Theremin app for iPhone and iPad


4.4 ( 774 ratings )
Music Entertainment
Developer: Frontier Design Group
0.99 USD
Current version: 1.2, last update: 7 years ago
First release : 17 Oct 2008
App size: 1.02 Mb

Introducing Theremin, one of the first electronic instruments - digitalized and resized - for eerie sounds on the go!

Developed in Russia back in 1919, Leon Theremins classic instrument enjoyed popular (if not commercial) success in the 1920s and 30s, due to the virtuoso classical performances of Clara Rockmore in the 1920s and 30s; and later due to the theremins use in the sci-fi soundtracks by thereminist/podiatrist Dr. Samuel Hoffman.

Generally, the strange and evocative sound of the theremin is called upon whenever the music suggests:

- inner psychological turmoil (see "Spellbound")

- invasions by creatures from other planets ("Klaatu barada nikto")

- songs inspired by "the way the sunlight plays upon her hair"

Controlling theremin is easy: with the iPhone held out in front of you, turn it clockwise for a higher pitch, counter-clockwise for a lower pitch. Tilt the phone face-down (or face-up) to add vibrato. And use the on-screen volume control to continuously adjust amplitude. A status line shows you the current frequency, pitch (e.g. A#), and volume.

As you perform, so does Mr. Theremin. His hands move toward and away from the theremins antennae, tracking pitch with his right hand and volume with his left.

Flip to the Preferences panel, and you can adjust several important aspects of the theremins sound:
- Waveform selection: different tone colors via sine, triangle, square waves
- System volume: Adjusts the iPhone/iPod overall volume so that you can adjust the balance between Music Player and Theremin volume levels
- Pitch range: +/- 1, 2, or 3 octaves
- Vibrato speed and maximum depth
- Lissajous graphics: turn this on to enable funky oscilloscope-style graphics whose speed tracks the theremin pitch

And thanks to technological process, we can make it available to you for approximately 0.2% of the price of the original instrument! And thats not even adjusting for inflation! Try Theremin ... for fun sonic weirdness anytime, anywhere!

Pros and cons of Theremin app for iPhone and iPad

Theremin app good for

I have to say, this is really fun. I mean, I saw the other 2 comments above and did not think it would be good, but it is! Its really good too when you are bored and want to do something. Again really good.
Hey, just in time for Halloween... some classic Theremin sound effects! Sounds great, and it has range buttons for choosing either finer control or a wider range of pitches. Sounds extra-weird when you add lots of vibrato. And the animated Theremin player waves his hands at the antenna, just like youd do playing an old school Theremin. Easily worth 99 cents!
This is my favorite app so far. Works great, nice and stable, lots of fun. Great job!
Probably the only iPhone application that pays tribute to a former Soviet secret agent (he was kidnapped from the United States by the GRU/KGB/whatever it was called back then, and the circumstances of his death are still lost in the fog of the Soviet Union), it offers the average Joe a chance to experiment with a musical Instrument that was once written for by serious modern composers like Varesé. While the chromatic setting offers you more control, you should keep it set on the default for authenticity. Ditto the vibrato - sometimes its best not to try to improve on the original. And the animation of the inventor in icing on the cake. Mind you, its not the real thing. But, as someone already said, at a thousandth of the price (and weight), the cost to you makes this a bargain route to ownership of a piece of music history.
What you see is what you get. Id like to see some additional synths added later on, but all in all Im happy.
ugly icon, kinda ugly ui, too, but totally cool toy. great fun.

Some bad moments

Theremin is a Theremin Sim...that sounds like a ghost...lol...tot unuseful...but funnny...worthless...dont buy it
It works but not to the extent that I would recommend it. The use of the accelorometer is slow and a little erratic. Not really a musical instrument interface. Why bother with the screen graphic of the moving arm?
really missing touch-modes: 1. X axis means volume, Y axis means tone. 2. X axis means vibrato, Y axis means tone, touch area means volume now its just a toy, no practic sence at all. 2 stars, hope soon i could give more =)
The app worked great at first, but now I get no sound. Ive tried to reload and still the same relults. To bad. The program seemed pretty good, when it worked.
Does not work. Ive re-installed several times. DONT waste you money.
Doesnt really sound like a Theremin, definitely not easy to control. For a little more money go with Thereminator. WAY better

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