FLOOR MULTI-EFFECTS UNIT FOR THEREMIN ?
TODD TAMANEND CLARK
floor unit for processing my Moog Etherwave Theremin.
It will probably have to be something that was intended
for guitar. Are DigiTech and Rocktron the only American
multi-effects manufacturers left?
- - - - - -
TODD TAMANEND CLARK
Poet/Composer/Multi-Instrumentalist/Cultural Historian
The Monongahela River, Turtle Island
http://cdbaby.com/all/primalpulse
http://myspace.com/primalpulse
http://myspace.com/toddtamanendclark
http://rateyourmusic.com/~Todd_Clark
Lumpy
> I'm looking for a good American-made multi-effects
> floor unit for processing my Moog Etherwave Theremin.
> It will probably have to be something that was intended
> for guitar. Are DigiTech and Rocktron the only American
> multi-effects manufacturers left?
Why is American made so critical?
No matter where it's assembled, the semiconductors
come from Pakistan. The passives from China. Yada yada.
The machines that do the assembly don't care
what language the human operators speak.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www.lumpymusic.com
Rufus
Why not just look at the Mooger Fooger line and add a genuine Moog synth
modules to your genuine Moog Theremin?..
...I just bought the Mooger low pass filter and phaser for my guitar
rig...waiting delivery.
--
- Rufus
Ed Edelenbos
"Lumpy" <lu...@digitalcartography.com> wrote in message
news:5ijdk1F...@mid.individual.net...
LOL.... I was wondering why American made effects was so important for a
device invented in Russia by a Russian.
Ed
Tony Elka
"Ed Edelenbos" <ed...@spookeasy.net> wrote:
> LOL.... I was wondering why American made effects was so important for a
> device invented in Russia by a Russian.
>
> Ed
He wasn't in Russia when he invented it.
Anyway, for floor effects, I'd look at Roland/Boss.
Tony
Mike Dickson
>> LOL.... I was wondering why American made effects was so important for a
>> device invented in Russia by a Russian.
>
> He wasn't in Russia when he invented it.
"The theremin was originally the product of Russian government-sponsored
research into proximity sensors. The instrument was invented by a young
Russian physicist named Lev Sergeivich Termen (known in the West as Léon
Theremin) in 1919, after the outbreak of the Russian civil war. After
positive reviews at Moscow electronics conferences, Theremin
demonstrated the device to Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin. Lenin was so
impressed with the device that he began taking lessons in playing it[1],
commissioned 600 of the instruments for distribution throughout the
Soviet Union, and sent Theremin on a trip around the world to
demonstrate the latest Soviet technology and the invention of electronic
music. After a lengthy tour of Europe, during which time he demonstrated
his invention to packed houses, Theremin found his way to America, where
he patented his invention in 1928 (US1661058 ). Subsequently, Theremin
granted commercial production rights to RCA."
Is this wrong?
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Tony Elka
Mike Dickson <mi...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote:
No, you have it right. For some reason, I always assumed that the
device he patented in the USA was invented while he was here.
I should probably dig out my VHS copy of the Theremin movie and watch it
again, it's been awhile.
Tony
TODD TAMANEND CLARK
>
> Why not just look at the MoogerFooger line and add
> Theremin?..
>
> my guitar rig... waiting delivery.
I already own the Moog Ring Modulator, but I find I
use it more often on my guitar than on my Theremin.
I'll probably get the Moog Phaser eventually, but right
now I need something with all the effects in one unit
and with patch memory.
- - - - - - -
Ed Edelenbos
"Tony Elka" <shado...@shadowlane.com> wrote in message
news:shadowlane-F4102...@news.newsguy.com...
> In article <d-WdnRF7GOGPL1nb...@speakeasy.net>,
> "Ed Edelenbos" <ed...@spookeasy.net> wrote:
>
>> LOL.... I was wondering why American made effects was so important for
>> a
>> device invented in Russia by a Russian.
