alyctes Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1390854642' post='2350514'] Just make sure you get one with a volume aerial as well as the pitch one. Many of the cheaper models don't have the volume aerial as it significantly cuts down on the amount of circuitry, but even as some who just waves their hands about in front of the Theremin rather than seriously trying to get a tune out of it, the second aerial makes a big difference to the expressiveness of it. [/quote] Thank you, that's got to be good advice and I'll take it. Quote
BetaFunk Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) [quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1390845946' post='2350286'] I want a theremin. I guess it will have to be a kit though, I can't justify spending £200 on one... [/quote] You can always get one of these for £54....... [url="http://www.lostvolts.com/LV-2/LV2.htm"]http://www.lostvolts.com/LV-2/LV2.htm[/url] Edited January 27, 2014 by BetaFunk Quote
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 Saw jean michel jarre play one a few years back. Imho, they can sound good with minimal use (5mins max). If I bought one, 10 mins later, I would instantly regret it, and it would be sold. I would feel great sorrow from all the cats and dogs in the vicinity of those who frequently use them. Quote
BigRedX Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1390861085' post='2350708'] You can always get one of these for £54....... [url="http://www.lostvolts.com/LV-2/LV2.htm"]http://www.lostvolts.com/LV-2/LV2.htm[/url] [/quote] No volume aerial. Trust me when I say it makes a massive difference, even if you're a strictly spooky sic-fi sound monger like me. Quote
BetaFunk Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1390862981' post='2350751'] No volume aerial. Trust me when I say it makes a massive difference, even if you're a strictly spooky sic-fi sound monger like me. [/quote] Yes that's true and i totally agree but it's still fun for 54 quid. Quote
D.I. Joe Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 You can get a theramin iPhone app, if that's any help. Quote
uncle psychosis Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 The theremins used on things like Good Vibrations were modified and had some kind of slide control to make playing in tune easier. I've always fancied one but know I'd get bored of making spooky noises after a while!! Quote
BigRedX Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1390904538' post='2351003'] The theremins used on things like Good Vibrations were modified and had some kind of slide control to make playing in tune easier. I've always fancied one but know I'd get bored of making spooky noises after a while!! [/quote] That's interesting, although I'm having problems seeing how this could have been done with 60s technology. Have you got a source for this information? If you've read the specs for the new Moog Theremini you'll see that this has a control that adjusts the "accuracy" of the tuning from the traditional completely free pitch to rigid semi-tone steps. Quote
uncle psychosis Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1390909567' post='2351063'] That's interesting, although I'm having problems seeing how this could have been done with 60s technology. Have you got a source for this information? If you've read the specs for the new Moog Theremini you'll see that this has a control that adjusts the "accuracy" of the tuning from the traditional completely free pitch to rigid semi-tone steps. [/quote] I can't remember where I read it originally---I've read a lot of different books about The Beach Boys---but the Wikipedia page for "Good Vibrations" reckons that it was played on an Electro-Theremin or a "Tannerin" by Paul Tanner. its not actually a theremin at all, rather an attempt at sounding like one: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-Theremin"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-Theremin[/url] [i]The Electro-Theremin, often called the Tannerin, is an [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_musical_instrument"]electronic musical instrument[/url] developed by [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombone"]trombonist[/url] [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Tanner"]Paul Tanner[/url] and amateur [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventor"]inventor[/url] Bob Whitsell in the late 1950s to produce a sound to mimic that of the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin"]theremin[/url].[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-Theremin#cite_note-1"][size="2"][1][/size][/url][/sup][sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-Theremin#cite_note-2"][size="2"][2][/size][/url][/sup] The instrument features a tone and [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portamento"]portamento[/url] similar to that of the theremin (or thereminvox), but with a different control mechanism. It consisted of a sine wave generator with a knob that controlled the pitch, placed inside a wooden box. The pitch knob was attached to a slider on the outside of the box with some string. The player would move the slider, thus turning the knob to the desired frequency, with the help of markings drawn on the box. The Tannerin doesn't actually sound much like the theremins of the time.[/i] [i]The instrument was custom-built at Tanner's request. Tanner appreciated the theremin's sound, but wanted greater control of pitch and attack. The Electro-Theremin uses mechanical controls, a long slide bar for the pitch (analogous to the slide of the trombone that was Tanner's main instrument) and a knob to adjust volume. This contrasts with the hand movements in space that formed the original theremin's signal feature. The Electro-Theremin also produces a slightly less complex timbre than the original. This is not due to the nature of the instrument, but due to Dr. Theremin's intentional harmonic generation in the output of the Theremin, which Tanner did not do.[/i] Quote
BigRedX Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 That would make sense and would be a lot easier to play in tune than a Theremin. A bit like the Portishead track where the "Theremin" part is actually a Roland (SH101 - IIRC) and some nifty portamento time manipulation. Quote
GarethFlatlands Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 [quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1390861094' post='2350709'] I would feel great sorrow from all the cats and dogs in the vicinity of those who frequently use them. [/quote] Funny you should mention that... [url="http://www.wimp.com/cattheremin/"]http://www.wimp.com/cattheremin/[/url] Quote
stacedabass Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 i made one from a kit and played it live whilst playing the bass, i just used the neck of the bass as one of my 'hands'! ran it through a delay pedal and second small bass amp.sounded good! Quote
KingBollock Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 Anyone seen this? http://femurdesign.com/theremin/ Quote
martthebass Posted December 28, 2014 Posted December 28, 2014 (edited) [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1392508432' post='2369621'] Anyone seen this? http://femurdesign.com/theremin/ [/quote] Love that KB.....very 1950s Forbidden Planet Edited December 28, 2014 by martthebass Quote
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted December 28, 2014 Posted December 28, 2014 [quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1390946680' post='2351705'] Funny you should mention that... [url="http://www.wimp.com/cattheremin/"]http://www.wimp.com/cattheremin/[/url] [/quote] Brilliant ! Quote
alyctes Posted December 29, 2014 Posted December 29, 2014 [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1392508432' post='2369621'] Anyone seen this? [url="http://femurdesign.com/theremin/"]http://femurdesign.com/theremin/[/url] [/quote] Superb! Thanks Quote
goblin Posted December 30, 2014 Posted December 30, 2014 Theremin? Nah, haven't touched one for ages. Quote
Happy Jack Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 I'm sure I don't know what you mean ... [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Performance/Sundry/JDXmasBash2014089_zpsf23fc817.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Performance/Sundry/JDXmasBash2014089_zpsf23fc817.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote
oggiesnr Posted January 19, 2015 Posted January 19, 2015 For something a bit less traditional check out the Moog Theremini. Awesomely stupid piece of kit, adjustable response so you can set it to play scales without worrying too much about intonation. [url="http://www.moogmusic.com/products/etherwave-theremins/theremini"]http://www.moogmusic.com/products/etherwave-theremins/theremini[/url] Steve Quote
JoeEvans Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 I think I've got an unopened Theramin kit in the cupboard somewhere if anyone is seriously after one - it was supposed to be a good one too for technical reasons which I can't now remember. I'll dig around... Quote
alyctes Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 [quote name='JoeEvans' timestamp='1426012086' post='2713437'] I think I've got an unopened Theramin kit in the cupboard somewhere if anyone is seriously after one - it was supposed to be a good one too for technical reasons which I can't now remember. I'll dig around... [/quote] :pricks ears, wags tail: Quote
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