Moog Music Forum

I have just bought a theremin off of ebay, having never even seen one before.

I plugged it in but it doesnt sound like all the ones i hear on the internet, just wierd radio noise.

maybe i am using the wrong lead for it or something? it has standard rca phono output. its powered by a nine volt battery. it has tune control nob and a volume/level control nob.

how do i get it sounding nice?

maybe its a crap theremin?

maybe i am playing it all wrong?

havent got a cluue.

someone please help!

Thank you

Gary Cox

First off, it doesn't sound like you have a MOOG Etherwave or any variation thereof (if I'm wrong I apologize).

The tuning maybe the only problem but maybe hard to do so because it only has a volume knob (opposed to antennae). Anyhow...stand about an arm's length away...at this point you should not hear a sound BUT if you do, that's when you want to start turning that tuning knob (cw/ccw) until the signal stops. This may fix the problem. Try a different battery?

And there is no RIGHT way to play the theremin (or any instrument for that matter in my opinion).

Could it be the cable your using? Maybe it's picking up interference from other electric/tronic devises? Maybe it is a crap theremin...hope not, but I hope this helps.

What kind of sound does it make?

Does it change the pitch when you are moving?

Did you place it on the table or on any metallic surface? All metallic parts are a kind of condensor.

Metal tables, computers and other things may have influence.

Did you insert new batteries? In the right direction?

Does the phono input in your radio work properly? Is it "line in" or another?