‌For over 60 years, Moog theremins have captured the imagination of players and audiences alike. Most recently over the last two decades, Moog’s Etherwave Standard and Etherwave Plus have set the bar of performance theremin design. Now, the all-time highest-selling theremin models get an update to become simply Etherwave Theremin.

Manipulate sound without touch

With no reeds to blow, no keys to press, and no strings to pluck, the theremin defies all expectations of a musical instrument. It is instead played in a manner that seemingly conjures music from the ether, simply through the motion of the body when close to the instrument. Throughout history, performers have achieved unprecedented expression by mastering this unique connection between the hands, the body, the environment, and the instrument.

The theremin’s elegant simplicity and unparalleled expressivity fueled Bob Moog’s lifelong love affair with the instrument, from building his first theremin at age 14 and completing his final theremin design at age 70. Today, Etherwave Theremin carries on this legacy with a design that is refined for the modern theremin performer.

An authentic adaptation of Bob Moog's theremin designs

Combining analog playability with unprecedented performance potential, Moog’s Etherwave Theremin provides an accurate five-octave pitch range and balanced spacing between notes for a highly sophisticated degree of playability. Updated analog electronics have been used to create Bob Moog’s classic theremin circuit design while improving bass response in the lower registers.

The refined cabinet features hand-finished hardwood and two quick-release plated-brass antennas. Additionally, rear-panel I/O connections and a detachable mic stand adapter ensure quick setup on the go.

Dynamically track and control analog audio processing directly from your Theremin

Easily accessible front-panel controls allow for spontaneous changes in timbre, and the antennas’ response can be adjusted to suit any player and their environment (advanced users can go a step further via the calibration access panel on top of the instrument). A front-panel headphone output—with dedicated volume control—pairs with the addition of a Mute button that silences the main audio output, while leaving the headphone output active for privately adjusting timbre and tuning.

Connect Pitch CV, Volume CV and Gate outputs to your analog synthesizer for a completely new performance experience.

In addition, Etherwave Theremin can connect directly to—and control—your other modular, semi-modular, and Eurorack synthesizer systems via CV (Control Voltage). Control your synthesizers or effects while playing the theremin by patching into Etherwave Theremin’s 3.5mm Pitch CV, Volume CV, and Gate CV jacks for a completely new performance experience.

For the novice enthusiast or the seasoned professional player, Etherwave Theremin offers exceptional sonics, playability, and control to take your sound into new dimensions.

Lost in the Ether by Professional Thereminist Grégoire Blanc

This new EP, composed and performed by French thereminist Grégoire Blanc, showcases Etherwave Theremin’s ability to span a wide range of styles and genres.

"This little four-track album is the result of some very spontaneous improvisations. Four short electronic pieces where the new Etherwave Theremin is, of course, the main character. Choosing the other protagonists was quite natural: Matriarch, DFAM, Subharmonicon, Mother-32,” the electronic musician shares. “Making all these lovely instruments talk to each other was a lot of fun.”

For Blanc, it’s the “immediate joyful feeling” of experimenting with Etherwave and the semi-modular family together that brings this playful and lively EP to life.

SPECIFICATIONS

SOUND SOURCE

Analog Heterodyning Oscillator

SOUND MODIFIER

Analog VCA

PITCH ANTENNA

Performance control of the frequency range, from approximately 0 Hz to 4.2 kHz, based on hand proximity

VOLUME ANTENNA

Performance control of the dynamic range of over 70dB, based on hand proximity

MUTE BUTTON

On: Audio Out muted; Phones Out active Off: All outputs active

SWITCH JACK

1/4" jack for momentary footswitch (not included) controls Mute function

POWER

LED indicator (front panel); Button (rear panel)

HEADPHONES

1/4" output jack

AUDIO OUT

1/4" Audio output jack

CV OUT

3.5mm jacks for Volume CV Out, Pitch CV Out, Gate CV Out

POWER SUPPLY

Style: wall adapter; barrel connection; center-pin positive Input: 100 - 240VAC; 50 Hz - 60 Hz Output: +12VDC; 2A