Moog Etherwave Theremin Black

MOOG EWSTD001 Details ^top

Standard Etherwave® Theremin

The theremin is one of the oldest electronic instruments, and the only one known that you play without touching. Moving your hands in the space around its antennas controls pitch and volume. Like the Ethervox, the Etherwave is an authentic adaptation of inventor Leon Theremin's original design.

The Etherwave is a quality theremin with a design that retains many characteristics of the original theremins, including a five-octave pitch range and reliable spacing between notes for sophisticated playability. Antennas are nickel-plated 3/8" brass tube and cabinets are furniture-grade hardwood, finished black. The Etherwave is fitted with an adapter for mounting on a standard microphone stand and is designed for use with a musical instrument amplifier such as the Moog TB-15.

All Etherwaves in the U.S. ship with two videotapes: Clara Rockmore: the Greatest Theremin Virtuosa, and Mastering the Theremin, featuring Lydia Kavina.

What is a Theremin?

The theremin is one of the oldest electronic instruments, and the only one known that you play without touching. Moving your hands in the space around its antennas controls pitch and volume. Like the Ethervox, the Etherwave is an authentic adaptation of inventor Leon Theremin’s original design.

The Etherwave

The Etherwave is a quality theremin with a design that retains many characteristics of the original theremins, including a five-octave pitch range and reliable spacing between notes for sophisticated playability. Antennas are nickel-plated 3/8" brass tube and cabinets are furniture-grade hardwood, finished black. The Etherwave is fitted with an adapter for mounting on a standard microphone stand and is designed for use with a musical instrument amplifier such as the Moog TB-15.

All Etherwaves ship with two videotapes: Clara Rockmore: the Greatest Theremin Virtuosa, and Mastering the Theremin, featuring Lydia Kavina.

Power supply is included: order 110v for use in US or Canada or 220v for use in Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. 110v Etherwaves ship with videotapes in NTSC format; 220v Etherwaves ship with videotapes in PAL format.

Features

* POWER rocker switch - switches on and off the AC power to theremin.
* AUDIO OUT - standard 1/4" phone jack, which delivers line level output to your amplifier.
* PITCH rotary control, for adjusting the response of the pitch antenna.
* VOLUME rotary control, for adjusting the response of the volume antenna.
* WAVEFORM rotary control, for adjusting the waveform of the audio output.
* BRIGHTNESS rotary control, for adjusting the brightness of the audio output.
* POWER INPUT - receptacle for the special AC adapter that comes with the Etherwave. 110 volt and 220 volt adapters are available.
* ANTENNA CONNECTORS - threaded connectors which allow the antennas to be removed for travel.

MOOG EWSTD001 Documentation ^top

Etherwave theramin users manual (pdf)

MOOG EWSTD001 Demos ^top

Etherwave theramin demo

Review of MOOG EWSTD001

RATING:

Sound Quality	8
Features	8
Ease Of Use	3
Value	10
Reliability	10
Overall	8

The theremin is solidly and professionally constructed with strong fittings and it looks a quality item. From the word go it was easy to get all the weird and wonderful effects you know is going to be possible but getting a tune out of the instrument is considerably tougher. After a few hours of work and real focus on keeping my body still(ish) whilst moving my hands around I was able to articulate simple tunes. The trick is to practice pitching one note to the next and to get used to the physical distance in relation to the desired musical interval. The hardest thing I have found so far is to get a good vibrato. I guess the answer is practice! Don't expect to master the theremin anytime soon after taking it from the box, it is afterall an instrument and is going to require a level of dedicaton and practice. The theremin is both FUN and sometimes frustrating to play.

-MIKE TODDINGTON
-SOMERSET, UK, 09/10/05

See all reviews of MOOG EWSTD001.