Choosing a theremin

Hi gsmonks, welcome to theremin world.

Think of your dream theremin as a modular synth. A theremin is precisely a proximity controlled oscillator module and a proximity controlled amp module. Those parts of your instrument you should get good advice from here. I'm not an engineer, so I'll leave that to others, but in terms of what is currently available as ready built, I would point to the Moog etherwave plus. A good, solid instrument with CV outs For pitch and volume. (And talk to Thierry about putting an effects loop between the osc and the amp so that you can insert other modules in between them.)

Other modules for your instrument would be no different to those in a keyboard synth.

NB On autotuning a theremin. (I'm quoting myself here as I said this before in another thread.) 

This is what is wrong with autotuning a theremin (for a classical thereminist) - the pitch field is unpredictable enough already, with pitch correction on you lose the direct correlation between hand position and pitch that you rely on. Say you are playing a C. You do not know if you are 49 cents sharp or 49 cents flat, because it sounds in tune. So a tiny movement could abruptly and unexpectedly cause the instrument to jump to a different note if you are unknowingly close to the boundary between two notes.

Hi gsmonks

I think it all comes down to what level of DIY you can manage.. You cannot buy exactly what you are looking for, but you can get close - even closer if you can do modifications / electronics.

Off-the-shelf, the EW+ will give you CV and trigger outputs - you can use this as a controller for any of the many analogue synth modules and systems available today.. The only limitation is that the CV will only track the theremins audio down to about 100Hz - but if you ignore the theremins audio output this isnt a problem.

Using the EW as a CV controller (the same role as a master controller keyboard) you dont need to get inside the theremin at all, or even use its audio output.. You are probably better off using the theremin either as a theremin (as in, actually playing it and listening to its audio) or as a controller (not using the theremins audio, but just using its CV's to control external modules) - Trying to use both the theremins audio and the external stuff controlled by it at the same time is, IMO, not worth the effort.

You can buy CV Quantizers that will give you CV outputs that quantize to the scale you select, you can buy (or build) CV mixers that will allow a degree of pitch correction, you can buy CV to MIDI controllers - (or buy modules like the Novation Bass Station Rack that have a full analogue synth and will accept CV or MIDI input.. They dont make these any more, but one can get them for <£200 on Ebay* - and they are wonderful - A EW+ and one of these is all you need to get started .. But it MUST be the rack version, the other versions dont have CV input)

The whole analogue scene is in revival, with Euro-Rack modules and "reborn" classic mono synths being released weekly - Analogue Solutions, Doepfer (dont be tempted by their controller "theremin" - its complete rubbish - but their modules are ok), and the big players (Moog, Korg, Yamaha - Not Roland.. They refuse to enter this market) are all starting to produce affordable analogue CV synths.. And there are masses of "cottage industry" modules making everything from clones of classic VCO's VCF's VCA's EG's etc to bizarre monstrocities - but for about £300 you can get a reasonable little modular - Although at that price point its probably worth looking at the low end Moogs or Korg or Yamaha products... *The Bass Station Rack IMO is the best value when you can get it under £250 (I got mine for £150 S/H on Ebay, They were selling just under £200 but the price seems to be going up - Actually, If I needed a mono synth for use with a theremin, and had to, I would even pay £300 for the Bass Station) as one can store the knob settings in presets .. And its fully analogue - its only problem is the number of knobs crammed onto a 1U 19" rack and the multi-function of these knobs - but its still far easier to use than interfaces on synths of the late 80's which had a single alpha dial and nultiple buttons for parameter selection.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/novation-Bass-Station-Analog-Synthesizer-Rack-Module-World-Ship-/121289855669#ht_982wt_1168

Fred.

 If you really want to build it you own kit, you can buy an assembled EW board for $99 from http://www.instrumentalparts.com/  (they may even sell the add-on pitch-to-voltage board, or Moog might.. *** Just checked, and the upgrade kit from Moog costs $149 .. If you can construct your own board, it will be a LOT cheaper - probably in the order of $50.. But its a pain if you build it into the theremin - I would advise doing what I did and have it in a seperate box and fitting a socket so you can pipe the required signals to it)  and full details on modifying it can be found here - There are loads of schematics and kits / boards for synth stuff (Music from outer space, or MFOS, are a good source)

The Moog pitch-to-voltage board is IMO not at all wonderful - and its a real pain to set up, particularly if you want other instruments to play along with (track) the theremins pitch accurately - But its usable if you dont do this and just use the CV as a control output... It is, however, almost infinately better than the Doepfer CV- Outputting "theremin" or the PAIA rubbish.