The Pocket Theremin

 
Sine wave output with pitch aerial only. Mono mini jack socket line level output. Requires standard 9V battery.
 
Check out this article, from the November '96 issue of FM...
 
traditional Theremins can be cumbersome and expensive - so how about an unconventional one instead?
 
The Pocket Theremin has one antenna to control pitch, an on-off switch, a volume control, a mini jack output, a pitch trim control round the back for tuning, a small speaker in the front, and that's it. Unlike the large table-top Theremins, there's no second antenna to regulate volume: run the jack output through a guitar volume pedal to do that.
 
The principle of the Theremin is basically this: the output frequency depends on the capacitance of the air between your hand and the antenna. But let's make one thing clear straight away, playing any kind of recognizable melody by waving your hand around the device is almost impossible.
 
Nominally then, the Pocket Theremin just seems like an expensive and collectable toy but with a little application, there is much more you can do here.
 
Chuck the output through a big reverb or delay, or both even, and you have instant sci-fi spookscape. alternatively, waggle and flick your fingers around the antenna for a while, record the output then sample off tasty chunks.
 
The Pocket Theremin is ideal for creating homemade Kraftwerk-style zaps, whoops and thwips, low frequency bass throbs and best of all, eerie operatic voices. With a little patience you could multisample a couple of octaves of convincing vocal warbles.
 
 

The Elysian Theremin      ( Owner's Manual   )

 
The Elysian Theremin is as close to the RCA original as we could possibly get it using solid state technology. However in order to make this Theremin a little more accesible and easier to play than its predecessor, we felt we should reverse one feature...
Originally, the closer the hand to the amplitude antenna, the quieter the sound. It made more sense to us if we inverted this by having a louder sound while the hand is close to the antenna.
But if you want to stay as faithful to the RCA as possible, don't worry, the amplitude of the Elysian Theremin can be changed so that it may be played either way.
 
The Elysian has three rotory controls - Pitch trim, Amplitude trim and Output Volume.
 
There is an internal speaker that enables the Elysian Theremin to be played as a standalone instrument, alternatively a headphone socket allows silent practice. There is also a line-level output for conecting to external equipment.
 
Along with all the standard Theremin sounds there is a new unique 'Dr Who' sound available with a flick of the Ring Mod switch.
 
The Elysian Theremin requires a DC power supply (AC adaptor is supplied with each instrument).
 
The standard instrument is beautifully finished in a plywood box (which matches the MIDI box - details below).
Hand painted boxes or other alternative finishes are available. Please contact us if you have a special request.
 

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The Elysian Theremin

• Original RCA Theremin sound
   
• Built-in speaker
   
• Line output
   
• Headphone output
   
• Pitch and Amplitude trim pots
   
• Unique 'Ring Mod' mode
   
• Detachable antenna assembly
   
• Direct microphone stand fixing
   
• Continuous pitch output
   
• Interfaces directly with the MCV1a MIDI box
   
• External earthed power supply

The MCV1a                                 ( Owner's Manual  )
Theremin MIDI/CV Interface 

The MCV1a is a pitch / amplitude to MIDI and CV interface. There are 128 user patches which can be loaded from the front panel, foot switch or remotely via the MIDI program change message: each patch contains detailed set-up parameters including octave range, pitch bend range, amplitude sensitivity, velocity sensitivity, volume sensitivity, tone offset, program change and more! Two control voltage outputs are provided for pitch and amplitude. The gate and trigger signals are amplitude threshold switched, with control of the switch threshold. The source of the CV interface may also be switched to incoming MIDI to allow use as a standard MIDI to CV converter. The MCV1a is capable of simultaneous Theremin to MIDI and MIDI CV conversion. The pitch bend controller (1-48 semitones definable) is used in conjunction with RPN (54H) portamento control to follow the pitch of the Theremin. Pitch is resolved down to +/- 2.5 cents over 8 octaves with 10 cents hysteresis (to reduce the amount of useless MIDI data transmitted from wobbly hand syndrome). The channel volume message is used to control the amplitude and can be assigned to channel pressure (after touch) poly pressure and virtually any other MIDI controller. An echo back facility is provided since there is no MIDI thru terminal, this merges the Theremin MIDI data with incoming MIDI data, allowing the user to control sequences with a Theremin.The MCV1a comes supplied with an ac power adaptor. This little box is set out to re-define the use of Theremins in today's world of musical instrument technology.
 

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The MCV1a

• Interfaces directly with any Theremin
   
• 128 user-programmable patches
   
• Real time pitch readout
   
• External footswitch for hold facility
   
• 8 octaves of pitch tracking through 14 bits of pitch
  bend data
   
• Control over octave range down to 1 semitone allowing glissando playing
   
• Built in MIDI merge facility
   
• Full MIDI to 1V/octave CV interface with
  auxiliary voltage, gate and trigger outputs
   
• Simultaneous Theremin to MIDI and Theremin to CV conversion
   
• Assignable auxiliary MIDI controller