Articles / Miscellaneous

Etherwave Pro review

Etherwave Pro Review

By: Jason Barile

Pros:
  • eye-catching design
  • superb pitch response range, great linearity
  • preset sounds plus timbre and pitch control
  • headphone jack for audio preview
  • CV outputs for controlling analog gear
  • DVD tutorial featuring Pamelia Kurstin included

Cons:

  • weight contributes to a slight tendancy for wobbling

Cost: $1399 from InstrumentPro.com (use coupon code AFF01 at checkout for a 5% discount!)

Moog Music celebrated Bob Moog’s 50th anniversary as a theremin maker by introducing the visually stunning Etherwave Pro in 2004. If you thought it had all “been done” in the space of theremin design, think again. The Etherwave Pro’s Zen-like combination of sound, beauty, and features creates a unique and special place for itself in the family tree of touchless musical instruments.

I recently had the opportunity to spend a week with a demo unit courtesy of Moog Music, and the following is my review.

Moog Etherwave Pro Theremin

Unpacking and Setting Up

The Etherwave Pro arrived at my door nicely packed with high density foam in a sturdy carton. Don’t throw away your box! Besides being handy for porting your theremin around, you’ll want to keep it in case you ever need to ship your ‘Pro back for repairs. The foam is also required if you purchase the optional travel case.

Included in the box were the theremin, pitch arm & antenna, volume antenna, a modified mic stand, a power cord, a paper owner’s manual, warranty card, and a DVD featuring virtuosa thereminist Pamelia Kurstin and Bob Moog.

Etherwave Pro in the box
Figure 1 - Etherwave Pro ready to be unpacked

The owner’s manual includes a step-by-step guide for setting up the Etherwave Pro. My demo unit included an addendum to the original manual that described an updated procedure for mounting the ‘Pro on its stand. The volume antenna snaps into place via a ?” phono audio plug, so there’s no risk of it falling out accidentally. Similarly, the pitch arm is mounted with a locking mechanism. All of this is super sturdy, yet easy to break down again at the end of your gig.

The stand included with the Etherwave Pro is basically a standard microphone stand similar to what you would mount an Etherwave theremin on. But rather than having to spin around your theremin to screw it onto the stand (I can’t count how many times I’ve almost dropped my Etherwave while trying to spin it onto the stand), Moog has re-designed the mounting mechanism so you can just set the theremin on top of the stand (see figure 2). It has a notched top that aligns with a tab inside the theremin that helps to keep the theremin from spinning on the stand. It also helps you make sure you align the stand such that the legs give you optimal stability.

My only gripe with the stand is that the weight of the Etherwave Pro seemed to contribute to a tendency for the theremin to rock back and forth a bit after you turn a knob

Jason

Posted by

August 20, 2005