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A178 Theremin

A178 Theremin

2014-12-23 by David Kellett

Hi,

My theremin modules arrived this week and I've set them up in a basic patch. One A178 is providing controls voltage for pitch and the other for amplitude and filter cutoff. 

The problem I have is that the Pitch one is very "trigger happy" - ie the notes are very, very close together in distance so very hard to stay one note (even with quantiser its jumping back and forth) I think my hands are fairly steady (I'm an osteopath - so my hands are quite reliable!) Is there a way to give me more space between notes that I'm missing?

David

www.movingisliving.co.uk

Sent from my iPhone

Re: [Doepfer_a100] A178 Theremin

2014-12-23 by Florian Anwander

Hello

Am 23.12.2014 um 14:54 schrieb David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com 
[Doepfer_a100]:
> The problem I have is that the Pitch one is very "trigger happy" - ie the notes are very, very close together in distance so very hard to stay one note (even with quantiser its jumping back and forth) I think my hands are fairly steady (I'm an osteopath - so my hands are quite reliable!) Is there a way to give me more space between notes that I'm missing?
You aren't missing anything. That's the way it is. It is the reason, why 
playing a theremin is difficult, and physically exhausting (sic!).
If you are really interested in the topic: There is a quite good VHS 
video (yes those funny cigar box like thingies with some plastic noodle 
inside) called "Mastering the Theremin".

Florian

Re: [Doepfer_a100] A178 Theremin

2014-12-24 by Jonathan

You can "spread" the voltage output from the theremin a bit using an offset/attenuator module. Gives a smaller note range but makes the theremin less sensitive.

Jonathan Shapero
From my iPad Air
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On 23 Dec 2014, at 14:05, Florian Anwander fanwander@mnet-online.de [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> Hello
> 
> Am 23.12.2014 um 14:54 schrieb David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com 
> [Doepfer_a100]:
>> The problem I have is that the Pitch one is very "trigger happy" - ie the notes are very, very close together in distance so very hard to stay one note (even with quantiser its jumping back and forth) I think my hands are fairly steady (I'm an osteopath - so my hands are quite reliable!) Is there a way to give me more space between notes that I'm missing?
> You aren't missing anything. That's the way it is. It is the reason, why 
> playing a theremin is difficult, and physically exhausting (sic!).
> If you are really interested in the topic: There is a quite good VHS 
> video (yes those funny cigar box like thingies with some plastic noodle 
> inside) called "Mastering the Theremin".
> 
> Florian
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> Yahoo Groups Links
> 
> 
>

Re: [Doepfer_a100] A178 Theremin

2014-12-24 by David Kellett

Any more info on how to do that Jonathan? 

And thanks Florian for your input too!!


David

www.movingisliving.co.uk

Sent from my iPhone 
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On 24 Dec 2014, at 17:41, Jonathan jss9h@aol.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> You can "spread" the voltage output from the theremin a bit using an offset/attenuator module. Gives a smaller note range but makes the theremin less sensitive.
> 
> Jonathan Shapero
> From my iPad Air
> 
> > On 23 Dec 2014, at 14:05, Florian Anwander fanwander@mnet-online.de [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> > 
> > Hello
> > 
> > Am 23.12.2014 um 14:54 schrieb David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com 
> > [Doepfer_a100]:
> >> The problem I have is that the Pitch one is very "trigger happy" - ie the notes are very, very close together in distance so very hard to stay one note (even with quantiser its jumping back and forth) I think my hands are fairly steady (I'm an osteopath - so my hands are quite reliable!) Is there a way to give me more space between notes that I'm missing?
> > You aren't missing anything. That's the way it is. It is the reason, why 
> > playing a theremin is difficult, and physically exhausting (sic!).
> > If you are really interested in the topic: There is a quite good VHS 
> > video (yes those funny cigar box like thingies with some plastic noodle 
> > inside) called "Mastering the Theremin".
> > 
> > Florian
> > 
> > 
> > ------------------------------------
> > 
> > ------------------------------------
> > 
> > 
> > ------------------------------------
> > 
> > Yahoo Groups Links
> > 
> > 
> > 
>

Re: [Doepfer_a100] A178 Theremin

2014-12-25 by Jonathan

What you need to do is attenuate the signal slightly, say by a factor of 2. The A183-2 will both attenuate and offest the voltage fed into it (please read the blurb on the EMIS or Doepfer websites where all the modules are described in some detail) so you can effectively reduce the response of the A-178 theremin output. As an example, if a movement of 3 inches (or 8cm in Newspeak) causes a change of 1 volt in the output of the A-178, which when fed into a VCO will normally cause a change of 1 octave in the pitch, the attenuating the signal will moderate this. If you attenuate by a factor of 2 a 1 volt change on the input casues a 1/2 volt change on the output so  you need twice as much change to get a 1 octave difference. Roughly speaking you will need to move your hand six inches instead of three. The offset control of the A183-2 allows you to choose where the voltage is in the range we use so you can effectively choose the starting pitch by adjusting this. Because Eurorack synths use the 1 volt per octave standard, you can then choose where on a 10 octave rnage you want to play your theremin.
Having said all of that, yes theremins are hard to play, but have fun because you cn happily waste many hours doing it. A modular theremin give you scope to do all sorts of crazy things, not just adjust the pitch and volume. Try using a filter instead of the volume, or adding some LFO modulation to the pitch, or even all 3 at once. It's modular after all.
Have fun and Happy Xmas.

