[sdiy] Calling all Theremin builders or lovers !!!

[Tom Arnold]

On Sat, Jan 08, 2005 at 10:04:33AM +1300, tim bo wrote:
> One of the things Ive wanted to do for the last year,
> is to build my own Theremin.Is there anyone out there
> that has built one that would like to help me decide
> what type to build and help me with find parts or
> there equivalent. I just need someone to give me
> general guidance. I don?t need a performance version I
> just love the sound it makes and would just use it for
> my own amusement.

For ease of Assembly I'd go with one of the kits.
The PAIA Theramax works well, has clear instructions and doesnt sound too
horrible.  Order the CV board for it if you plan to drive a synth with its
outputs ( gives you larger CV voltage swing ).
http://www.paia.com/theremax.htm

For better out of box Sound Quality you can get the Etherwave in kit form.
Its about twice the price of the Paia+Lectern case.
http://www.bigbriar.com/detail.php?main_product_id=18

> I have one other question I just got the DVD -
> Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey and I loved it, but
> when watching it there was an interview with Brian
> Wilson (beach boys) and had to watch it a few times to
> understand what he was talking about, but he says that
> they used a theremin in there track good vibrations,
> but im sure I read something on this list saying it
> wasn?t. Besides the video clip shows something that
> isn?t a theremin (not one ive ever seen). Can anyone
> clear this up for me? 

As many chemicals as Brian Wilson has enjoyed, its no doubt listening to him
was confusing :-)  No, they did not use a real Antenna-driven Theramin on
Good Vibrations.  It was an Electro-Theramin.
http://www.interfold.com/rabit/Theremin.htm and scroll to the bottom for
more info.  Think of it as a theramin with enough keyboard for someone
experiementing with chemicals to hold on to.

Playing a theramin, if you havent tried one before, is *hard*.  You can
recreate 50's Sci-Fi movie stuff easily, but playing a melody requires a lot
of practice unless you are Harry and quantize it ( boo hisssssss :-)  ).
 
-- 
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