>>
>> Ed
>
>
>
> He wasn't in Russia when he invented it.
>
That part's been covered. (Thanks Mike for picking up the slack.)
> Anyway, for floor effects, I'd look at Roland/Boss.
>
This part I'd agree... I know it's old (like ancient) tech but I still
favor the ME-6. The only thing that is better (which I went back to) is a
string of individual pedals. Besides, what would you want for a theremin
other than a delay and maybe a phase or (old school) flange? (Ok, maybe
auto pan/trem).
Ed
Rufus
I'm not really sure I could use a ring modulator with a guitar...but I'm
not saying "never"...I can't wait to get my hands on that Fooger-phaser.
I have a Line 6 Pod XT Live that I really like the interface on, but get
pretty frustrated with setting up - very sensitive to input levels, and
some of the pitch effects don't track as well as they should. I spend a
bit of time tweeking it every time I tear down and set up, or change
guitars...I don't use the amp models, just the effects.
I've considered replacing it with a Boss GT-8, or a TC Electronic
G-System (GAS over-budget)...but I'm trying to give it another chance.
It does sound good when it sounds good...I think Line 6 gear is US made
- I can't find a "Made in USA" stamped on it, but I can't find anything
else stamped on it either.
http://www.line6.com/podxtlive/index.html
--
- Rufus
Rufus
Echo, 'verb, ring mod...any of a variety of synth effects. Volume
pedal? Wah?..Univibe?..room envelopes? You could get WAY out there...
...I like using an expression pedal to control echo tempo and make
intentional zipper noise...that could get interesting with a Theremin.
--
- Rufus
Ed Edelenbos
"Rufus" <n...@home.com> wrote in message
news:777xi.48164$Xa3.40025@attbi_s22...
Or you could learn to play the instrument. Reverb I could see... A volume
pedal is redundant if you are playing it... one antenna is for volume.
Wah? Univibe? I guess... if you are going to do all that, I'd say get a
synth. Hmmm... I'm sounding awfully "codgerly". (grin)
In my experience, a Theremin is easy to make noise with and not quite so
easy to "get". That said, in earlier days I had lots of fun making noise
with lots of instruments.
Ed
Randall Ainsworth
Edelenbos <ed...@spookeasy.net> wrote:
> In my experience, a Theremin is easy to make noise with and not quite so
> easy to "get". That said, in earlier days I had lots of fun making noise
> with lots of instruments.
I've had one of Bob Moog's theremins for ten years and have yet to be
able to decently play a song. Maybe I should stick with Whole Lotta
Love.
Rufus
And never having "played" or more correctly - played-with - a Theremin,
that's about my take on them...they make some really interesting noises,
which might become even more interesting if you started adding stuff
into the signal chain...ain't that what analog is all about?
--
- Rufus
Rufus
...I'd work it into No Quarter, myself.
--
- Rufus
Mike Dickson
> I should probably dig out my VHS copy of the Theremin movie and watch it
> again, it's been awhile.
Is that the one where Brian Wilson in his gaunt and
'pre-sort-of-sensible-days' gets interviewed and sounds like he is on Venus?
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Tony Elka
Mike Dickson <mi...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote:
That was one such occasion, yes. It's also the one where Todd Rundgren
plays "air" theremin.
Tony
Rick Massey
>> 'pre-sort-of-sensible-days' gets interviewed and sounds like he is on
>> Venus?
>
>
>
> That was one such occasion, yes. It's also the one where Todd Rundgren
> plays "air" theremin.
>
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
Good documentary, and it's got a really good Clara Rockmore performance in
it.
Mike Dickson
>>> I should probably dig out my VHS copy of the Theremin movie and watch it
>>> again, it's been awhile.
>> Is that the one where Brian Wilson in his gaunt and
>> 'pre-sort-of-sensible-days' gets interviewed and sounds like he is on Venus?
