Kip Rosser's "Complete Theremin:" Theremini 101 - Basic Calibration
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- The experience of working with others who have purchased the Moog Theremini has shown that one of the key elements to playing is being able to correctly calibrate the instrument.
Whether you choose to play the instrument like a classic theremin, or, play using the many innovative presets and effects, the method you see hear is shown in great detail. The result is a Theremini that is optimally calibrated.
And if you've missed any THEREMINI tutorials:
The complete THEREMINI Lesson List
You can now access any lesson by copying the title (without the number) into the search field.
(In Chronological Order)
01 Theremini 101 - Basic Calibration
02 Calibrating the Theremini 101A - Real Time
03 Theremini 201: More Calibrations and Options
04 Theremini 301, Part 1 - Creative Techniques for the Presets
05 Theremini 301a, Part 2 - Overriding Preset Quantization
06 Theremini 401, Part 1: Improving Note Articulation
07 Theremini 401a, Part 2: Ear/Pitch Training
08 Theremini 501, Part 1: Downloads, Updates, and Editor Fun!
09 Theremini 501a, Part 2: Creating New Presets in the Editor
THE THEREMINI FASTTRAK SERIES
10 Theremini FastTrak Series: Introduction/Ear Training Exercise A
11 Theremini FastTrak Series: Ear Training Exercises B, C, and D
12 Theremini FastTrak Series: Ear Training Exercises E, F, and G
13 Theremini FastTrak Series: The Mind, Part 1
14 Theremini FastTrak Series: The Mind, Part 2
15 Theremini FastTrak Series: The Mind, Part 3
16 Theremini FastTrak Series: The Body
17 Theremini FastTrak Series: The Heart, Part 1
18 Theremini FastTrak Series: The Heart, Part 2
Follow this link for a free PDF file containing a list of all "pre-Theremini" tutorials that can be used to continue your Theremini practices:
performancekr.c...
If you'd like fully personalized attention, schedule a one-on-one, real time session at:
www.thereminlessons.com
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I enjoy how he explains how to calibrate the theremin with the same intensity as if explaining how to disable a bomb.
You should see my intensity in the tutorial where I explain how to make toast.
@@dnteuxurois Yellow wire! No....green wire!....*clock ticking...... in a room lit with fluorescent emergency lights....* "But they all look GREY!!!!"
@@CedricSatterfield Cedric, you have the advantage of NOT being down in the abyss. All the wires are purple when viewed in multi-colored blinking Christmas lightrs.! Cut any one you want and they nothing explodes, they all play Allegro Ben Moderato from Cesar Franck's Violin Sonata.
Dear Sir, Kip Rosser, I have seen many tutorial of you, in Thremini. and then I bought one, wait long time send from America , I live in MONTREUIL, 🇫🇷 FRANCE , today with my new Terimini, the same like yours here, the learning get better, your clear, precise, delicate explanation , indication make me aware on important precise indication very subtil precision must be respected in millimetre to earn good happy result .
Thank you for your dedicated video , the best tutorial Theremini I found in youtube.
Great master good teacher agreeable learning for happy earning.
Thank you.
I am very glad that the tutorial was helpful. I have made many other tutorials for the Theremini, so, I hope you'll find them useful as wel and that you'll have fun exploring.
Thank you for an amazing and absolutely essential tutorial. My Moog Theremini arrives tomorrow and this will get me off to a very good start!
Hi, Michael: Appreciate your comment and the fact that you've taken the time to watch the tutorial. Since your Theremini's just arriving, I can tell you that the most crucial element every new owner faces is the calibration. Take it slow the first time. Everyone, including me, messes up the calibration occasionally; I did it during the last private session when, about halfway through, I wanted to recalibrate. I failed to keep my hand in its "far volume" position until the countdown had completely ended. The result was that the Theremini emitted no sound whatsoever after completing the faulty calibration process. But it's easy to fix - just turn the Theremini off, then on, and start over; even if the Theremini makes no sound while calibrating, buy the time you've finished, it'll function properly.
@@dnteuxurois Hi, Kip - Thanks for the extra advice. The Theremini has arrived and I've calibrated it for the first time by following the tutorial. It worked well! I'm now researching easy tunes (5 notes, one octave, etc.) so that I can build up my expertise gradually. I'll be studying your later tutorials as I go. Please keep them coming!
@@michaelcoe3853 Very glad to hear that you've been able to get the Theremini calibrated successfully. The entire series of Theremini tutorials is already up and running - everything necessary to become proficient. There are also later tutorials covering more esoteric topics that are never covered, yet can make a very significant difference in one's approach as well as a marked difference in the ability to continue to progress as a player. If you ever have any questions as you make your way through, I'm happy to answer them. Have fun!
@@dnteuxurois Thanks! For information, I'm an Englishman living in France. When I was teaching music at school in the 1980s, we had a theremin-like machine attached to an early computer. It was very popular with the students!
I just bought my Theremini yesterday. This video really helped because I was banging my head on my desk trying to get this right. Thank you so much for this thorough video!
Very glad you found the tutorial useful. Proper calibration of the Theremini is, as I've said before, the single most crucial element of getting it to function correctly and being able to play it. One little slip and the instrument will behave erratically or sometimes not at all. Hope you enjoy all of the other Theremini tutorials as well.
Thank you so much for this! I just got my first Theremini yesterday and my friends are excited to Jam so I have to get serious about my new Theremi. Lol.
You're very welcome, Violet. Calibration has proven to be the single most essential aspect for every person who has contacted me for the past year. Once it can be done easily, the real fun begins. Since you've just started, I'd like to direct you to one of the tutorials that comes much later, however, it can make a huge difference for your approach from this point on, particularly because your friends (who want to jam) can be involved. Take a look and please watch all the way through and you'll see what I mean:
th-cam.com/video/bnX8PlqtpwI/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much Kip! I will take a look at it! I subscribed to your channel as well so I can watch a few videos a day to help me make the best of my playing.
@@violetmills-caauwe6404 If, during the course of your practices, you encounter any issues or have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Man this is exactly what I needed for my theremini. It's the little things.
It's the most crucial part of playing the Theremini. Occasionally, I slip up and the instrument goes all wonky. All one needs to do is turn it off, turn it back on and recalibrate carefully. As I've said before, even if the Theremini makes no sound at first when re-calibrating, continue the procedure through to the end and it will work again.
Please don't stop making these supremely helpful tutorials in your fantastic style
Hi: Just saw your comment and wanted to thank you.
I’ve already watched a couple videos about calibrating the Theremini but this is the only one that didn’t leave me with any questions. Thank you for being so thorough and taking the time to provide this resource!
You're very welcome. It's always amazed me that something so fundamental to the proper functioning of the Theremini - something that should be as easy as possible - should be so tricky, requiring such precision that the slightest deviation can render the instrument inoperable. The Theremini, which I saw in its planning stages while visiting the Moog factory, was originally intended for children. It was to be a simple theremin, easy to set up and easy to play. That obviously never happened. As it currently exists, mastering the calibration process is the most difficult part.
This is the coolest thing I've ever seen it's like learning to feel frequency waves.
I'm very glad you enjoyed it. There are a lot more tutorials that ought to prove fun as well.
