Anybody interested in a DIY digital Theremin?

Del Vento

This is the original (analog) one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin

And here is the opportunity to explore if a digital is possible: https://content.st.com/gesture-recognition-feature-for-vl53l5cx-time-of-flight-sensor.html

I'm sure if one of you is barely successful you'll get a https://pianoclack.com/forum/d/381-midi-innovation-awards-cybrid-and-friends-and-more

MacMacMac

There was a Theremin homebrew project in the Nov 1967 issue of Popular Electronics, reproduced here:

Del Vento

dore_m When I was younger I really wanted an EWI (electronic wind instrument by Akai). So a few years ago I built this

Very cool, as we discussed. Question: is it very sensitive (picky) as a real woodwind instrument (if you ever played one) or does it simply measure breath pressure/speed?

MacMacMac There was a Theremin homebrew project in the Nov 1967 issue of Popular Electronics

Very cool too, but that was obviously analog and we are now talking digital 😆 which in my opinion could create a revival of this instrument. Not for me, not at this time, obviously, as we are discussing in the other thread….

dore_m

When I was younger I really wanted an EWI (electronic wind instrument by Akai). So a few years ago I built this:

https://hackaday.io/project/12315-teensiewi-woodwind-usb-midi-controller

It got me back into arduinos, and the knowledge helped me build my custom arduino continuous pedal last year.

dore_m

Del Vento Very cool, as we discussed. Question: is it very sensitive (picky) as a real woodwind instrument (if you ever played one) or does it simply measure breath pressure/speed?

It just measures pressure, so there is no real airflow. Takes some getting used to, especially because the keys have no tactile feedback. But you can control realtime volume with your breath. I was using it on a plane when I traveled alot for work. Covid stopped my travel, and I haven't used it in awhile. But I did get my 12 year old (at the time) daughter to reprogram it to 3 valve trumpet fingering as a coding project.

HZPiano

Hello,

The real deal, an analogue Theremin is a beautiful and super fun instrument.

I know one or two Dutch artists who have made great subtle use of a Theremin in their work.

So this digital proposal -- also fun! Must resist… must resist… must resist…

😳

PS I briefly had the Roland A49 controller which features a 'D-Beam', which effectively is a dual (I believe) optical sensor measuring differences in incoming light (caused by hand movement). It is a tad simple but certainly fun to experiment with. Its 0--127 (or vice versa) output can be mapped to any MIDI Cc#.

Ralphiano

"Theremin", hmmm....... Sounds like a pharmaceutical!

Frédéric L

Ralphiano No it is not turpentine (the French word is even closer thérébenthine).