d'oh! Theremin a Soviet spy toy!

hollywood_steve · 29th December 2002, 09:52 AM

Amazing show on Discovery channel about "Stealing Secrets", much of it related to audio espionage. One highlight; Mr. Theremin was a high level Soviet spy who was sent to USA by Lenin and Stalin to steal USA patent info while filing Theremin related documents at the Patent office!

Lenin was so amazed by his personal demo of the theremin that he learned to play music on it himself. Stalin sent Mr. Theremin to Siberia during the early purges, but later re-elevated Mr. Theremin to another high level intelligence position.

excellent!

as a general comment, I'm amazed we "won" the cold war. The Ruskies developed audio espionage devices that still seem impossible 50 years later. (totally passive, only active when hit with a 300mHz signal, undetected for years). The best USA could do was multi-million dollar Rube Goldberg type devices that did everything but play the James Bond theme in the background.

steve
lex125@pacbell.net

e-cue · 29th December 2002, 03:12 PM

I wonder if whoever came up with ADAT's is foreign to the states...

alphajerk · 29th December 2002, 03:41 PM

i saw that show a while back... kinda sad about humanity.

Jax · 29th December 2002, 08:53 PM

I don't know... I would pay money to see and hear Lenin playing theremin. Something profound and poetic about it.

Can't decide if the footage should go in a Woody Allen movie or a Ministry video. Both?

hollywood_steve · 29th December 2002, 11:23 PM

Unfortunately, the scene with Lenin playing the theremin is only a re-enactment. I doubt that any actual footage exists. And Stalin probably found the theremin only useful as a heavy, blunt object.

One other interesting topic in the series - a new microphone technique we all need to start using right away. No need to place microphones on bulky stands or run cables all over the live room. Just sit back in the control room on that nice couch we all have behind the console. Bounce a laser beam off of the control room window while the band is playing. Catch the reflected laser beam on a device that can detect the changes in the reflected beam due to vibrations in the window glass. Perfect audio reproduction in glorious mono. But only '60s era Hungarian lasers have the warm tone we're all after.....

steve
lex125@pacbell.net

e-cue · 9th January 2003, 12:03 AM

Interesting info...

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29th December 2002, 09:52 AM	#1
hollywood_steve Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: uh..... Hollywood Posts: 1,170	d'oh! Theremin a Soviet spy toy! Amazing show on Discovery channel about "Stealing Secrets", much of it related to audio espionage. One highlight; Mr. Theremin was a high level Soviet spy who was sent to USA by Lenin and Stalin to steal USA patent info while filing Theremin related documents at the Patent office! Lenin was so amazed by his personal demo of the theremin that he learned to play music on it himself. Stalin sent Mr. Theremin to Siberia during the early purges, but later re-elevated Mr. Theremin to another high level intelligence position. excellent! as a general comment, I'm amazed we "won" the cold war. The Ruskies developed audio espionage devices that still seem impossible 50 years later. (totally passive, only active when hit with a 300mHz signal, undetected for years). The best USA could do was multi-million dollar Rube Goldberg type devices that did everything but play the James Bond theme in the background. steve lex125@pacbell.net

29th December 2002, 08:53 PM	#4
Jax Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 3,668	I don't know... I would pay money to see and hear Lenin playing theremin. Something profound and poetic about it. Can't decide if the footage should go in a Woody Allen movie or a Ministry video. Both? __________________ When the music is good, the mix is that much better.

29th December 2002, 11:23 PM	#5
hollywood_steve Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: uh..... Hollywood Posts: 1,170	theremin & lenin Unfortunately, the scene with Lenin playing the theremin is only a re-enactment. I doubt that any actual footage exists. And Stalin probably found the theremin only useful as a heavy, blunt object. One other interesting topic in the series - a new microphone technique we all need to start using right away. No need to place microphones on bulky stands or run cables all over the live room. Just sit back in the control room on that nice couch we all have behind the console. Bounce a laser beam off of the control room window while the band is playing. Catch the reflected laser beam on a device that can detect the changes in the reflected beam due to vibrations in the window glass. Perfect audio reproduction in glorious mono. But only '60s era Hungarian lasers have the warm tone we're all after..... steve lex125@pacbell.net

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29th December 2002, 03:12 PM	#2
e-cue Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 3,883	I wonder if whoever came up with ADAT's is foreign to the states...

29th December 2002, 03:41 PM	#3
alphajerk There is only one Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: asheville NC Posts: 5,291	i saw that show a while back... kinda sad about humanity.

9th January 2003, 12:03 AM	#6
e-cue Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 3,883	Interesting info...