Theremini arrived Safe & Sound today. I followed your instructions after watching it again and it worked just perfectly. Thank you again. Now on to the next step.
Very happy to help, Karl. Since Moog discontinued both the Etherwave Standard and the Etherwave Plus, the Theremini seems to be their "go-to" option now. However, while this particular theremin comes with more sonic possibilities with its 31 presets, its own editor that enables you to create your own presets, it also comes with some very challenging idiosyncrasies as well as limitations that directly preclude various playing techniques. They're all covered in the tutorials.
Thank you!!
Thank you!!
For your clear and easy to understand tutorial. I've had my Theremini in storage for a long time, now I really want to get it and start again to enjoy learning it.
You're very welcome, David. I realize that the video is kind of long and extremely detailed, but it seemed necessary to give a step-by-step method as well as comprehensive explanations for why things are done. So, definitely take it out of storage and get ready... I believe the tutorials to follow are going to cover material that will even surprise seasoned Theremini owners.
Thank you so much for this very helpful tutorial. As you said, learning through the guidebook/manual is very different from learning from a video like this. thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience,. 🙏
Very happy that you found the tutorial helpful. FYI: the Theremini never goes silent if your volume hand is above the distance you set - it just stays loud as long as your pitch hand is in the pitch field. Volume is quiet if your pitch hand is below your Near Pitch setting, or, if your pitch hand and volume hand are out of their respective control spaces, or, if you loop your cable over the volume loop.
Ahhhhh THANK YOU!! So grateful these videos exist!
Dear Marvelous Mad Madam Mim. You're very welcome. Keep me posted as to your progress. Next tutorial comes out early next week. 'Til then, a hearty "higgitus figgitus" to you (that's a good spell).
By far the best video I’ve seen on setting up the Theremini.
Thanks very much. I really appreciate your comment. There are a lot more Theremini tutorials as well. Hope you enjoy them.
Thank you for this simple and concise explanation. I just purchased a Moog Theremini, and want to properly learn how to use it. This is a great start.
Hi Karl: You're welcome. The next tutorial in the sequence deals with calibration, too - showing you how quickly it can be done in real time. From there, the real fun begins...
@@dnteuxurois It should arrive by Monday. Like the pedal steel I bought many years ago, it has a special pace in music rather than my guitars or banjo. Thanks again, as you have a commonsense approach to this and easy to understand. I figured I would get a jump on learning this wonderful instrument. You are making this so much better for me.
@@Thekarlskorner When it arrives it's going to be fun. Since you have guitars, you probably have an amp. Run a cable from the right or left channel on the Theremini to your amp. It's light years better than using only the Theremin's little built-in speaker. You'll hear the full dimension of the preset sounds. I probably say it on the video, but always calibrate using PRESET 01 CLASSICTHRMN.
Thanks for the info it helped out alot . Just got one today and it's great .
Very glad it helped. Getting proficient at the calibration is key. The Theremini is very quirky if the calibration, including your hand movements, is at all imprecise. But once you get the hang of it, it only takes a minute. The next tutorial shows the same calibration process, only quicker, in order to demonstrate it in real time. I hope you have lots of fun as you continue.
Thank you ! Thank you ! Thank you! I’m already having sooo much more fun with my instrument!
You're very welcome. All of the tutorials that follow this one ought to contribute to the fun. I'm also very glad that the word you used to describe your experience is the word "fun." Fun is a crucial concept, and I cover it here:
studio.th-cam.com/users/videobnX8PlqtpwI/edit
Give it a try!
Thanks for doing this series. I own a Theremini and am really looking forward to the rest of your videos!
And thank you for your comment. There are already lots of Theremini-oriented videos out there. So, the fact that you're interested in the ones I'm putting up is very gratifying.
I'm thinking about buying one of these. I had a "cheapie" from overseas, and never got into it. Now that I can afford a Moog, I've been watching videos to check out all of the Theramini features. This is just something to play around with for now, but I love all kinds of music, and can play some stuff by ear on the keyboard. I figure this would be the perfect thing to start with. Understanding how the calibration process works makes a world of difference! Thank you!
You're welcome. For someone just starting out and for anyone wanting to "play around" with a theremin, the theremini is ideal because it can behave like a classic theremin, or, with creative use of the presets (many of which are quantized) you can really have some challenging fun. There are even tutorials about ways to take advantage of the presets as well as the few presets where you can minimize the quantization and play them like a classic theremin. If you skim some of the other tutorials in this series you'll get a good idea of what the Theremini is capable of. If you decide to get one, keep in touch and let me know how you're progressing.
@@dnteuxurois Just ordered one. It'll be here on Monday. I'll check out more of your videos in preparation! I already know they're going to be very helpful. Thank You!
@@scottkelmer436 Excellent! Guaranteed, you're going to have fun. However, the most crucial element of playing the Theremini is calibration. Unless the calibration is correct, you'll experience all sorts of anomalies and potential frustration. So, go slow, be patient with yourself and get calibration under your belt. Have fun!
I just stumbled across this accidentally - Looks like you've only just uploaded it. Great to see you back and actually using a Theremini
Hi, Dean: I'm glad you "stumbled." Yes, it was uploaded late yesterday evening. I've owned my Theremini since 2015 but never really gave a thought to putting out tutorials for it. Then, as I mentioned in the video, there were four people, all Theremini owners, who signed up for personal lessons and I discovered that all of them had issues when it came to basic calibration. It was time to come out from under my rock. There's a lot more on the way.
I recently bought a theremini and having you doing tutorials on it is a real blessing, thanks a lot
Thank you, Nathan. And you're welcome. I'm glad you found the first video helpful. In the weeks to come. I'll be putting up more. I hope to have the next one completed soon.
I’m so glad I found this. I’ll master calibration first as you have suggested.❤
It really is the single most important component of using the Theremini. WIthout precise calibration, your theremin will refuse to behave. Once you've got the hang of it, there are a lot more tutorials that will really get you up and running. Have fun!
This is super helpful!! I haven't gotten to do much with my theremini yet but I knew at times something was off when I would try to use it. I will use this guide going forward. Very well put together and informative
Hi, Catastrophic: Getting the hang of doing the basic calibration is the most crucial element when using a Theremini. I still slip up once in a while, and when I do, I just turn the machine off, turn it back on and start again - even of the Theremini isn't making a sound. Just go through the process and it's 99.9% guaranteed it wi can be ll be fine. As you'll see, there are a lot more calibrations that can be done.But the main thing is to begin exploring via the tutorials and you'll steadily progress.
Thanks for this! I just picked up a Theremini and, as I’m sure is very common, I overestimated my ability to just figure it out from the brief instruction manual. This was extremely helpful!
Wow Kip,
This is a great start. I hope to resurrect my Theremini and follow your future lessons.
Thanks, Barry
Hi, Barry. Yup, dust off your Theremini and stay tuned.
Im gonna buy myself one of those, you explain 👌👌👌 can feel my left side of the brain working while u explain ⚡⚡🤓🤓⚡⚡
I will check back in when Ive got mine, thank you 4 now
When I saw this instrument I felt in love with it, i want one
Thereminis are awesome, and pretty affordable. I got mine used, and cheap, likely from someone that took it up and didn't gel with it.
