The Theremin Has Its Way to Tease!

I like the new voice even better. (A personal preference.)

I believe I heard a touch of distortion at the loud parts in the mid and lower frequencies, but I can't say if that is from the theremin or from a hot input signal to the recording device. I heard it in both my speakers and headphones.

I don't have a lot of solo theremin voices to compare it to, but I noticed something unusual. Unlike other theremins, this one (voicing) seems to increase in harmonics as the pitch increases. The others I've seen tend to get "thinner", with fewer harmonics, in the higher register. This one is similar to the Enkelaar theremins, but not as much - not as string-like.

Oh...and if the Millennia STT-1 is a little too rich for your blood, the TL Audio 5051 Mono Tube Voice Processor (http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/docs/products/5051.shtml) is a more affordable(?) alternative.

I have a TL Audio 5051 and it is an excellent device. I use it for acoustic instruments - harps, hurdy gurdies, that sort of thing - and use the MILLENNIA for voice and theremin. Both the devices use vacuum tubes but the MILLENNIA has a built-in optional solid state circuit for those who prefer it. Tubes are not always the best way to go.

Coalport said:
[i]Both the devices use vacuum tubes but the MILLENNIA has a built-in optional solid state circuit for those who prefer it. Tubes are not always the best way to go.[/i]

I agree totally, they both have their place and modern day solid state is superior.

My raw sound samples have been about harnessing the fundamentals of the theremin. How is the pitch field linearity of my design? You will all be pleasantly surprised.

It concerns me when a new Thereminist gets encouraged too invest $$$ in a basic tube amp thinking it will appreciably transform their theremin sound. This reminds me of the term GIGO. I think of theremin sound as simple and pure while a guitar has a very complex sound that a tube amp will enhance.

The development of my theremin still has many months ahead for my finished model. For those curious, without an enclosure, the pitch section costs $150 to put together while the volume section with its non-distorting stand alone sound control costs $200 to make. In total it uses three 6” home etched circuit boards.

I think one of you out there has the ability to create a stand alone volume control circuit board that could cut the $200 in half. There are many pitch only theremins that could also use this product. This would give the option for people to buy a finished volume control circuit board from you or they can make my design.

My theremin stands on a pedestal, so I will get off mine now and go develop…
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Do you have any plans to sell theremins based on your design in the future, or is it just a personal project to create a single instrument?

AlKhwarizmi:

Thank you for your interest!

I would like to first finish my own version of the Touchless theremin in the next few months. The way it is constructed will be published on the web at no cost, this is the way Lev Sergeyevich Termen would have wanted it. (<= gracious words ' )

If someone out there with skill could make a good volume control board for sale, they could also etch the remaining two pitch section circuit boards and sell as a partial kit or maybe more. The theremin pitch section is one weekend project.

The sound you hear is direct line-in without any enhancements or acoustics to color it.

(I do lack control of my volume hand with a blast of sound)

The Voice (http://mysite.verizon.net/resshk58/sound/simple-sound5.mp3)

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I will say that the volume control seems to be smooth and responsive, even at low levels. That's not definitive since you played no smooth crescendo's and we have no video of the hand movements as reference. However, if the responsiveness wasn't there, I couldn't even say that much.

You will never see me on youtube, I know my limits and my waist size!

Jeff S: That distortion you heard in that other sample was your sound card, reviewing the recorded wave shape it was perfect. View it in Audacity.

My volume control board is near perfect, I just think it is too expensive for what it is and could give someone else a “finished product” to sell. In my design the shading range can be adjusted from 8” to 10” (as in the sample below) down to a snappy 1” while remaining over 2” from the hoop. crescendo sample (http://mysite.verizon.net/resshk58/sound/crescendo.mp3) Touching the hoop is absolutely noiseless.
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* * * Edit: I must go away for a while, this is where it all began: My first post (http://www.thereminworld.com/forum.asp?cmd=p&T=4829&F=1)

Thanks for the clip. Yep, it sounds smooooooth!

"Jeff S: That distortion you heard in that other sample was your sound card, reviewing the recorded wave shape it was perfect. View it in Audacity."

You're most likely correct. After you posted again last evening, I did watch the waveform to see if the distortion showed itself. It did not. So, my SB Audigy 4 ain't so good after all!

BTW, I like to use the "scope" visualization in Windows Media Player to watch the waveforms in real time. They can be paused as well. The firestorm visualization is my "poor man's" spectrum analyzer.