>
> That was one such occasion, yes. It's also the one where Todd Rundgren
> plays "air" theremin.
I've seen a film of Bob Moog playing *air theremin* so the practice has
some credibility.
On the other hand, Brian Wilson - god bless his jewel-encrusted genius -
never actually used a theremin on 'Good Vibrations'. Not that he'd
know it, I suppose. Time was when he would star blankly at people when
they mentioned track names from 'SMiLE' and absolutely deny any
knowledge of them.
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Mike Dickson
> Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
>
> Good documentary, and it's got a really good Clara Rockmore performance in
> it.
Now /she/ is downright /frightening/. I seem to remmeber her shooing the
filmmakers out of the way before she tears into it.
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Tony Elka
Mike Dickson <mi...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> On the other hand, Brian Wilson - god bless his jewel-encrusted genius -
> never actually used a theremin on 'Good Vibrations'. Not that he'd
> know it, I suppose. Time was when he would star blankly at people when
> they mentioned track names from 'SMiLE' and absolutely deny any
> knowledge of them.
Even at his lowest point, Brian Wilson was more emotionally stable than
some I could name, including some of the higher-ups in the current U.S.
political administration.
Tony
Rick Massey
"Mike Dickson" <mi...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:5inml4F...@mid.individual.net...
> Tony Elka wrote:
>
>>>> I should probably dig out my VHS copy of the Theremin movie and watch
>>>> it again, it's been awhile.
>>> Is that the one where Brian Wilson in his gaunt and
>>> 'pre-sort-of-sensible-days' gets interviewed and sounds like he is on
>>> Venus?
>>
>> That was one such occasion, yes. It's also the one where Todd Rundgren
>> plays "air" theremin.
>
> I've seen a film of Bob Moog playing *air theremin* so the practice has
> some credibility.
>
> On the other hand, Brian Wilson - god bless his jewel-encrusted genius -
> never actually used a theremin on 'Good Vibrations'.
Yeah, this is the biggest myth in Theremin history, with the possible
exception being the name of the instrument. (Theremin called it the
Aethervox) The instrument on Good Vibrations is an Ondes Martenot, what some
people mislabel a "String Theremin."
Melodious Thunk
> "Mike Dickson" <m...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
Interestingly, the wikipedia article on the Ondes Martenot disagrees,
saying the BB's tune is an Electro-Theremin, custom made.
But thanks for mentioning the Ondes Martenot; I'd never heard of it
before, and I see that the list of composers who've written for it is
like *my favorite* composer list! I'll have to check this out
further...
Rick Massey
"Melodious Thunk" <thunk.m...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1187486686.1...@x40g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
I never take Wikipedia's word on anything without other more reliable
sources, so I'll have to check into that.
Mike Dickson
>> On the other hand, Brian Wilson - god bless his jewel-encrusted genius -
>> never actually used a theremin on 'Good Vibrations'. Not that he'd
>> know it, I suppose. Time was when he would star blankly at people when
>> they mentioned track names from 'SMiLE' and absolutely deny any
>> knowledge of them.
>
> Even at his lowest point, Brian Wilson was more emotionally stable than
> some I could name, including some of the higher-ups in the current U.S.
> political administration.
One day I will recount to you the story of when Brian Wilson phoned me
up when I was trying to sell him Pink Floyd's old Mellotron. True story.
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Mike Dickson
>> On the other hand, Brian Wilson - god bless his jewel-encrusted genius -
>> never actually used a theremin on 'Good Vibrations'.
>
> Yeah, this is the biggest myth in Theremin history, with the possible
> exception being the name of the instrument. (Theremin called it the
> Aethervox) The instrument on Good Vibrations is an Ondes Martenot, what some
> people mislabel a "String Theremin."
It wasn't an Ondes either. It was a Tannerin.
http://www.tompolk.com/Tannerin/Tannerin.html
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Tony Elka
Mike Dickson <mi...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote:
Can that "one day" be today? I'd love to hear it.