Theremini's, I don't think, are quite theremins (if you ask a purist) unless you turn off all the effects and pitch correction- Kip may be able to correct me on this- but with the software embedded in the chip(s) the theremini is like a wave generator for a synth that you can control with your body but I don't know if its quite as expressive as a true theremin where you can get microtones- the 'in between between notes'. A lot of Middle Eastern music uses it.
YOU ARE A LIFESAVER! I got my Theremini in 3 days ago and I've been desperately trying to figure it out before sharing it with my preschool class. After doing the calibrations per your instructions, it is finally working the way I expected it to work. I look forward to learning all you have to teach. You have just made the Moog Theremini a powerful teaching tool as well as a fun instrument for me to play.
Hi, Charly: So glad you've gotten the hang of calibrating. It's the single most common issue that Theremini players have to contend with. Sharing a theremin with children is incredibly satisfying. For over a decade (up until COVID hit), I traveled all over the place - underserved schools in Philadelphia, libraries, arts centers, and more, presenting age/grade appropriate theremin programs for students. Since you teach pre-schoolers, there are a number of wonderful things they can experiment with that I can send to you, if you'd like. You can email me at:
kr@performancekr.com
and I can send you an attachment. Children really get into the theremin; they get very excited (like everybody wanting to try it at once) and you can help channel that energy so they can have fun and your Theremini won't get knocked around (believe me, that can happen).
Me, 7 days ago 😂
Great tutorial ! I'm diving in and swimming with your help.
Very glad you're diving in. All the tutorials are designed to ensure measurable progress every time you practice, rather than treading water.
This was a treat, been struggling to adjust the pitch and mute properly, seemed to be out of whack every time, also having nothing concrete to measure the distance with really bugged me. This way, I now have a frame of reference to work with, thank you Theramin Gandalf.
Hi, Gandalf: I'm very glad you found the video tutorial helpful. It is remarkable how many ways trying to calibrate the Theremini can go wrong. That's why this video is so long - it was very important that I cover every detail, including what can cause problems. I had the same difficulties when I first received the Theremini; and once I "got it" it seemed like a good idea to share.
@@dnteuxurois Thanks for sharing! :)
WOW , this is amazing . Thank you very much.
Very glad you find it useful.
Feels like getting lessons from Jeff Bridges’ equally cool theremin playing brother! 😝 Your clear, grounded teaching style, super chill demeanor and relaxing voice got me to subscribe before this video even hit the 3 min mark ⚡️ Many thanks dude💛
Thanks for all the compliments, ACE. It's a bit of a long video (although a lot less long than some others in this series), but of all the tutorials, this in the most crucial. Unless the Theremini is calibrated very precisely, the instrument will defeat you every time. Theremini 501a, Part 2: Creating New Presets in the Editor is extremely long, but it can be broken in to component parts and can be taken at your own speed. I hope you'll keep going and have fun.
So perfectly clear and incredibly helpful. Thank you for this series.
You're very welcome. There are a lot more tutorials in the series. Have fun with them.
Excellent explanation of the calibration process.
Thanks, Kevin. I appreciate it.
You explained the process very well. Thanks much.
You're very welcome. I hope you'll have fun with the rest of the tutorials.
Thank you so much. My Theremini is on it's way to me. You are so helpful!
You're very welcome, Kate. Once your Theremini arrives, make sure to watch the video again, then practice calibration. Be sure to be precise and patient. I can say categorically that calibration of the theremini is both the single most important process to learn as well as the single most frequent and serious problem Theremini owners are experiencing. If you have any trouble at all, email me at:
kr@performancekr.com
We can go into more detail than hear on TH-cam.
@@dnteuxurois Thank you so much. It's so exciting., what a journey!
@@katewright632 Not to sound too clichéd, but your journey with the theremini's just begun. And it can take you to some amazing places to explore.
thank you so much !!
You're very welcome. There are more Theremini tutorials here on this channel, and, more coming.
Thank you so much for your tutorials!🙏
You're very welcome. Have fun with them!
Wow!!! You are the greatest!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Hi There, Doom: You're very welcome. Lots more tutorials where that came from (see the list above) and I hope you find them helpful as well.there's even a new one coming out next Monday.
Really great tutorial! Thank you!
You're very welcome, Pat. Keep going!
Hi Kip, I'm binge watching your great videos whilst waiting for my Theremini to arrive. I'm a classical musician, trombonist and cellist and am really thrilled to be learning something new (not sure my cat is that thrilled ha ha). Excellent explanations and I love your style and approach. So - THANK YOU!
Quick question - trombone is a right handed instrument regarding pitch change, but moving away from your body lowers the pitch. I think I might start my theremin adventures as a lefty, since on cello pitch change and vibrato is left handed (and further from your head = higher pitch). Any thoughts?
Hi, Emily: Thanks for your encouraging comments about these tutorials. I'm very flattered that you're watching them even before you've got a theremin to play with. How on earth did you even find these tutorials?
While I've never played cello, I do play trombone. I'm left-handed, but play theremin and trombone right-handed. You can certainly explore how you'd like to play and what's the most comfortable simply by trying it both ways. Stand with the Theremini's controls facing you and you'll be using your right hand for pitch and left hand for volume and articulation. Stand on the other side of the Theremini so that the line outputs are facing you and you'll be playing as you describe. It will still be necessary to calibrate the Theremini by standing at it in the conventional manner. You'll find which is best for you.
All that said, the trombone does, in general, lower the pitch as you move the slide out, however, you also know that you can also play a high note when moving it out as well -- going from a D in position 4, to an F at position 5, for example. On the Theremini, regardless of where you position yourself or which hand you use, your pitch will always rise as your hand approaches the pitch rod, and the pitch will lower as you draw your hand farther from the pitch rod. (It actually is possible to tweak a theremin so that the pitch lowers as you get closer to the pitch rod and higher as you get farther away, but I would never recommend doing it because you'd have to make the correct adjustments inside of the instrument. Truthfully -- if calibrated extremely carefully IN-correctly, you can achieve that effect but it is near impossible to control, the pitch range is severely limited and the whole instrument's pitch linearity - which is unusual to begin with - is highly unstable).
I believe you will find that the Theremini is so unlike anything you've ever attempted, that thinking in terms of how you might draw parallels, adapt or apply playing cello and trombone will be rendered irrelevant, just as it would be irrelevant to apply any parameters of playing cello and trombone to playing a flute. Playing a theremin, at first, is surprising. And you'll find your way as you explore. I'd love to hear from you again to know your reaction right after you try it for the first time.
This is so helpful！ Thank your for all the tips！ Best calibration instruction ever！❤❤❤
You're very welcome. Once you've got the ability to calibrate accurately and quickly, the real fun begins!
Wow Kip. Look at you!!!
Please don't look too closely, but thanks.
I'm trae to follow you to tune my theremin, thanks👏
Thank you, Marilene. I hope the video is helpful to you. If you have questions when you try, please ask and I'll answer you.
yay! a new Kip Rosser vid! I don't have a Theremini but it's very interesting to see that alot of Theremins by default may have wonky factory settings on retrieval, I hope it doesn't happen to the Centennial one coming up >.
