I would like to build my own theremin , did somebody ever tried to do it ?
a friend of mine told me that is not so difficult, and that the material you need is very cheap.
What do you think about it?

 

I research a lot of theremins and ribbon controllers.
Theres a lot of cheap kits on ebay,

The problems are:
1 no midi
2 difficult to learn and stay in tune
3 the sound, no fancy synth on board with a lot of controllers

Of course you can edit the tune and tempos in you daw, but if you search in youtube you will be depressed because the players of this instrumentas are painly for ears and souls
The function of this instrument is the most important thing so,
you will play, record, use it for what, when & where?
Build is easy, use it is another thing
edit
Try a ribbon controlle, it its no so hard and usability is way better, breath controller its a must too!

 

Just found out about this instrument, what a weird one, first i couldn't believe my eyes how they play it until i saw some videos explaining how it works, still thinking that this is the weirdest think i ever saw and the weirdest instrument of course...

 

Tried one myself for the first time last tuesday! I´m used to instruments where intonation is essential, but this one is pretty much over my skills! Basically you´re controling volume with your left hand and pitch with you right ... sounds easy, but I tell you: It´s not!

The guy who owned this Theremin had it connected to some pedal wich could give you a pentascale instead of the original tuning, easier that way but not the propper way to play it!

Im told you can build your own primitive Theremin for around 15 US if you´re a handyman ... only thing you´ll miss is the volume feature but the rest should be very close to the rigth thing!

The Moog version is about 450 US Link: Theremin - what it cost!

Good luck

 

Buy a kit and start soldering.

Mad fucker to play, so hook it up to a auto tune before you learn the micro maneuvers for intonating your notes.
Long live Clara Rockmore!

 

buy a Moog one
it's cheap, and it's Moog =)

synthesized thereminvox sound is like "sampled guitar(s)" or something like that - unnatural, synthy, simple, monotonous...

 

Think about Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, Beach Boys' Good vibrations and loads of others... it's been around
*yes*

Btw, Lev Termen had a tragic story to tell.

 

Fookin LOVE the theramin`s in Portishead`s music.

So deep, dark and moody, Tricky absolutely NAILED Trip Hop!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZll5LuabEQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVX2adpyInM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aVNEQ0GieA

Pffffft, not sure they`ve used a live theramin in these performances but I KNOW Tricky LOVED the old box for it`s "out there" vibe. Anywho, WHO CARES? We got to listen some fookin BEAUTIFUL music.

 

JFYI, the theremin was invented in 1919 (Léon Theremin). The Ondes Martenot was invented in 1928 (Maurice Martenot).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0aflcF0-ys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy9UBjrUjwo

 

well, thank you for all your infos.
Of course i know it's a weird instruments and really don't know where to use it in my productions, but the idea of building such a strange primitive synth all by my own i think it's awesome!
Maybe the kit you can buy on ebay makes everything easier in stead of buying separate components.

 

ermm.. i think you will find that tricky is not in portishead. adrian utley would be very unhappy at that comment. there are very few people who can actually play a theremin, in tune that is. theremin's own grand daughter was virtuoso on it, but i am not sure if she is alive any longer. there are clips all over youtube, this is very funny but sweet: http://youtu.be/cd4jvtAr8JM to help you on your way

 

Hi freerider197, how is it going with your project?
Once I got close to a Theremin in an exhibition, a almost 100 year old one from Russia. Can`t say I played something musical, lol.
Found this one via synthtopia.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0V6nV74rNM#t=124​

 

man I intend to buy a ribbon controller but I will tune all the performances..

 

@sideshowbob actually i'm assembling the chips and all small electric stuff, with a friend that know better than me how to read a circuit and build-it.i As he sais it's really easy to build the simplest one but if you don't know nothing about electronic card and stuff, it's not so.
this is the site where i found all the NFO about that http://www.harrisoninstruments.com/101/101_description.html
Even if it's f'king well done like step-by-step-by-step http://www.harrisoninstruments.com/101/101_assembly_instructions.html

 

Thank you for the update and the links.
Maybe you share some pictures when it`s finished?

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10203389023989727 Theremins remind me of horror movie soundtracks. In the US, Halloween is coming. This video might scare you, might not. Taking bets. sorry about the fb link.Was just easiest way to get it here. couldn't find the file.