Michael JensenWhat's a Theremin?
May 15th 2009 23:36
If any of you watched the video of a pulse-jet bike I posted a link to yesterday, you also saw the video of a Theremin Orchestra which played before the jet bike video. And I'm sure that made you wonder: What in the world is a Theremin? How does it work?
For those who didn't see the video, a theremin is an electronic instrument played without contact. (You don't touch it.) It looks very weird. But how does it work?
A theremin has two antennas; one controls volume, one controls pitch. For example, if you move your hand closer to the pitch antenna, the tone goes higher. If you move your hand away, the pitch drops lower. But if you move your hand closer to the volume antenna, the volume gets softer, and vice versa. Playing a theremin requires great skill, because there is no reference as to which note is being played. (For example, on a guitar you have strings and frets, and on a piano you have keys.) Also, since a theremin has no keys or frets, you are not limited to precise notes. You can play any pitch between notes.
"But what does this have to do with science?", you may ask. Well once you see how it works, you'll know.
Sound on a theremin is produced by two radio frequency oscillators, one attached to each antenna. These oscillators normally operate at an inaudible level, but if one or the other is altered, the pitch can change to be within our hearing range.
The two antennas on a theremin are not parallel. One is horizontal and one is vertical, forming a right angle. An electromagnetic field is generated around the antennas, and when a human hand, which possess an electric charge of its own, is passed in that field, it disrupts it. This disruption is what changes the oscillation of the radio oscillators to a sound audible by humans. Thus, the closer a hand gets to the antenna, the more effect it has on the electromagnetic field, which in turn has more effect on the variable oscillator, which raises the pitch. If the hand is moved back, it has less effect on the oscillator, lowering the pitch. It works the same way for volume, except the closer you get to the volume antenna, the lower the volume.
The man who created the theremin, a Russian professor named Leon Theremin, must have been a genius. Just attempting to understand the concept of how it works is quite a challenge. I'm sorry if I didn't do an adequate job explaining, but I did my best. If you need more info, visit this site: How a Theremin Works Please comment and let me know what you think!
For those who didn't see the video, a theremin is an electronic instrument played without contact. (You don't touch it.) It looks very weird. But how does it work?
A theremin has two antennas; one controls volume, one controls pitch. For example, if you move your hand closer to the pitch antenna, the tone goes higher. If you move your hand away, the pitch drops lower. But if you move your hand closer to the volume antenna, the volume gets softer, and vice versa. Playing a theremin requires great skill, because there is no reference as to which note is being played. (For example, on a guitar you have strings and frets, and on a piano you have keys.) Also, since a theremin has no keys or frets, you are not limited to precise notes. You can play any pitch between notes.
"But what does this have to do with science?", you may ask. Well once you see how it works, you'll know.
Sound on a theremin is produced by two radio frequency oscillators, one attached to each antenna. These oscillators normally operate at an inaudible level, but if one or the other is altered, the pitch can change to be within our hearing range.
The two antennas on a theremin are not parallel. One is horizontal and one is vertical, forming a right angle. An electromagnetic field is generated around the antennas, and when a human hand, which possess an electric charge of its own, is passed in that field, it disrupts it. This disruption is what changes the oscillation of the radio oscillators to a sound audible by humans. Thus, the closer a hand gets to the antenna, the more effect it has on the electromagnetic field, which in turn has more effect on the variable oscillator, which raises the pitch. If the hand is moved back, it has less effect on the oscillator, lowering the pitch. It works the same way for volume, except the closer you get to the volume antenna, the lower the volume.
The man who created the theremin, a Russian professor named Leon Theremin, must have been a genius. Just attempting to understand the concept of how it works is quite a challenge. I'm sorry if I didn't do an adequate job explaining, but I did my best. If you need more info, visit this site: How a Theremin Works Please comment and let me know what you think!
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