My take on the up and coming Claravox, based on the photos, is that calibration will likely be very close that of the Etherwave Pro. Setting the Pro up is no more complicated than setting up a Standard Etherwave. We'll see...
This is gold. Thank you!
Literally just bought my Theremini and had issues with calibration. So, again... THANK YOU
You're very welcome.
“Quiet” hahaha such a good mood you have!
It's fun!
Thank you for this great tutorial
You're very welcome.
Thanks a lot for this! It was really helpful
Very glad it worked for you. THere are a lot more tutorials for the Theremini. I hope you'll find them just as useful.
Thank you, bless your heart.
You're very welcome. Also, you may find the tutorials that follow this one useful as well.
I’m buying a used one today. Hopefully I get mine calibrated. Ty
Stonkpuppets6393! I must tell you that your Theremini will arrive UNcalibrated. As a matter of fact, it requires calibration every time you use it. So do all other theremins regardless of make and model, however, the theremini is particularly tricky as you will discover. But if you follow the instructions in this video and in this one...
th-cam.com/video/iZYdSTnVVRo/w-d-xo.html
...you'll be an expert.
-Kip
Wow! Loved this video! Thanks! Hate/love the theremin. You, sir, obviously love it and your instructions are spot on.
Thank you. I really appreciate not only the fact that you find the tutorial useful, bu that you can tell, when it comes to the theremin, that I "obviously love it." Absolutely true. Started playing in 1996 and I've never gotten tired of it, exploring techniques, new compositions, new performance pieces, etc. I've found that many people are expressing a love/hate relationship with the instrument, especially with the Theremini, due to the nuances of correct calibration. However, because the theremin is so unforgiving in terms of pitch accuracy (and believe me, I produce occasional "clams" when practicing and even when playing live or on music videos. Where the love component comes in is a) incorporating fun into your practice, staying patient with yourself, having a sense of humor and above all, having fun:
(see th-cam.com/video/bnX8PlqtpwI/w-d-xo.html)
Keep going!
Thank you so so so much
You are very (very very) welcome.
Good move, I've added a link to this video in the Moog Theremini! topic thread on the Theremin World forums.
Thanks Dread_Rat EarthDragon. It's probably been over a decade since I posted anything on the Theremin World site. As I've mentioned before, there are already lots of TH-cam videos about the Theremini. I always advocate exploring everything available. My hope is that the posts I contribute will both add to Theremini knowledge, but also present features and techniques that I've not seen dealt with anywhere else. There's more on the way.
@@dnteuxurois I agree about exploring anything and disovering the idiosyncracies of particular intruments, their unique strengths and weaknesses, and not dismissing it only because it fails to meet the preconceived ideal, trying all kind of tried and untried and out of the box approaches. I'm a bit saddened a lot of interaction moved to Facebook, which I don't want to join as some of its aspects clash with my personal core values. Your 'Complete Theremin' lessons are very helpful in getting to grips with the instrument that's in a literary sense ungraspable, and primarily needs one to get a better grasp on themselves, mind-physically so to say and in terms of hand-ear coordination.
@@dread_rat I've said in many of The Complete Theremin tutorials that it's my opinion that there is not and never will be just one set way to play a theremin. The instrument is too fluid for that. Other instruments like the violin, trombone, sax, flute etc., demand a high degree of regimentation and technique or you wo't even get a sound. But for the thereminist, (again, just my opinion) whatever technique achieves the desired result is valid.
Thanks for posting this series. I just got a theremini and learning how to calibrate. This video is great! Am I going to have to go through the calibration routine every time I want to play or will it work okay next time if it is in exactly the same location?
CTMU: Thanks for your comment. I really appreciate it and I'm glad you find the tutorial helpful. In answer to your question, "Yes." All theremins, the Theremini and all other makes and models require
calibration every time it is turned on. Calibration method varies depending upon what theremin you own, but it's always got to be reset. Once you become proficient at it, it takes only about one minute.
@@dnteuxurois Thanks for your response. I was afraid of that but your clear instructions help. It would be nice if it would remember the settings so you would only need to recalibrate if you altered the environment. The calibration looks like it will go fast after a couple of times. I can't wait to get to know the other controls - what an adventure! The theramini should arrive today and am looking forward to working my way through your theremini videos :)
@@CTMURadio There are occasions when you turn the Theremini on and it works almost as if calibrated. However, after a few minutes as the circuits warm up, recalibration becomes necessary. Regardless of whether the environment is altered or precisely the same, all other theremins (Moog Etherwave Standard, Pro and Plus, Burns theremins, Kees theremin, even the little Mini Gokken and the Gokken Pro) -- all have to be tweaked every time. And as for all the other settings and controls available on the Theremini, you're in for some fun.
I am so glad I found your site. Im pretty familiar with Clara Rockmore and theramins since I studied vocal music in college for 4 years, and hung around with a lot of theater/music/speech/performance art people. Ive seen them used in performance but finally decided to get one to start with before looking at building or buying a Moog or similar some day. I see your 'lesson plan' above but how do the other older lessons (the short ones) fit in? Are they basically combined in the lessons 1-17 list that you have posted? Thank you for being a great resource for those wonderfully odd instrument.
Hi, Cedric: as long as you start with the basic calibration and get proficient at that, you can either go in sequential order from there, or skip to the first in the FastTrak Series and do them in sequence. However, I'd recommend working with them all because there are things covered in the first tutorials that are only dealt with there. Either way, have fun!
Thanks for this video. The best video explanation I have watched so far.
Still having some trouble as my volume function doesn’t seem to do function and make changes most of the time. Do you have any suggestion? This is the closest I’ve come to having it calibrated correctly though!
Thanks so much.
I am glad that you find this tutorial helpful. However, I am unsure what you mean when you write: "my volume function doesn’t seem to do function and make changes most of the time." You may already know this but just in case you are unaware of this, the volume knob, even though it does make the volume a little louder and softer, its function is not actually used to control the volume from loud to soft. It is used to change the characteristics of the loop's magnetic field, particularly the "attack" when your hand starts to play a note. As you turn the knob counterclockwise, the response gradually gets smoother. As it is turned clockwise, the response gradually gets sharper attack, becoming more effective for cleaner articulation/definition of notes, which is also crucial for playing more rapidly. Try this for yourself and listen carefully as you play and you ought to notice a difference; it's not a radical difference, but is a difference. If you can tell me a little more about what you mean by "make changes most of the time," I may be able to suggest a little more.
Awesome. Thank you!!
You're very welcome.
Thank you !!!
You're very welcome. There are a lot more where that came from; have fun with them!
At 65 I have long white hair and a white beard...must be a requirement.....haha. I bought a set of E-drums last year...Now with guitars...keys...drums...I have my Theremini. I have had my Moog Mini for almost 24 hours now. One thing I have figured out......its all about the calibration.
"it's all about calibration..." It sure is. Calibration is the single most crucial component of being able to play the Theremini. However, once you've got it down, an entire world of potential opens up. The instrument's detractors who criticize it as being a "toy," or "cheating" (because of the quantization), or not a "real" theremin, are depriving themselves of a far deeper exploration. Between its presets, its editing suite, and more, you can really have an amazing time with the Theremini and create some pretty amazing music/soundscapes/experimental noise.
