Music

CD Case Features Built-In Theremin And Artistic Circuitry

By Dan Nosowitz on August 30, 2009 at 6:10 AM

San Francisco electro artist Moldover, like Beck before him, figured out a way to make physical music purchases superior to digital: embrace the physical. In Moldover’s case, that meant cramming an actual working theremin into the CD case.

Moldover really went all-out with this one. The CD case theremin features a headphone jack as well as a speaker, and the wiring on the theremin itself spells out the artist name, track names, and “album art”, such as it is. He even includes a tiny pocket-sized version of the theremin so you’re never without that odd organic screechy sound. The album costs $US50, which actually seems pretty cheap considering it’s packaged inside a musical instrument. [Denver Westword]

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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

jt

September 3, 2009 at 4:47 PM

I’m now the proud owner of a 4-6 week waiting period. This is awesome. Top find sirs, top find!

Permalink Reply

DJ Bushido

September 01, 2009 at 2:16 AM

@loslosbaby: and yet again the new star system proves its retardedness :P
loslosbaby

August 31, 2009 at 3:26 PM

@Dastan: Hippy.
Axelph

August 31, 2009 at 2:32 PM

@mcr_fan: Actually, the real reason that no one can deliver the news as gizmodo. They just put the fun in reading. I get bored reading other gadget blogs.
HectorBabcay

August 31, 2009 at 1:32 PM

Thanks for picking up my blog! Original credit for discovering this goes to the blog www.synthgear.com.

HectorBabcay
aerospaceman

August 31, 2009 at 4:56 AM

Just had an idea: theremin @ air sex competition=major win
hazmx

August 31, 2009 at 3:52 AM

@fate47 - Meh.: That video is just ridiculously funny it's like hearing a drunken alien child chorus. lol

hazmx
mcr_fan

August 30, 2009 at 10:54 PM

@The Donut Pirate: don't hate dude, but seriously, i must tell the truth, since recently gizmodo is a bit slow on new news, engadget seems to update alot more frequently,

HOWEVER, i guess why all of US (including me) come back to giz again and again is NO ONE can mach the coooool news that giz brings, engadget is just boring consumer products.....
Barion

August 30, 2009 at 9:18 PM

I'm picking up good vibrations.
Paradigm__Shift

August 30, 2009 at 9:09 PM

While I don't really want a theremin, I love the fact that he's trying something new in CD's

Paradigm__Shift
Dastan

August 30, 2009 at 8:36 PM

50 $ Vs Free ,huh !
i dont care even if it contains a BD player , Torrent RULES !!!
Brau

August 30, 2009 at 6:02 PM

I have a Theramin deficiency
... and I'm quite happy about it.

Brau
Bahemath

August 30, 2009 at 4:34 PM

This is actually really cool :) Maybe I should order one? ^^
appletoad

August 30, 2009 at 3:09 PM

@met2art: I want one =[
PiltdownMan

August 30, 2009 at 1:33 PM

@electricarchie: or, you know, radio waves.

PiltdownMan
phaota

August 30, 2009 at 12:55 PM

What's really nice is that you can listen to all of the songs from the album in their entirety on the website.
The Donut Pirate

August 30, 2009 at 12:46 PM

God... it sounds like an alarm clock. An alarm clock from hell.
The Donut Pirate

August 30, 2009 at 12:46 PM

@iDeNoh: You... were a jackass weeks ago.
iDeNoh

August 30, 2009 at 12:12 PM

This...was on engadget weeks ago.

iDeNoh
electricarchie

August 30, 2009 at 12:11 PM

@Dreamwriter: Exactly. True theremins work with some level of magic, I'm fairly certain.

electricarchie
SashaM

August 30, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Coooool !

But all music you make with it will sound like fantasy movies from 80's or Beastie Boys 90's at best ! :P
RyanWren

August 30, 2009 at 11:30 AM

When Beck's The Information was released in England it wasn't eligable for the album charts as the stickers counted as a free gift.

RyanWren
met2art

August 30, 2009 at 10:42 AM

@frigg: In related news, I got a star today, so I know what you're talking about. :) Also, Frigg, those hamsters are adorable. I couldn't see them before today.