Jonathan Shapero
From my iPad Air
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On 24 Dec 2014, at 17:48, David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Any more info on how to do that Jonathan? 
> 
> And thanks Florian for your input too!!
> 
> 
> David
> 
> www.movingisliving.co.uk
> 
> Sent from my iPhone 
> 
>> On 24 Dec 2014, at 17:41, Jonathan jss9h@aol.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>> 
>> You can "spread" the voltage output from the theremin a bit using an offset/attenuator module. Gives a smaller note range but makes the theremin less sensitive.
>> 
>> Jonathan Shapero
>> From my iPad Air
>> 
>> > On 23 Dec 2014, at 14:05, Florian Anwander fanwander@mnet-online.de [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>> > 
>> > Hello
>> > 
>> > Am 23.12.2014 um 14:54 schrieb David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com 
>> > [Doepfer_a100]:
>> >> The problem I have is that the Pitch one is very "trigger happy" - ie the notes are very, very close together in distance so very hard to stay one note (even with quantiser its jumping back and forth) I think my hands are fairly steady (I'm an osteopath - so my hands are quite reliable!) Is there a way to give me more space between notes that I'm missing?
>> > You aren't missing anything. That's the way it is. It is the reason, why 
>> > playing a theremin is difficult, and physically exhausting (sic!).
>> > If you are really interested in the topic: There is a quite good VHS 
>> > video (yes those funny cigar box like thingies with some plastic noodle 
>> > inside) called "Mastering the Theremin".
>> > 
>> > Florian
>> > 
>> > 
>> > ------------------------------------
>> > 
>> > ------------------------------------
>> > 
>> > 
>> > ------------------------------------
>> > 
>> > Yahoo Groups Links
>> > 
>> > 
>> >
>> 
> 
> 
>

Re: [Doepfer_a100] A178 Theremin

2014-12-25 by David Kellett

Ahhhh! I see what you mean. I shall try that out. And yes the whole point for me is to control other parameters with the Theremin. I'm working towards having all sorts of physical ways of interacting with the modular rather than trad keyboard based things. I'm doing a lot with the A149 1/2 in self generating patches but want to find ways to interact with the self generating patch - reacting to the patch and being part of the patch. 

Thanks very much Jonathan for the input,

David 

www.movingisliving.co.uk

Sent from my iPhone 
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On 25 Dec 2014, at 06:23, Jonathan jss9h@aol.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> What you need to do is attenuate the signal slightly, say by a factor of 2. The A183-2 will both attenuate and offest the voltage fed into it (please read the blurb on the EMIS or Doepfer websites where all the modules are described in some detail) so you can effectively reduce the response of the A-178 theremin output. As an example, if a movement of 3 inches (or 8cm in Newspeak) causes a change of 1 volt in the output of the A-178, which when fed into a VCO will normally cause a change of 1 octave in the pitch, the attenuating the signal will moderate this. If you attenuate by a factor of 2 a 1 volt change on the input casues a 1/2 volt change on the output so  you need twice as much change to get a 1 octave difference. Roughly speaking you will need to move your hand six inches instead of three. The offset control of the A183-2 allows you to choose where the voltage is in the range we use so you can effectively choose the starting pitch by adjusting this. Because Eurorack synths use the 1 volt per octave standard, you can then choose where on a 10 octave rnage you want to play your theremin.
> Having said all of that, yes theremins are hard to play, but have fun because you cn happily waste many hours doing it. A modular theremin give you scope to do all sorts of crazy things, not just adjust the pitch and volume. Try using a filter instead of the volume, or adding some LFO modulation to the pitch, or even all 3 at once. It's modular after all.
> Have fun and Happy Xmas.
> 
> Jonathan Shapero
> From my iPad Air
> 
>> On 24 Dec 2014, at 17:48, David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Any more info on how to do that Jonathan? 
>> 
>> And thanks Florian for your input too!!
>> 
>> 
>> David
>> 
>> www.movingisliving.co.uk
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone 
>> 
>>> On 24 Dec 2014, at 17:41, Jonathan jss9h@aol.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>  
>>> You can "spread" the voltage output from the theremin a bit using an offset/attenuator module. Gives a smaller note range but makes the theremin less sensitive.
>>> 
>>> Jonathan Shapero
>>> From my iPad Air
>>> 
>>> > On 23 Dec 2014, at 14:05, Florian Anwander fanwander@mnet-online.de [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>>> > 
>>> > Hello
>>> > 
>>> > Am 23.12.2014 um 14:54 schrieb David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com 
>>> > [Doepfer_a100]:
>>> >> The problem I have is that the Pitch one is very "trigger happy" - ie the notes are very, very close together in distance so very hard to stay one note (even with quantiser its jumping back and forth) I think my hands are fairly steady (I'm an osteopath - so my hands are quite reliable!) Is there a way to give me more space between notes that I'm missing?
>>> > You aren't missing anything. That's the way it is. It is the reason, why 
>>> > playing a theremin is difficult, and physically exhausting (sic!).
>>> > If you are really interested in the topic: There is a quite good VHS 
>>> > video (yes those funny cigar box like thingies with some plastic noodle 
>>> > inside) called "Mastering the Theremin".
>>> > 
>>> > Florian
>>> > 
>>> > 
>>> > ------------------------------------
>>> > 
>>> > ------------------------------------
>>> > 
>>> > 
>>> > ------------------------------------
>>> > 
>>> > Yahoo Groups Links
>>> > 
>>> > 
>>> >
>>> 
> 
>

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