Looking forward to the next Theremini video. This one is quite helpful. I’ve been trying to use a pitch field from antenna to shoulder (I play seated) which is bigger than what you suggest here. I wonder what you set your lowest/highest notes to. Also I have a theory that using wired headphones interferes with the pitch field.
There are quite a few more tutorials since you posted a month ago. Hope you enjoy them. The size of your pitch field depends solely upon what you're most comfortable with. Large, smaller, whatever works. My lowest note is set at C2 (two octaves below middle C) and the highest is set at C7 (three octaves above middle C). My reason is simply that it's a) what I'm most comfortable with; and, b) the range is right for the variety of compositions I play. As for wearing wired headphones, I've never tried that, but I'll do so now and see what happens. I'll let you know if I get interference.
Hi there- thx for the great tutorials! I just downloaded and installed the Preset software editor for Windows and it doesn't seem to work. It always closes after I close the quick start guide. Do you happen to know if the software has issues running on Windows 10? I'm afraid I don't have the 'Classic Theramini' preset on my machine.
Hi, Matthew: It turns out that the Theremini Editor App as it currently exists fails to run on Windows 10. This has been as issue since at least December of 2020, possibly earlier. The app runs on Windows 7 and apparently Windows 8. While I do own a PC, all of my music related stuff is done on a MAC - and that's where my Theremini Editor App is. Moog Music seems to be awareof the problem, but I've seen nothing regarding a solution.
Are you saying that your Theremini's 31 resident presets do not include the very first one that everyone I've worked with has -- "PRESET 01 CLASSIC THRMN" ? That is very confusing to me. What is there instead?
I just bought one :)
Have fun with it. The more you mess around, the "funner" it gets!
I feel a lot of musicians are self-destructive in their purity. Because the instrument is redesigned to make it easier to play (pitch quantize) doesn’t make it a toy. Just like a flute made out of plastic instead of wood has no change in quality of sound - as we now know because physics has taught us that plastic recorders make just as quality of sound as wooden ones. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. I have excellent relative pitch and compositional skills but my memory stinks so I put tiny stickers under each string of my hammer dulcimer to show me where the notes are so I can improvise with much more ease. Although there are time-tested techniques for learning how to be a better musician, there are no imaginary music gods to tell us what we can and can’t do to make our ability to play an instrument or That you have to spend $2000 for a quality instrument - only our own limitations we allow to stop ourselves making music the best we can individually :)
You are correct, in my opinion; to a very great extent: "only our own limitation we allow to ourselves making music the best we can..." My tutorials are all built on a foundation of exploration, of moving past our perceived limitations. How do we do this? By exploring different techniques, mindsets, etc., in order to expand our view, our approach to an instrument, and by keeping an open mind. As you say, "we all have different strengths and weaknesses," and, if one studies one's own strengths and weaknesses, growing awareness can address both and optimize one's playing ability. Your point about instrument quality is well taken -- however, there are cheap instruments and expensive ones for a reason. In the case of the theremin, there are some very inexpensive ones out there; some of them are pitch only (without any volume control, which severely limits the player's ability to have the full range of a theremin's capability). There are others that are less expensive and while they can definitely sound great, their stability - particularly where the pitch circuits are concerned - is very tenuous. Some theremins actually are toys; the Gokken Mini is an example. Whatever theremin one chooses, it's necessary to familiarize oneself with everyone of its characteristics in order to maximize its playability.
Thanks for these videos! A lot more instructive then what I got from the booklet. A question; what note range would you recommend of using? I read it's a 3-4 octave range, but from what note to what note? What would be the exact range of a classic theremin?
Hi. I'm very gratified that you're finding the tutorial helpful. My Theremin's range is 5 octaves. The method for setting those parameters is explained in the following tutorial:
th-cam.com/video/JG__ui2wZZk/w-d-xo.html
For classic theremin, it's four to five octaves.
Ive gotten to just below C2 up to C6 with mine if I turn the pitch correction all the way off and use a chromatic scale. The notes you see may not be all the notes you can play, depending on the scale you have set. Chromatic gives you pretty much all of them, ionian is your basic 'western scale' that you hear the most of.
Cheers !
And "cheers" to you, too.
Simple, but Genius 🤙🏽🖤🕺 crying 😭 I’m so happy I can finally use this #@&%NG thing 😂
I'd hesitate to ascribe "genius" to this tutorial. After all, calibration is just a quick 5-step procedure that takes little time and always works successfully, right? Hardly, because the challenge here is that the precision required to optimally calibrate the Theremini was wholly unanticipated by the theremin's creators. Prior to the instrument's production, I was able to meet at the Moog factory and see the plans and specs for the Theremini. At the time, the intention was to market it to children. It was going to be an instrument that kids could use to learn to play. The basic approach was to begin with quantized frequencies and gradually ween oneself off quantization to the point where you were playing the theremin in its "classic" fashion. Once I received my Theremini, I could imagine the difficulty a child would have trying to calibrate. As I got deeper into exploring, I received more and more anguished messages from people having incredible trouble when attempting calibration. All it takes is a little slip of a hand or miscalculation and you can end up with Theremini that's totally out of whack, or fails to even make a sound! That's what prompted this particular tutorial.
@@dnteuxurois Great story, makes sense of a few things now. I have a Sub 37 and some Mooger Foogers and they do feel a bit like they are targeted at different people, I just figured someone at MOOG got some creative freedom and went bananas. Thankfully they put the "quantize" knob, makes it way more fun for adults that have learner level music skills;) You are spot on about the manual. I tried, and could make noise but not like I can now;) I appreciate you and your channel. Happy music making friend.
Thank you, Wes. It's very gratifying to know you find these tutorials useful. There are a lot more intended to take Theremini owners through the entire gamut of what the machine can do and how to make the most of its features. And the link to the PDf file in the description above provides even more tutorials that are applicable.
@@dnteuxurois oh cool, thanks again, I’ll check it out 🤙🏽😎
@@dnteuxurois I got the PDF, nice, also, one thing that would be cool is some videos on who to do some fun basic tunes, like the imperial march, or star trek, which I see a lot...not sure how crazy that is to do, or maybe an "approach" type video. thanks
Hello Kip! Thanks for sharing your wonderful knowledge. I have a question. I found the theremini's volume velocity response a bit slow and I'm having a hard time getting my left hand better, maybe because of that. I have never tried etherwave. I wanted to know if it is faster than the theremini? Am I right in my suspicion about that? Or I just need practice. My learning of the pitch hand is going very well.
Hello, Fernando: Thanks for your compliment about my tutorial. I really appreciate it. Plus, the fact that it's been of value to you means a lot. As for the volume antenna's slow response, I can tell you that the somewhat sluggish "feel" is normal for this instrument. However, there are a couple of things you can do to optimize the response. Here's a tutorial that deals specifically with it - in the search field, type in the following:
Kip Rosser Theremini 201
From there, the two most relevant sections are these - and you can skip right to the first one at the 9:54 mark:
How to Access Advanced Setup: 9:54 - 10:12
Setting Response Speed: 10:14 - 12:49
So, experiment with the response at the MED setting and the FAST setting and see if the FAST helps without giving you distorting artifacts.
Regarding the response on the Etherwave, it is much cleaner, sharper and more importantly, it can be adjusted with more accuracy and and more choices/variations in response.
