Music news site MusicRadar has released a free set of 300 samples of "hand control".  The 411 MB royalty-free download includes clips recorded from theremins, an Alesis AirFX, a dimension-beam synth controller, and an EBow used with a Fender Telecaster.  Each sample is in WAV format to be compatible with a wide array of music production software.

The sample set is just one of over 100 huge and also free sets of synth sounds, drum kits and loops, basslines, ambient sounds, and more from the MusicRadar's project "SampleRadar".

As to how applicable this set really is to theremin music, I'll let you decide. 

Read: 300 free hand control samples (musicradar.com)

Our Brazilian readers will be pleased to know about a new theremin manufacturer in Brazil - ThereMy (http://www.theremy.com.br/).  At first glance, it looks very similar to the standard Etherwave shoebox design.  However, a closer look reveals some interesting divergence from tradition... 

First up,the antennas appear to be a bit "cleaner" in design (no plumbing pipe here!).  Rather than mounting with a compression nut, the pitch antenna screws into the mount directly.  On the front panel, you'll notice the absence of an audio jack (it's on the back) as well as timbre controls.  However, they have added knobs to control built-in reverb and delay effects. 

You'll need Flash to view the company's website, and you can find several videos of the theremin in action on YouTube.  Unfortunately, the performer in the videos really only plays the pitch antenna, but we can imagine how the volume loop would work in conjunction with it.

Big thanks to Theremin Depressão (@ThereminDepre on Twitter) for pointing us to ThereMy!

Via: Theremin no Brasil

Valeria Sturba, a young, beautiful and very gifted Italian violinist and thereminist from Bologna has recorded a new video where she demonstrates the new theremin cello developed by the Italian engineer Augusto Triani. Enjoy!

The third edition of this very popular and successful event in France

For the third time a "Theremin Summer Academy" will be held by Carolina Eyck and Thierry Frenkel in the City of Colmar, an enchanting small medieval town in Alsace/France at about half an hour from German and Swiss borders.

The program is, as last year, expanded to five days and comprises still more new options. Seen the limited time of such conventions and the rare occasions where thereminists and their teachers can meet, new group lessons which will start during the Summer Academy and be continued during the Without Touch Festival in Lippstadt/Germany from November 23 to 25, 2012 have been set up. The results will then be presented during a public concert there.

More information and the registration form can be found on our website.

Hailing from Strasbourg, France, There Mine (a.k.a. Wavingbox), has created what might just be the ultimate self-contained theremin busking rig.  And what better way to put it to the test than to fly halfway around the world and play on the streets of Guadalajara, Mexico?

Here's a quick breakdown of the rig:

• an Etherwave sits atop a flight-worthy hard shell case on 3 metal posts
• 4 speakers from a Roland Micro Bass RX amplifier are mounted into the case facing the audience (the actual amp electronics are inside)
• the amp and Etherwave run on battery power
• extra sheets of metal added to the case to aid in grounding
• the Etherwave, antennas, and posts all fit inside the case for easy transport

To see more photos of the rig and to follow Wavingbox's further adventures, head on over to his blog at http://wavingbox.over-blog.com/

Well done!