METACONFORMER Combiner Tutorial (SOMA labs)

video upload by Vlad Kreimer

"The manual: https://somasynths.com/metaconformer_..."

See the announcement post here for an additional demo, pics and details.

SOMA Labs Introduces METACONFORMER Modular MIDI Processor

demo video upload by Vlad Kreimer



"Metaconformer is a modular MIDI processor designed to expand the capabilities of musical instruments and to simplify the interaction between a musician and their MIDI instruments. It offers new ways of playing music through innovative and groundbreaking MIDI message routing capabilities between multiple instruments.

The MIDI protocol is an efficient engineering solution used reliably for decades by musicians. However, in many situations it does not take into account the musical context, which is essential for the artist. Metaconformer changes this. Located between the MIDI controller and your instruments, it coordinates human ideas with the language of hardware.

Metaconformer’s capabilities provide new ways of playing instruments, by combining MIDI instruments and exploring their interaction . You will be able to play multiple instruments at the same time as if they were part of one larger instrument. Metaconformer also opens up the possibility of sound control through pressing the keys on your MIDI keyboard, instead of having to reach for the knobs on your gear. This will allow you to discover and unlock new facets and possibilities of your favorite instruments!

The idea behind the Metaconformer is to give musicians a new way of looking at their instruments and what else they can do with a little creativity in MIDI.

SOMA is closely related to the idea of organismic synthesizers . Each of our instruments aims to give the musician the experience of interacting with a system in which several independent modules can influence each other and create more than the sum of its parts.

Metaconformer is no exception. It breaks down at least two barriers that have stood in the way of all MIDI musicians for decades. It establishes a dialogue between different instruments, breaking the barrier of parallel universes of MIDI channels. And Metaconformer also allows you to enter the values of synthesis parameters not by turning knobs on your synths, but by pressing keys on your MIDI keyboard, breaking the barrier of the one- dimensional universe of notes and creating a multi-dimensional universe of parametric chords."

3am - mote

video upload by justin3am

"I colored outside the lines a bit on this one. Clipping, messy.
Some weird acid vibes but mostly just weird.
I got this old Boss mixer with banana jacks for $5. Still figuring out gain staging, lol. Interesting flaws, but I think it works well for this kind of thing."

Dreadful Machine Rhythms

video upload by verstaerker

"please enjoy my latest industrialized track
'Dreadful Machine Rhythms'
performed live mainly around a complex Buchla 200e patch

main machines used as featured in the video:
Buchla 200e, Digitakt, Serge, Pulsar-23, Yocto 8080, Ms-20 Mini, Cirklon
--------------------------------------------------------------
to listen more music by me please visit
https://verstaerker.bandcamp.com
https://verstaerkerahead.bandcamp.com"

HWJ Extra - ’Noisevember' 03 2023

video upload by SynthAddict

"RoAT and Microcosm

Still fairly short... :-)
Some random noodling with an algorithm on the Microcosm."

Peter Theremin tries SOMA FLUX

video upload by Vlad Kreimer

"Peter Theremin is the great-grandson of the famous Leon Theremin
https://theremin.space/en/

FLUX
https://somasynths.com/flux/"

Lyra-8 and the Jomox Alpha Base

video upload by Markham Synth Society

"Here we have the Lyra 8 droaning and processing the Alpha Base."

Ambient Jam - Soma Labs Lyra-8/Meng Qi Wingie 2/Chase Bliss MOOD/Korg SQ1

video upload by Kuro Kasetto

"A litlle ambient jam using the Lyra-8 as the main sound source.
Wingie 2 processes the signal from the Lyra-8 while the Sq1 sequences certain notes in the Wingie 2, the Mood adorns the sound."

Soma Labs - Cosmos (or how I learned to stop worrying and trust the loop)

video upload by NOISEBUG

"Looping, delaying, graining and more looping with the Soma Labs - cosmos

#synth #modularsynth #looperpedal #somalabs #somalabscosmos"

https://www.noisebug.net/

'Rhythm of Dreams' • Experimental Ambient • Improv performance on the Deluge, Virus & Cosmos

video upload by Will's W I T C H C R A F T

"A bit of random explorational play - the last thing to be uploaded that was done with the SOMA Cosmos.........putting it through its' paces................

