games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 



Recently, Ken Moore made the Wii remote useful. Instead of using it for pretend bowling or boxing, Moore turned his attention on making the controller a pretty slick theremin. While we can debate his motivation, the end product is undisputedly rad. In the above video, you’ll see Moore talk about what he did to create his device, although his blog can give you the big-time specifics.

And the best part about this entire process is that it only costs 35 dollars. The problem for a guy like me is messing around with wires. Sure, the stray LEDs only need to go to a battery, but I’m classically poor at anything slightly technical. Moore used a Roland JV-1080 synth to make all the creepy (but awesome) sounds.

If you were wondering about the practicality of such an item, check out Moore’s rendition of the Star Trek theme. It’s a wonder that we don’t have bands that only play theremins.

[Via Offworld]


Continue: More wii stories





prev next

24 comments | showing # 1 to 24

Face's Avatar
Face at 11/30/2008 10:05
Thats pretty cool. I've always wanted one of these, but I don't know why.
Zen Albatross's Avatar
Zen Albatross at 11/30/2008 10:28
Nice! I love theremins.
n0brein's Avatar
n0brein at 11/30/2008 10:33
Awesome I tried to build a theramin by myself with the intructions form the old make zine podcast but it didn't worked out as well as this wiimote hack *thumbs up*
John B's Avatar
John B at 11/30/2008 10:50
Heh. Costs about $35 until you add at least $200 for the Roland synthesizer. Still very cool. Needs to practice a bit more on his Star Trek theme, though. :)
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar
s0lesurviv0r at 11/30/2008 11:08
Hoorah for mad science!!!
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 11/30/2008 11:10
Way to remind us of how shitty the Day The Earth Stood Still remake is going to be, 'amazing technology' dude :((
-PL-'s Avatar
-PL- at 11/30/2008 11:13
I saw a band that played Freebird with a theramin that took the place of the lead guitar. It was amazing.
Wexx's Avatar
Wexx at 11/30/2008 11:14
Theramins are fucking awesome. I hope he insulated that wire that he has running through the gloves rofl.
EX35's Avatar
EX35 at 11/30/2008 11:40
I saw Coheed and Cambria live and Claudio, during the long solo of the Final Cut, used a Theramin during the solo...with his head...while shredding on his guitar...it was pretty crazy.
whormongr's Avatar
whormongr at 11/30/2008 12:17
you can just get a free theremin vst here if you just want the sound
http://www.simple-media.co.uk/music/vsti/vsti.htm
I use the super spook keys no spring a lot for background textures - and you can hook the x/y coordinates to a controller if you want via your vst host- if you want to you can also get a cheap controller like this:
http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=705525X
that has an infrared controller with assignable x/y/z
or like I do use a trackpad like you get in this controller
http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/product/Korg-Nano-PAD?sku=703402
if you want to go cheap- though I use the padkontrol which is like the big daddy of that controller
all in all, he was just reinventing the wheel....
Tron's Avatar
Tron at 11/30/2008 12:58
why couldn't this be wii music? it would have been a lot more fun.
mix's Avatar
mix at 11/30/2008 14:45
That is pretty damn cool, too bad I lack the motivation to try and make this mod to utilize my lonely Wiimotes.
Chicken008's Avatar
Chicken008 at 11/30/2008 17:25
That's awesome!
jrwolv's Avatar
jrwolv at 11/30/2008 20:13
That's amazing, wish he'd provide the code though.
KaL YoshiKa's Avatar
KaL YoshiKa at 12/01/2008 04:10
The only problem is a real Theremin you use all of your fingers to help step chords and that sort of thing. So really you'd need all your fingers rigged for this to go properly.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 12/01/2008 17:44
The reason more theremins aren't seen in bands is because they are notoriously difficult to play well.
keriman's Avatar
keriman at 02/19/2009 03:40
cenotaph's Avatar
cenotaph at 08/31/2009 13:23
<a href="http://www.hairstylescut.net">hairstyles</a>
cenotaph's Avatar
cenotaph at 08/31/2009 13:24
cenotaph's Avatar
cenotaph at 08/31/2009 13:25
cenotaph's Avatar
cenotaph at 08/31/2009 13:25
jeryy's Avatar
jeryy at 10/06/2009 04:04
thanks.
<a href="http://www.benten10oyunlari.net">ben 10 oyunları</a>
jeryy's Avatar
jeryy at 10/06/2009 04:26
{url=http://www.benten10oyunlari.net}ben 10 oyunları{/url}
jeryy's Avatar
jeryy at 10/06/2009 04:28
[ url=http://www.benten10oyunlari.net ] ben 10 oyunları [ /url ]
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos




    Win this!
    Reminder: We're giving away six copies of Magnacarta 2!



    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Mahjongg Artifacts 2 review
    Dragon Age: Origins review
    Lost Winds: The Winter of the Melodias review
    Osmos review
    Space Invaders Extreme 2 review
    Half-Minute Hero review
    JU-ON: The Grudge review
    Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble review
    Thexder Neo review
    Domino Rally review
    more reviews
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    Skate 3
    Hudson's bringing back the Bonk
    James Cameron's Avatar
    Bomberman Battlefest
    Calling
    Bad Company 2's multiplayer
    Partying like it's 1959 in BioShock 2's multiplayer
    BioShock 2 through the eyes of Big Daddy
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 49607 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: How to respond to a videogame review





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more
























    Destructoid's editorial lovefest is:
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Letters to the editors
    tips@destructoid.com
    Associate Editors
    Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
    Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
    Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
    Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
    Dyson Samit Sarkar
    Contributors
    Adam Dork
    Ben Perlee
    Daniel Lingen
    Joseph Leray
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Will Maddock
    Stella Wong





     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006