Let's talk about Clara (vox)

It was from the disappearance of Bob Moog that we were waiting for a professional theremin that came at least in part to theEtherwave proThe production of the Etherwave Standard and Etherwave Plus was aimed at technically sound, stable, and playable instruments, but with a predominant focus on the commercial side, with a somewhat cheesy design to keep the price down. Not to mention the Theremini, which was a wink to those who wanted to make the theremin a sort of digital studio toy (whether that can actually be played is another story). For the instrument's 100th anniversary, in 2021, Moog is churning out the Claravox! Dedicated to the greatest Theremin virtuoso of all time, Clara Rockmore, the Claravox comes with an attractive retro design, in wood (with back and front panels in wood-colored plastic), an optional stand in wood. Limited edition, large delay in distribution, few copies available.

Let's talk about the instrument

The Claravox incorporates the best (and the worst) of 3 generations of theremin. One Traditional mode which has more or less the playability of the Etherwave Standard / Plus with the tone of the Pro; a modality Modern which allows you to manage the instrument a bit like theEtherwave Pro, with the possibility of choosing the octave range, from -2 to +1. It is equipped with other more digital features that make you think of the Theremini, such as delay and quantize.

Rear inputs and outputs

The rear outputs are more or less those of the Etherwave Plus / Pro with the addition of the midi  

• USB connection / Claravox app

On the Apple and Microsoft store is possible to download the Claravox App to modify several parameters of the Clara, select quantize scales, modify oscillators, save scenarios, set some Midi parameters. It's also possible to update the firmware. It goes without saying that the software works by connecting the USB cable to the back of the instrument or via MIDI cable.

• MIDI in / out

  This is a fairly unexplored area. I tell you what we managed to do. According with the manual, the Claravox can and can be played by any midi instrument. Actually the Midi IN can receive Midi CC signals, so don't expect to play the theremin via a midi keyboard. From the midi OUT, on the other hand, it is actually possible to send the notes both chromatically and continuously, making an external midi instrument playable through the antennas. This OUT mode works after activating the Claravox app in the settings section.

• Mute sw (in 90% of the photos on the web the wording Sus Pedal appears, probably a legacy of some early version), through a connected pedal (digital piano switches are fine too) it mutes the instrument even if the Mute switch on the front panel it is not active.
• CV in It allows, through an input CV signal, to modify the Filter values ​​selected on the front of the instrument
• Pitch and Volume out These are the classic CV OUT volume and pitch outputs. They can control any CV IN equipped synth
• Main out It's the main audio out
• Tuner Out It sends an output sound signal that is always active even in the case of mute on and antenna volume at zero level, which can be connected for example to a visual tuner to identify the note on sight or, with some adaptation, to a headphone to obtain the pre-listening of the note.

The Headphones

On the front there is a headphone output with dedicated volume that replicates the audio out signal. Headphone sound is audible even if the theremin is on mute. The dynamics of the sound follows the movements of the hand on the volume antenna.

Let's examine the front panel

• Performance: Traditional and Modern Modes

These are the two modes of operation of the instrument. The traditional sounds over 5 octaves and is very close to the playability of Etherwave Plus / Standard with a sound defined by the creators as very close to the one designed by Bob Moog for Clara Rockmore. There is a slight delay effect on by default. The Modern mode makes the range more extended bringing it to 7-8 octaves through a special switch that goes from -2 to +1, as it was already in the Etherwave Pro

• Wave, Pitch, Brightness All the commands we have been used to seeing in previous versions are present, Wave, Pitch, Brightness, with the same meanings.
• Quantize - set root * mod only. Modern As well as in Theremini there is a quantization control with a button set root to fix the base note and with customizable scales via the App.
• Timbre / Store It is possible to store the parameters set using the key Store. There are 6 pre-defined editable scenes. This function comes from the Etherwave Pro and is also accessible from the dedicated App
• Mute It's a switch to mute the instrument. Also associated with a pedal on the back. Headphone Out and Tuner Out remain active in this modality.

What's new

• Filter This is a low pass filter that allows you to customize the sound even more in both modes
• Delay / Delay Feedback / Delay Time It is a fully parameterizable analog BBD delay.
• Volume It is a general output volume controller, it should not be understood as the Volume of the other theremin models.
• Response Volume / Response Pitch * Modern mode only They change the sensitivity of the antennas. The Response Volume is practically the replacement for the Volume knob of the previous theremins. Please note:, while the Response Pitch is new in this context, in Traditional mode there is no Volume control as it was intended in the past. We do not know the reasons for this choice.

