fx units

I use a Lexicon MPX110 which can do twin effects. Its not too expensive despite being a Lexicon - i think there is a slightly fancier model now - the 220 or something.
The modulations (flanges and chorus etc) are very subtle, perhaps too subtle.
But there are a couple of fun things I like - firstly there is an input and output level - it has knobs - knobs beat presets handsdown live.
There is a fun long delay on a preset which fades and muffles with time that feels very like tape delay and suits the instrument. There is also a wild harmonizer/delay preset which makes a nice chord and adds delay which is great for wildness.
you can hear soundclips of theremin etherwave standard with the Lexicon here
http://www.btinternet.com/~unclechristo/cd_contact.html

I also have a Digitech Workstation EX harmonizer which is a bit finicky to set up right. The nice thing you can do with it is choose a scale so that your melody theremin is surrounded by a halo of up to 4 harmonized theremins in the key of your tune. It has reverb built in which is handy. There are other things it can do but that is the best trick.

The king of delays at the moment is the Boss DD20 which has a 25 second delay and you can overdub loops on it. It's like the Line 6 delay Pamelia Kurstin uses but has a longer delay and has 2 pedals which makes on the fly loopin easier by all accounts - I hope to get one or borrow a pals sometime.

Thanks again Kevin, your article and sound samples are posted. Great thread!! Anyone else want to add links to some effects examples?

Having individual stomp boxes for all the different effects surely gives greater freedom. On the other hand, it requires complete understanding of the way each effect works and how each one interacts with the others. The result of an effects chain depends not only by the effects used, but also by the way they are connected. Bigger effect units may tie your hands with their fixed (but sensible) block diagrams, but give safer and usually better sounding results. Keep also in mind that multiple connections multiply the noise level on the output, given that most stomp boxes use unbalanced connections. That may not be a big issue for someone playing an overdriven guitar, but surely is for a thereminist.

To clear up the flanger/phaser issue on the otherwise excellent effect-example post by kkissinger, I'd like to add that the difference between them does not rely on the feedback control. Flangers and Phasers produce a somewhat similar sound but work in a very different way. Flanging is indeed delay based (for delay times smaller than 10ms). The delayed signal combined with the original produces the phase shifting as mentioned by kkissinger. Phasing on the other hand is achieved through notch-filtering. Notch-filtering refers to filters with a very narrow bandwidth. The signal is split with some going to the filter circuit and the rest bypassing it. The notch filter creates big phase shifts on the processed signal. By sweeping the filter up and down and combining the two signals, a series of ever-changing phase cancellations occurs.

kkissinger's syncopated delay sample used the two channels of a stereo unit as two mono boxes operating in parallel to amazing effect.

Is it possible to chain two mono boxes in parallel by means of some sort of signal splitter?

Gordon

Splitting your mono signal is quite easy. Nearly all direct injection boxes that have two outputs also have splitting capability. But the "ping-pong" delay recorded by kkissinger is achieved by aytomatically panning the effect left and right. In other words, it is a process of "moving" a monophonic sound in the stereo field rather than two separate channels working together.

Marble, thanks for your clarification about phasing vs. flanging.

Stay tuned... I'll record some additional effects this evening and send 'em in.

Glad you are enjoying the little examples.

Found some more theremin effects examples here:

http://www.manfromuranus.com/sound-gallery.htm