Hi, I am new to the forum and I have never played before but I plan on buying my first one in a few weeks my question is I have knoticed there is mini theremins, now I was going to buy a analog theremin but is there a difference between a mini and just a regular analog? Will I get the same sound from a mini? Thanks!
mini theremins?
Posted: 1/18/2009 4:53:45 AM
They all make sound. But the kind and the quality of sound differ.
All depends on your needs. Do you want to make just a few sound effects or do you rather want to play melodies on it like on another "classical" music instrument?
In the latter case you should buy a theremin which has not only pitch but also volume control and which has a good and more or less linear playable range. The "entry class" would then be a B3 theremin, the "standard" is the Moog Etherwave Standard.
Take your time to hear sound samples before buying.
All depends on your needs. Do you want to make just a few sound effects or do you rather want to play melodies on it like on another "classical" music instrument?
In the latter case you should buy a theremin which has not only pitch but also volume control and which has a good and more or less linear playable range. The "entry class" would then be a B3 theremin, the "standard" is the Moog Etherwave Standard.
Take your time to hear sound samples before buying.
Posted: 1/18/2009 7:36:34 AM
Thanks! That helped alot. For now I want to get something cheap to see if I like it then I will upgrade to a moog. If I like it I want to play for music not to just make sounds..is a B3 analog or digital? I have done some looking around and I cant really find anything that tells me.
Posted: 1/18/2009 8:19:08 AM
B3's are analogue, and IMO, a pretty good first choice - especially the Deluxe - the playing field is too small on the B3 standard. I got something similar as my first theremin - (A Kees Enkelaar - no longer made) and don't regret it at all.
I upgraded to an etherwave after my first live performance (the Kees let me down - a combination of freezing winds and the previous band yanking my power cable) but it feels very good to have a back-up instrument just in case.
Welcome to Theremin World.
I upgraded to an etherwave after my first live performance (the Kees let me down - a combination of freezing winds and the previous band yanking my power cable) but it feels very good to have a back-up instrument just in case.
Welcome to Theremin World.
Posted: 1/28/2009 2:50:15 AM
I just got my Burns B3 and I'm having a blast.
It has a very pretty sound, much nicer than the old Sonic Wave I remember, which was just a simple sine wave sound.
I made screen captures of an oscilloscope display showing the waveforms and put them on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23036368@N04/
It basically puts out a nice triangle wave, but when it plays lower notes it adds some even-order harmonics and becomes more "saw" like.
This shows graphically why people say a theremin sounds like a soprano voice on the high notes and more like a violin on the lower ones.
I've got the B3 going through an ART Tube MP preamp, which puts a subtle warmth on the sound. I also bought a Behringer VD-100 Analog Delay to play with the B3, which is supposedly the same circuit design as the classic Boss DM-2 Delay from the 1970s.
Analog theremin, analog (tube!) preamp and analog delay - a 100% analog signal! Sweet!
Now, I just have to practice. And practice.
It has a very pretty sound, much nicer than the old Sonic Wave I remember, which was just a simple sine wave sound.
I made screen captures of an oscilloscope display showing the waveforms and put them on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23036368@N04/
It basically puts out a nice triangle wave, but when it plays lower notes it adds some even-order harmonics and becomes more "saw" like.
This shows graphically why people say a theremin sounds like a soprano voice on the high notes and more like a violin on the lower ones.
I've got the B3 going through an ART Tube MP preamp, which puts a subtle warmth on the sound. I also bought a Behringer VD-100 Analog Delay to play with the B3, which is supposedly the same circuit design as the classic Boss DM-2 Delay from the 1970s.
Analog theremin, analog (tube!) preamp and analog delay - a 100% analog signal! Sweet!
Now, I just have to practice. And practice.
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