[sdiy] Theremins

[Paul Perry]

> Samples from some of the theremins that I've heard have sounded quite
> different.  Perhaps just a result of how they were played?
> 

One might think that since the theremin is a totally monophonic
instrument, the only differences could be how played  (accepting that
some designs might limit how you can play) or the waveform, whihc
varies (in different ways) with frequency..
BUT!! I think therecan be more to it than this!
Because, if you have a beat frequency system, heterodyning two oscillators,
in practice there is complex interaction between the oscilators as they get
close in frequency (easy to see on a scope that something is going on, not
so easy to say exactly what!) and, this is influenced by how fast the two
oscillators approach each other.. so, there is more audible difference than
one expects between instruments.
Plus all the usual analog mojo (I don't mean this perjoratively!)

paul perry (eating homemade fruit salad in Melbourne Australia)