The Theremin in Winter

Posted: 4/14/2006 3:55:04 AM
unclechristo

From: Leicester, UK

Joined: 9/23/2005

I've noticed on my etherwave standard that the position I must have the pitch knob has moved to make the normal zero point for me - from about 3'ocklock to about 11-noon.
Now I have lately been traveling with it and it coud got some knocks so i wondered whether there was something inside that can get moved a bit - a tuning screw or something - when the box gets a knock.
Posted: 4/30/2006 9:56:26 AM
rupert

From: washingtondc metro area

Joined: 2/8/2006

the weather does affect the range.

you can add or subtract antenna volume to correct the problem. try a piece of tinfoil wrapped around the antenna. you can crimple it up to adjust it's affect.

my antenna got lost (or more likely stolen by my theremin obsessed stalker) and was replaced by a springy coil antenna which can easily be adjusted to compensate for pitch tracking problems by either stretching it out or sqeezing it back down. the autmoatic mechanical vibrator that it produces may be a bit of a bother so you might just wnat to have a collection of different sized antennas and with an approprate case for the antennas you can glean the same cool as a harmonica player with a plethora of differently keyed mouth organs and add a further air to the mystery which surrounds each and every theremin player. you can label them by temperature and humidity indices and make a great ado about changing the pitch antenna to suit the performing environment to impress your bandmates and pick up members of the audience for after show dalliances.

consulting a rather large barometer which you have set up next to your thermein will also help. using an anemometer will make you look like a fool unless you are playing outdoors.
Posted: 4/30/2006 10:00:24 AM
rupert

From: washingtondc metro area

Joined: 2/8/2006

the weather does affect the range.

you can add or subtract antenna volume to correct the problem. try a piece of tinfoil wrapped around the antenna. you can crimple it up to adjust it's affect.

my antenna got lost (or more likely stolen by my theremin obsessed stalker) and was replaced by a springy coil antenna which can easily be adjusted to compensate for pitch tracking problems by either stretching it out or sqeezing it back down. the autmoatic mechanical vibrato that it produces may be a bit of a bother so you might just want to have a collection of different sized antennas and with an approprate case for the antennas you can glean the same cool as a harmonica player with a plethora of differently keyed mouth organs and add a further air to the mystery which surrounds each and every theremin player. you can label them by temperature and humidity indices and make a great ado about changing the pitch antenna to suit the performing environment to impress your bandmates and pick up members of the audience for after show dalliances.

consulting a rather large barometer which you have set up next to your thermein will also help. however, using an anemometer will make you look like a fool unless you are playing outdoors.
Posted: 2/1/2007 10:57:25 PM
Brian R

From: Somerville, MA

Joined: 10/7/2005


Oops! Somehow, I forgot ever to revisit this thread, and stumbled across it while looking for something else.

[i]Apparently your Theremin has settled-down and is working well for you.

Did you ever find out what was causing your pitch-control/tuning problems?[/i]

Thanks for asking, Kevin. Actually... no, I never did learn the specific cause of the problem. But it was fairly simple to recalibrate the instrument (that is, as simple as it can be when one doesn't have a tuner handy for reference, so I had to estimate 3.8 KHz from a piano).

You must be logged in to post a reply. Please log in or register for a new account.