ondes martenot

[Infrablue]

And here's the video (YouTube) of the first test... my Trill Ring controller... as seen in the pictures just above (previous page). Pretty bad video but I had to hold the camera/phone while I played... but gives a taste of the pulley loop working. No breath or trill keys used here... just testing the ring/pulleys controlling direct analog pitch.

http://youtu.be/Wlh4ICxP4kY

[v-un-v]

Since howard posted the link about Bebot, this is an Ondes Martenot clone for the iPad...

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/petites-ondes/id492217271?mt=8

[Infrablue]

Very minute detail I noticed tonight. With the ring on a Martenot controller, it's important to attach the wire/line to 2 opposing sides of the ring, instead of just fastening to the bottom.

The 2nd way you have to travel or roll just a little bit before it actually pulls either way again, making vibrato a lot harder to do smoothly.

I realized this and got online to look at the Therevox and the Ondes Martenot and indeed they fasten on 2 sides. Maybe other's won't run into that but it was a helpful little discovery for me. The project is closer... lots of testing new components today and yesterday on it.

[Infrablue]

I have often wondered if using a theremin in conjuction with a printed keybaord and Martenot style holes/bumps would be better than the ring controller.

Last night I got a doepfer theremin in the mail and tested this out. I can see why the ring/wire was developed. The range and inconsistency of a theremin in general makes it just not such a good approach. But it was fun to try.

I will say, playing the theremin while resting my hand or finger on any smooth surface profided a much more stable pitch experience than the normal, cooler looking theremin approach.

But still... the ring controller or the ribbon does better for normal musical phrasing than the theremin, unless you really do want that jittery theremin sytle. Fun to play though and great for sound effects of course.

Maybe a better way to do this kind of thing (with a keyboard reference) would be to use a Audio Cube... they use very fast/low latency infra red. I still prefer CV resolution but those cubes really scan fast aparently.

[mosc]

Though the Theremin is difficult to play, it has an amazing effect on audiences. Also, if you play it enough, it really can get you into the zone because concentration eventually becomes a transcendental experience. After a few years, the Theremin will grow on you.

[Infrablue]

Love the images, Mosc! You did maybe talk me into still using a Theremin.

Plus, my dad is a retired dentist so I could probably get some good rates on a Transcendental insurance plan.

[Infrablue]

Just recently added another physical mod to my Eowave Ribbon... I added physical half pearl bumps... sort of like the note references on the Martenot.

The pearls are really nice. You can use them for note reference but also with a slight angle change you can ignore them and just slide around easily up and down the ribbon.

And as an unexpected bonus, the pearls also make a nice reference to feel exactly where the center of the ribbon is along the length. That makes it possible to play with out even looking at it and easier in general even if you do.

I got these self adhesive half pearls at the craft/hobby store Michael's and they are cheap and so far not falling off.

Still working on the ring controller, but this set up plays so well with the pearls that I'm starting to think the bumps/note references may be the better thing to borrow from the Martenot design over the ring.

[Dana Countryman]

[mosc]

[Infrablue]

[tojpeters]

I'm pretty sure the Yamaha home organs from the 80's also had side-to-side key control. For vibrato I think.

[mosc]

tojpeters

[Infrablue]

Good to have you here, tojpeters!

[Infrablue]

Does anyone know the size of the keys, and the distance between note finger guides on the original Martenot?

Is it exactly 1/2 key size?

[tojpeters]

Thanks for the welcome. I have a lot of arcane tube/organ knowledge to share.... I have a 25 or so module analog synth I built myself, mostly serge/cgs and mfos. my rack is integrated into a hammond L100, i have added a resistor divider network to the lower manual to control the synth. I can use the tonewheel output as another tone source. I have a rhodes piano and a B3, the modular is the final leg in my holy trinity of keyboards. I plan on building quite a large modular. I'm on this thread as I want to build a similar controller for my tube synth. I'm planning a few things different than the one shown on this tread. A bar my fingertip slides along that is a big long spst nom open temp switch to trigger a gate signal. Played with left hand. right hand controls additional gate switch,volume,and a mod wheel. Instead of a piano key layout I'm going to use fret lines and dots like a guitar neck.

[tojpeters]

sorry, i got an error message and thought the first post did not go through

[blue hell]

[Infrablue]

[Infrablue]

Also, tojpeters...

The Hammond interfaced Tube Modular sounds just legendary.

It would be GREAT to see some pictures and hear some recording examples!

[frijitz]

[tojpeters]

I'm a bass player. I am used to choosing my pitch with my left hand and articulating with my right. I plan some sort of indication tactile marker. Bumps, depressions or 'frets'.

[frijitz]

[frijitz]

[Infrablue]

[Infrablue]