Minimum Theremin Prototype

This is a demonstration of a "Minimum Theremin" electronic project that I got from Art's Minimum Theremin website. It is very simple to build and uses 2 hex inverter IC chips. Other components include resistors, electrolytic and ceramic capacitors, and 2 trim pots (variable potentiometers). I used a pie plate as an antenna and hope to improve it by finding a better antenna. The original design used a 9 VDC battery and a 5 VDC voltage regulator TO5 chip but I had a regulated 5 V power supply handy and substituted that.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• theremin
• minimum
• electronic
• project
• educational
• geekdom

[paultheboss]

neat!

how much does a real one cost anyway?

[MarkFromHawaii]

Hmmm... I posted a response the other day but I guess it didn't "take". Anyway, the project was about $20 in components and wire with lots of spares. Plus the breadboard (I had it from college - many many many years ago) will set you back $40-60. The power supply is about $50 from Kele. You can implement the circuit with a 5 VDC voltage regulator chip and a 9 VDC transistor battery.

[madamerotten]

@BassMike80 There are no 100uF ("microfarad") capacitors in the circuit. There are two 100pF ("picofarad") capacitors in the circuit. A picofarad is 1,000,000 times smaller than a microfarad. Toshiba TC4069UBPC is fine for this circuit.

[madamerotten]

@janxzul No, DON'T use type CD40106. The circuit is specifically designed for CD4069 and won't work with CD40106. Also, there are NO 100uF ("microfarad") capacitors in the circuit. There are two 100pF ("picofarad") capacitors in the circuit. A picofarad is 1,000,000 times smaller than a microfarad.

[janxzul]

It is one of Pink Floyd, not? jeje

[janxzul]

@BassMike80 It is a electrolitic capacitor for 100uF, it's of the most commons, check the polarity when you put it and use the the CD40106 becouse it is a Schmitt trigger, don't use the 4069. May be is later, but better than never : ) (sorry the english)

[coolercal]

thanks a lot!

[madamerotten]

I built the minimum theremin kit and then added the volume part of Art Harrison's 145 theremin to it. He told me that that's about as simple a volume control as is possible. It works great.

[coolercal]

Hey, I was going to order a minimum theremin kit, but was hoping there would be a cheap and easy way to mod on a volume antenna. is there a practical way to do this without just buying a more expensive kit?

[laboo69]

That's kool to see DaBus going by outside da window. Where you was? HPC?

I bet a metal bento box would make a good antenna.

Mark from HI in MD

[Speeder27]

That's awesome. I would love some basic blue prints for that thing! Were you using delay effects with it?

Theremins are awesome. Like in Edison's Medicine by Tesla...