This is a waste of bandwidth but…
I have some $$$ burning a hole in my pocket. I want two things but can’t decide which to get. I can either buy a VX-351 and have some Voyager on modular action…or I can get a Theremin (which I’ve wanted since I was a kid) and learn how to make 50s sci-fi space noises, scare my kid and annoy my wife.
Theremin…more fun. VX-351…more useful.
Decisions, decisions…
VX-351 and make theremin noises with your Voyager.
Ill tell you what.
I would get the Theremin with the CV upgrades so you can control your voyager.
But I think what will determine what the real decision is…Is it worth it to you to have an extra function to an instrument or to have a whole new instrument?
If you think that you will get bored with a Theremin, that you will only use it for Sci-Fi noises, or that you don’t really intend to use it seriously, then you might want to get a Vx351. But I don’t know what other gear you have.
I think having a Theremin with the new CV outputs would rank higher to me than a Vx351. I don’t really use mine that much at this point. THen Again I don’t use my theremin much either. I think having another instrument will greatly train your ear and give you more options. With the New CV outs, it also will function as an awesome controller.
Besides, income tax is around the corner and you can chunk out a Vx351.
You have your whole life to build many dreamsynths. Id get the Theremin. You might get more usage out of it. It is surely a great thing to be playing a line on the Voyager and reach up and do some crazy delayed effect on the theremin and go back to your synth melody.
I think if you got the Vx351 youd still be itching for the theremin. Possibly vice versa, but if you didn’t like the theremin you coudl sell it and not be at too much of a loss making up the difference for the expander.
Eric
Well l’ve always wanted a Theremin. I’d probably start out making annoying sci-fi noises but would ultimately like to learn to really play it.
As far as the VX-351 goes I own a small modular. I can use the modular with the Voyger already but it only works one way. Modular into Voyager. So if I got the VX-351 I’d be able to use the Voyager’s LFOs, S/H, touchpad, ect. to control the modular. Which would be cool too.
My dilemma now is that I found a used mint condition Etherwave for roughly the same price as a VX-351. If one was way more expensive than the other the choice would be easier.
In the end I really want the Theremin but I don’t know how much use I’ll get out of it until I have it in my possession. I already know the VX-351 would be useful but it’s not as interesting to me.
I don’t know…I’ll figure it out.
If you get the theremin with CV outs, you can control the Voyager and/or the modular with it. The best of ALL the worlds! Just my 2 pence. Or, buy the VX-351 now, and get the CV theremin later. 
I don’t know if the new upgraded Theremin is shipping yet or not. If it isn’t, I’d say get the VX-351 now and then get the Theremin later this year! 
I have a 351. I think it makes a fairly big difference to the Voyager. I view the Theremin more as a toy thing, which is why I haven’t got one yet.
Out of the two? I’d have the 351.
But you’ll want the CP-251 to go with it really soon after…
Yeah, I’m leaning toward the 351 now. I can always sell my Kenton Pro Solo to fund it since I’ll have the pitch/gate out from the 351.
You view the Theremin as a “Toy Thing”?
Man thats a pretty bold statement.
To Each his own.
Its going to be one of the greatest CV COntrollers ever when I get my upgrade.
Eric
Sounds to me like you’re choosing between a new useful tool… a serious tool - the 351, and a new fun toy - the Theremin. Perhaps ask yourself if a new toy or a new tool will satisfy your ‘itch’ more.
One other idea… will MOOG let you RETURN a Theremin within 30 days if you’re unsatisfied with it - then exchange it for the 351? Especially if there are no dealers nearby where you could mess with it for a while.
Note: In regard to the term, “Toy”, I don’t mean to offend anyone, nor do I think that Jon does. For example, I just purchased a brand new Ibanez EWN28KOENT Classical guitar. For me, it’s just a TOY - a couch guitar for me to frack around on. I can’t play the thing to save my life. But I figure if I put in about 200 years of practice… Anyway, for me, it really is a toy.
