#31

My Lyra has a center position on the AND OR switch in the LFO. This turns off the LFO but it allows the mod knobs to all feed back into each other when the oscillator pairs are switched to LFO FB CV. No triggering is happening here, just mod feedback and playing with the mod knobs. With the right frequencies and mod amounts, you will get these beats. In other settings it makes interesting chaotic drones which you can hear at points in the video.
Not all Lyras have the center position, but J Bowman says you can get the same effect by setting both LFO knobs to one extreme (forgot which).

2 Likes
#32

Interesting–I really like the sound of the QO. Lately, I’ve developed a thing about different qualities of noise–both audio and video, including tuning old TV’s to different frequencies. Also didn’t notice any big differences between halves, but I was working and listening–so will try a deep listen. Appreciate you taking the time to post this–thanks!

#33

Thanks, gotta try that. Wondering if my Lyra has the center position…

#34

I didn’t notice nearly as many of the hidden microsounds as before when making or listening to this recording. So far this phenomenon seem to have more to do with my state of mind than what the box is doing. Also it could have something to do with the AD conversion. The MixPre is a superb high resolution recorder (the best I’ve used personally), but even so I felt like something was lost listening to the QO through it.

2 Likes
#35

I’ve been using it for about a week. I am approaching right now it as a tool, something like a using a mantra or metronome or prayer beads, ignoring the pads and any kind of intellectual analysis. I’ll hold off judgement until I experience or don’t experience shapes and colors and emotions in the noise. Then I’ll look at the other exercises.

So far I am able to make myself sense layers and shapes and patterns in the noise, but it takes a good amount of concentration and is difficult to sustain.

It’s been an interesting experience I definitely want to continue. As with meditation it makes all the difference to be able to quiet one’s mind, you’re not going to get far without that.

2 Likes
#36

sustained concentration is easier with a relaxed mind. In Buddhist meditation it is called Samatha.

2 Likes
#37

My Lyra-8 doesn’t have the centre position, but I can get the LFO to lock, as shown here:

I have found I can get fast attacks playing the sensors using hand creme, having the Hold knobs close to their bite point, making sure I get full contact on both sensors etc., but that’s another topic - sorry for the diversion, I am interested in the Quantum Ocean, like all Soma products!

1 Like
#38

I’ve been peeking at this thing trying to decide still whether I really like or am extremely put off by it…

I love subtractive synthesis, exploring different noise sources, very slow small subtle changes. Not to attack those who are into it but I find the whole psychic/esoteric thing extremely unappealing. At best to me it is silly marketing hype like “long lost masterpiece by unknown weirdo from Exotic Location”, or maybe mildly amusing like watching Secret Life of Plants.

I’ve done quite a bit of stuff over the years using noise sources basically with nothing but filtering and shaping things very slowly, and when you are tuned in and as the ears fatigue and adjust you can hear some really wonderful rich things. So I do like the idea of opening up people to listening and to listening to wider band noise and texture in a detailed way, and I suppose if you want to consider that as a meditative practice then cool, its a way in. I also see a big appeal in being able to sit there and do that without having to “play” anything, or without having to record it first and it having more potential for variation and interaction (assuming the pads are in fact actually wired into the circuit in a functional way) than your typical white noise machine. I’d love to know more about technically what is going on and would find that far more interesting than pseudoscience, like what type of circuit is the main noise source and from there is there any potential for filtering or accenting frequencies, interference, forms of clipping or distortion, etc. I love the idea of small scale tools for focused or deep listening, and if someone finds some form of meditative or spiritual fulfillment out of that I see that as not being very different from whatever music making you feel good. But the presentation of this at worst makes me hesitant to look at the thing any further because if it isn’t just marketing I don’t like the idea of funding the promotion of pseudoscience like homeopathy or people like Rupert Sheldrake.

3 Likes
#39

The pads are wired into circuit in a way that can potentially cause audible changes. You can demonstrate this by connecting an out pad to the collar of the power switch via alligator lead. This produces an easily audible change, primarily a drop in level, and the effect is stereophonic depending on which pads are patched. Using the device as intended with ESR on the order of MOhms, any changes are not clearly audible.

Not in any easily audible way at least without outside help. I haven’t tried injecting a signal yet, but it’s been fun as a noise source for downstream processing. If you haven’t, please take a listen to the file I uploaded. That is roughly the extent of modulation you can expect using the box by itself and/or touching it: microscopic if any at all.

