madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: Guitarmageddon on February 19, 2015, 06:41:10 AM

Title: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 19, 2015, 06:41:10 AM
Hey all! Here's a bunch of recent builds.

BYOC VB-2

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/VB2buggy_zps11a24e50.jpg)

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/IMG_4062_zpsd349e765.jpg)

The Harmonic Sink (Harmonic Energizer)

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/HarmonicSink_zps56575d3e.jpg)

Added an expression jack for the Q control.

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/guts2_zps48e51151.jpg)

Syncrotron ( Mega Chorus.Vibrato)

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/1sync2_zpsbc24d549.jpg)

A baffling number of parameters, so I gave them appropriate- and real, thematically related names. 

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/2Synchrotron_zpsc860f095.jpg)

I built it with MN3007 and a bigger regulator for maximum head-room.

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/Synchrotronguts_zps560b8e8b.jpg)

"el Segundo Primo"- working up my "useful" Spanish for my imminent trip to the US!

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/eldirto_zps54d7f930.jpg)

Made a few mods, but really dig it!.

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/elguts_zps4e6ac4f5.jpg)

Love these resin knobs!

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/elSegundoPr_zps6308869b.jpg)

Hadn't boxed it, but posted this demo a little while ago.



CMOS Theremin

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/2Theremin_zps51c78d65.jpg)

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/3Theremin_zpsbc3f0b06.jpg)

Guts are a mess, originally I had a stripboard Rub-a-dub reverb in there too, but it was too noisy. I don't know what the enclosure is, but it measures 170x120x55mm, so it was fun to have that much area to work with. The large and quite thick enclosure seems to make a good aerial.

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/guts_zps1c707ff4.jpg)

(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z30/codtone/1Theremin_zps561cb206.jpg)

Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: m-Kresol on February 19, 2015, 08:20:02 AM
Very cool builds alltogether!
How does the Theremin work? pots instead of antennas?
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 19, 2015, 08:39:26 AM
Thanks!
One pot tunes the range of the RF, the other is just volume. The enclosure is the aerial. You can set it to oscillate higher as you move your hand toward it, or so it's silent with your hand near, then produce a tone that increases in pitch as you move away.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: GrindCustoms on February 19, 2015, 08:45:00 AM
Quote from: Guitarmageddon on February 19, 2015, 08:39:26 AM
Thanks!
One pot tunes the range of the RF, the other is just volume. The enclosure is the aerial. You can set it to oscillate higher as you move your hand toward it, or so it's silent with your hand near, then produce a tone that increases in pitch as you move away.

I request a demo!  ;D

Dude, these all look great!
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: luks999 on February 19, 2015, 09:21:01 AM
that looks fantastic
as frank zappa geek i escpecially adore the waka jawaka cover ;)
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: selfdestroyer on February 19, 2015, 06:38:51 PM
Loves those etches Mr Cod. The The Harmonic Sink looks very interesting with the external controls.. great idea.

Cody
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: Jebus on February 19, 2015, 06:46:07 PM
Really great looking boxes!

Theremin seems very cool. I request a demo too. :) Is it your own design or can it be found somewhere?
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: cooder on February 19, 2015, 06:52:54 PM
Super cool and super etches I agree totally! 8) Great work!
Yes a demo of theremin would be interesting...
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: playpunk on February 19, 2015, 07:04:29 PM
I love every single one of these.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: AntKnee on February 20, 2015, 03:27:19 AM
Love the El Segundo Primo!
The graphic and placement is way cool.
And I can tell you with certainty that spanish is worth learning. Especially in my neck of the woods.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: studiodunn on February 20, 2015, 03:39:42 AM
Those look great man!
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: Tremster on February 20, 2015, 07:50:30 AM
Dat Theremin!
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures.
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 21, 2015, 09:45:42 AM
Quote from: cooder on February 19, 2015, 06:52:54 PM
Yes a demo of theremin would be interesting...
Cheers Guys!
If you consider a few minutes of squeaking and squawking "interesting", then here's the demo:  ;)

Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: GrindCustoms on February 21, 2015, 10:02:55 AM
Just watched it on facebook... awesome stuff man!  8)
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: brejna on February 21, 2015, 12:45:35 PM
Awesome builds! Love them.. Theremin is great toy to play with.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: pryde on February 21, 2015, 09:45:17 PM
OK I want to build that theramin. Can you point me to the vero layout?
Cool stuff my son will love it.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 22, 2015, 01:50:48 AM
Quote from: pryde on February 21, 2015, 09:45:17 PM
OK I want to build that theramin. Can you point me to the vero layout?
Cool stuff my son will love it.
My kids queue to play with it. :)

http://www.paulinthelab.com/2012/04/theremin-veroboard.html  (http://www.paulinthelab.com/2012/04/theremin-veroboard.html)
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: cooder on February 22, 2015, 01:57:11 AM
Awesome stuff Ben! Very cool video...
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: catfud on February 22, 2015, 09:32:55 AM
My kids just watched your video and after it finished the youngest (2 yrs 10 months) said "make one, daddy". So that's that, I *have* to make one now.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: juansolo on February 22, 2015, 09:57:58 AM
Been wanting to build a Theremin forever... This is going into the build list.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 22, 2015, 10:24:51 AM
Look forward to seeing them! :D
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: GrindCustoms on February 22, 2015, 10:31:26 AM
Man! I just found a fabbed pcb of that project that InsonicBloom (Paul) had made available a while ago on BYOC! WIN!
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 22, 2015, 10:35:18 AM
l wouldn't mind seeing the build doc for it, if you've got it, I wanted to see if he'd changed anything...
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: GrindCustoms on February 22, 2015, 10:42:20 AM
Quote from: Guitarmageddon on February 22, 2015, 10:35:18 AM
l wouldn't mind seeing the build doc for it, if you've got it, I wanted to see if he'd changed anything...

