[LAU] Theremin sound

[Ivica Ico Bukvic]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-audio-user-bounces at lists.linuxaudio.org [mailto:linux-audio-
> user-bounces at lists.linuxaudio.org] On Behalf Of Leigh Dyer
> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 6:03 AM
> To: linux-audio-user at lists.linuxaudio.org
> Subject: Re: [LAU] Theremin sound
> 
> On 08/12/2011 07:44 PM, Julien Claassen wrote:
> > Hello Everyone!
> > It's perhaps a bit off topic. But how to best go about creating a
> > Theremin sound? I mean, I've tried, but with very mixed results. I'm
> > still not sure about the basic waveform to choose. Should it be sine or
> > highly smoothed/filtered sawtooth? The vibrating aspect of the sound:
> Go
> > for vibrato or tremolo or both? What do you say?

I think it is simpler than that. As the dynamics changes, it morphs between sine and saw. That's what gives it the sound it has. You should test it with some kind of analogue controller or at least an xy on-screen control surface as that will give you the best feel whether it is realistic or not. Testing theoretical waveforms is nearly pointless as it will never provide you with the fluidity of an evolving sound through analogue controller. The vibrato and other subtle things you are trying to tackle are simply a byproduct of "performing" aspect, rather than the sound itself.

HTH

Ico