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A100

How to built a Theremin with modules from the A-100 modular system ?

The standard Theremin uses 2 antennas. One controls the pitch, the other one the loudness. To reproduce the original Theremin four modules of the A-100 are required: 

  • one VCO (e.g. A-110) or A-143-9
  • one VCA (e.g. A-130) or and other VCA
  • two Theremin modules (A-178)
  • suitable case and power supply (A143-9 + A-130 + 2 x A-178 fit e.g. exactly into the A-100 miniature case A-100MC)

One Theremin (A-178) controls the pitch of the VCO (A-110 or A-143-9). The CV output of this Theremin has to be connected to one of the pitch/tune CV inputs of the A-110 or A-143-9. The second Theremin (A-178) controls the loudness of the VCA. The CV output of this Theremin has to be connected to one of the CV inputs of the A-130. The standard Theremin has a sine wave output like the A-143-9. If you want to use the same waveform the sine output of the A-110 has to be connected to one of the the audio inputs of the VCA. But you may use another waveform too or mix 2 of the waveforms using the 2 audio inputs of the A-130. The audio output of this "Theremin" is the VCA output and is connected to your PA (mixer, amplifier, effects unit ...).

If you do not want to use one of our base frames as case and power supply please refer to the corresponding FAQ (power supply and case for A-100 modules).

But we recommend to use the Theremin modules A-178 for other applications as well. The standard Theremin application described above is only one of many examples how to use the A-178 modules. The A-178 modules can be used also to control the frequency of a VCF (e.g. A-120), VC phaser (A-125), VC effects (A-187-1), modulation speed (A-147), modulation depth (LFO via VCA), attack or decay time (A-141, A-142), panning (A-134). As the Theremin module A-178 is equipped with a gate output it can be used for switching applications as well: e.g. start/stop, controlling a VC switch (A-150) or sequential switch (A-151) or an envelop generator (e.g. A-140).

Another important application is to use the Theremin module A-178 in combination with the quantizer module A-156. The quantizer module can be used to "press" the CV coming from the A-178 into a semitone, scale or chord grid. This means that only CVs corresponding to semitone, major/minor scale or chords are generated.

Suggestions for a minimal Theremin system and a combined Theremin/Sequencer system are available on our web site.