I think homeopathy is an interesting comparison, because we know through the scientific process that it doesn’t work the way it’s intended to, however it sometimes does “work” through a mental process that we only somewhat understand: placebo. QO exists in a similar place, the interface between the conscious/unconscious mind and the human body. Listening to QO can definitely put me in a different state of mind, so in that sense, it “works”. If anyone can explain the scientific mechanism by which this happens, I’d love to read their rigorously peer-reviewed paper. I suspect that Vlad can’t, otherwise he’d be up for a Nobel. I have to agree that his What the Bleep Do We Know presumptions about quantum entanglement and consciousness are very off-putting.

3 Likes
#40

Thanks for the info on the pads. I did check out the recording and the spectrogram, and it is interesting. I feel being able to make something where the changes are JUST noticeable enough if you are actually focused on listening is great, and I’d consider finding that fine of a line a nice accomplishment in and of itself, albeit one that maybe 10 people in the world appreciate haha.

I get what you mean regarding placebo effect, and I can accept that when its being pushed in that direction- meditation assistance, so on. Its walking that kind of fine line that I find so touchy I suppose. For example I don’t want to completely write off that there is nothing we can learn from looking at things like Ayurvedic or Chinese or other forms of traditional medicine. I suppose for better or worse the west’s adoption/adaption of Yoga for physical and mental health being the most prevalent example. But at the same time you get a booming bogus cure industry. I think living in what feel very much like post-truth times where something like Ancient Aliens’ type quackery starts as stoner entertainment and slowly works its way into actually being considered a viable truth for some is disturbing. Given how often these things get tangled together its a slippery slope down to the more dangerous side with anti-vaxxers, things like Pizzagate, qanon BS, so on. I like the idea of buying a personal use instrument, but the pseudoscience feels like either irresponsible marketing to me or like buying orgone crystals off ebay, neither of which I’m down for. Or perhaps I’m taking that way too seriously.

2 Likes
#41

Seems harmless so far, pending reports of what’s in the Kool Aid at https://somasynths.com/zanzibar/

1 Like
#42

Any more field reports on this? While I am not likely to explore the pseudoscience presented, it seems interesting as an immersion / meditation device.

#43

I like this a lot! :raised_hands:

1 Like
#44

Me too. I enjoyed the sound file above, I found it best listening at quite a quiet volume. I felt I could hear all kinds of things then! Really tough to quiet my mind. I should learn to do it better, so I’m interested whether this will help or whether any old white noise app might be enough.

1 Like
#45

I am very happy to enjoy benefit from the placebo effect​:joy::joy: it’s a nice concept and Soma is a great company…

1 Like
#46

Did you get one in the end Euxine? How do you get on with quieting your mind?

I do like Soma - I had my eye on the Lyra 8 for years and finally got one a month ago! I love it. And it’s control room green which is also very cool. I’ve got a few videos with it if you’re interested! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeRLE2dy6AofQA2NR5yPQUg

#47

Received my QO earlier this month and it’s been a wonderful soothing meditation device.

Hearing ten minutes is a nice sound example, but the receiving and transmitting poles on it are really a trip to figure out. I like to sit with my hands on both posts (send and receive) and it’s cool to consider yourself being a small loop of reception and broadcast. Occasionally you’ll hear small events happen, like a crackle that floats around, or a muffled door shutting. All of this is the mind, of course, but it’s also audible, which happens with noise - the brain fills in details. I’ve also been surprised by sudden thoughts or solutions to problems that jump out in a session. I regularly meditate daily with a Mindplace Kasina, which can help train your mind for other meditation devices. Because of the Kasina, I think my dip into the QO was pretty quick and I like it quite a lot. It feels like swimming. I really prize the thing.

Also: If you want a more active QO, turn it on and place a Soma Ether on top and listen through the Ether. Suddenly, all the transmissions and reception are playable, and they combine to be a pretty effective playable/musical noise source.

6 Likes
#48

Sounds like a great experience! Thanks for sharing your thoughts :pray: The Ether is also on my wish list :see_no_evil:

2 Likes
#49

Thanks, Esq! I did a review and demo of the QO this week. At about 9:25 you hear the Ether interpret the Ocean.

4 Likes
#50

Thanks, really helpful and informative

1 Like