AETHERPHON, global theremin family

Wow! I think I have maybe 2K in the total cost of Gabriella, after all 
is said and done....but seeing Etherwave Pro prices go 5K and higher is 
mind numbing. Heck, the prices are getting close to that of an original 
RCA (which I'd buy first).

Is the Wavefront Classic still in production? Just curious.

Philip

Philip, I was thinking about that,
you and Gabriella, when I saw the latest EWPro
*starting* at 5,000!

You have such a cool theremin, built with your own hands,
and that's more precious than any EWPro...
except mine to me that is.

Like I say, this price bloat is simply shocking me.
I'm very glad a couple folks have been kind and fair
about it and players who really can use them have gotten them
for just a little over the original price.


On 8/22/08, Philip <kmg5443@...> wrote:
>
>   Wow! I think I have maybe 2K in the total cost of Gabriella, after all
> is said and done....but seeing Etherwave Pro prices go 5K and higher is
> mind numbing. Heck, the prices are getting close to that of an original
> RCA (which I'd buy first).
>
> Is the Wavefront Classic still in production? Just curious.
>
> Philip
>
> 
>



-- 
----------------------------------------------------
John Hoge, NYC
"Absolutely dedicated to the propagation
and continuation of the Theremin."
www.hoge-theremin.com
and also check out
www.ThereminWorld.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On 22 Aug 2008, at 20:43, John Hoge wrote:

> Philip, I was thinking about that,
> you and Gabriella, when I saw the latest EWPro
> *starting* at 5,000!
>
> Like I say, this price bloat is simply shocking me.


This made me laugh. From http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/msg/ 
807541397.html

> Recently, a theremin identical to this one sold on eBay for over  
> $7,800!

> http://www.thereminworld.com/news.asp?s=732
> This unique and rare instrument can be yours for only $6,000, a  
> savings of over $1,500!
>

("over $1500." ... ... Why not "$1800"? ... ... or "Over $1"?)


Gordon

Thanks Godron,
That make me chuckle too.
You know me, I think everyone should have a theremin.
but wow, my little antenna hand wavey sounding box is a
*rare, valuable instrument *
and here I just love it cause it's my theremin

We'll see what happens.
- jh


On 8/22/08, Gordon Charlton <gordonc@...> wrote:
>
>
> On 22 Aug 2008, at 20:43, John Hoge wrote:
>
> > Philip, I was thinking about that,
> > you and Gabriella, when I saw the latest EWPro
> > *starting* at 5,000!
> >
> > Like I say, this price bloat is simply shocking me.
>
> This made me laugh. From http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/msg/
> 807541397.html
>
> > Recently, a theremin identical to this one sold on eBay for over
> > $7,800!
>
> > http://www.thereminworld.com/news.asp?s=732
> > This unique and rare instrument can be yours for only $6,000, a
> > savings of over $1,500!
> >
>
> ("over $1500." ... ... Why not "$1800"? ... ... or "Over $1"?)
>
> Gordon
>
> 
>



-- 
----------------------------------------------------
John Hoge, NYC
"Absolutely dedicated to the propagation
and continuation of the Theremin."
www.hoge-theremin.com
and also check out
www.ThereminWorld.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

---I just ordered my third theremin....for a grand total of 50
bux...one of those cute Japanese miniatures. Lydia played one in a
video...Maybe I can get Jordan interested now.

My biggest gripe at the moment is how totally unsatisfactory this usb
microphone is that I got to record with....its a NADY USB24m...low
output, poor audio.

I was looking at the Behringer 99 dollar podcasting bundle...mic,
mixer, USB coverter. Is this a total waste of cash as well?

Philip

Hi,

The Behringer kit looks nice, especially that the mixer is separate from the
mic, you can always get better mic one day and connect it to the mixer,
Behringer does make some good affordable condenser mics.

Overall quality should be better than the Nady, but I must say I have not
heard either...

The only issue with this is that it's a dynamic mic and these usually don't
sound as good as condenser mics.

