MOTM

I bought a PAIA Theremax a year ago... still haven't gotten it to make a
peep. Too busy building MOTM kits to try to troubleshoot it any further.

The Moog Theremin kit comes with a 'hot rod' manual, showing you how to add
CV outs. But the CV out for pitch is as extensive as the rest of the
circuitry in the device, and apparently it's too big to fit inside the
case---you are advised to mount a plastic project box under the unit.

I bought the PAIA kit exclusively as a controller... thought it would be a
fun alternative. Kinda bums me out that it doesn't work. I made a real nice
case for it, too. Quintuple checked my soldering, the components, wiring.
Don't know what could be wrong.

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Paul & Alleyne [mailto:vulture.squadron@...] 
Sent:	Wednesday, 29 March, 2000 3:03 PM
To:	motm@onelist.com
Subject:	[motm] controllers

From: "Paul & Alleyne" <vulture.squadron@...>

hello all,

talking of alternative controllers
has anyone used the paia theremin (yawn)..?
i got roped into getting hold of a theremin for a friend, i came up with
this and thought : hang on, i can connect this to my MOTM..!
is this a good idea or what, or not..?
(forget trying to play it, i'm just going to plonk the antennae in front of
my cats, then abuse their copyright)

>
> From: "Tkacs, Ken" <ken.tkacs@...>
>
> I bought the PAIA kit exclusively as a controller... thought it would be a
> fun alternative. Kinda bums me out that it doesn't work. I made a
> real nice
> case for it, too. Quintuple checked my soldering, the components, wiring.
> Don't know what could be wrong.
>

Simple. It's a PAIA.

Mr. Smartass

> From: "Paul & Alleyne" <vulture.squadron@...>
> 
> talking of alternative controllers
> has anyone used the paia theremin (yawn)..?
> i got roped into getting hold of a theremin for a friend, i came up with
> this and thought : hang on, i can connect this to my MOTM..!
> is this a good idea or what, or not..?


You want to talk to Harry Bissell over on synth DIY.  He says the CV will
not keep up and will result in significant stepping.  He has adapted Dr.
Moog's CV modification for the Etherwave to a schematic and circuit board
(with permission).  It is VERY cool and puts out two different CVs for the
antennas and even a gate.

I just ordered the board to modify my Etherwave.  I was going to do the
PAiA just for the CV.  I built the Theremax once before and sold it. 
However, it looks like the results might be less than great.  so, I was
glad to see this Etherwave modification.

Larry H

hello again all

well thanks for the vote of no confidence, it looked like it would be real
fun as a controller, but i don't have the skill yet to mess around too much
with something that won't work (ie four component portamento circuit that
didn't work for over a month cos i didn't notice that the op amp output
wasn't connected to anything...)
i could be tempted with an etherwave, but $199 is too rich for my pocket at
the moment, the $88ness of the paia is what tempted me - i have enough
trouble stringing together more than three notes an a well lit keyboard
with, never mind getting to grips with a theremin. as for my friend, he
wants one for a friend to put in her kitchen (who knows why...) we kind of
came to the conclusion that a simple \ufffd30 longwave / rosedyne 'pocket
theremin' (pitch contol only) would be sufficient
on a different tack - i put my name down for the moogerfooger delay over a
month ago, i don't think news of it has hit UK shores in any major sense -
i'm looking forward to it anyway...

cheers
paul b
(RIP Ian Dury)

In a message dated 03/29/2000 3:07:29 PM, vulture.squadron@... writes:

<< has anyone used the paia theremin (yawn)..? >>

Mine is almost done; my local engraver couldn't handle the panel size so I'm 
going elsewhere for it.

Personally I think Theremins are great since they can provide continuous CV's 
instead of the MIDI note data limitations of using a MIDI interface.

Ivan

I actually built one of these and it worked on first power up.  The design
is not that good, and as a theremin, the pitch antenna works great. 
However, the volume antenna could not be tuned properly in the traditional
mode to suite me.  However, it did tune quite well in the "hand closer =
louder mode"

All that said, buy the Etherwave.  Do the Harry Bissell CV board.  More
money?  Yep.  Worth it?  Yep.
Larry H.

> From: Dave Bradley <daveb@...>
> > From: "Tkacs, Ken" <ken.tkacs@...>
> >
> > I bought the PAIA kit exclusively as a controller...
> > Don't know what could be wrong.
> 
> Simple. It's a PAIA.
> 
> Mr. Smartass

I confess that I'm thinking of putting together a 3U rack of Doepfer modules just to
get a pair of the Theremin controllers (OK, and a *DUAL QUANTIZER*!  Gee, two
opportunities for the same hint in one day!).  Does anyone have any experience with
these modules or shall I hang my head in shame for bringing up such heresey...

Eric

--- ivancu@... wrote:
> Personally I think Theremins are great since they can provide continuous CV's 
> instead of the MIDI note data limitations of using a MIDI interface.
> 
> Ivan
> 

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In a message dated 3/29/2000 1:07:31 PM, vulture.squadron@... writes:

>talking of alternative controllers
>has anyone used the paia theremin (yawn)..?

