Moog Music Etherwave Plus User Manual
Etherwave® Plus User’s Guide
The Etherwave Plus is an expanded version of Moog Music’s classic Etherwave theremin, using the same greatsounding and easily playable theremin circuitry that has made the Etherwave our best-selling theremin. The Etherwave
Plus adds the following features to the standard Etherwave theremin:
• Pitch CV output – The Pitch Antenna can act as a CV (Control Voltage) controller for any external CV compatible device, such as Moogerfooger® Analog effects, the Minimoog Voyager® analog synthesizer, the Little Phatty®
analog synthesizer or the Moog Guitar. The Pitch CV is generated from the pitch of the theremin waveform.
Nominal output is -2.5V to + 4.5V. Zero Volts is output when the theremin produces a pitch one octave below
middle C (approx. 131Hz). The Pitch CV output is factory-calibrated to produce a change of 1 Volt per octave
change in the theremin’s pitch.
• Volume CV output – The Volume Antenna can act as a CV controller for any external CV-compatible device.
The Volume CV output is generated from the same CV signal used internally for the Etherwave’s VCA circuitry.
Nominal output is 0 to +10V.
• Gate Output – The Gate signal can be used as a signal to start envelopes, trigger sample and hold circuits or
other timing related activities.The Gate signal is generated when the Volume CV rises above 0 Volts AND when
the theremin audio is greater than 0 Hz. OFF is 0 Volts and +10V is ON.
• Headphone output with headphone volume control – can be congured with an internal jumper for normal or
“pitch preview” function.
• Power Indicator LED - indicates when the unit is on and ready to play.
This User’s Guide only describes the added functions of the Etherwave Plus. For information regarding the operation
of the Etherwave Plus’ basic theremin functions, please refer to the Sections “Setting Up and Playing the Moog Music
Etherwave Theremin” in the Etherwave Theremin User’s Manual.
The Etherwave Plus Front Panel
Below is a diagram of the Etherwave Plus Front Panel indicating the Panel Controls and Connections.
What is a CV?
CV stands for Control Voltage. In analog electronic musical instruments, it is a type of low-current electrical signal
used to continuously modulate a musical parameter. In the Etherwave theremin, the simplest example of a CV is the
control of the instrument’s volume by the Volume Antenna. The Volume Antenna circuitry generates a CV that increases as the left hand is pulled away from the antenna. This CV is applied to the control input of a Voltage Controlled
Amplier (VCA). As the voltage generated by the Volume Antenna circuitry increases, the output level of the VCA
increases too. We hear this as an increase in volume. For more on the subject, you may wish to refer to the “Basics of
Analog Synthesis” chapter of the Minimoog Voyager User’s Manual, or the “Basic Theory” section of the CP-251 Control Processor User’s Manual, both available on our website: www.moogmusic.com.
What is a Gate?
A Gate is a signal that has only two levels: Low and High, or sometimes called Off and On. This can be used as a trigger for events, or as a switch type signal. In analog synthesizers, a gate is usually used to start or stop the sound of the
instrument by starting and stopping circuits called Envelope Generators. For example, a gate on signal is produced when
a key is pressed on the Minimoog Voyager, thus starting a note.
Using the Etherwave Plus CV Outputs.
The Etherwave Plus CV outputs are located on the bottom of the unit as indicated by the front panel, requiring the
placement of the Etherwave Plus on a mic stand to provide access. CAUTION: Be sure you understand the
operating levels of the equipment involved before making connections. Most modern analog equipment has protection built into the inputs of a circuit to prevent damage from unexpected voltage levels. However some
equipment may respond in unexpected ways, or may not respond at all to CVs outside the expected levels.
Note that most modern Moog equipment such as moogerfooger analog effects typically specify 0V to +5V or -5V
to +5V levels for CV inputs. The Etherwave Plus will work safely with these devices despite outputting voltages greater
than specied. In general it is safe to make connections with the equipment powered up.
One thing to avoid when making CV connections is to avoid passively mixing CV output signals into a single CV
input, for instance with a “Y” type splitter cable. This can sum the voltages involved and rapidly exceed the voltage levels
expected at a CV input. This may cause unwanted results. For combining CV signals, use a CV mixer, such as the 4-input
mixer of the moogerfooger CP-251 Control Processor.
Example Applications
Connecting the Etherwave Plus to a Little Phatty analog synthesizer.
In this example we will control the Little Phatty so that it can be played in a gestural manner similar to a theremin.
• First, connect the Etherwave Plus Gate Output to the Little Phatty(LP) Gate Input.
• Second, connect the Pitch CV Output to the LP Pitch control input.
• Next, Connect the Volume CV Output to the LP Volume Control Input.
• On the LP, select a preset that is voiced in the 16’ range and has a sustaining type envelope.
Now – with your left hand away from the Volume Antenna, Move your right hand closer to the Pitch Antenna – note
the LP pitch rises. Now move your left hand close to the Volume Antenna – you will hear the LP go silent – as you lift
your left hand away from the Volume Antenna you will hear the LP start a note again.
It is really fun to try different presets out to hear the ways the Little Phatty will respond to the gestural control of the
Etherwave Plus!
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