It's printed paper sheet with hand written notes, i'll scan it and send it your way, if i don't... just recall me it. ;)
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Coda-effects on February 22, 2015, 11:06:40 AM
This theremin is just incredible !
The graphics are awesome, and the video is great too !
I am really wondering what mods you can use on such a "pedal"... Does it works well with other effects after it ? I am very curious to see how it can sounds with a POG for instance, or even a delay or reverb !

EDIT : ow I actually found someone using it with HOG, reverb and el capistan, it is just awesome !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7TckExCzok
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Willybomb on February 22, 2015, 11:22:02 AM
Might be fun standing on one leg hopping up and down over it while playing guitar.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: pryde on February 22, 2015, 03:26:53 PM
Thanks for the theramin vero link sir.
Having a bit of trouble following the mods and wiring you did compared to the vero drawing. Can you elaborate a bit more on the hook up for the external volume and RF controls? I assume the switch is just power interrupt.

Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 22, 2015, 10:23:42 PM
Quote from: pryde on February 22, 2015, 03:26:53 PM
Thanks for the theramin vero link sir.
Having a bit of trouble following the mods and wiring you did compared to the vero drawing. Can you elaborate a bit more on the hook up for the external volume and RF controls? I assume the switch is just power interrupt.
Switch is just power interrupt, volume is just the standard voltage divider on the output. Paul revised his stripboard layout, I'd recommend you build the one I linked. Mine is built off the one he initially posted at BYOC about 5years ago, hence some differences.

Quote from: Coda-effects on February 22, 2015, 11:06:40 AM
Does it works well with other effects after it ? I am very curious to see how it can sounds with a POG for instance, or even a delay or reverb
Yes, of course! I had a fair bit of spring reverb on in the clip, but delay sounds cool too. I also like tremolo, flanger, phaser or Fuzz!
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: G.G. on February 23, 2015, 04:58:43 PM
Spud knows tone! Awesome project, Ben!!
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 24, 2015, 09:46:52 AM
Quote from: G.G. on February 23, 2015, 04:58:43 PM
Spud knows tone!
New sig Day! ;D
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: micromegas on February 24, 2015, 10:14:53 PM
Cool! I like your style man.

Now you only have to practice a little with the theremin to be able to do this:
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: pryde on February 27, 2015, 03:48:36 AM
Quote from: Guitarmageddon on February 22, 2015, 10:23:42 PM
Quote from: pryde on February 22, 2015, 03:26:53 PM
Thanks for the theramin vero link sir.
Having a bit of trouble following the mods and wiring you did compared to the vero drawing. Can you elaborate a bit more on the hook up for the external volume and RF controls? I assume the switch is just power interrupt.
Switch is just power interrupt, volume is just the standard voltage divider on the output. Paul revised his stripboard layout, I'd recommend you build the one I linked. Mine is built off the one he initially posted at BYOC about 5years ago, hence some differences.

Quote from: Coda-effects on February 22, 2015, 11:06:40 AM
Does it works well with other effects after it ? I am very curious to see how it can sounds with a POG for instance, or even a delay or reverb
Yes, of course! I had a fair bit of spring reverb on in the clip, but delay sounds cool too. I also like tremolo, flanger, phaser or Fuzz!

Thanks for the info. So what are the layout's 2 pots doing? On the layout there is a 10k trimmer on board, then a 1k pot off-board.

Also you just have your antenna wire connected to the enclosure right? Isn't that grounding it out? Sorry for the silly questions, I am starting to populate the vero and trying to figure out things here.
EDIT: I see you have a closed output jack so ground is isolated from enclosure yes?

THanks
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 27, 2015, 04:07:38 AM
I haven't built that second vero, but on the one I built one pot locates the oscillation point (set-and-forget), so that I put internal, while the other controls the range and sensitivity, that's the one I put externally.
I don't have it here now, it's on it's way to a studio in LA, but the external pot was the 10k IIRC.
You connect the antenna wire to your antenna- the enclosure in my case, but if you experiment you'll find all sorts of metal objects will work. Don't ground the circuit and the antenna. I used plastic jacks so the enclosure is isolated.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: pryde on February 27, 2015, 02:09:08 PM
Quote from: Guitarmageddon on February 27, 2015, 04:07:38 AM
I haven't built that second vero, but on the one I built one pot locates the oscillation point (set-and-forget), so that I put internal, while the other controls the range and sensitivity, that's the one I put externally.
I don't have it here now, it's on it's way to a studio in LA, but the external pot was the 10k IIRC.
You connect the antenna wire to your antenna- the enclosure in my case, but if you experiment you'll find all sorts of metal objects will work. Don't ground the circuit and the antenna. I used plastic jacks so the enclosure is isolated.

Great thank you. Final questions:
do you think the range/sensitivity pot is worth mounting external?
what value pot did you use for your volume control on the output?

all your help is greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 28, 2015, 03:53:31 AM
1. Nope, but YMMV.
2. A100K

Look forward to seeing your build!
Title: Re: Various Etched Enclosures *Theremin Demo Added!
Post by: Guitarmageddon on February 28, 2015, 03:59:20 AM
Quote from: micromegas on February 24, 2015, 10:14:53 PM
Cool! I like your style man.

Now you only have to practice a little with the theremin to be able to do this:

Thanks M&M! ...and it'll be a while before I can pull that off on my stone age device   ;D -great little clip!