Doepfer

I think we need one!

How to make a Theremin or Ondes Martenot sound? Obviously, those 
instruments have their unique playing controls and Ondes Martenot 
also has those special speakers. Still, even their raw sound seems 
to be somewhat magical. I don't think it can be properly reproduced 
with standard analog synthesizer components.

- It is often said, that Theremin sound resembles sine wave. 
However, for example the sound used by Clara Rockmore (often referred 
as the best ever Thereminist) is actually quite "earthly". And Ondes 
Martenot can even make a nasal or buzzy sound especially in the low 
register. Listen here:
http://www.archive.org/details/Harada (track no 5 "Thermal 
Conductivity")
http://www.cmusge.ch/recherche/zea/martenot.html (lots of different 
sounds)

- The Theremin/Ondes Martenot timbre correlates with pitch. This is 
musically important and sounds different from the normal VCO+VCF 
application. It is explained here:
http://www.paia.com/ProdArticles/thereton.htm
Note the part: "Some listeners find the sound of the current crop [of 
Theremins] to be lacking in this kind of character"

A "Doepfer Theremin (and Ondes Martenot) oscillator" might be very 
useful and musical. Think about the status value! :) - The Ondes 
Martenot is practically the only electronic instrument, which is 
used in symphony orchestra...

The hypothetical module should have an adjustment for timbre and 
perhaps for timbre/pitch correlation too... What do you think?


Best regards
Jari jokinen

i agree that the sound of the early electronic instruments is really
beautiful and special.

i can say confidently that the theremin tone is not a pure sine wave.
 i can't guess what the waveform would be or how it occured in terms
of physics considering the circuit of the theremin is well known
(perhaps the components yeild unique non-linearities not possible with
modern/solid state parts?), but it almost reminds me of some of the
possible sounds of an old lowry organ.

i'd say be creative with filters and waveshapers and try damn hard to
get that sound.  i've come pretty close and a wee bit of sineLFO
vibrato brings home the old school sound.-tom

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "jalmari3" <jari.jokinen@...> wrote:

>
> I think we need one!
> 
> How to make a Theremin or Ondes Martenot sound? Obviously, those 
> instruments have their unique playing controls and Ondes Martenot 
> also has those special speakers. Still, even their raw sound seems 
> to be somewhat magical. I don't think it can be properly reproduced 
> with standard analog synthesizer components.
> 
> - It is often said, that Theremin sound resembles sine wave. 
> However, for example the sound used by Clara Rockmore (often referred 
> as the best ever Thereminist) is actually quite "earthly". And Ondes 
> Martenot can even make a nasal or buzzy sound especially in the low 
> register. Listen here:
> http://www.archive.org/details/Harada (track no 5 "Thermal 
> Conductivity")
> http://www.cmusge.ch/recherche/zea/martenot.html (lots of different 
> sounds)
> 
> - The Theremin/Ondes Martenot timbre correlates with pitch. This is 
> musically important and sounds different from the normal VCO+VCF 
> application. It is explained here:
> http://www.paia.com/ProdArticles/thereton.htm
> Note the part: "Some listeners find the sound of the current crop [of 
> Theremins] to be lacking in this kind of character"
> 
> A "Doepfer Theremin (and Ondes Martenot) oscillator" might be very 
> useful and musical. Think about the status value! :) - The Ondes 
> Martenot is practically the only electronic instrument, which is 
> used in symphony orchestra...
> 
> The hypothetical module should have an adjustment for timbre and 
> perhaps for timbre/pitch correlation too... What do you think?
> 
> 
> Best regards
> Jari jokinen
>

I don't know the details of the Ondes Martenot but only the Trautonium and
Theremin.

From my knowledge the (original) Theremin always outputs a pure sine wave as
the audio signal is generated by the multiplication of two high frequency
sine waves which generates - among other things - a sine wave with a
frequency that is the difference of the to HF sine waves (other components
like a sine with the sum of the frequencies is out of the audible range).
Maybe recording the Theremin with a microphone (room reverb/formants) or
"unintentional" signal processing in the amplifier/speaker system (e.g.
distortion) causes the additional coloring.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com]Im Auftrag von jalmari3
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 15. November 2006 13:25
> An: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> Betreff: [Doepfer_a100] Theremin oscillator
>
>
> I think we need one!
>
> How to make a Theremin or Ondes Martenot sound? Obviously, those
> instruments have their unique playing controls and Ondes Martenot
> also has those special speakers. Still, even their raw sound seems
> to be somewhat magical. I don't think it can be properly reproduced
> with standard analog synthesizer components.
>
> - It is often said, that Theremin sound resembles sine wave.
> However, for example the sound used by Clara Rockmore (often referred
> as the best ever Thereminist) is actually quite "earthly". And Ondes
> Martenot can even make a nasal or buzzy sound especially in the low
> register. Listen here:
> http://www.archive.org/details/Harada (track no 5 "Thermal
> Conductivity")
> http://www.cmusge.ch/recherche/zea/martenot.html (lots of different
> sounds)
>
> - The Theremin/Ondes Martenot timbre correlates with pitch. This is
> musically important and sounds different from the normal VCO+VCF
> application. It is explained here:
> http://www.paia.com/ProdArticles/thereton.htm
> Note the part: "Some listeners find the sound of the current crop [of
> Theremins] to be lacking in this kind of character"
>
> A "Doepfer Theremin (and Ondes Martenot) oscillator" might be very
> useful and musical. Think about the status value! :) - The Ondes
> Martenot is practically the only electronic instrument, which is
> used in symphony orchestra...
>
> The hypothetical module should have an adjustment for timbre and
> perhaps for timbre/pitch correlation too... What do you think?
>
> Best regards
> Jari jokinen
>
>
>

Thanks for your comments.

There are many different Theremins nowadays... Some of them might 
actually produce sine wave. However, the musically more useful 
(including the original Theremin) instruments don't. The reason for 
this is explained here:

http://www.paia.com/ProdArticles/thereton.htm
"As coupling increases, the two [high frequency] oscillators try to 
pull one another to a common frequency resulting in distortion that 
produces an output rich in harmonics at integral multiples of the 
difference frequency. The waveform may be saw-like or pulse-like 
depending on phase of harmonics..."

It is more complex and musical than (say) a sine wave fed to a tube 
amp. 

Propably, if the sound of Theremin - or especially Ondes Martenot - 
could be done really well with standard synth techniques, we would 
have heard it already... I am skeptical though. At least, I think 
filtering a standard oscillator isn't enough.

How good is Ondes Martenot sound? It is like a Hammond or Rhodes. You 
can play it whole your life! Personally, I can't say that about any 
synth sound I have come across. If you are interested, please listen 
those Ondes Martenot sound examples I linked in my first post. If 
someone can make that kind of sounds with any synthesizer, I would 
like to hear! - I am soon getting my French Connection...
  

Best regards
Jari Jokinen

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "thomasborax" <thomasborax@...> 
wrote:
> i'd say be creative with filters and waveshapers

I haven't tried yet, but a rectifier might be useful.

> There are many different Theremins nowadays... Some of them might 
> actually produce sine wave. However, the musically more useful 
> (including the original Theremin) instruments don't. The reason for 
> this is explained here:
> 
> http://www.paia.com/ProdArticles/thereton.htm
> "As coupling increases, the two [high frequency] oscillators try to 
> pull one another to a common frequency resulting in distortion that 
> produces an output rich in harmonics at integral multiples of the 
> difference frequency. The waveform may be saw-like or pulse-like 
> depending on phase of harmonics..."

A very interesting article with a lot of information I did not know.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer