the charges, i do like that Fedex just give you the damn package straight away and THEN slap the invoice on you, royal mail, UPS, Parcelforce etc hold the package for twice the amount of time it was in transit then then take 3 days to waste a load of paper by mailing you a bill, then another 2 days to deliver the damn thing.

CUSTOMS =

I agree to an extent. Incidentally, never got a customs charge for any of my Seppuku pedals (and believe me...I HAVE A LOT OF THOSE )
Do you have to pay additional taxes for being in London? I was under the impression for a lot of things London tax is in general different than UK tax.