Let's see the flaws

I have been asked several times if the Claravox was a reliable live instrument. I was quite hesitant at first before playing it in public but, since the latest versions, the theremin can be considered stable. Especially in the Modern version, I see no reason why it cannot be considered as such. In Traditional mode, as will be read later, there remains a background sound trail that can create some problems with the staccato.

• Mass noise with the theremin off In all the versions examined, the switched off theremin sends an annoying mass noise on the audio output which disappears when switched on. Once turned on the problem does not reoccur.
• Traditional mode, legato and staccato In this mode you can play an average of 5 octaves. However, there is a playability problem that does not allow to obtain a clear staccato, even touching the volume antenna with the hand, a lower volume sound of the instrument is audible. The problem is not present in the Modern mode.
• Volume antenna I followed the project from the beginning, trying out Claravox instruments from the first and last distribution. The first theremins arrived have serious problems with the volume antenna with semi-oxidized contacts inside, lack of contact between the external and internal antenna circuit. The behavior of touching the volume antenna is variable, from noise and audio peaks to attenuation of the volume. In some cases the volume quit completely, you have to turn it back on and hope, in short, not exactly what one would expect from an instrument of this price range. This problem occurred for theremins up to serial 300 more or less, we can't be very sure about, but we tried one of the 200 series and one of the 100 and then collected data from other users on the net. The defect in question involves another one on the power supply pin which - if touched (even touching only the cable) - produces an annoying noise in the output.

Corrective interventions

There are two theremins on which we worked to fix the volume antenna. The problems were similar, very low or no volume, audio spikes when touching the antenna volume, noise when touching the power supply or power cord. Both theremins are from the 200 series and both were not playable or at least not stable. In both cases (and also in many other cases examined by other users on the internet), the problem is due to poor contact between the external and internal antenna, which is why in the new versions the antenna has been made thicker and It has been filed at the base (see photo). The resolution is not difficult but it requires a bit of dexterity. The volume antenna cylinder must be removed. in one of the theremins it was enough to unscrew and pull in the other we had to unsolder a solder (nothing complicated). Once the cylinder has been extracted, it can be seen that the antenna rests on a metal tab that has a curvature. We need to accentuate this curvature by simply bending it a little more inwards. You will notice that you will feel more pressure as you insert the antenna. We have not had success with filing or cleaning contacts. The solution also solves the problem of the high sensitivity of the current feeder.

• The wooden stand Let's start by saying that the stand is not cheap. It is probably a little too high for a seated player and quite unstable in holding. We have collected several complaints about its poor balance. Only stands from the first series arrived, we do not know if the new ones have been modified, because Moog from a certain point onwards did not ship them anymore, at least in Europe. We like to think that he is modifying them before he pits another hole in the water. I myself am currently playing with a low mic type stand waiting for a more suitable stand. Many have reinforced the stand with metal plates to improve its sealing.

The improvements

From a certain point on, I can't say exactly after how many complaints, Moog thought about it and replaced the antennas. From number 600 onwards (we cannot be sure of the production between number 300 and 600) the antennas weigh about twice as much. Metal is definitely thicker. The defect on the volume antenna is gone and also that of the power supply. In the photo below you can see a new antenna (left) with one of the first series (right). Aside from the thickness and weight, there may also be some filing on the plating on the part that enters the instrument, probably to increase conductivity. The pitch antenna is also significantly thicker and heavier.

Key Features:

• Pitch Range: 5 octaves (Traditional Mode), 4-7 octaves (Modern Mode)
• Sound Sources: Analog Heterodyning Oscillator (Traditional Mode), Dual DCO / Wavetable Generator (Modern Mode) via Analog Waveshaping Circuit
• Theremin Controllers: Pitch and Volume
• Waveshaper: Brightness, Wave, Filter, Switches Mode and Mute
• Analog Delay: Delay Amount, Delay Feedback and Delay Time
• Timbre: Timbre Select, Timbre Store
• For Modern mode only: Octave Range, Quantize Amount, Root / Scale Select, Pitch and Volume Response Curve
• Effects: Analog BBD Delay
• Storage presets
• Audio outputs: 1 x 1/4 "(Main Out), 1 x 1/4" (Headphones), 1 x 1/4 "(Tuner Out)
• CV I / O: 2 x ¼ "CV outputs, 2 x ¼" CV Inputs
• MIDI: In, Out, USB
• Moog Theremin Stand optional

Useful Information

Product: www.moogmusic.com/products/claravox-centennial Claravox public price: 1599,00 Stand Price: 279,00 Italian distributor: midiware.it Fabio Pesce