Custom sounds • Synthstrom Deluge • Access Virus • Soma Cosmos • Neunaber Immerse MkII"

fractal Pulsar Beat 23

video upload by verstaerker

"a sound and graphics experiment using mainly the Pulsar-23 @vladkreimer3176 a Prophet-10 synths
fractals created in Blender using the fractal collection by @BadNormals
---------------------------------------------------------------
to listen more music by me please visit
https://verstaerker.bandcamp.com
https://verstaerkerahead.bandcamp.com"

SOMA Laboratory Terra Desktop Touch Synthesizer Light Finish w/ Travel Case SN TERLOEU0202

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Ornament 8 | Episode 01 | Patching Errors (featuring Error Instruments Cloud Busting)

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Ornament-8 is an organismic sequencer that's completely, I mean totally, different from any sequencer I know. I am starting this video with zero knowledge and at some point I just gave up. So welcome to episode 01! This episode is called 'patching errors' . After failing miserably with Pulsar-23, I wanted to find out if Ornament-8 would be able to sequence Error Instruments' Cloud Busting - which has pins. It worked very well and it's been a lot of fun."

soma terra

video upload by studio snippets

Pulsar From Mars

video upload by Samples From Mars

https://samplesfrommars.com/products/... "Controlled Chaos From Our Favorite Modern Drum Machine
The Pulsar 23 is a semi-modular, analog drum machine from SOMA Laboratories, and the second in their line of "organismic" synthesizers. Despite its intimidating look, this mashup of classic and modern analog synthesis provides immediate fun and inspiration, so it's no wonder it was your #1 choice for what we should sample next! (via a survey we sent out earlier this year).

So much more than just blips and beeps, the Pulsar's 23 modules give this machine an un-rivaled, vast sonic pallet that allowed us to sculpt some of the most unique loops and one-hits we've ever made."

Terraforming | Extending Soma Lab's Terra with midi

video upload by

"When I started this journey I was looking forward to use the Terra MPE mode as a fancy controller. I made a video, and deleted it later because it didn't meet my expectations compared to dedicated controllers like the Linnstrument and the Seaboard. The old video ended with a lot of speculation and a nice patch with Terra and a modular setup. It wasn't any good. But I could not let it rest either.

It did not use the knob/sensor mappings and I did not check how it would behave as a controller for an MPE PC/VST setup. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't spectacular. Terra uses fixed Midi CC messages, and my VST did not support midi learn. It was another dead end. Yesterday I decided to make a CC mapping for the Endorphin_es Shuttle Control and tried a full modular MIDI to CV route, mapping all Terra's knobs and the ABCD sensors. This turned out to work really well. This video is not intended as a 'how to do it', because I am still working on it. It also requires the right eurorack modules and there are just too many converters/options.

It's been a connectivity nightmare that took way too much time and energy. But now my Shuttle has a preset mapping and I can now start experimenting and exploring. I really enjoyed the music and sounds that emerged along the ride. The footage I used is from Iceland."

FLUX prototype demo (SOMA lab)

video upload by Vlad Kreimer

"FLUX brings forth the musicality and expression of classical instruments, such as violin or vocals, enriched by new timbres and the flexibility of postmodern instruments, harnessing the power of current technology.

FLUX is a high end professional synthesizer with expressive possibilities, an innovative interface design with top quality digital-to-analog converters and analog components.

FLUX features a unique continual touchless keyboard that offers seamless control over a number of sound parameters without quantisation.

In many ways, FLUX is inspired by the Theremin, which offers the unique opportunity of controlling sound by moving your hands in the air without touching any object, all of which lends the performance a special plasticity and beauty.

Unlike the Theremin which works by virtue of the capacitive coupling of hands and antennae, FLUX is based on magnetic principles. Two magnetic bows are pressed between your fingers, and the interface is a multipolar magnetic sensor, registering the bows’ positions and movements. The X coordinate of the artist’s right-hand bow controls the note’s pitch, while the Z coordinate controls volume. The left-hand bow’s X, Y and Z coordinates control the various synthesis parameters.

Since a magnet has two poles, FLUX not only detects the bows’ spatial coordinates, but also the bows’ angle. This means that flipping the right-hand bow on the Y-axis changes the octave, which allows a range of six continuous octaves without transposing the keyboard. With transposition you can get a range from sub-bass all the way to ultrasonic. The left-right tilting of the right-hand bow on the X-axis controls two independent modulation parameters.

The left-hand bow controls the timbres. The timbral sensor, placed in the left part, has six poles, and independently registers positive and negative magnetic fields. This lets you change which parameters you control by flipping the bow, allowing you to control up to twelve independent sound parameters. Together with the pitch, volume and two additional tilt parameters on the right-hand bow, you have access to a total of sixteen sonic controls that you can use during performance, without ever touching the surface of the instrument.