Hey Kip, this may be a dumb question, but someone on another video said that the Theremini had to be calibrated each time you turned it on. Is that true? I want to buy a Theremini, but I know that would be prohibitive to earning if it doesn't hold the calibration. Again, sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'd really like to learn. Also, how does it perform vs the Etherwave? I'd rather have an Etherwave, but I can't find one in stock anywhere.
Hi, Chris: The answer is "yes," the Theremini must be calibrated each time you turn it on (see Kip Rosser's "Complete Theremin" - Theremini 101 and 101a).
However, so do all theremins; it's just a different process. Regardless of whether it's a Theremini, Moog Standard Etherwave, Moog Etherwave Plus, and even the Etherwave Pro, you still have to calibrate/set the instrument to achieve Zero Beat every time it gets turned on.
Of all the issues/frustrations beginning thereminists have, the most common is learning to set Zero Beat, a.k.a silence. Zero Beat also dictates the size of your control space at the pitch rod.
And for the Theremini, the player has to calibrate for both Zero Beat as well as calibrate the parameters for the control space at the volume loop. Once you learn to do it, regardless of the type of theremin, calibrating any of these instruments takes less than a minute.
If you want to play the Theremini in the manner of a classic theremin, compared to an Etherwave, the Theremini has two substantive differences:
1) The Theremini's response off the volume loop is less distinct/clean/sharp, making it a challenging (not impossible, just challenging) to clearly articulate a sequence of notes for staccato or play pieces with moderate to rapid tempos. There are three things that can be done to improve articulation.
a) set the response speed in Advanced Settings) to "FAST." (see Kip Rosser's "Complete
Theremin" - Theremini 201)
b&c) Study the techniques for improving note articulation (see Kip Rosser's "Complete
Theremin" - Theremini 401, Part 1: Improving Note Articulation)
2) All other Moog theremins have tonal controls for Brightness and Waveform. Such controls are absent from the Theremini. Although, the Theremini's FX (the FX button and the AMOUNT knob) settings can provide varying degrees of delay, reverb, and echo.
There are many other differences, things the Theremini has that no other theremin has, like tons of wonderful presets and FX, the Theremini Editor Software App, and more, but the above two differences are the ones that directly impact playing the instrument as if it were a classic theremin.
Now to the Etherwave:
As regards, Etherwave availability, I believe the Etherwave Standard is now out of production. The Etherwave Plus is the closest to the Standard. Keep and eye on Ebay because the Standard occasionally does makes an appearance, though. Right now, there's an Etherwave Plus up for grabs; at this writing the bid is up to $285.00, with 8 days left on the auction:
www.ebay.com/itm/363468626944?hash=item54a06b1c00:g:~4EAAOSwT3Fg7xls
So, for an Etherwave, setting Zero Beat must also be done when starting a practice session. (see Kip Rosser's "Complete Theremin:" Lesson Zero - Setting "Zero Beat" - Revised).
I've already mentioned the tonal control knobs. The other most striking difference is the Etherwave's ability to play rapid note runs and articulate notes with more sharpness/clarity. This make it possible to play music with more varied tempos, including very rapid sequences.
Which theremin you acquire depends largely upon how you intend to use it. But as uniquely different from other Moogs the Theremini is, it can still be played just as one would a classic theremin.
I hope this longwinded response helps.
@@dnteuxurois You're awesome! Thank you for the insightful reply!
@@chriswayne5000 Happy to help.
Once you have calibrated the instrument can you save the calibration?
Unfortunately, the Theremini requires calibration each time it's turned on. Although, sometimes, the calibration holds, but rarely. Somewhere (sort of buried) in Moog's user manual it even says that it has to be calibrated each time. Still, once you get used to doing it, it takes only a minute.
Hello Kip, I just got my Theremini, and your calibration tutorial was just what I needed. I have one problem though, I have recalibrated it over and over, and it still does this. It keeps making low end sounds even when I walk away from it. I have moved it several places in my studio to be as far away from mic booms, and metal objects as I can, but it still does this. It seems to start out ok when I first calibrate it, but then it does this continuing to play when I walk away from it. Any suggestions?
Hi, Luke: What you're experiencing is actually the new normal. The Theremini, the Claravox, and the new Etherwave Standard all have this idiosyncrasy in common. You calibrate the Theremini (and the others) for your body (size of the control space around the pitch rod, and the response off the volume loop). When you get beyond a certain point (distance from the Theremini), the instrument will make noise again. With the Theremini, this anomaly can sometimes be eliminated provided you have NOT selected "Theremin Mode" in your advanced settings. With theremin mode OFF, the Theremini will stop making noise once your have gone past your lowest note. My own range is from C2 (two octaves below middle C) to C7 (three octaves above middle C). SO, when I go lower than C2, the Theremini automatically stop making noise. Most often, even if I walk away, it will stay silent. All That being said, the best way to keep your Theremini quiet (without actually turning it off) when you walk away is to loop the cable that goes to your amp over the volume loop. Voila - silence, regardless of how far away you are. I hope this helps. Thanks for contacting me; always ready to discuss and explore with everyone.
Is there a way to reset the Theremini (to go back to factory default settings)? I wasn't sure if previous owner messed around with some of the presets so I'm wondering if way to go back to default settings (hopefully that will keep the upgraded firmware and not reset that as well).
I'd need a little more information.
1) What is it that your Theremini is doing that makes you suspect the previous owner messed with it? Is it playing incorrectly, or, are you getting sonic distortion, etc. Is it behaving erratically?
2) Are there any presets resident in the Theremini other than the standard factory presets? If so, the important thing to understand is that when a new preset is uploaded to the theremini, it always replaces an existing one. In the firmware, there's a library of all the preloaded factory presets; you can check your Theremin's presets against it and determine if the previous owner has altered/added in any way. Your Theremini's Presets should match this Library Preset list:
01 CLASSIC THRMN
02 SUPERFAT SAW
03 EIRE
04 ANIWAVE
05 IN ORBIT
06 RIBBONS
07 CHARLIE MUTE
08 ELASTICMOTION
09 FLUTTERFLY
10 ETHEREAL
11 WONDERTRON
12 ALL YOUR BASS
13 SQUARE WAVY
14 QUIET TIME
15 EVOLUTION
16 SHAKEN
17 WAAAHNIUM
18 LONG ECHOES
19 STRANGE STUFF
20 SPIN CYCLE
21 WOBBLESAW
22 FROLICKING
23 GHOSTLY
24 ORGANIC
25 LOST IN FOG
26 NORTH POLE
27 FUTUREWARZ
28 OMICRONPRSET18
29 DIGITALIS
30 BURNINGCHROME
31 LO REZ
32 MAGIC MISSILE
If your Theremin's presets match the above list, nothing has been messed with in terms of presets. So, the question, again, is, "What's your Theremini doing that seems wrong to you?"
However, if your Theremini contains a preset with a totally different name than those listed above, that means the firmware has been used and one or more of the factory-loaded presets has been replaced. To remedy that, you'll need to connect your Theremini to your computer, open the editor app and replace the presets you want to eliminate with the ones from the library of factory presets.