I've had one since late 93(?) or 94. I had less luck than Larry, but more 
than others on this list apparently. After spending that much time (and money 
-- I got the board and FP but not the case) there was no way I was gonna let 
this go as I had with some previous PAiA projects. I called and talked to 
Scott Lee on the phone for about a half hour and he told me to look at a 
bunch of areas. Somehow I got it working after that. It works OK now, I 
actually like the "reverse" aspect of the amplitude antenna. I haven't used 
the CV outs too much yet, but I haven't noticed any real problems with them. 
I put mine in an LMB Keyboarder case (a slanted controller case 14" X 7"). 
Mine does have a slight problem in that around 40Hz it will suddenly jump up 
about a third higher -- one day I'll look at that. If you build your own case 
you may have more problems due to isolating the antenna -- a learning 
experience. I can't fault PAiA in their service, Scott is a very cool guy, 
very helpful, and the few times I've e-mail John, he's been good to. Like 
many others it seems, I have had some problems with getting the kits to 
operate per specs when assembled as instructed -- this doesn't give one 
confidence in building future kits, and doesn't add to one's studio. Scott 
recently sent me a bunch or mods/upgrades for the Theremax (as well as the 
Stack In A Box and the Fatman) I could share them with other owners as time 
permits if you guys want (or you could call PAiA since they did sell you the 
product).

>i got roped into getting hold of a theremin for a friend, i came up with
>this and thought : hang on, i can connect this to my MOTM..!
>is this a good idea or what, or not..?

Great idea -- alternative controllers are great (and now that Paul has 
publicly backed out of the ribbon controller even after my many months of 
taunting).

>(forget trying to play it, i'm just going to plonk the antennae in front
>of
>my cats, then abuse their copyright)

I didn't know you could copyright a cat, I thought you had to patent it.
JB

In a message dated 3/29/2000 1:36:55 PM, daveb@... writes:

>Mr. Smartass

Dear Mr. Ass:

Larry and I were thinking about sequencers and dividers recently when I 
proposed this name for your sequencer (Super Moe) -- Moe Ass! As in not-MOAS.

Just a thought!
JB

Just to be clear, please note that JW Barlow was the one who claims 100%
responsibility for calling your sequencer Moe Ass.  I had nothing in that
(other than a good chuckle).
Larry (less ass) Hendry


> From: jwbarlow@...
> 
> Dear Mr. Ass:
> 
> Larry and I were thinking about sequencers and dividers recently when I 
> proposed this name for your sequencer (Super Moe) -- Moe Ass! As in
not-MOAS.

> 
> Just a thought!
> JB

In a message dated 00-03-29 15:07:38 EST, you write:

<< !
 is this a good idea or what, or not..?
 (forget trying to play it, i'm just going to plonk the antennae in front of
 my cats, then abuse their copyright) >>


paul,
i`m not familiar with the paia theremin / controller but i did get two of the 
theremin style controllers for my "brand d" modular. i have found them to be 
a nice addition to the system and am glad to have gotten them as alternative 
controllers.
oh my god, when i have mine patched in, i always show my cat, china, and she 
seems interested in moving around them and making the sound change! she does 
occasionally scare herself though when i`ve got some kind of rough noise 
playing and she investigates and gets something to loud popping out at her. 
:^)
best,
dave v.

In a message dated 00-03-29 21:34:02 EST, you write:

<<  Does anyone have any experience with
 these modules >>



eric, 
the theremin controllers work fine, IMHO.  i don`t have the quanitizer, 
though. 
best,
dave v.

OK, works for me!

Moe 

> 
> From: jwbarlow@...
> 
> 
> In a message dated 3/29/2000 1:36:55 PM, daveb@... writes:
> 
> >Mr. Smartass
> 
> Dear Mr. Ass:
> 
> Larry and I were thinking about sequencers and dividers recently when I 
> proposed this name for your sequencer (Super Moe) -- Moe Ass! As 
> in not-MOAS.
> 
> Just a thought!
> JB
>

How about Moe Betta Ass?

Moe

> -----Original Message-----
> From: J. Larry Hendry [mailto:jlarryh@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 10:32 PM
> To: motm@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: RE: [motm] controllers
>
>
> From: "J. Larry Hendry" <jlarryh@...>
>
> Just to be clear, please note that JW Barlow was the one who claims 100%
> responsibility for calling your sequencer Moe Ass.  I had nothing in that
> (other than a good chuckle).
> Larry (less ass) Hendry
>
>
> > From: jwbarlow@...
> >
> > Dear Mr. Ass:
> >
> > Larry and I were thinking about sequencers and dividers recently when I
> > proposed this name for your sequencer (Super Moe) -- Moe Ass! As in
> not-MOAS.
> >
> > Just a thought!
> > JB
>
>

In a message dated 03/29/2000 9:34:00 PM, alt_mode@... writes:

<< I confess that I'm thinking of putting together a 3U rack of Doepfer 
modules just to get a pair of the Theremin controllers >>

In their own lit Doepfer says, regarding the A-178 theremin module, "Probably 
the module will also be available in a version with a separate case so that 
the antenna can be placed outside the A-100."

I doubt we'll see an MOTM theremin module so I hope Paul doesn't mind me 
mentioning the "other guys."  Personally I don't care for the way Doepfer 
stuff is built, so I've never bought any.  But I might consider buying two of 
these modules and putting them into my own controller box (with 1/4" 
connections, of course).  The price is right.

Ivan

In a message dated 03/30/2000 9:13:04 AM, davevosh@... writes:

<< i always show my cat, china, and she seems interested in moving around 
them and making the sound change! >>

Cats and synthesizers are an interesting combination.  Mine seems to think 
that my SidStation is the root of all evil.  Evidently the sounds it produces 
are not compatible with the feline auditory system.  Sometimes they aren't 
even compatible with mine!

Ivan