Lyrekos Modes

It is useful to think about Lyrekos in terms of four modes. The Leader switches between them during a session depending on what the group is doing.

1. Conversation — the default. Everyone can talk with everyone else.
2. Live — the Soloist sings or plays live, and that sound is recorded and sent to all participants.
3. Unison — a backing track plays from the Library; accompanists (and optionally the leader) sing along, and their recordings are synchronized.
4. Playback — previously recorded material is shared with everyone.

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Conversation Mode

Conversation mode is the default. If you are not doing anything else, you are in Conversation mode.

In Conversation mode, everyone can talk with everyone else — with one exception: Audience members are muted. They can hear but not speak. This makes Conversation mode behave like any other video conferencing system.

A typical use: the Leader talks through the session plan, takes questions from Performers, and gets confirmation everyone is ready before switching to Live or Unison mode.

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Live Mode

In Live mode, the Soloist is singing or playing music. That sound goes out to all accompanists and audience members in near-real-time, and is also being recorded and can be saved to the Library.

The Leader is often the Soloist, but can designate any Performer as Soloist instead. There is only ever one Soloist at a time.

Live mode: recording a backing track

The simplest use of Live mode is the Leader (as Soloist) performing a piece to create a backing track for later use. The Actions panel shows Record mode with the red Record button.

Live mode: leading a group

In Live mode the Soloist can also lead a group of Accompanists performing simultaneously. Each Accompanist's recording is synchronized with the Soloist's. The combined result can be heard by the audience and any Conversationalists in near-real-time.

What each person hears during Live mode:

• The Soloist hears only themselves live.
• Each Accompanist hears the Soloist and themselves.
• The Audience hears the Soloist and all Accompanists synchronized.

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Unison Mode

In Unison mode, the Leader plays a backing track from the Library. Accompanists sing or play along with it. Their recordings are captured separately and synchronized, and the combined result is heard by the Leader, the Audience, and any Conversationalists in near-real-time.

The Leader can choose whether to sing along with the Accompanists or to listen only. Both variants use the same Playback setting in the Actions panel with a green Play button.

What each person hears during Unison mode:

• Accompanists hear the backing track and themselves.
• The Leader (if listening only) hears the synchronized result of all tracks.
• The Audience hears the full synchronized mix.

All tracks are recorded and can be saved to the Library.

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Playback Mode

In Playback mode, the Leader selects any track — or any synchronized collection of tracks — from the Library and plays it for everyone. The Leader controls the mix and can adjust levels for each track in real time.

Playback mode is used to review what was just recorded, share a finished piece with the audience, or play a reference track before a session.

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Saving Recordings

In both Live and Unison modes, everything is recorded in separate but synchronized tracks. The Leader decides whether to save these to the Library at the end of each take.

There is also a dedicated option in the Library for the Leader to record a backing track directly — separate from the Ensemble Actions panel.

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What the Audience Sees

Audience members have a View panel showing video of the Leader and Performers. Audience members themselves do not appear in the video feed — they are invisible to the performers.

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Real-World Examples

The teaching circle

A practical sequence for a music lesson:

1. Conversation mode — the teacher (Leader and Soloist) explains the lesson plan and takes questions.
2. Live mode — the teacher performs the piece the students will try. It is recorded in the Library.
3. Conversation mode — the teacher says "now play along with me."
4. Unison mode — the teacher plays the just-recorded performance back as a backing track. Students sing or play along. The synchronized result is heard in near-real-time.
5. Playback mode — the teacher plays the combined recording back for everyone and adjusts the mix.

The strong lead

For groups with mixed ability levels:

1. First pass through Unison mode: only the strongest performers are set as Accompanists. Weaker performers stay silent as Conversationalists. The combined result is saved as a new backing track.
2. Second pass through Unison mode: the new backing track (now containing the strong performers) plays back. All performers — including those who stayed quiet the first time — join in. The result is a fuller, more supported sound. Students who sang the first time can sing again or listen.

All together now

For large ensemble or worship scenarios:

The Leader is the Soloist. A group of subleaders are Performers set as Accompanists who sing along with the Leader. An Audience of hundreds also joins in informally. This all runs in Live mode. The Leader hears only themselves; each subleader hears themselves and the Leader; the Audience hears all performers synchronized and sings along, each hearing themselves plus the full synchronized mix.

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Next Steps

• Backing Tracks — uploading and managing audio in the Library
• Getting Started for the Leader — the full Leader control panel walkthrough