With this virtual theremin, there are no keys to press. Just move your mouse, trackpad or finger up and down the instrument panel displayed on-screen to produce an endless series of gliding tones. It emulates actual instrument, which has a horizontal loop on the left side that control volume and a vertical antenna on the right side that controls pitch. As you get closer to each one with your cursor (which represents your hand), you alter sound accordingly. There is also a handy option to change settings whenever you want using your computer keyboard during performance.
To begin, click-and-hold anywhere within the central play area between two antennas. You’ll notice that as you drag your mouse around, the volume and pitch of your note smoothly adjust according to where you place your cursor. Moving your pointer to the right increase pitch; moving it to the left decreases it. It spans four octaves, starting with a low C3 and going all the way up to a high C7. Unlike a keyboard, there are no keys or discrete steps, instead you’ll glide effortlessly from note-to-note. Adjusting the loudness is done by simply sliding your pointer up (louder) and down towards base of the cabinet (softer). The nearer to the bottom you go, the quieter the sound will be until it gradualy fades away.
How to Play the Virtual Theremin
To use it you can customise the experience with buttons below the play area. With the Guides button pressed it place faint vertical lines on top of the playing area that represent position of regular musical notes. The darker lines are the boundaries between octaves at C so you can locate where on the scale you might be. At the bottom is a readout that show your current note, how many cents you are off pitch, and the exact frequency in Hertz. This provides some feedback that will help you tune your ear to the ongoing pitch landscape.
Snap, When activated, this will snap your gliding tones to the closest semitone. You won’t need to be exact with your notes. It also creates a slight slide that keeps you sounding in tune. It is kind of like training wheels, because the theremin is much easier to play while you are learning. Turn it off anytime you wish. Use it while you get used to how the instrument works, then go back to the expressive, free-sliding nature of the theremin sound.
The tone switches between the classical pure sine-wave voice and a slightly brighter, reedier one that has more body and presence, with harmonics added to the tone. Turn on the Echo effect if you want a more atmospheric sound. It introduces a repeating delay, giving your notes a spacey, lingering tail. It is perfect for dramatic sweeps or ambient textures.
The Demo swoop button play through a pre-recorded sequence so you can see the sound and gesture interplay. Observe the virtual hand moving to get an idea of the pitch/position relationship. Pause the demo at any point and take over control.
To toggle features quickly at a moment’s notice, use your keyboard shortcuts instead of clicking. For example, press D for demo, E for echo, T for tone, S for snap and G for guides. If you forgot which keys do what, hit the question mark key to bring up help panel. On the far right is the master volume slider that lets you set a comfortabley playing volume no matter how loud or soft your system outputs.
When playing, take your time and move deliberately for best results. The pitch shifts considerable depending on small adjustments in position, so keep your hands steady. Hold a note down, then make very slight but quick movements of the cursor to try introducing some vibrato. This should of been similar to how professional theremin players use it as an expressive device to add warmth to their performance. You can also experiment using longer held notes combined with the echo effect to produce a feeling of space and depth.
It’s a responsive, easy-to-use instrument. Beautiful sounds are within reach without any previous musical knowledge. Simply allow yourself to feel the smooth movement in your hand and hear what happens. The visual feedback will help you link your physical gesture to its audible result. Spend some time exploring the range and discover the dynamics that work best for you. Click and hold inside the main playing area between the antennas and move your pointer around. Explore its deep voice; let it direct your hand.
The virtual theremin will produce sounds directly from your gestures, an instrument that’s both fun and expressive to play. Experience the pleasure of sounding something only with movement, and the delight of free-flowing pitch.