Ginette - DIY instrument based on the ondes Martenot

[Sup3rmassiveDeadStar]

How much did it costed to build?

[pemakini]

@Sup3rmassiveDeadStar I haven't count the total cost for the instrument. I had an opportunity to use tools that I don't own, like a milling machine, and some materials too, for free. In the end I think the major investment was the time for designing and building the instrument.

[TheMagebear]

Don't forget the the Ondes is a hetrodyned instrument same as the Theremin. It will only take a small change in capacitance or inductance to alter pitch.

I don't think the builders of the French Connection are about to tell us their secrets and don't forget that the Ondes is still protected by copyright and so on.

I think your instrument is brilliantly done and yes I will be building something similar myself. Thanks for showing us to aspire to.

[TheMagebear]

There are two seperate systems of pitch control. The keyboard uses fixed inductors, one for each key, and variable inductors, one per octave. The variable inductors are used for the vibrato effect, their cores held steady whilst the coils are attached to the keyboard which is mounted to allow side to side movement.

The ribbon acts as a variable capacitor. Each octave has a pair of parallel plates and the ribbon has a piece of metal that slides between them changing the capacitance.

[TheMagebear]

I don't think a lowpass filter would remove all the noise from a pot, even for control voltage use. The original Ondes useds a leather bag filled with carbon powder as a pressure sensitive variable resistor. Have you considered using something like quantum tunneling compound or some other pressure sensitive substance to produce a control voltage?

[pemakini]

@TheMagebear I'm not familiar with the pressure sensors. Since the expression button is built around the certain linear position sensor, it would be quite complex task to replace it with a different kind of sensor. The linear position sensor is working nicely at the moment. If it's getting old some day, it's relatively cheap to replace, less than ten euros. If I need to build the same kind of structure in the future projects, I'll consider also the pressure sensor.

[pemakini]

@TheMagebear The original volume control design sounds very interesting, I didn't know about it. Do you happen to know what kind of sensor is in the expression button of the French Connection? Or the pitch control structure in the ondes Martenot? I haven't found much technical information of those instruments.

[chrisjhart221138]

beautiful piece of work... please let me know if you start selling these!

[pemakini]

@chrisjhart221138 Thank you. I'll let you know! How much would you pay for it?

[TheMagebear]

Hi

Brilliant work. How did you get the expression key to work? Is it a volume control or a voltage source for a vca and what did you use for the variable element in it?

[pemakini]

@TheMagebear The expression key is basically a volume control, so the output signal goes through it. It's not good design, because worn potentiometer causes audible cracks. It's not a problem at the time, but surely in the future. I will add the VCA to prevent this problem. In the VCA design the expression key gives the control voltage to the VCA that determines the volume level. I assume the low pass filter could filter at least the minor cracks that occurs in the expression key potentiometer.

[pemakini]

@TheMagebear The variable element in the expression key is the linear position sensor that is basically a linear potentiometer.

[plasmaforce11]

the delayed signal is amazing :P

[PitBullFrankfurt]

Wow, amazing project! It's so expressive, it really doesn't need a filter, though one would be cool too. How much did it cost to build? Jatka samaan malliin =)

[pemakini]

@PitBullFrankfurt Thanks! I haven't counted the total cost, but the main thing was insistent working and opportunity to use workshop and tools that I don't own.

[3141168]

Great Work! I would buy one too!!

[ovuori]

Amazing work! Thanks for sharing this. Vaikuttavaa!

[pemakini]

@ovuori Kiitos!

[Pettipoole]

Really impressive...I'd probably buy one!

[Stof31]

Wow, impressive build, great sounds, well done :)

[badgerthebadger]

I think the question we all want to ask, are you selling them? :)

[pemakini]

@badgerthebadger Well, not currently, but if there are many people who are interested in buying this kind of instrument, maybe I can build them some more. Thanks for asking! I'm flattered.

[kotep777]

amazing ...how does to hold work?

[pemakini]

@kotep777 Um, I'm not sure what you mean by hold? Delay effect?

[GruithuisenCityMan]

Fantastic job ! And really nice sounds !

[theraywilsonshow]

Awesome job! Glad the VCO could be a part of your project. That is a great instrument. How did you make the strip?

[pemakini]

@theraywilsonshow Thanks for the comment! Do you mean the fingerboard (or how should I call it...)? It is a clear piece of polycarbonate. I used a milling machine to make the depressions for the white notes and the nail holes for the black notes. So it is easy to play when the finger feels correct places to play notes in tune. I made the black and white 'keys' by painting the underside of the fingerboard.

[happymoogman]

Excellent job! Some nice ideas here..... -- Dana Countryman.