Would this be the same Mellotron Rick Wright played on their 'A
Saucerful of Secrets' and 'Ummagumma' albums?
I don't think they used one since?
Tony
Mike Dickson
>> One day I will recount to you the story of when Brian Wilson phoned me
>> up when I was trying to sell him Pink Floyd's old Mellotron. True story.
>
> Can that "one day" be today? I'd love to hear it.
Later, d00d.
> Would this be the same Mellotron Rick Wright played on their 'A
> Saucerful of Secrets' and 'Ummagumma' albums?
Same one.
> I don't think they used one since?
They used it on Atom Heart Mother as well on the title track. (Think of
the brass noises near the end) I've played it in 'after restoration
condition' and it's still fine - it is one of the six black Mk II
Mellotrons made. I saw it in pre-restoration condition and it was
royally knackered, having never been played since 1971.
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Mike Dickson
>> One day I will recount to you the story of when Brian Wilson phoned me
>> up when I was trying to sell him Pink Floyd's old Mellotron. True story.
>
> Can that "one day" be today? I'd love to hear it.
Oh all right...
I have been in touch with Streetly Electronics since I bought my own
M400 from them in 1997 after meeting them (and a couple of Mellotrons)
at King Crimson's 'Night Watch' CD playback in London. On one visit to
them I found that they had Pink Floyd's original black Mk II Mellotron
in for restoration. I recall that they said that it came from Nick Mason
(as opposed to Richard Wright) which I found quite unusual. Anyway, they
were about to restore it from its *utterly knackered* condition into
something that looked like it might have just rolled out the Mellotron
factory door. The state it was in way piteous; the keyboard was all over
the place with the keys warping up and down like the Himalayan
foothills, the tapes were a mess of spaghetti and the casing was dented
and bashed. Not beyond all hope by any means, but it would take a bit of
effort.
Streetly's Martin Smith and I went out for a curry that night at which
time he mentioned that he'd like to sell it on to someone famous to
maintain its 'pedigree', but that he couldn't think of anyone who would
want to buy it that they didn't already know. I saw a chance here. Being
a lifelong Beach Boys fan I was by that time running an Internet mailing
list named 'Surfs Up' along with the Beach Boys' 'official' historian
Brad Elliot. People on the list included former associates of the band,
a former manager, some serious collectors of their music, broadcasters,
other musicians, collaborators, etc. One person on the list was Brian
Wilson's (then) PA who was actually there in a 'fan quantity' only and
who didn't let it slip to the rest of the community that she was
involved in Brian's affairs. I hatched an idea that Brian Wilson might
like to buy the Mellotron. After all, he has one way back (no one knows
what happened to it) and may like another one. It was a long shot, but I
proposed this to martin who agreed to the possibility and let me crack on.
I contacted Brian's PA and made the offer. She agreed to pass the
message on and would get back to me with an answer. Unfortunately, event
overtook me. Carl Wilson died shortly after this conversation, at which
point I e-mailed her to say that there were more important things in
life thatn this and just to forget all about it. She agreed and we let
the matter drop.
About three weeks later my phone rang about 2:00am. I assumed it was my
girlfriend who kept hours about as oddly as I did, despite the fact that
I was half asleep at the time. I picked up the phone. 'Hello?', I said.
There was a bellowing voice on the end of the phone. 'MIKE?' IS THAT
MIKE DICKSON? IN SCOTLAND?'
'Yeah...who is this?'
'IT'S BRIAN WILSON. OF THE BEACH BOYS, MAN!'
I found that I was *standing on my bed*.
I cannot actually remember much of the conversation that followed, which
I found disappointing. He did say that he was working on some new songs
which he hoped I would like, and then said that he just *had* to ask me
something.
'MIKE. WHAT THE *FUCK* IS A MELLOTRON?'
