"Designed by Russian physicist Leon Theremin circa 1919, the two-handed instrument was one of the first ever electronic musical instruments and the first instrument one could play without physically touching it. Thirty years after its invention, the Theremin was popularized by American synthesizer godfather Robert Moog in the 1950s and immortalized in the classic Sci-Fi flick The Day the Earth Stood Still.A full-fledged Thermin will set you back nearly $400, but with the instructions below, you can build a pocket-sized Theremin-like instrument that won’t break the bank. Unlike the real McCoy which relies on grounded variable capacitance for changing frequency and volume with the wave of a hand, our Pocket Theremin uses variations in light for producing its unearthly vibrato.
Time: 3 Hours
Cost: $18.39
Difficulty: Easy
Parts
* (2) 555 timer IC (All Electronics #; $1.50)
* (2) CdS photocells (The Electronic Goldmine #G14025; $3.00)
* (2) .01 mF capacitors (All Electronics #; $0.60)
* (1) 1K resistor (All Electronics #; $0.50)
* (1) 5K potentiometer (All Electronics #VTP-5K; $1.00)
* (1) 2-Position PCB terminal (All Electronics #TER-202; $0.45)
* (1) 8-Ohm 1” speaker (All Electronics #SK-100; $1.15)
* (1) 9-Volt battery snap (All Electronics #BST-3; $1.00)
* (1) Split-Level shielded box (All Electronics #MB-100; $1.20)
* (1) Hookup wire (RadioShack #278-1224; $5.99)
* (1) 9V battery (available locally; $2) "
You can find the instructions and more on POPSCI.COM
" You can also get a Bleep Labs Thingamagoop for $100 plus shipping.
I keep wondering if these so called "optical Theremins" should really be called "Theremins". I'm considering that you don't play them the same because they use light, distance only indirectly plays a factor, mass plays no effect and the tone is produced by a completely different means.
ReplyDelete