Moog Music Forum

Hello,

I would like to try the Theremini's antenna with a reverse behaviour regarding the pitch.

Meaning, I would like to get lower pitch (bass) when moving near the antenna and high (treble) pitch when moving away.

Is it possible? Did I miss it in the manual?

Regards,

Jim

You can. During calibration, when it says hold your hand near the pitch rod, hold it far away, and when it says hold your hand far from the pitch rod, hold it close.

This screws the linearity big time. The low notes will be close together and the high notes far apart. This is because the theremini pitch field is inherently non-linear and is corrected in software. By reversing the field the software now exaggerates the non-linearity rather than compensating for it. Also instead of being silent very close to the pitch rod, it will make a very high sound.

Thanks for replying Gordon!

Oh no....linearity issues. But since it's corrected (in software), isn't it really linear at the end?

It's just that I find it kind of "unnatural" (stupid brain brain brain...) coming from the keyboards to have the theremini in front of me and then moving towards the antenna for high pitch...

Maybe if I switch to using the back of my palm fixes the brain interpretation. I will post back the feelings...

Cheers,

Jim

Very odd idea Jim, all instruments have a higher pitch if the scale or string is on a short range. so for me its logic to have a higher note as you move closer to the antenna, anyway. as for your other q, on the load button in the editor, to the left you have the animoog editor presets, to the right the theremini presets, you can move them back and forth, change save etc, you can also save on you computer, and later load. so that was that.

peterdavidson wrote:...on the load button in the editor, to the left you have the animoog editor presets, to the right the theremini presets, you can move them back and forth, change save etc, you can also save on you computer, and later load. so that was that.

To the left of the PC editor, I have the editor presets, they are not distinguished between animoog/theremini/custom presets. How do you know they're animoog?

cheers,

jim

Jim, when I tried it, the non-linearity was very obvious. (Especially in full auto-tune - you can hear the notes getting closer as you sweep through the field.) I think it's because you're not really changing the capacitive field, just lying to the software about what is near and what is far. The software is gullible and not that bright.

Interesting though - I've never heard anyone want to have the pitch field reversed. Mostly people feel the volume field is upside-down and closer should mean louder.

A suggestion - when you are playing do you touch your thumb and forefinger together, tip to tip? This is often recommended as it helps to stabilise the arm. Imagine you are holding one of your chest hairs while you play. The further away your hand moves from your chest, the more you pull on the hair and the higher pitch your scream of pain will be.

Hahahhahahahahah

that was crazy funny

thanks

You can also put the Theremini behind you, and move the pitch with your head instead of your arm. Not precisely reversed...

Well, Jim, in a manner of speaking, as they say, some sounds in the editor are animoog / Theremini based etc, im sure you see what waveforms that goes and so on. we who reply here, do try to help each other out. but i wont bother if you have an attitude. good luck /P

That was a very interesting experience. Not as i would recommend it, but the engine inside is quite a forgiving one. Reversing volume response make some sense. And works quite nicely. And also reversing pitch may make sense to some. I remember, having built a Kit from Australia, and that one had normal or reversed Pitch, both playable, but depending on the tuning of the variable inductors.
I did not expect such a compressed field near the antenna. By reversing the pitch calibration the the zero-beat seems to be right near to the antenna, but leaving still some space to go through zero raising again up to the highest notes!
The sketch in the addendum pdf shows quite clearly what that through zero means.

peterdavidson wrote:Well, Jim, in a manner of speaking, as they say, some sounds in the editor are animoog / Theremini based etc, im sure you see what waveforms that goes and so on. we who reply here, do try to help each other out. but i wont bother if you have an attitude. good luck /P

No attitude at all Peter. It's what asynchronous communication does sometimes. If you are referring to my laugh above, it was honest laugh about the expression with the hair pulling from the chest! Come on, it is funny and at same time 100% accurate isn't it? I do understand and agree to your point. I also try to help if I can.

bichuelo wrote:You can also put the Theremini behind you, and move the pitch with your head instead of your arm. Not precisely reversed...

Also using the head or the whole body is valid way to play the theremin(i) as well as bringing in a guitar into the "field".

Ok Jim all good then. just to clarify the latest quote, with using the head, wasnt by me..
bichuelo » Thu Feb 19, 2015 10:21 am
You can also put the Theremini behind you, and move the pitch with your head instead of your arm. Not precisely reversed...
good luck with all experiments ! /P

You're right, I edited it.

Take care

Jim