For over 60 years, Moog theremins have captured the imagination of players and audiences alike. Most recently over the last two and a half decades, Moog’s Etherwave Standard and Etherwave Plus have set the bar for performance theremin design. Now, the all-time highest-selling theremin models get an update to become simply Etherwave Theremin.
The only musical instrument that is played without touching, the theremin is controlled by moving one’s hands in the air in the proximity of two metal antennas: one exists to determine pitch and the other determines the volume. Higher notes are played by moving the hand closer to the pitch antenna, while louder notes are played by moving the hand away from the volume antenna. 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 inherently expressive nature caught the attention of Bob Moog, founder of Moog Music and inventor of the Moog modular synthesizer, at an early age. His lifelong love affair with the instrument began with the build of his first theremin at age 14 and concluded with his final theremin design: the original Etherwave. Today, the legacy of the Moog theremin continues inside the employee-owned company’s Asheville, North Carolina factory with the hand-built production of Etherwave Theremin.
The new Etherwave Theremin focuses on the preservation of Bob Moog’s legendary theremin circuits to retain all the charm and character that made its predecessors so unique and sought after, while adding a host of new benefits:
- Improved bass response and stability in the lowest registers.
- Updated antenna connections to enable quick assembly and easy removal for travel.
- Quick-release mic stand adapter for attaching and detaching the instrument from mic stands.
- Mute control for setting the instrument into a standby mode or used for “pitch preview” via headphones.
- CV output integration from Etherwave Plus (Gate Out, Pitch Out, Vol. Out) for connecting with other modular, semi-modular, and Eurorack synthesizers.
Moog has also developed a custom-fit, tear-resistant Etherwave SR Series Case with generous padding and plenty of storage for safe and convenient transport of the instrument. Designed with artists for artists, these cases have been developed specifically for the touring musician.
For the novice enthusiast or the seasoned professional player, Etherwave Theremin carries on the Etherwave legacy with a design that is refined for the modern thereminist.
The Etherwave Theremin is available now and priced at $899 USD MAP.
More information: Moog Music
