[LAU] [Off topic] DIY Theremin

Will Godfrey willgodfrey at musically.me.uk
Sun Dec 30 14:52:53 CET 2018


On Sun, 30 Dec 2018 12:29:10 +0000
Bill Purvis <bill at billp.org> wrote:

>On 30/12/2018 11:08, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
>> On Sun, 30 Dec 2018 01:40:17 +0100, Dominique Michel wrote:  
>>> https://github.com/domichel/black_star_theremin  
>> Congratulations Dominique,
>>
>> that's a very nice project :), nice that you make the schematics public
>> domain.
>>
>> I guess I tried to play Thermin a long time ago for less than a
>> minute ;). How long does it take to learn how to play it in a usable
>> manner?
>>
>> Unfortunately playing a Thermin has got a learning curve, while playing
>> the Animoog via touch screen is easy to do and does sound almost the
>> same as a Thermine.
>>
>> However, I like all kinds of synthesizer keyboard replacements that
>> could add some extra touch to the playing, that can't be done by a
>> keyboard. Unfortunately I'm not aware of Thermin antennas, guitar synth
>> and even something comparable to the Animoog touch screen thingy, that
>> is able to provide the data by MIDI out. The Animoog as well as the
>> Roland GR-55 guitar synth provide MIDI out, but the MIDI data does not
>> provide what you get while playing the Animoog with a finger or when
>> using the Roland GR-55's onboard synth.
>>
>> Guten Rutsch!
>> Ralf  
>The problem is how to effect the changes is pitch and volume of what is 
>essentially
>a continuous note. It can be done by using pitch-bend and aftertouch 
>messages but
>finding a synth that responds properly to these is a problem. I've been 
>using
>Fluidsynth mostly, but it totally ignores pitch bend messages! You need 
>something
>which can handle extended pitch bend - several octaves ideally!
>
>I have an Artiphon Instrument 1 which I would love to use as a fretless bass
>but that uses pitch bend messages to effect the slides and Fluidsynth just
>ignores them.
>
>Bill

Yoshimi can cover quite a wide range. In 'Controllers' Set it to 1200 and it's
+- 1 octave. The smoothness is very dependent on the control source. Here, out
of 3 keyboards only the ancient SY35 gives a really good response :o

-- 
Will J Godfrey
http://www.musically.me.uk
Say you have a poem and I have a tune.
Exchange them and we can both have a poem, a tune, and a song.


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