I need help with this - I just got one, and I am LEFT handed, so I want to play this backwards, meaning I have to stand BEHIND the unit, not in front of it, so my Left hand will be the one to use the notes, and the volume in the Right. can I still calibrate it but do it while standing behind it? I have seen a woman online called Dorit who plays her theremins like this but Ive never gotten a reply from her. can you help?
Hi There: You are exactly right - you can turn your Theremini around so that the pitch rod is on the left and the volume loop is on the right and voila: a left-handed Theremini. You can calibrate it from there as well, although it's just a bit trickier to read the LED prompt, as well as reaching over to press the setup button. However, once you know the calibration sequence (step away about 4 feet, near pitch, far pitch, near volume, far volume) it's easy. It will take a little time to be able to do it smoothly, but it's perfectly fine to calibrate it that way.
@@dnteuxurois thanks so much I appreciate it. I followed regular setup procedure and tried it and I am gonna switch to Left handed it just feels better.
@@loneranger7573 Within general parameters, if you calibrate right-handed, then switch to play left-handed - theoretically, your calibrations should be perfectly fine for playing. However, I've found that the size of the control space (the electromagnetic field) does vary depending upon where your hand enters it from since the field's shape varies from side to side and top to bottom. Best thing would be to test it and see what yields the optimum results for you.
Does this require an amplifier? Im trying to understand if it has its own speaker or how it all works? Any help is apprwciated
Hi, Bryce. The Theremini does have its own built-in speaker. It can be played without being connected to an amplifier. However, the speaker leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to dynamic range. It's sound is there all right, but the bass range is weak. The speaker's capabilities falls very short compared to connecting it to a decent amp. I always recommend a cable and amp in order to really get the optimum sound from the Theremini. An amp with two channels and controls for low, mid and high range will make a huge difference. If you'd like a recommendation (since I don't plug products on this channel) please email me at:
kr@performancekr.com
I've given several suggestions this week to people on a budget for amps under $200.
once the calibration is done, if I turn off the instrument and then turn it back on the following day, is the calibration set or must it be done every time?
That's correct: calibration must be performed every time the Theremini is turned on. And this is something that is common to all theremins, regardless. All require a quick calibration every time, prior to playing.
@@dnteuxurois thank you
@@dariotamburro9800 You're very welcome.
I followed every instruction with how to calibrate the instrument and it "out of wack" like you said. I did everything correctly and the Theremini is acting very strange, ever since I turned it on it would not hold a note, the pitch raises and lowers randomly and I cannot do anything to change this from my knowledge. Do you have anything to fix this?
I have a video showing what is happening on my channel. I did everything as instructed in the video and this is my first time using the theremin, I did nothing with it except set it up an hour ago and this happened.
I may very well have a way to get it working. What you describe happened recently with another person who requested a personal session. It was impossible to actually conduct a productive session until the Theremini was calibrated correctly. It took a while to understand what was going wrong, but given your account, the problem may be the same one... I see that you've put up another message an hour ago. I will look at it and respond...
@@vespinite903 I have looked at the video and I there's a possibility we can fix this (at no cost to you). Contact me via eMail at: kr@performancekr.com so we can correspond privately. I look forward to hearing from you.
@@vespinite903 Contact me: kr@performancekr.com
@@dnteuxurois Thank you very much! I sent you an email a few minutes ago, please let me know if you receive it.
Hi Kip! Thanks so much for this extremely valuable resource! Question, after correctly calibrating my Theremini, it plays totally fine for about 10min, then the pitch field begins to slowly expand randomly on it's own, requiring re-calibration over and over again. Anyway to fix this?
Hi, and you're very welcome. What you're experiencing is completely normal. The pitch field will change as the Theremini's circuitry warms up. After ten to fifteen minutes, re-calibration is usually necessary. However, it should remain very stable after that. Having to adjust it once more is okay, but if it keeps needing re-calibration after that, something may be wrong. Interesting sidenote: the user manual for the Moog Claravox states right up front that once the machine is turned on, the player should wait a full TWENTY minutes for it to warm up!
@@dnteuxurois Thanks so much! This makes sense as I usually calibrate it the moment it turns on. I just donated to the Juliet Shaw Legacy Project by the way, excited to hear her music! Hope you're well!
@@nickybedo7455 Hi, Nicky: Glad confirmation of the need to calibrate every time was helpful. A very heartfelt "thank you" for your donation. I'm still hoping more and more thereminists, theremin enthusiasts and electronic music lovers will donate before we end the fundraising in a week or two. You'll be receiving a personal message from me via email.
@@dnteuxurois I was happy to donate! You're the man!
@@nickybedo7455 Many thanks, once again.
Please. Sorry for my bad english. I have to calibrate each time that i play, or i calibrate only the first time that i play? Grazie
Hello, Ivo: You calibrate every time before you play. It is true of all theremins, not just the Theremini.
@@dnteuxurois grazie Kip. Your tutorial is very important for me. Grazie
@@ivorosina2329 You are very welcome. Have fun playing your Theremini.
How often do I have to calibrate? Every time the instrument is turned on?
That is correct. Regardless of the make and model, every theremin ever made must be calibrated every time it is turned on.
I have exactly the same but my cannot makes sounds😢
Hi: Do you mean that you have "exactly the same" theremin and you are unable to get it to make any sound at all? How long has this been happening - since you first purchased it, has it ever made any sound, at any time? In almost all instances, the reason it's unable to make any sound is that something went wrong during the calibration process. It actually happened to me yesterday - without realizing it, while setting my far pitch, my pitch hand (right hand) moved before the end of the countdown. I continued to set near and far volume and... nothing. Whenever that happens, I turn the Theremini off. I then turn it back on, calibrate very carefully and the Theremini functions properly. But if calibration repeatedly fails when you do it, and the theremin continues to be silent, there may be something seriously wrong with it. That usually means contacting Moog and sending it to them for repair.
Why don't you turn down the volume when adjusting knobs?
I'm unsure what you mean. Are you referring to the Volume Knob? When you say "adjusting knobs" do you mean adjustments made during calibration?
Let's unpack this - first of all, the Volume Knob's purpose, believe it or not, is not to make the theremini louder or softer. It's purpose is to give you the freedom to adjust your hand's response off the volume loop. Turning the knob counterclockwise will result in a somewhat softer but primarily smoother, less sharp response off the volume loop. Turning it full clockwise yields a sharper, cleaner response that enhances the ability to better articulate pitches. So, if we're talking about playing the Theremini AFTER it's been calibrated, you can experiment with the knob and see if you prefer the extremes of fully clockwise or counterclockwise, or play around with all the variations in between.
If you are talking about adjusting the volume knob DURING calibration, the only thing that should be done is to have the volume knob in its fully clockwise position before you start calibrating. This affords you the cleanest, most accurate NEAR VOLUME and FAR VOLUME. Once calibrated, you can put the volume knob in any position while practicing to get your preferred response as mentioned above.
If I've misunderstood your question, please add another comment and elucidate a bit and I'll try to answer again.
@@dnteuxurois The Theremini is constantly interrupting you.