So I never sold Brian Wilson the Pink Floyd Mellotron and it eventually
went to a collector in Israel. Still. I got to speak to Brian Wilson. Of
the Beach Boys.
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Tony Elka
Mike Dickson <mi...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> They used it on Atom Heart Mother as well on the title track. (Think of
> the brass noises near the end)
Does that make Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues the only bands to have
ever used Mellotrons in conjunction with a real orchestra?
That's sort of like playing a handheld mountain climbing video game
while halfway up Mt. Everest.
Tony
Mike Dickson
> Does that make Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues the only bands to have
> ever used Mellotrons in conjunction with a real orchestra?
I dunno - if I ever hear about a rock band playing with an orchestra
then I tend to avoid it.
> That's sort of like playing a handheld mountain climbing video game
> while halfway up Mt. Everest.
A three hundredweight handheld mountain climbing video game, of course.
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Tony Elka
Mike Dickson <mi...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Tony Elka wrote:
>
> > Does that make Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues the only bands to have
> > ever used Mellotrons in conjunction with a real orchestra?
>
> I dunno - if I ever hear about a rock band playing with an orchestra
> then I tend to avoid it.
I've never met anyone quite as consistent as you are, Mike. My
admiration is without bounds.
Tony
Yoda
That's fabulous! It's so "Brian" that it has to be true. One of my good
friends from college plays in Brian's current band, and they did a show
with my band here in Nashville, and we got together, and I got to hear
lots of "Brian" stories.
--
-----------------------------
I only talk like that in the movies
Yoda
Ding Ding Ding! Correct answer! A good friend of mine, Probyn Gregory,
plays with Brian Wilson currently, and does the tannerin parts.
Apparently you can still get these custom made if you want them bad
enough - one of my colleaques is trying to get one.
Mike Dickson
>> It wasn't an Ondes either. It was a Tannerin.
>>
>> http://www.tompolk.com/Tannerin/Tannerin.html
>
> Ding Ding Ding! Correct answer! A good friend of mine, Probyn Gregory,
> plays with Brian Wilson currently, and does the tannerin parts.
What I want to know is why anyone would call their offspring 'Probyn'.
:-)
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Mike Dickson
>>> Does that make Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues the only bands to have
>>> ever used Mellotrons in conjunction with a real orchestra?
>> I dunno - if I ever hear about a rock band playing with an orchestra
>> then I tend to avoid it.
>
> I've never met anyone quite as consistent as you are, Mike. My
> admiration is without bounds.
Yes, but consistently *what*? :-)
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Tony Elka
Mike Dickson <mi...@blackcat.demon.co.uk> wrote:
100% disdainful of that which you find genuinely god-awful.
Tony
Mike Dickson
>>> I've never met anyone quite as consistent as you are, Mike. My
>>> admiration is without bounds.
>> Yes, but consistently *what*? :-)
>
> 100% disdainful of that which you find genuinely god-awful.
Ah. *That*.
--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
Yoda
That's a good question. I guess you'd have to meet his parents - they
are the proto-typical east coast hippie artist types.
Robert Delahunt
owned for like 3 years now, to and from church and gigs on a regular basis
and I've had no problems with it. If you have a nice tube amp like I do
('72 Fender Twin Reverb), you'll probably love how it sounds. Anyways, for
what it's worth, there's a Yahoo group for it here:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/bossme50/messages
As well as my personal website:
http://www.puresimplicity.net/~twinreverb
Enjoy!
Tony Elka wrote:
> In article <d-WdnRF7GOGPL1nb...@speakeasy.net>,
> "Ed Edelenbos" <ed...@spookeasy.net> wrote:
>
>> LOL.... I was wondering why American made effects was so important for
>> a device invented in Russia by a Russian.
>>
>> Ed
>
>
>
> He wasn't in Russia when he invented it.
>
> Anyway, for floor effects, I'd look at Roland/Boss.
>
> Tony
--
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
-- United States Declaration of Independence