Lev Theremin 120th anniversary by Sergei Zorin

Lev Theremin, Russian physicist & inventor created the unique non-contact musical instrument – the theremin. On the invention of Lev Theremin – Lenin, Chaplin, Einstein and many other prominent figures of the era were playing. In the following documentary Theremin himself, is telling about different circumstances of his live, inventions and visions. The unique footage of 94 year old Theremin was recorded by Sergei Zorin, close friend of Lev Sergeevich Termen for more than 25 years. The documentary was edited and generously provided to the community by co-authour Andrei N. Demidenko. Thank you again, Andrei.

“Lev Theremin 120th anniversary" ‒  Sergei Zorin's film | "К 120-летию Льва Термена" ‒  фильм Сергея Зорина

"Our film shows to everyone his big human heart. He was very sensitive, gentle, extremely intelligent person. Pure diamond of a human race, even treated badly by common people - he has shined and still shining trough us." - Andrei N. Demidenko.

"Lev Theremin 120th anniversary' ‒  Sergei Zorin's film | "К 120-летию Льва Термена" ‒  фильм Сергея Зорина from Andrei Demidenko on Vimeo.

You can turn on English subtitles (press CC).

Authors of the film:

- Sergei Zorin, Creator of Optical theatre

- Andrei N. Demidenko, professional musician, sound engineer and film maker.

The premiere of the documentary was on August 28th 2016 at the event "THEREMIN AND THE MUSIC OF SPHERES. MUSICAL AND HISTORICAL EVENING, DEDICATED TO 120TH ANIVERSARY SINCE LEV THEREMIN BIRTH" in the Museum of GULAG's history, Moscow. 

Family members and many renowned people where attending:

Professional performers on the theremin vox – Lydia Kavina, Olesya Rostovskaya and Sergei Zaslavsky.

Stanislav Kreichi, composer and for many years the teacher of original ANS synth by Murzin.

Andrey Smirnov, (founder of the Scientific & creative centre of electroacoustic music in Moscow State Consevatory) was telling about the history of the creation of amazing tools at the time. 

What's next? Your ideas.

How to continue with the open.theremin project?

- desktop production

- redesign with some improvement, ideas from theremin world  discussions and simplifications?

-  set up an open circuit manufacturing fab and do a big batch.

 

Open.Theremin.Y

4. Septmeber 2014

Short update and thoughts on the prototype of the Open.Theremin.Y after some testing and quite some hours of coding:

- Theremins are quite delicate circuits and minor changes (in code or electronics) can affect a lot :-)

- The new design simplifies the fixed frequency oscillator, the filter, the comparator and the CV out. This is a lot of tear down and I felt the effect of each part (great for assembling, strong effect on the performance). The Open.Theremin.UNO seems to be quite optimized in it's overall design and it seems to be difficult to simplify without compromising the quality.

- While wrapping my mind around the heterodyne oscillator I found a new way of (even further) simplifying the mixer and filter by using a D-Flip-Flop (kind of a digital filter).

- The compensation of the missing parts with improved code is not easy. I spent quite some time in optimizing and I am still not quite happy with it.

- The new auto calibration code is quite nice, makes things more stable. Not sure if it can compensate for a big enough variation of antennas and if quality will be good enough over the whole range.

- I like the audio jack on the bottom side of the shield, the new CV out that uses the same digital - analogue converter as the audio out (was PWM before) and the two knobs are cool.

Conclusion:

It will probably need one more prototype. The new D-Flip-Flop mixer looks promising, new CV out and audio jack too. Maybe go back to two fixed frequency oscillators and keep the (at least partly) manual calibration. The new code will make the calibration easier. If I can fit them in, I will make the two knobs happen.

Any suggestions, ideas welcome. The design is still flexible. I will keep you updated.

 

 

 

The first board assembled and ready to test. The space saved with the simplified design allows for two knobs.


And here they are, in yellow of course. They look great, with gold pads, perfect quality.

 

The prototype design looks great. Ordered 5 boards at seedstudio...

16 June 2014

This is about a redesign of the current open.theremin.uno.
Mayor changes and improvemtns are:

 

  • Automatic tuning, no callibation needed for standard size of antennas. This probably being the mayor possible improvement on the digital theremin I finally found a way to do it without complicating the circuit. Still using a heterodyne oscillator and callibrating zero beat at the output of it. It needs however some extra effort on the software side to integrate and filter.
  • Simplification of design. And yes, while the current design proofed to be reliable and straight forward there is still potential for simplification. Now using only one fixed frequency quartz oscillator and symmetric variable frequencies. Using a schmitt trigger in stead of the analog comparators. And then I decided to remove the control voltage output (if no big opposition)
  • Added pads for two potentiometers to control various things like wave form or sensitivity. Will probably be an option.
  • Same form factor. While all open.theremins have been made on green PCBs so far, the new boards should be yellow. This is why the redesign is called Open.Theremin.Y.
  • What else? The design is still flexible. I plan to order first prototype boards in two weeks. One frequent request is to integrate the arduino on board. Not sure about this one. Would be more work to assemble and probably more expensive. What do you think?

