Unusual interface

My impression (assuming it is not a fake) is that the pitch "antenna(s)" may be a gestural controller, BUT the circuit is set up to produce discrete pitches.

It is clear that the instrument, besides having a very large range of movement, produces a precise pitch even while his hand is moving.

Otherwise, is it just complete fakery.

It appears that he has built a theremin that works in a way analogous to a musical saw--his other instrument--just as Clara Rockmore played her theremin in a way reminiscent of the violin.

Fred--your explanation of the plumpness of the upper antenna makes perfect sense; thank you. I did not fully assimilate my lessons in Electricity and Magnetism, but the gestalt of the idea is clear enough. Whoever designed and built the instrument, be it the player or a cooperating technophile, was very creative.

Benedict Popescu is hoping to attend the Lippstadt Theremin Festival, Without Touch 2.0, in September, so with luck we will be able to find out a bit more about his instrument then.

:-)

Jeff-- thanks for pointing out the discrete-pitch aspect.

The funny thing is, now when I go back and watch again, even with all this knowledge, it looks more than ever like a fake.

At best, if it is real, the synchronization of audio and video is botched... perhaps we're seeing one (outdoor) performance, and hearing another (recorded indoors).

Fred, thanks for the additional info on E&M. But experience has taught me that the pitch rod's control field 1) extends to all sides, but 2) is widest around the middle of the rod, and shorter as one moves to the ends. Hence the doughnut imagery. Then again, maybe I'm just craving breakfast...

"Doughnuts. Is there anything they can't do?" --Homer Simpson

Hello,
I have watched all this guy's videos and listened intently to his musical creations. He is playing--- the musical saw --- then processing it thru a effects pedal to give the timbre a vibrato. Passing this off as a theremin with a visual prop specifically designed to spark curiousity amongst the Theremin community, must tickle this guy's twisted sense of humor.
I may be wrong, but the performance gestures in his videos and close examination of his "theremin" instrument, just don't seem to fit the bill.

Good Luck!

teslatheremin