The Theremin: How it Works

[@Rhythmicons]

That plasma plate makes an absolutely amazing piece of retro-futuristic stage furniture, especially with the theremin.

[@Zerububble]

Who edited this? Why would you cut to the guys face when he's showing the inside of the instrument?!

[@MelloCello7]

State secrets: www.rcatheremin.com/images/levbuilt/mains/33studio.jpg

[@counterbalancenj]

Came to the comments for just that

[@ChristopherMcAtee]

Seriously. Major editing fail.

[@BrianOliver73]

Same! 😂😂

[@bbb-yk8no]

Cuz he has no idea wtf he is talking about so why properly edit !? 😂

[@dutchlion369]

Awesome stuff

[@simonkormendy849]

Although the Theremin uses radio-frequency electronic circuitry to produce musical sounds, it is not actually a transmitter, it is an electronic musical instrument that uses two antennae, one for pitch control, and the other for volume control, these antennae are connected to two radio-frequency oscillators, the output-signal of the pitch oscillator is mixed with a signal from a third radio-frequency reference oscillator, and the difference in frequency of the two oscillators creates an audio signal which we hear, the smaller the difference in frequency, the lower the pitch that's produced, when you move your hand closer to the pitch antennae the capacitance between your hand and the pitch antennae causes the frequency of the pitch radio-frequency oscillator to change.

[@edwardsussman-theremin1679]

Your explanation is technically correct. However, to simplify for the general audience and keep my presentation moving along, I explain simply and visually what happens in general terms. I employ visual f/x using a plasma plate. The plate reacts to my body’s capacitance thus changing the electrical field and affecting the amount of electrical disturbance you see on its scree. The audience gets the connection visually in real time. Thus, I can show how the Theremin’s pitch and volume antennas work “magically” and invisibly to create rising and lower pitch and increase and decrease volume!

[@heavenlymilano]

Thank you. After reading your explanation, I didn't need to watch the video.

[@MohamedElsayed-ng1jg]

My thermin broke down When i move my hand to the antenna the volume goes lower !!! As i move it away the sound get higher ! HELP PLEASE

[@kimberlit25]

You did a great job explaining this one of a kind instrument! Keep om going!

[@mcwooley]

Still think of a smartwatch/other wearable theremin One where you (can): -Bend your wrist to select the pitch and volume -Pinch your index finger and thumb to play the note -Pinch your pinky and ring fingers to sustain it -Bend your middle finger to control the pitch and modulation of your chord I don't remember hearing these ideas from someone else But I still think it would be interesting, even if such a thing doesn't already exist Saturday, December 30, 2023 CE, 19:39 EST

[@rickbullock4331]

That was as clear as mud to me. I’m a slow learner but this to me just showed me how they made air raid sirens during WW2. 🤔😬

[@longdongsilver4719]

Don't bother learning it from this video: it's far from accurate.

[@mysurrealsynapse]

Loki soundtrack brought me here. ❤

[@audreyarevalo1234]

THIS IS SO REAL

[@rekusloth3979]

Why not use this for tracking? For like full body tracking

[@longdongsilver4719]

Because there are better ways to do it.

[@dajahhh]

wow really nice! but that last name- just cracks me up "Sussman" XD

[@digitalghosts4599]

That honestly does not explain how theremin works at all...

[@chuckjones2161]

This one DOES, but I still don’t understand kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXWqYmhjnrl9gtksi=k06azJeKAnm99UMY

[@marcuscane1087]

What are the brand theremins used in video demo.

[@edwardsussman1865]

The two theremins viewed in the video are a Moog Etherwave from 1997 (still in production) and an RCA from 1929.

[@douglas_drew]

Just for fun and budget consideration, people can buy a $40 "TOY: MICROKITS DIY THEREMIN ELECTRONIC KIT". The one source I know of is The Bob Moog Foundation through their Moogseum website. I can't vouch for the kit as I haven't built one, but it looks like fun on a very small scale, basically a hand sized pegboard with bent-wire (paperclips?) antenna. The only actual Theremin I ever "played" was back in 1967 when I worked at Moog's and Bob & I were tidying up the recording studio for some guests that were coming in the next day (I don't remember who) and when I moved the Theremin it had been left "ON" and made us both jump. Bob gave me a two minute lesson, good for laughs, Bob being capable and me realizing the time it would take to actually become proficient.

[@longdongsilver4719]

No explanation at all is better than those pseudo explanations.

[@audreyarevalo1234]

he kinda reminds me of jeff goldblum in some ways

[@kevintappminville195]

Not very in-depth i must say. Why do the musicians fiddle with their fingers like they're fretting a chord. Or do all kinds of move over the volume antena? If it only a question of proximity. Why do the musicians make so much fingers moves?

[@dommvignali774]

An instrument for the hypochondriac.

[@KudaBear-jy1zl]

A terrible teacher explaining a braindead simple process with bloated words to make himself sound smarter.

[@douglas_drew]

KudaBear, just wondering... How would you explain the operating principles of the Theremin?

[@longdongsilver4719]

@@douglas_drew There is a short explanation on this page from simonkormenndy849. But if you are genuinely interested (which I doubt) you can find tons of clear and real explanation with the help of Google.

[@longdongsilver4719]

Not only bloeated words, but 50% of what he said is either inaccurate or plain BS.