I say go for the etherwave plus if its out, that will satisfy some of your childhood itch plus some of your control needs. But if its not out yet go for the 351
Aye, my electric guitar is a toy to me as well. 
I wasn’t offended by the toy statement. I just think WOW thats a really bold statement because I know how freaking hard that instrument is to play and I think about the skill level that it takes for someone to really get good on one.
Now the 351 is really a great tool to expand your Voyager, but the Theremin is another instrument. But do whatever suits your needs. You NEED a vx351 and you should get one because they are invaluable in the areas of what you can do when you have other CV gear.
You coudl do some advanced stuff with a theremin controller too though.
If I had to choose between a Theremin with no CV outs and a VX351 and I didn’t know if Id like the Theremin then Id go with the 351.
The crucial point here is the CV outs on the Theremin. To me this sounds like a fantastic controller.
If this is not important, and you are not serious about playing the theremin as an instrument, well THEN it will be more of a toy for you, and you should probably get a 351.
But if you appreciate the combined opportunities in the theremin, then I guess you should get one of the items first, and the other one later.
I have the 351, and am very excited about getting the theremin as a controller. As an instrument, it will be a toy for me, because I have no intention of learning it.
Imagine playing the Voyager with your right hand fingers dancing on a keyboard (or a Haken Continuum), the right foot on a MP-201 and the left hand modulating stuff with the theremin!
It takes a really good skill level to make good music on a Stylophone, too.
I don’t think the Theremin is a toy.
I think that for many synthesizer players, the Theremin has the role of a toy.
It’s an interesting little device that makes noises.
I doubt many of them learn to play it properly. I wouldn’t. I’d muck about with it and try to find ways of making it do interesting stuff with CV.
That’s why I don’t have one yet. I don’t want to spend $550 on a toy, but I don’t want to get the inferior versions of it either.
Right…which is why I bought a $79 Dean guitar. Awful hard for me to justify an Alembic.
I get you, Rich. I saw Pamela Kurstin doing her famous walking bass technique and I thought “That looks easy.” I got one and While I don’t use it often, Im glad that I have one because it is part of my Moog system. Its just an extra Oscillator essentially. I always think “I want to lay some Moog down” and Instead of reaching for the same old Voyager or Micro I have an extra option that still counts. And the types of things that you can do with it is very interesting. It is so precise, with the right amount of practice you can almost have more control over it than you can a keyboard instrument.
THe type of Stuff that I do is half Sci-Fi and half melodic. It will mimic the sound of a woman singing, Brass, or Strings very well as well as that ripping sine.
As a CV Controller ive had to run its audio out to an envelope follower to get special tricks like increasing the amount of delay or the mix amount of Ring Modulation. WHen you multiply the envelope output then you have “Hands-OFF” control over alot more stuff. With the CV upgrade this would be infinitely better and Id love to be able to phrase my 3 osc Voyager with the Theremin.
Its all good!
Eric
As I’ve not played a Moog Theremin, could you explain that statement, Eric?
Well,
Im not talking about comparing it to the versitillity of 10 fingers wailing away at mach 3. In that respect I think only the Sax compares.
But you access quarter tones and if you are nervous and your hand is shaking it picks it up. If you master that amount of minute fine motor movements then you have a great deal of control over how the instrument functions. It is an amount of precision tone control not accessable on a standard (non-programmable) keyboard.
Basically you can set the magnetic fields around each antenna to be big or small. If you set the volume antenna to be really small you can get some very fast staccato. The pitch ant being so responsive is what makes this instrument so difficult to play. For those who play well, and the ant extreme sensitivity to hand position I THINK makes this instrument more controllable than a traditional keyboard.
Its really hard to explain for me to adequately quantify that statement…and getting to the level of mastery of the Theremin to back my statement up takes a very long time.
Perhaps you may disagree. I just threw that out there.
Thanks, Eric. I’ve never had the opportunity to experiment with one and always wondered how one plays to the sensitivity of the thing.
I’ve always wanted to try Steve Howe’s slide guitar part of “Soon” with a Theremin. I’ll bet it would come out nice.
Well, YES, not NICE.