Schematic of the Open.Therrmin.Y

 

Design of the Open.Theremin.Y

 

This is work in progress. The concept is still flexible and the design is not tested yet. Also the software for the Open.Theremin.Y will need to be developed.

 

Your ideas and comments are wellcome:

{jcomments on}

Community Videos

Thanks for all these wonderful videos with you playing the Open.Theremin. This is community.

 

 

 

Learn to play the Theremin

Playing the theremin correctly beyond the stage of mere sound effects requires specific technique and regular practice, as with all musical instruments. To learn how to play the theremin I recomend the book "An Introduction to the Theremin"  writen by French & Swiss duo Jimmy Virani et Coralie Ehinger, with the participation of theremingineer Thierry Frenkel for all technical parts. The self-published book is printed in a sheltered workshop in Switzerland. The book is available in English, in French and in Japanese on theremin.me.

 

I also highly recommend to take professional lessons if you want to become a good player, Like with any other music instrument a good teacher can assist you in learning the right technique. See here for more information:

http://theremin.academy/

 

 

From the Japanese version:

電子音楽の先駆をなし、魅力的にもかかわらず、注目されることの少ないテルミン。楽器に触れずに弾くという演奏法が特徴です。1920年にロシアの物理学者レフ・テレミンが発明して以来、クラシック音楽、実験音楽、ポップミュージック、電子音楽などで使われてきました。その独特の演奏法と人の声のような音色で、多くの人々を魅了しました。

発明者の言葉とは裏 腹に、テルミンを正しく演奏し、効果音レベルから脱する事は簡単ではありません。しかし、どんな楽器もそうであるように、弾きこなすには、楽器特有の演奏 技能と定期的な練習が不可欠です。この本はテルミンをわかりやすく解説し、基礎から始めるあなたに役立つアドバイスをたくさん紹介しています。

 


Featured Builds

Wonderful Modification of a OpenTheremin V4

By Francesco Vey, Ingénieur du son at Studio V - Ensembles

Creative Builds for Kids

It's nice to see how you put all your creativity into building playful and unique theremin instruments for kids. Children love to play with the Theremin and experience the touchless interaction with sound. And I am sure there magic instruments will leave many beautiful memories. Thank you all.

Beautiful theremin built by Dominique Pelletier, Montreal-based Theremin player, chiptune artist, sound designer, scavenger and modder of obsolete toys.

This little lego box theremin was build by Joseph Catanzano together with my kids.

And this is the very special "cardón theremin" sent to me from Argentina by Ángel Alberto Corvalán.

 

Midi Plug and Stand Adapter

This nice setup picture was sent to me by Richi Seiler. He made a custom front plate and added a microphone stand mount and DIN Midi adapter to his case.

Building the Open Theremin in an box

Here two nice examples on how to put the Open Theremin board in an wooden box and make it a stable instrument and an interesting object.

This theremin was built by Laurent Bryday, he put the circuit in a very old box that her recovered at the bottom of his cellar. Laurent also sent me a french translation of the instruction manual. Thank you for your contributions Laurent.

 

Fabio Scanzani from Italy sent me this theremin that looks like a  little object of the early twentieth century. Thank you.

 

Open Theremin and Zynthian, the Open Synth Platform

Now that the OpenTheremin has a MIDI implementation I started experimenting with connecting it to MIDI synthesizers and discovered Zynthian, an Open Synth Platform based in Raspberry Pi, Linux and Open Source Synthesizers. It's a lot of fun.

Marc Pitarch sent me this nice picture of him together with Synthian founder Fernando Pereira. Thanks!

Wooden Theremin

László Mánfai from Hungary sent me these pictures of his wonderful wooden theremin that he built from ground up, including electronics. Congratulations László.

Roys Open Theremin Book

Roy P. sent me this funny picture of an Open Theremin housed in a small hardback book, entitled 'The Devil's Music'. And he writes: "Played the Open Theremin in public, jamming with an electronic guitar in a small hot and sweaty club. It went down well.

