basic experiments

Why has Moog not made a very simple and quick modification in the Etherwaves since Melodia until today? A mystery to me. A proper reduce of the coupling leads directly to a playability of a very deep string bass.

It's meant to be a benefit, see 'Hot-Rodding your Etherwave': "C2 and C6 also provide weak coupling between the two pitch oscillators, which has the effect of synchronizing the pitch oscillators when their frequencies get very close together. This has the desirable effect of providing a stable 'zero beat', so that the instrument, once properly tuned, is silent when the player steps away from it".

Which besides explains why there is no mute switch.

Dominik:"It's meant to be a benefit..."

The abandonment of mute function at the expense of playability and linearity in the bass region?

Muting can be obtained by other technical means than just stepping away from an instrument whose oscillators are willfully crippled by coupling. As a violin or flute player puts carefully his instrument aside after having played, actioning a mute switch ore hanging a cable over the volume loop should be a similarly natural gesture for a Thereminist. A double bass player can also not just run away from his instrument...

If Moog Music Inc was too stingy to add a mute switch to the Etherwave, it’s due to dirty capitalist thinking of optimizing their benefits and marketing their failure as a feature.

I have heard it through the grapevine that Moog Music Inc put a very new model on market with a mute switch added! While sound remains so-so..

I can't believe that for decades Moog were so ignorant towards their customers. 

But if so, it is because here is a great lack of perceptible competiveness. Alternative concepts and products (some are in TW present) remain in a niche.

"Why has Moog not made a very simple and quick modification in the Etherwaves since Melodia until today? A mystery to me. A proper reduce of the coupling leads directly to a playability of a very deep string bass. I will demonstrate it in a video next time (not sure if anyone is interested in here?)."  - JPascal

I'm interested!  Other than the elimination of coupling via buffering, the use and nature of limited / reduced / controlled coupling to enhance bass timbre hasn't been sufficiently explored, at least openly (and that I'm aware of).

Here are some preliminary remarks. Most of you know the hints for proper tuned RCA theremins (RCATheremin.com)

What you can see is that there must be a coupling between the two pitch oscillators to a certain extent. That leads to overtone spectra which are different for 110 Hz, 220 Hz or 440 Hz.

In case of decoupling with buffers you have similar time signals and overtone behavior whatever pitch range is choosen. Only the low pass effects at higher notes occure.

I suppose that here is a key for the missed timbre since Clara's theremin.

I'm also very interested in this direction of experimenting. If you would find a possible minimal modification to the Etherwave to reduce but not completely eliminate the oscilators' coupling that would be wonderful. BTW, I love the look of your "Aethergeige" theremin.

Some hints you may find here: http://www.thereminworld.com/Forums/T/28485/yaewsbm---yet-another-etherwave-standard-bass-mod?post=218988#218988

Hi friends of the Theremin,
I must say that it is much more easier to know what something do than to demonstrate it so that everyone can understand it. And especially for me, with limited English and limited free time.

But the theremin fever has definitely infected me. Yesterday I attempted recording some videos and now I am afraid to publish them.