A little synth with your little theremin

I stumbled across this at work (lunchtime) today.

The people who brought you the little red Gakken theremin now have a little analog(?) synth as well.

One of the pictures I've seen shows the Gakken theremin plugged into the synth. It also appears to have a ribbon controller and stylus, so could it be similar to a Stylophone?

I'm not sure what that's all about, and I haven't had time to look into it. Maybe someone else would have time to do that?

Here's a link to give you some idea what I'm talking about. It's about a third of the way down the page.

Gakken SX-150 Synth (http://blog.gamersweb.it)

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On the same page you will notice the new Korg DS-10 for the Nintendo DS.

You have GOT to check this out! It is an actual analog synth emulation. You can actually do a few basic virtual "patches" (remember those?).

Obviously, it does have its limitations, but the abilities it does have are truly remarkable. Even more amazing is the fact that you can link two or more units together for truly remarkable results.

Remember...this is a hand-held videogame machine! Kids today are SO spoiled!
35 years ago, we would have killed to get our hands on something like this at this price. We had to settle for waxed paper and a comb or clipping a playing card to the wheel of our bike with a clothes pin!

Here are a few video demonstrations.

Korg DS-10 (http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/19545)

Korg DS-10 (http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/20419)

Korg DS-10 (http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/19891)

The Gakken SX-150 looks fun. I guess that, like the mini theremin, it will have its limitations musically ... more just an entertaining little gadget - but still probably worth having.
I found the following showing it in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDlVdbrJcrA

Would be great with midi in

Another example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XNESJBvPrs

I hope to have one soon, it will be fun playing with it.

I have the SX-150 since yesterday.

If you ever wanted to have an electro-theremin (aka tannerin), or any version of it, forget about expensive and/or unavailable electronica and [b]GO for the SX-150[/b]. You won't regret.

It is TONS FUN!!! I can play almost any tune with it, using just the ribbon controller included, since I am thereminist. Using any multi-effects unit you will be making noise at your rooms for hours!

[i]AN IDEA: if any friend of yours wants a theremin just for noise and you dont want another non-musical thereminist around, recommend him/her to get this cheap gadget instead ;)[/i]

I also ordered one of these, (bought through eBay) and was highly impressed that it came from Japan in just two days, (faster than most UK local firstclass mail). I haven't got around to building it yet - but your glowing recommendation is a good encouragement!

http://cgi.ebay.com/GAKKEN-Analog-Synthesizer-SX-150-Vintage-Sound_W0QQitemZ370080411822QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item370080411822&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

An important tip: I don't know how Japanese or U.S. post service works, but in Spain it is absolutely mandatory de facto to receive and send the packages by certified mail.

The one I received was "lost" in a first moment for 2 weeks when I found it at the local post office, not having myself any notice at home ... it was close to be rejected or, definitively, "lost" (you know what I mean)...

So, if you buy an SX-150 or anything from Japan, ask them explicitly to send it certified.

Hello,
Does this Nippon company have a website?
Can these great devices be purchased in the United States of America?
I guess that I have yet to see a legitimate source for these great little toys online.

Good Luck!

teslatheremin

I have been watching a few companies who sell Japanese magazines and toys outside of Japan, and they have yet to appear there.

This is what happened with the Gakken theremin mini - first it appeared on eBay, and then later in specialist retail outlets such as beNippon, HobbyLink Japan (from whom I got a theremin mini, at less than the going rate on eBay) and Maker SHED.

Searches - beNippon (http://benippon.com/shop/index.php?manufacturers_id=9&sort=0d&filter_id=44) - HobbyLink Japan (http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?MacroType=OthBoo&SeriesID=1227&searchpage=Bootop&Dis=-2&GenreCode=Boo) - Maker SHED (http://www.makershed.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=gakken)

I am not sure it is going to go the same way this time - the synth edition appeared very briefly on beNippon, and then went quickly to "used" i.e. second hand. I guess they are selling rather better than the theremins did. So I have ordered one from an eBay shop; ARCO Tower (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ARCO-Tower_Adult-Science-Series_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ8317104QQftidZ2QQtZkm). (Note - it has several synth issues and one theremin mini issue if anyone missed out previously.)

This (http://shop.gakken.co.jp/shop/order/ok_y/kagoedit.asp?item=1860518300) is Gakken's own shop front. Good luck trying to decode it with online translation. I am pretty certain they do not ship overseas. Most Japanese shops that I have looked at do not.