There's this thing called the Blue Snowball, it's a usb condenser mic, aimed
at the podcasting crowd, it even has a switch in the back to turn it from
unidirectional to omnidirectional.

I used it for some voice recording tests, not singing though, and it sounded
quite good.

I sells for around 100$.

I hope this helps.

Guillaume



On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 11:16 PM, Philip <kmg5443@...> wrote:

> ---I just ordered my third theremin....for a grand total of 50
> bux...one of those cute Japanese miniatures. Lydia played one in a
> video...Maybe I can get Jordan interested now.
>
> My biggest gripe at the moment is how totally unsatisfactory this usb
> microphone is that I got to record with....its a NADY USB24m...low
> output, poor audio.
>
> I was looking at the Behringer 99 dollar podcasting bundle...mic,
> mixer, USB coverter. Is this a total waste of cash as well?
>
> Philip
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> AETHERPHON, the global thereminist community
>
> To contact the moderator, e-mail porphyrous@...
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Philip,

Gabriella is a superb instrument...  not that you would part with it,  
but its quality of construction and sound puts it into the $5000  
category.

Since you are not doing intense multi-track work, you don't need lots  
of memory and CPU to do decent recordings.   However, you need a  
decent interface and, if you prefer to record with a mike, a decent  
mike.  99 bucks probably isn't going to be enough to do your  
instrument justice.

You could do pretty good work if you have, say... around $500 or so.   
You could probably get a decent pair of mics (needed for stereo  
recording) and a clean USB interface.  Also, most interfaces are  
bundled with recording software.

Anyway, just my opinion...

-- Kevin

Quoting Philip <kmg5443@...>:

>
> ---I just ordered my third theremin....for a grand total of 50
> bux...one of those cute Japanese miniatures. Lydia played one in a
> video...Maybe I can get Jordan interested now.
>
> My biggest gripe at the moment is how totally unsatisfactory this usb
> microphone is that I got to record with....its a NADY USB24m...low
> output, poor audio.
>
> I was looking at the Behringer 99 dollar podcasting bundle...mic,
> mixer, USB coverter. Is this a total waste of cash as well?
>
> Philip
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> AETHERPHON, the global thereminist community
>
> To contact the moderator, e-mail porphyrous@...
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Kevin

I would sell everything else I owned in an emergency....radios, 
telescopes, miscellaneous junk, but Gab would stay put.

Can you recommend a decent setup for recording? 

Tnx

PAN

Hello,

I'm kind of new to the aetherphon group. I had a homemade theremin
that nowadays sound horribly but I recently got a new moog EW. How
different it feels!!! Well, by now I'm just practicing, though I'm
using a right-hand technique different from famous players' one... and
I feel more comfortably and still considerably in tune.

But I'm composer and make also lots of electroacoustic works, so I
know at least the basics about recording and signal processing, and I
must agree with Kevin. U$500 should be the needed investment for a
basic digital recording set-up. Get, for example, a Studio Projects B1
microphone (around U$100) and a Presonus Firebox interface (U$300),
plus a mic stand... and you're done! Otherwise you won't be
appreciating you wonderful instrument. Even if Gabriella had a direct
output, you'd need the interface, which makes the conversion from
analog to digital in a decent way.

Wel, my two cents...

Ah! and I'm Chilean and live currently in Brazil, that's the reason
for my poor english... and the reason because I didn't have a theremin
even when I wanted to.

Okay guys, nice to "meet" you!
Bryan Holmes

--- In aetherphon@yahoogroups.com, kkissinger@... wrote:

>
> Philip,
> 
> Gabriella is a superb instrument...  not that you would part with it,  
> but its quality of construction and sound puts it into the $5000  
> category.
> 
> Since you are not doing intense multi-track work, you don't need lots  
> of memory and CPU to do decent recordings.   However, you need a  
> decent interface and, if you prefer to record with a mike, a decent  
> mike.  99 bucks probably isn't going to be enough to do your  
> instrument justice.
> 
> You could do pretty good work if you have, say... around $500 or so.   
> You could probably get a decent pair of mics (needed for stereo  
> recording) and a clean USB interface.  Also, most interfaces are  
> bundled with recording software.
> 
> Anyway, just my opinion...
> 
> -- Kevin
> 
> Quoting Philip <kmg5443@...>:
> >
> > ---I just ordered my third theremin....for a grand total of 50
> > bux...one of those cute Japanese miniatures. Lydia played one in a
> > video...Maybe I can get Jordan interested now.
> >
> > My biggest gripe at the moment is how totally unsatisfactory this usb
> > microphone is that I got to record with....its a NADY USB24m...low
> > output, poor audio.
> >
> > I was looking at the Behringer 99 dollar podcasting bundle...mic,
> > mixer, USB coverter. Is this a total waste of cash as well?
> >
> > Philip
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > AETHERPHON, the global thereminist community
> >
> > To contact the moderator, e-mail porphyrous@...
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Bryan,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

The Presonus is a fine piece of equipment.  Your computer must be  
equipped with a firewire port, though.  If Philip's computer has a  
firewire port, then the Presonus would work well.

If Philip only has a USB port, he could find a smaller (two channel)  
interface.  USB has plenty of bandwidth for a couple of channels.

The Presonus comes bundled with Cubase LE -- a 32 channel recording  
environment.

-- Kevin
Quoting Bryan Holmes <wayatan@...>:

> Hello,
>
> I'm kind of new to the aetherphon group. I had a homemade theremin
> that nowadays sound horribly but I recently got a new moog EW. How
> different it feels!!! Well, by now I'm just practicing, though I'm
> using a right-hand technique different from famous players' one... and
> I feel more comfortably and still considerably in tune.
>
> But I'm composer and make also lots of electroacoustic works, so I
> know at least the basics about recording and signal processing, and I
> must agree with Kevin. U$500 should be the needed investment for a
> basic digital recording set-up. Get, for example, a Studio Projects B1
> microphone (around U$100) and a Presonus Firebox interface (U$300),
> plus a mic stand... and you're done! Otherwise you won't be
> appreciating you wonderful instrument. Even if Gabriella had a direct
> output, you'd need the interface, which makes the conversion from
> analog to digital in a decent way.
>
> Wel, my two cents...
>
> Ah! and I'm Chilean and live currently in Brazil, that's the reason
> for my poor english... and the reason because I didn't have a theremin
> even when I wanted to.
>
> Okay guys, nice to "meet" you!
> Bryan Holmes
>
> --- In aetherphon@yahoogroups.com, kkissinger@... wrote:
>>
>> Philip,
>>
>> Gabriella is a superb instrument...  not that you would part with it,
>> but its quality of construction and sound puts it into the $5000
>> category.
>>
>> Since you are not doing intense multi-track work, you don't need lots
>> of memory and CPU to do decent recordings.   However, you need a
>> decent interface and, if you prefer to record with a mike, a decent
>> mike.  99 bucks probably isn't going to be enough to do your
>> instrument justice.
>>
>> You could do pretty good work if you have, say... around $500 or so.
>> You could probably get a decent pair of mics (needed for stereo
>> recording) and a clean USB interface.  Also, most interfaces are
>> bundled with recording software.
>>
>> Anyway, just my opinion...
>>
>> -- Kevin
>>
>> Quoting Philip <kmg5443@...>:
>> >
>> > ---I just ordered my third theremin....for a grand total of 50
>> > bux...one of those cute Japanese miniatures. Lydia played one in a
>> > video...Maybe I can get Jordan interested now.
>> >
>> > My biggest gripe at the moment is how totally unsatisfactory this usb
>> > microphone is that I got to record with....its a NADY USB24m...low
>> > output, poor audio.
>> >
>> > I was looking at the Behringer 99 dollar podcasting bundle...mic,
>> > mixer, USB coverter. Is this a total waste of cash as well?
>> >
>> > Philip
>> >
>> >
>> > ------------------------------------
>> >
>> > AETHERPHON, the global thereminist community
>> >
>> > To contact the moderator, e-mail porphyrous@...
>> >
>> >
>> > Yahoo! Groups Links
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> AETHERPHON, the global thereminist community
>
> To contact the moderator, e-mail porphyrous@...
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

--- On Thu, 8/28/08, Philip <kmg5443@...> wrote:
> Can you recommend a decent setup for recording? 

