The hand-crafted unique log lyre instrument created by Philipp, aka “the Viking Woodsmith,” is now available as a virtual instrument in Decent Sampler plugin. With its bass strings, The Viking Log Lyre has a distinctively mesmerizing and haunting sound.
For me, discovering well-sampled, odd, and unique instruments is always a thrill. The Viking Log Lyre, without a doubt, stands out as one of the most peculiar acoustic instruments I’ve encountered. Its creator, Philipp, has poured his passion and dedication into crafting this instrument, likely the only log lyre in history. While it may not be the most practical instrument, its dark and lovely sound is a testament to Philipp’s artistry.
For those who don’t know what a lyre is, it is a stringed instrument from ancient times. Well, you may think of it as a portable small harp. Phillip took a log, carved it out, put bass strings on top, and created this cool instrument with a great bass tone, which sounds nowhere like a normal lyre. And Dekoningtan created the sampled instrument with great precision.
So, the virtual instrument comes in two forms: the Clean and the Punished version. As you may guess from the name, the Punished preset introduces a bit of crunch to the sound. Both versions feature Plucked, Picked, Bowed, and Bowed Evolutions samples. Another thing I found interesting was the ability to play or control these samples together. With the volume controls, you can make them sound together to create unique combinations.
I liked the Clean preset more and found it much more usable in general terms. The user interface is well done in a Viking style and relatively straightforward, which I always enjoy, with a keyboard and some controls. The Clean version has Filter, Delay, Reverb, and ADSR controls along with the Sample Volume knobs.
The Punished version comes with Drive, Boost, and Output Level knobs added to the clean version. It has a bit of crunch and grit in its normal state, so this one is more suitable for king rock-style tones or mixes.
When I tested the instrument, I was surprised by how well it was sampled. The sound quality is pretty high, and the option to mix different samples, like the Picked and Plucked ones, for example, gives great combinations.
I liked the Picked and Plucked samples more as they are easier to use compared to the Bowed samples. The bowed ones are a bit grumbly and overwhelm the mix pretty easily. They might be more suitable for more crowded mixes when used in lower volumes.
I also enjoyed the effect controls on the interface, as they sounded quite decent. My only complaint would be the delay, as I don’t think it goes well with the instrument, and the built-in delay does not reach slower rates when experimenting with it. But that’s not a real problem, as there is always the option to use another delay plugin instead.
I can see The Viking Log Lyre being used in many genres, such as ambient, cinematic, or even folk projects. I would use it as the bottom end for some compositions in any genre. It is just a bit of a tricky instrument to work with, as the unique sound can get too dominant easily. However, with some tweaks and care, it can lead to unique-sounding mixes.
You can download the sample library from the Pianobook website. But remember, you will need the Decent Sampler plugin to use it. Both plugins are free and are pretty easy to download and use.
Decent Sampler plugin comes in VST, VST3, AAX, and standalone formats for Mac and Windows users.
Berk is a multi-instrumentalist musician from Istanbul, Turkey. He has been playing guitar, handpan, and percussion for over ten years, developing a sound that blends melodic sensitivity with rhythmic depth.
He began his musical journey as a teenager, learning guitar and performing in several bands. In 2016, he discovered the handpan, an instrument that immediately resonated with him on a deeper level and gradually became central to his artistic identity.
Since then, he has performed in streets, festivals, bars, and concert venues across different countries, connecting with diverse audiences through both intimate and large-scale performances.
Alongside his live work, Berk is deeply involved in studio production. He works from his home studio, where he composes, records, and produces his own music. His studio serves as a creative space for layering handpan, guitar, and percussion with modern production techniques, allowing him to shape fully realized, atmospheric compositions from start to finish.
His music explores a wide range of genres and textures, combining organic acoustic instruments with detailed studio production to create immersive and expressive soundscapes.