How the Ondioline makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the Ondioline belongs to the electrophones: sound is produced or shaped electronically – synthesizers, the theremin and electric organs.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
The Ondioline is an electronic analog synthesizer, developed and built by Frenchman Georges Jenny. Sometimes referred to as the "Jenny Ondioline", the instrument is considered a forerunner of the synthesizer. First conceived by Jenny in 1939, he continued refining and reconfiguring the device, producing dozens of variant models up until his death in 1975.
Though monophonic, the Ondioline is capable of creating a wide variety of sounds. Its keyboard spans three octaves, but by adjusting a register knob a player can render up to eight octaves. The instrument's keyboard is suspended on custom-designed springs, which enables a natural vibrato if the player manipulates a key laterally (from side to side) as that key is depressed. The keyboard is pressure-sensitive, and volume is controlled by a knee lever.
Other electrophones
Frequently asked questions
What does the Ondioline sound like?
As one of the electrophones, its sound comes from the way sound is produced or shaped electronically.
What type of instrument is the Ondioline?
It is classified as electrophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 531.1).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q490054 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Ondioline – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by National_Music_Centre_8.jpg : Raymond Wong derivative work: Clusternote – CC BY-SA 2.0