The Thermatron Flame Controlled Synthesizer

The proof of concept test for the THERMATRON, a vacuum tube synthesizer controlled by a flame. Created and built by Lorin Edwin Parker at Electric Western.

The right mixture of gas, air pressure, high voltage, chemical ions and heat vary the flow of current through a flame. This current feeds into the grid and / or plate of vacuum tubes controlling an Electric Western Phantastron Synthesizer.

More info and more prototypes will be coming -- www.electricwestern.com

(c)(p) Lorin Edwin Parker, Electric Western (tm)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Electric Western
• Phantastron
• Fire
• Flame
• Thermatron
• Synthesizer
• Plasma
• Sound
• Synth
• vacuum tube
• tube
• diy
• electronics
• physics
• sound art
• experiment
• experimental

[Gameboygenius]

Hmm, is the flame even part of the oscillation loop, or does it just generate a control voltage?

[sheepslinky]

@Gameboygenius It conducts a control voltage. One electrode is at about +280V and the other is connected to the grid of the vacuum tube which reacts to the control voltage. The +280V charge is conducted by the flame, depending on temperature, gas and ion content to that grid and then through the circuit. The flame does not generate significant electrical power, instead it is simply a connection between the voltage source and the voltage controlled oscillator. A rheostat if you will...

[sheepslinky]

Pitch = Conductivity through the flame (think plasma - an ionized gas that conducts electricity).

Yes, if the ionized gas between electrodes is hotter, conductivity (current) increases. In this case, greater heat and current raises the pitch.

So, yes.

[sammywombarra]

its got good potential. and would look good on stage

[sheepslinky]

It's a proof of concept now. There will be more to develop, for sure.

[moneraths]

Can you modulate it? That would be tight.

Maybe just use the secondary of a step up transformer in series with one of the hv input wires, and run some midi tones/music through the primary of the transformer. And if it works I want 5%...:) Cool contraption Slinky. Good luck with your future indeavors/

[sheepslinky]

Yes, that would work. Same principle as a plate modulation transformer (radio broadcast). I have one of those, and yes, I will. However I need to tweak the current on the HV side.

[doctorvague]

Great stuff. And the Ehrlenmeyer flask is the classiest flask of all flasks.

[Gameboygenius]

@sheepslinky Very well, Sir. 'tis as I thought!

[elijahlucian]

interesting... it's like the heat changes so dynamically...

does pitch = heat?

[norwayguy1976]

I want one for christmas!!

[spikkel70]

WHAT THE ... XD

[AerialTheShamen]

Is this a variant of the 'flame triode' experiment? A flame triode built into an oil lamp could make a nice steampunk style distortion device for a synth or guitar amp.

[sammywombarra]

brilliant, i look forward to it