Gort Optical Theremin

Introducing....


" GORT "

Optical Theremin

Whats a Theremin...??

A Theremin is a musical instrument that is played without actually being touched ?

A normal Theremin, is one that has one or two aerials, and your hand or hands, then play the instrument by moving them backwards and forwards towards the aerials(s). This has the effect of interfering with the radio waves of the Theremin, of which the Theremin operates, and therefore this creates audio effects from out of the Theremin. As a result, and with much practice, actual notes can be played.

The Theremin was used extensively around the 40's and 50's to create the eerie Sci-fi sound effects,

The effects can be heard extensively in films such as

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE.... and

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.....

the film of which my OPTICAL THEREMIN has been named

"GORT"...

as this was the Robot in the film The day the earth stood still .

The GORT Optical Theremin, however , uses a " photocell " instead of aerials. A photocell is an electronic device that reacts to varying light levels. Therefore, with Gort Optical Theremin, as your hands interfere with the light that falls on it, the audio effects from the Theremin will change in sympathy. As demonstrated by my 2 Youtube Videos below.

One Video is a Physical demonstration, and the other is an attempt at me actually playing it.

Note that these examples are with the Theremin connected to a simple effects box, of which the settings are Delay and Echo... These settings give the device the exact eerie sounds typical of the movies as mentioned.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Theremin

[8bitsorcerer]

neat

[rangeclerk]

"Hey, Spock! What the HELL are you playing now in the Rec Room? Ya got Scott gonin' crazy thinkin' there is somethin' wrong with his warp engines? SPOCK? DO YOU READ ME" Kirk. SPOCK: "GO-TO-HELL I am playing my Optical Theremin, SO THERE! GO SUCK ON A TRIBBLE U-TIN PLATED DICTATOR WITH DELUSIONS OF GODHOOD!"

[ming57]

I've never heard a little synth like this that actually sounds good!

[Sexpistols100]

some cool playing mate .. great litle gizmo, love the strato synth. just needs a capacitor and a switching tranny to make a arp and tempo switch.. and you have a synth that will sell.