Summing up the concept of FLUX: the most direct and immediate way to play with a large number of synthesis parameters in a musical way, creating a dynamic timbre composition. Different synthesis algorithms (engines) will be created as complete musical instruments for direct timbral control. All engines will be available in a single firmware and any engine can be launched in a fraction of a second. Presets will allow the user to save and recall the entire state of the synth including engine and all tunings.

We developed FLUX with the aim to create a modern instrument for academic music, offering powerful sonic tools such as distortion, complex FM and physical modelling of non-existent, surrealistic musical instruments. We invite modern performers and composers to use FLUX in their work.

FLUX works in monophonic, duophonic and polyphonic modes. Staccato-enabling and quantisation modes are available. The quantization function has an adjustment parameter for vibrato. FLUX has a stable, even, and clearly marked note scale. This makes FLUX much easier to learn and to intone cleanly than on the Theremin.

FLUX’s synthesis is DSP-based. It features built-in spatial FX. The digital-to-analog converters and the analog circuit are based on our in-house designs using Hi-End principles.

FLUX is under development. We will inform the community about the progress."

via SOMA Lab

Ambient jam with the Soma Terra and Soma Cosmos

video upload by Jay Hosking

"A live, semi-improvised synthesizer jam performed entirely on hardware.

First, apologies for the change in video quality. I upgraded my camera, but some problems with the SD card led to a reversion back to 30 frames a second (I'm a big believer in 24fps). It also isn't looking quite how I want yet. I hope it's not too jarring.

Second, I got the Soma Terra. It is a joyful experience.

Some of the Soma stuff just doesn't work for me: the Lyra was always halfway to what I wanted, the Pulsar has great sounds and (for me) small sweet spots. But the Cosmos was a revelation, like something I'd always wanted but didn't know how to put into words. The Terra has a similar feeling.

The Terra is expressive and has complexity, but also is immediate to understand, musically. It's quick and easy to modify in terms of the sound engine and the notes associated with each brass button. The sound engines were a real positive surprise, with lots of warmth and musicality. The reverb and delay are good and totally useable, but not near the level of some of the dedicated pedals out there.

The Terra's not perfect for me—the number of buttons, and general layout, make it feel more like a device for solos versus a complete arrangement like guitar or piano—but it's a joy to play, and utterly unlike anything else. I wonder if Soma will iterate upon the design, make something a little more for two-handed playing. I'd also love to see diatonic transposition, though that would require some sort of way to set the scale; in the meantime, I love how fast and relatively seamless it is to switch patches (and thus switch the notes). Ultimately, I'm sitting here thinking about going back and playing the Terra some more, and that's always a fantastic sign.

Thanks for listening.

Soma Terra - synthesis and performance
Soma Cosmos - asymmetrical looping

Performed and recorded live to a stereo output, with EQ, compression, and limiting on the master."

Terra & MIDI | Terra's secondary nature | Embracing the limitations

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"When I started making this video, I assumed Terra could double as a midi controller. It supports three modes that can be summed up as 'keystep', 'controller' and 'MPE'. There's a midi in, but it only supports clock to sync the ARP/LFO. I don't think I'd ever use Terra as a keystep or controller, but MPE sounded interesting. However, the standard implementation doesn't map or translate pressure/velocity so it simply never gets as expressive as a 'real' MPE controller. So I abandoned the video at first and almost deleted my recordings.

The manual describes the midi implementation as a secondary role with Terra first/foremost being a stand alone instrument. It's easy to read as 'we added midi, but it's a bit limited'. So if you're thinking of Terra as part of your midi setup, you may need to review your expectations. 'keystep' mode doesn't use microtonal scales. MPE doesn't do velocity. And controller mode only outputs midi CC messages.

I didn't get it.

But then the words in the manual started to form an image in my head. A spider in a web, where the spider is Terra, and the web is a midi network. When the spider moves, the world responds. It's not designed to be part of a midi setup, it's designed to be in the heart, the center. So I wired it up with this concept in mind, and a new world opened up. It's a wonderful limitation."

The Soothing Ambient And Microtonal Depths of a Decopunk Synthesizer

video upload by HAINBACH

"This is the Soma Terra, a microtonal digital synthesizer released just this year. Soma send it to me a while back for feedback, but I only got to play it now (sorry Vlad), as I felt this instruments deserves time and space to learn. And I was rewarded. Terra is a digital synthesizer in a shape that seems archaic, like a Decopunk harp straight from Bioshock. It has an interface that takes the touch keyboard experiments that Don Buchla pioneered further, making for a very responsive instrument. It uses specially coated sensor to translate touch into control. Terra allows a while range of tones, from soothing ambient to screaming microtonal noise, with an impressive range of expression. But it has its quirks that relate to directly to the minimalism of its design."