Using your Luminiferous Theremin

Powering Up

Plug in the micro USB cable into your theremin and plug the USB connector into a computer or USB charger/power supply, The power LED should light and the display should show the Extreme Kits Logo.

Setting Handedness

By default the left sensor is volume and the right is pitch.

By holding the left button on power up, you can swap the Pitch to be on the left and Volume on the right.

By holding the right button on power up, you can swap the Pitch to be on the right and Volume on the left.

Varying the Volume

The volume of the theremin can be changed by moving your hand over the Volume sensor (usually on the left)

The range of the volume is zero at around 320mm above the theremin , to full volume at 5mm above the theremin.

The sensor points at a 22 degree angle from perpendicular, so as you move your hand up, you need to move you hand slightly to the side to get the best range.

Varying the Pitch

The pitch of the theremin can be changed by moving your hand over the Pitch sensor (usually on the right)

The range of the pitch is roughly from G2 at around 320mm above the theremin , to D7 at 5mm above the theremin.

The sensor points at a 22 degree angle from perpendicular, so as you move your hand up, you need to move you hand slightly to the side to get the best range.

Setting the Voice

By holding the right button, and moving your hand over the left sensor, you can select the voice of the theremin. To set the voice, release the button.

Setting the Mode

By holding the left button, and moving your hand over the right sensor, you can select the Mode of the theremin. To set the mode, release the button.

Modes

Normal

No automatic variation of pitch

Note Only

The pitch will find the nearest note, rather than being continuous.

Wobulate (slow, Medium, Fast)

Varies the pitch automatically from a sine wave around the pitch you set.

Mute

Audio is only sent out when there is something over both sensors.

If there is nothing over the pitch sensor the theremin will mute the output.

Display

The display shows the status of the theremin in almost real time.

The Vol line shows the current volume in % from 0 (off) to 100% and off if there is nothing over the volume sensor, or mute is there is nothing over the Pitch sensor.

The Pitch line shows the current frequency in hz and (if you are near) the relevant Note.

Voice displays the current setting of the voice of the theremin.

and Mode shows the current Mode.

Resetting the Settings

Pressing both left and right buttons on start up will reset the handedness, Mode and Voice to the default settings.

Audio Out / Speaker

The switch on the rear of the theremin selects either the internal speaker or the line out jack.

The internal speaker is intended for practice only and is quite quiet.
The audio out is a 3.5mm stereo jack (3 pin). It will give line out levels and is ideal for plugging directly into a mixer, amp or computers line input. (Warning, it will connect the ground of the USB to the ground of your device).

Updating your Theremin

The Theremin is a work in progress, you can get the latest updates from here : https://github.com/ExtremeElectronics/luminiferous-theremin

To update the Theremin.

Download the uf2 file from the link above.

Remove the top from your Theremin.

press and hold this button, whilst plugging in your theremin.

Your computer should open a folder on the USB device, Save the .uf2 file you downloaded into the folder on the USB. Your theremin should restart with the new firmware.

The date on this screen is the release date of the new firmware.