[LAU] [Off topic] DIY Theremin

[Dominique Michel]

Le Sun, 30 Dec 2018 19:24:37 +0100,
Ralf Mardorf <ralf.mardorf at alice-dsl.net> a écrit :

> On Sun, 30 Dec 2018 19:00:04 +0100, Dominique Michel wrote:
> >For the theremin, some provide MIDI Out and some Moog models have CV
> >out connectors for the volume and the pitch. This CV out solution
> >seam to be the best one when used with the thereminator:
> >https://www.wavelicker.com/en/thereminator/  
> 
> Unfortunately there seems to be no English information about the A-178
> Theremin Control Voltage Source on the Doepfer website. But the German
> page provides some nice pictures (and dead links). There's a note in
> English: "It's not possible to connect the antenna via an additional
> cable to the antenna socket. Antenna and hand form a variable
> capacitor with a very small capacity in the pico Farad range. The
> electronics of the module is puzzled out just for this capacity
> range. If a cable is added the capacity range changes totally and the
> module will no longer work !

Only the Clapp and the Franklin will allow you to get a working
LC oscillator with parts of that oscillator at both sides of a coaxial
cable, with that cable which doesn't influence too much the frequency. I
try with 1.5m and 4.5m cables and was able to make a good setup in 2
minutes in both cases, that without metering, only using my ear.

> But it's possible to mount the complete
> module with antenna at the desired position, e.g. into a small case
> that holds one or two of the modules. For this a longer bus cable is
> required."
> 
> http://www.doepfer.de/a178.htm
> 
To add a CV out for the volume into the Black Star may be relatively
easy, the main issue being the lack of common standard between
manufacturers. For the pitch, I will have first to investigate what
are the existing hardware solutions to make a reliable frequency/voltage
conversion into the audio range. Another issue is that I have no
hardware to test it, I jumped directly to MIDI instruments in the
eighties.

Ciao,
Dominique
-- 
If you have a problem and you are not doing anything to fix it, you are
at the heart of the problem.