Moog Etherwave Theremin

Theremin Image

The Theremin's are back! The Big Briar/Moog Music Moog Signature Series Etherwave Theremin (pictured top) and standard Etherwave Theremin allow you to create those whistling sine wave sounds using your hands, arms, elbows or head! The Theremin was designed in the earlier part of the 20th century by Leon Theremin. It's a simple oscillating circuit that produces a simple sine wave over a 5-octave pitch range. Two antenna perpendicular to each other (one is loop-shaped) create your playing field. The vertical one controls pitch and the horizontal volume. By moving your hands in the field between these you affect the capacitance within the rods and thus, the oscillators pitch and volume. This is truly a unique and difficult but masterable form of sci-fi music performance.

The models offered are virtually equal. The Moog Signature Series has Bob Moog's signature on its front panel, that's it. Both Theremins's are made of solid wood, mic-stand mountable and come with instructional videos (you may need them)! They are truly analog instruments so you get an authentic and warm sound with modern quality and specifications. A few knobs on the face plate control waveform, brightness and level.

Moog Music also offers the standard Etherwave Theremin in a build-it-yourself kit for $299. Plenty of accessories and options include the instructional video on playing the Theremin, a photo history booklet by Bob Moog, a "hot-rodding" manual for customizing your theremin, an Etherwave Gig Bag, the Moog TB-15 Theremin Amplifier (15-watt, 8 inch speaker, 3-band EQ, $99) and an Etherwave stand/tripod. It has been used by Fatboy Slim, Vangelis, Led Zeppelin, Jean-Michel Jarre and Air.

6 Visitor comments
felipe
July 19, 2011 @ 12:36 pm
sonzera alienigena
digno de um psicodelia ,com certeza
Mezzo
April 16, 2010 @ 10:57 am
Great entry to intermediate Theremin. Beautiful sound and decent linear response. It's no Etherwave Pro but unless you're a trust fund baby or a real Theremin professional, who can afford one of those. If your goal is to make noises, this is more than up to the task. In fact it may be too much. Building a simple Theremin style noise maker is fairly simple and much cheaper. If you goal is to create melodies and perform, this is a good start. As with any Theremin, proximity is often an issue on stage particularly in tight spaces.
DiggyDOg
July 16, 2009 @ 9:24 pm
If you want unique but tried-and-true electronic sound, this is it! I have a Big Briar and it can go from "Singing Lady" to "UFO Landing" with a twist of the waveform knob.

Of course it's good for sci-fi sounds but it has a lot of potential for real music if you can master it.
Joe Machos
May 25, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
Bought a kit in 1996. Spray painted silver, it has been used for some impromptu concerts using Frippertronics albums as backing. Nothing like a theremin atsunset by a lake in North Florida!
Kirk Slinkard
November 17, 2008 @ 12:06 am
I got a kit, but didn't like that ordinary looking case. So I built an antique-looking more ornate one with skulls for the antennae. Plays great, over 4 octaves without adjusting. Waveform and tone are adjustable for a variety of sounds. Great resources included for playing instruction and customizing.
 
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  • Demos & Media
  • YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 1
    - Moog Etherwave Theremin

  • Specifications
  • Polyphony - Monophonic
  • Oscillators - 1 VCO: Pitch Range: 5 octaves
  • LFO - None
  • Filter - None
  • VCA - None
  • Keyboard - None
  • Memory - None
  • Control - 2 Antennae
  • Date Produced - 1998

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