@@theboofin Oh. Sorry about that, although I fully realize the Theremini "talks" over me a little at times. All I can tell you is that after numerous private sessions with thereminists who were having difficulty with calibration, one of the things that freaked them out was all the noise the Theremini makes while calibrating and how the noises change as the process progresses. Almost all of them thought something was wrong, wondered if they were doing it correctly, etc., when it's actually normal for the instrument to squeal and howl until calibration is complete. To add to their confusion, the noises are different each time one calibrates. I wanted people to see and hear what's going to happen.
Hey Kip, thanks so much for your theremini series , very much enjoyed your presentations and playing skills. I have somehow set up my theramini to play louder when closer to the volume antenna. I must have misread the calibration instructions😀But, I find it much more intuitive for playing as a virtual insrument , like you are virtually striking something instead of pulling away to play a loud note. I've only been playing a few months - what are the implications of this for the more advanced techniques you describe for this instrument? Do you know anyone else who plays like this?
I'm unaware of any contraindications for having the volume antenna configured the way you have it. If you are able to accomplish and play what you like, I can see nothing that would hinder you. I believe there are others who have their volume antennae set up this way.
@@dnteuxurois Thanks Kip, but I'm far from playing what I like 😀 Will I be able to follow along with your series set up this way? And can you tell me how I managed to do this? I've calibrated it normally a bunch of times, but the last time I moved it this happened and it really felt much more natural to me. Next time I need to calibrate, do I just reverse the hand positions for near and far volume? Thanks for your response and help. cob
Also I meant to mention - in the videos it sometimes looks like you initiate notes by striking at the volume antenna, esp in 201. I know that's an advanced technique, but it looks just like I play with the reverse volume setup. Weird huh? Thanks, cob
@@oldboy853 Honestly, I'm in the dark as to how/what could cause the reversal of the volume antenna's response. Regarding how it may impact on following along in the tutorial series, your guess is as good as mine. The most likely tutorial that may be adversely affected is the one that deals with improving articulation: Theremini 401, Part 1: Improving Note Articulation. You mention that you've been able to calibrate the theremin normally, but that "the last time I moved it this happened." I have a question: once the anomaly occurred, have you turned the theremin off, or have you left it on in order to maintain the anomaly? If you turn it off and back on again, are you able to calibrate it so that the anomaly occurs again? The only thing I can think of doing is to try to duplicate your results on my own Theremini - my guess is that while calibrating for the volume antenna, your left hand moved before the countdown was complete, causing the reversal. I'll experiment here and get back to you.
@@oldboy853 Correct, it's an entirely different technique. It's more a function of playing other theremins a certain way; it's far less effective on a Theremini, but it's habit.
Did you play that song that they used in Wizard of Oz?
The music played in the beginning and at the end is from Tchaikovsky's ballet, "Sleeping Beauty," typically just called the "Sleeping Beauty Waltz."
th-cam.com/video/2Sb8WCPjPDs/w-d-xo.html
Disney later used Tchaikovsky's music for the animated film, "Sleeping Beauty," where the waltz became the song, "Once Upon a Dream."
th-cam.com/video/TXbHShUnwxY/w-d-xo.html
Enjoy!
@@dnteuxurois awesome thank you
@@Ray88855 You're very welcome.
Do you need to calibrate it every single time you started up?
You do. While the calibration procedure differs, that's the case with every theremin regardless of make or model. They have to be calibrated on start up every time.
Hello Sir. Have you ever successfully connect a theremini with an ios app?
Hello. The only connection I've ever made with the Theremini is connecting it to my computer to access the Theremini Editor App. Two tutorials demonstrate both the connecting and the editor features: Theremini 501 and Theremini 501a. Just type in Kip Rosser and either one of those after my name and they'll come up.
@@dnteuxurois Thank you for your reply! I will try to calibrate first, then I will proceed to 201, bye.
@@estharoe Have fun. Let me know how you're doing periodically.
@@dnteuxurois Of course! You are very kind.
Ver 1.1.1 where’s Classic?
It's more classroom classification (like Biology 101) than software iterations (like Ver 1.1). Either way, I hope the tutorial was useful.
Thank you for the response. What I meant was that in my theremini. Patch 01 is called ringing room. Not classic theremin. I was wondering if because of the version that I’m running. 1.1.1 and there’s no classic theremin in any of the 32 sound patches. Thank you
@@alternabeat Very sorry for my misunderstanding, although your question was so succinct that I missed what you meant. Now that I comprehend, I can try to help. First of all, your situation is incredibly weird because a Preset entitled "ringing room" is a totally non-existent Preset. There's no such thing. If you Preset 01 is really "ringing room," the only possible explanation is that someone actually created that Preset using the Theremini Editing Suite. IF you purchased your Theremini "pre-owned," that's a distinct possibility. Does that Preset even sound like a classic theremin?
The good news is that you can use the editing suite to restore the 01 CLASSIC THRMN Preset because it is resident in the Theremini Library. It's impossible to tell you in text form how to do that. Here's my VERY comprehensive two tutorials that deal with the editing suite. The link to the first tutorial is where to start:
1st tutorial
th-cam.com/video/VJFpH33UgJg/w-d-xo.html
2nd tutorial
th-cam.com/video/4Jxxg17XcwA/w-d-xo.html
Please let me know if this helps.
Were you able to retrieve the Preset 10 Classic Thrmn preset?
The theremin sound like a mad kitty. 😲
Wish I had one... why is the Claravox Centennial so expensive? 😥
@@GoFlyYourselves In all likelihood, Moog Music will halt production at some point, instantly making the Calravox a collector's item. It's not necessarily intentional, but it happens. It happened with the Etherwave Pro. When I ordered it, it was $995.00. Six months later, the instruments were still in production and costs were rising - they relisted it at $1,500.00. Less than two years later they were no longer in production and now they sell for anywhere from $4,500.00 to as much as $8,000.00 (at least, that's what a recent seller was putting it up for on ebay it's not listed anymore; don't know what it finally sold for - if it even sold). The Claravox is the newest of Moog Theremins and it's got a lot of "bells and whistles." I ordered a Claravox almost a year ago and have yet to receive it - on the web sitem they notified buyers that production had slowed due to the fact that they were having trouble getting parts that measured up to their quality standards. In general, Moog's products have always been pricier than other synths and theremins. That said, they're considered to be among the best.
@@dnteuxurois Yes, I like their stuff (Moog) the only reason I don't have more of their instruments is their price. You know the delay in components are becoming very common, I'm also waiting on a Poly D, been about 6 months or so. Lately I've been thinking of just canceling the order and getting something that is in stock, which is actually how I ended up here. Looking forward to seeing you with your Claravox, hope you get it soon
@@GoFlyYourselves I'm looking forward to having the Claravox as well. The Etherwave Pro took nine months, but this is taking significantly longer. They've ceased taking orders direct, so one has to go through a dealer and unfortunately, they are clueless as to status. It's basically "just wait." Luckily, until the order actually comes through, there's no charge.
@@dnteuxurois Looking at the Etherwave, I just realized that Moog can send you the parts with instructions and lets you put it together. That is way cool! I'll have to look into that further.
Mm mm😊
Hmm mm mooooom
That means, "Thanks for your nice comment."
Tommy Chong teaches the Theremin well!
I'll take that as a compliment.
@@dnteuxurois Oh yes! You truly are great!
@@Kombi-1 Thanks.