And yes, very cool CD case. Theremin, or not, it's a novel way of embracing the concept of "value added" purchases that are actually relevant to the content.
xBawBx

August 30, 2009 at 10:25 AM

You got theremin in my CD case!
You got CD case in my theremin!
Moldover's, bringing CD cases and theremins together since 2009.

xBawBx
renode

August 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM

It's not a theremin. It's a voltage-controlled oscillator(VCO). It's controlled via a photocell, and I'm guessing it's the most popular DIY version, which is based on a 555 timer, and the schematic for it is in every cheap beginner's electronics guide I've ever read. I've built tons of them personally. They're nowhere near worth $50 - I could build it with $6.
adaorardor

August 30, 2009 at 9:59 AM

@Invisible-Echidna: wait, so there are comments that only star commenters can see? what's the point of that, and how does it work? and yeah, all you people look completely ridiculous commenting at 'nothing'.
Dreamwriter

August 30, 2009 at 9:16 AM

That would be great, but it's not a theramin at all. He said it was a light sensor controlling the sound.

Dreamwriter
frigg

August 30, 2009 at 8:25 AM

If only theremins weren't the most annoying musical instrument ever made after the cool factor wears off (takes about 5 minutes).
fate47 - Meh.

August 30, 2009 at 8:20 AM

After I found out what a theremin actually is...meh. I've enough trouble trying to play my 'Strat.

I've included a video of someone playing the Zelda theme on a theremin because, as they say, "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down".
frigg

August 30, 2009 at 8:18 AM

@Invisible-Echidna: I know how you feel. Sometimes I forget that other people can't see the dozen or so flying hamsters that follow me, well, everywhere.
Kaibutsu

August 30, 2009 at 8:12 AM

THATS FRAKING SWEET!!!

Im buying it right now as I type this....

Kaibutsu
CustomFirmware

August 30, 2009 at 7:50 AM

That's just kickass!
Nick2

August 30, 2009 at 7:40 AM

I'd buy it just for the theremin.
MMBman7171

August 30, 2009 at 7:37 AM

Nice

MMBman7171
winkerVsbecks

August 30, 2009 at 7:25 AM

And in 2 minute and 11 seconds this man has achieved what the MPAA and RIAA haven't in 5 years.....
Invisible-Echidna

August 30, 2009 at 7:22 AM

@Reil: Reil is eternally wise.: Lol. I haven't seen comments not signed in yet. I've had my star since the comment system change. Sometimes I forget other people can't see these comments. :P

Invisible-Echidna
Harrison is playing FFVIII

August 30, 2009 at 7:17 AM

Unfortunately, that's not a true theramin. A true one uses antennas, this is using light sensors.

Still pretty cool though.
macrumpton

August 30, 2009 at 7:13 AM

If his music is nearly as good as his ideas he will be a star.

macrumpton
Amir Oulad

August 30, 2009 at 7:12 AM

This has been posted on Giz already, about a month ago, just wanted to let you know.

Amir Oulad
Daniel Grinton

August 30, 2009 at 7:09 AM

Now that's impressive.

Daniel Grinton
Reil: Ignore this

August 30, 2009 at 7:08 AM

@Invisible-Echidna: I hadn't logged in when I saw that comment. I must say, you look crazy when you reply to something that others can't see.
YourTechSupport

August 30, 2009 at 7:05 AM

Holy shit. This man is a genius. That almost makes me want to buy CDs on this side of the decade.
Invisible-Echidna

August 30, 2009 at 6:42 AM

@VasinGanymede: But, surely you can appreciate someone actually putting some effort in something besides the music to give you something to experience to get your money's worth.

Invisible-Echidna
theanyday

August 30, 2009 at 6:40 AM

I'm totally going to buy one of these which will be the first cd I've paid for in a good minute!
Eruanno

August 30, 2009 at 6:28 AM

And THIS is one of the few reasons I'd buy physical CDs.

...Also, that is INSANELY cool.
Invisible-Echidna

August 30, 2009 at 6:23 AM

$50? That's outrageous!

I'll take 8.

Invisible-Echidna

CD Case Features Built-In Theremin And Artistic Circuitry

cds

circuits

moldover

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theremin

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