From Modern to Vintage

Henri Casadei from France sent me the two following pictures that show how different the Open Theremin can be depending on how you build it.

Version "Modern"

La version "vintage"

 

Cigar-Box-OpenTheremin

I had the pleasure to meet Patrick Kresmer at MAKE in München. He is studding electronics and computer science at the technical university and built the Open.Theremin inside the cigar box from scratch. He also recorded the sound of the Etherwave Theremin from Robert Moog and converted the wave form for the Open.Theremin. Thank you Patrick for the pictures and sounds.

    

 

Mothar Mountain Gourd Theremin

Geoff Nicoll from Australia sent me this gorgeous open theremin. He grows gourds and makes funky and classy art from it. The theremin was shown at a woodwork expo and I am sure people liked it. I sure do.

If you want to learn more about Geoffs creation see here: motharmountaingourds.com

Open.Theremin V3 prototype of future past

Nico from Bordeaux, France sent me this wonderful build around Open.Theremin V3 called "mark one". The housing is from a wooden tobacco box (dismantled, sanded and re vernished) and the metal parts are recycled from a deceased folk guitar, dead clockworks from fleamarket, knobs from ooo mixing table an old webcam, and a little piece of pipe filter. All mounted non symmetric to stay in the spirit of "prototype of future past" with screws of different dimensions, but easily opened by turning the 4 corner screws. There's even place inside for a 9v battery. Thanks for sharing Nico and have fun playing it in your band.

Open.Theremin V3 in Italian a red wood case made by Andrei N. Demidenko

This gorgeous case It is made from Italian red wood (exactly from Fazioli piano factory in Sacile) and acrylic. The top cover holds on 8 small neodymium magnets all over the perimeter. The button is made from the same red wood. And yacht lacquer is applied as a protection for the wood. Andrei N. Demidenko is a professional musician, sound engineer and film maker. He is co-authour of a documentary on Lev Sergeevich Termen toghether with his close friend Sergei Zorin.

Laser Theremin by Massimiliano Cavallin

Massimiliano Cavallin, Designer from Torino trained in Ecodesign got cought in "laser frenzy" and built this wonderful, laser cut housing for the Open.Thremin. Thanks for sharing.

 

Yasushi Yoshida Extended Open.Theremin.UNO

Musician and audio equipement designer Yasushi Yoshida built an amazing Open.Theremin. His built with a half-moon-shaped wood housing and titanium-based alloy antennas are a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

See his detailed build report with pictures and videos on his blog at AudioHologram:

http://audiohologram.sblo.jp/article/80671420.html

or in the tweaking section here

 

Housings

And here a nice transparent housing by Dietmar Loy.

 

This is the solid wood box theremin built by Uli Beyenbach. Thanks for sharing.

 

Nice build by Nicolas Merle. And you can also see him play his theremin here.

 

Compact and interesting build by Robert Carlberg. Great with a solid stand.

 

Sleek theremin built by Jost Schenk.

 

Solid wood housing by Harry Rüter. Whit a digital dial...

 

Ewald Beekman reworked and printed the 3D printable case for the Open.Theremin. The files for the reworked theremin can be found here. Thanks for sharing.

 

Professional looking theremin built by Daniel Franzen.

 

Simple and solid stand by Xavier aka xavierbzh.

 

Great solution for an Open.Theremin case by System NO3.

 

Style and functionality by Tobias aka Super Per.

 

Nice wood housing shared by COLLECTIF OBC33.

 

Design studies by Roman Jurt

 

First prototype of the new design - is this it?

Open.Theremin in a cigarette box

The arduino theremin shield fits exactly into a cigarette box.

 

Open.Theremin.UNO powered UFO Wedding Cake

by Jesper from Reykjavík

Artist and hacker Jesper built this amazing UFO Wedding Cake and connected an open.theremin.UNO to it to make it sound when you aproach it. Have never seen a that futuristic cake. All seem to have had much fun at the wedding and I wish you all the best. Check out the video: http://youtu.be/4Lkk5rkb5LI

 

Matthias has built this wonderful Open.Theremin.UP

 

Open.Theremin on plexi base

 

One board Open.Theremin.UP

by Alexander

In a several month work Alexander managed to put the OpenTheremin.UP and the OpenTheremin.LC on a single board by completely redesigning it. It looks so cool and by modifying some "magic" numbers in the code Alexander got it to work. And he has further plans to improve, like putting an ARM mpu, UART, I2S interface and even make it USB powered. Great.

Here is the video that goes with it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmHXw7ykMLA

Open.Theremin.RC

 

Open.Theremin.RC on Breadboard

by Veli

 

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