What is your budget?  

As you found, a very cheap mic/da/usb combination sounds very cheap. 

It is not Dynamic vs. Condenser that is the problem.  

That is like saying watercolor paintings look worse than oil paintings.  There are good and bad in both, and neither looks exactly like reality.  

I have a pair of large diaphragm dynamic mics (electrovoice RE20) that are the reference standard in the radio broadcast industry, and they make my voice sound richer than any mic I have ever recorded with.

Cheap mics sound cheap.  Dynamic mics do 'typically' have a lower output level than condenser mics, thus requiring more gain in the mic preamp, and it needs to be very low noise gain.  If you are recording a loud vocalist with their mouth on the mic, or the bass drum with the mic inches from the drum head low output level and hiss is not a problem.

Microphones, like most audio/electrical tranducers (phono cartridges, speakers) are never perfect (even the ones costing thousands of $), are thus full of compromises, and likely the weakest links in the recording chain.

Modern manufacturing methods, low cost overseas labor, and cheap electronic components provide us with more good sounding low cost mics today than ever before.

In the 1970's a large diaphragm condenser mic cost thousands of dollars.  The best Danish and German made condenser mics still do today.

 The B1 mic recommended (is that right?) looks like it costs about $100.  The reviews I read were very positive.  It is a large diaphragm condenser mic at a price unheard until the chinese started making condensor microphone diaphragms and complete microphones.  Now they make many million of these mics.  This has been good for the home recordist.

These are usually cookie cutter mics, meaning they come from OEM manufacturers that design and manufacture them, will sell these to anyone, and will put your brand name label on them.  They stamp them out like cookies.  With a little money anyone can sell these mics under their brand name.

One low cost, high quality mic maker that stands out from the pack is RODE.  These are made in Australia.  They make some of the quietest (self noise) mics, with excellent polar patterns, high reliability, and wonderful sound at a very affordable price.

The RODE NT1-a is an awesome mic, for about $200.
http://usa.rodemic.com/microphone.php?product=NT1-A

This is the anniversary version of a mic that has been getting great reviews for several years.  

My brilliant nephew, Nick Yulman, records a vast variety of acoustic instruments from drums, guitar, vocals, sax, banjo, violin, along with electromachanical-acoustic instruments of his design and he has 1 mic, the RODE NT1.  Listen here, these are real instruments recorded only with the NT1:

Stream (upper left) or download (lower right)
http://www.luvsound.org/release/luv017/
Photos of some of his homemade instruments
http://www.nysoundworks.org/SecretClubhouse.html
Myspace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=154989024

All mics have self noise.  The signal output level (with respect to a standard input pressure), along with the self noise determine the signal to noise ratio of the mic.  The sound of this self noise differs from mic manufacturer and design, it does not all sound the same.  It may sound like hiss, or rustling sound, or like a rumbling wind.   

I record nature sounds, and correspond with others that do the same.  This requires mics and preamps with very low noise, because we are often recording very soft sounds.   Rode mics have a proven track record in nature recording due to their low self noise, high fidelity and reliability for a very reasonable price.  The only other superior choice for (non parabolic) nature recording is the Sennheiser MKH line of RF mics costing thousands of dollars (5-10x $).

Don't skimp on the mic.  

Mic preamps are the next difficult thing to do in the signal chain, but they are easier to design and make at low cost than mics.  Again, there are so many great low cost choices these days, many combined with D/A converters.  Many come bundled with useful audio recording and editing software.

What is your budget?  

bret

Brett

Pretty much low budget...looking for the best bang for the buck.

Check out the Audio Technica at2020usb or

Samson C01U

Both are large diaphragm condensers getting good reviews.

Philip

--Also, the Marshall MXL USB series...there are several.