The Video Theremin

The Video Theremin is a musical instrument whereby waving your hands in the air you can control the pitch and volume of a musical sound. A great tool for performance art. Or add an edge to your band performance while projecting the digital image on a video screen. It can be used with MIDI controlled lights also.

The picture above shows the Video Theremin in operation. The white bars perch on top of the highest part of the edge detected below them. One controls pitch and the other volume. Although using your hands is probably the most intuitive way to move the bars, any part of your body can be used to control their motion. You can even point the video camera at your cat or a tree branch swaying in the breeze and let their motion control the sounds.

The diagram above shows a typical system configuration. A black and white video camera receives the image of a performer. That image is digitized by the Live! framegrabber attached to an Amiga computer. The Amiga processes the image and figures out where the edges of the performer are and uses these to set the height of two sliding level controls. The level controls determine the pitch and volume encoded in the MIDI signals that are sent from the Amiga to a music keyboard via a MIDI interface. Other configurations are also possible. Instead of going to a keyboard, the MIDI signal could trigger a sequencer that controls multiple instruments. Or a MIDI controlled lighting module could alter stage lighting.

Comes on one floppy disk with complete installation and setup instructions.

Send [no longer available] (shipping is included) to:

Peterson Enterprises

USA orders only please.

Requirements:
* Amiga 1000 computer with Live! video digitizer and MIDI interface.
* A video camera (a black & white camera with adjustable intensity works best).
* A music keyboard with MIDI input.

[The Video Theremin has not been tried with an Amiga 2000 and the A2000 version of the Live! digitizer but they may also work.]

If you buy the components used, a unique instrument can be yours at very low cost. Even more so if you have some of the components already. 

Typical Used Prices:

Amiga 1000 Computer -$50
Live! video digitizer - $75
MIDI interface - $10
B&W video camera - $75
inexpensive MIDI keyboard - $50

Live! video digitizers are available from:

  • Live! (seems to be defunct)

    Information about Amiga computers can be found at:

  • The Amiga Web Directory - Amiga site at U of I at Champaign-Urbana.

    For more information about Theremins and their inventor follow these links:

  • The Theremin Home Page.
  • The Theremin Enthusiasts Club International. (defunct?)
  • Theremin Web Page.
  • Another Theremin Page. (defunct?)
  • PAiA Electronics - sells do-it-yourself kits including an electronic Theremin kit (the Theremax).
  • Experimental Musical Instruments. (defunct?)
  • Theremin Summer Institute and Festival.
  • Big Briar - Theremins, assembled and kits. Also video, CD's, book, and bumper sticker.
    Send email to Peterson Enterprises ronp@sover.net

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    The contents of this page are Copyright 1995 by Peterson Enterprises.