| StoreTags: poo, box, fecus, fetus
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People who enjoyed reading this: Per, Roshi, lematt, Otterfan, license, flies, daswesen, Lara, infradead, mlbot, energygiant, SenorFrio, hecanjog, DrexonField, subset, ejectorset, kwyj
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so, as I mentioned, I've been working on learning how to do electronics type stuff. Well, I chose (with the advice of pysingo) to make an optical theremin for my first project. I guess I did these mostly just to learn how to solder, how to read a circuit diagram, make an enclosure, and all that stuff, since before a few weeks ago, i'd never even used a soldering iron except to make stained glass panels, haha.
I actually made two optotheremins, or as i'm calling them now, pooboxes. here they are:
link
The world of electronics is a strange, strange place. I was kind of surprised to find how everything seems to revolve around these IC chip things, which are these little black spiderbox looking guys who have microscopic little circuits inside. THey're really useful, but I guess my main problem is they just seem really boring, haha. I mean, they look boring as shit. I really like, for instance, some of these weird rainbow colored components...
link
look at that awesome looking capacitor in the foreground...
but those IC chips?? BOOOO
Well, i've learned a lot so far, even though I am still pretty bad at this, and all I know how to do thus far is make little circuits that go SQUEEE and sound like like a moron trying to have sex with a food processor.
this is what the first one I finished sounded like:
link
Yeah... it doens't sound that great. I guess opto theremins are pretty stupid, haha. Anyway, I think, as psyingo said, "it sounds like ass," so with the help of a little advice from him on changing the values of the capacitors and resistors I re-did it and made a second one, which sounds like this:
link
Which still sounds kind of pointless and stupid, but at least it soudns like a square wave, haha. This one I used two 555 timer chips, and used one to frequency modulate the other, and also put a control on the amount of modulation, so I was able to get more tones. I also used this really enormous photo resistor for the second one, which I think has about 3 mega ohms of resistance, though i'm not really sure how much, because my meter will only read up to two megs.
link
Anyway, onwards and forwards. My goal with all of this is to eventually make something that doesn't just sound like drones and squiggle sounds, which are the easiest things to do. It will probably take me a while to get there, but I find this stuff really fun and interesting to learn, so the time will go by quickly, I think.
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05/05/08
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Per
atleast you got two awesome looking boxes to boost your ego 
05/05/08
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Per
I think they sound pretty cool. Do you have the circuit diagrams? I would love to have a go at these.
05/05/08
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flies
3 mega ohms of resistance, though i'm not really sure how much, because my meter will only read up to two megs.
you can put another, smaller resistor in parallel to get a reading. 1/r_total = 1/r_1+1/r_2
05/05/08
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flies
you're probably aware of them already, but the mfos WSG would be a nice next project for you, and the soundlab would something to work towards (it sounds awesome, it's a 'real' analog synth.)
wsg: link
soundlab: link
05/05/08
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energygiant
welcome to the lead fume inhalers club
05/05/08
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ricemutt
Per, I can sketch up a quick diagram if you want, but basically both of these synths are just 555 chips in "astable mode" with a photoresistor as the "R2" second resistor. pretty basic. And the second one with the FM is the same concept but with a little extra stuff. Oh yeah and I put an RC lowpass filter at the end of the signal chain for both of them. But yeah if you want I can make a sketch for you.
those look fun flies, soundlab looks cool, especially with the PC because you almost can't even mess it up, everything is labelled so well. Right now my idea is to kind of make things as I learn how to do things, though, instead of working from kits, though I may do some kit stuff eventually.
Thanks for checking it out...
05/05/08
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jp
diy sound electronics is so much fun-
you can't do anything wrong because even the failures sound interesting. sometimes even better than original schematic.
05/05/08
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subset
I've been trying to break into this too, but I've found I have too many non-profit activities on my plate already. So for now I read about it.
Good to hear someone is following through - I thought they sounded pretty interesting. Do update as your projects progress.
05/05/08
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ejectorset
i've been talking about taking the leap into diy electronics for years now.
thanks for your blog. maybe i totally will now. hopefully.
please blog about everything you make as someone who is a totally n00b to this stuff i find it really awesome and inspiring that you are doing it.
05/05/08
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flies
Right now my idea is to kind of make things as I learn how to do things, though, instead of working from kits
right-on. i can definitely see how this might keep your interest, in that case.
as far as what is interesting in theory as well as practice, filters are definitely worth checking out. they're really useful, often just as an addition to another effect/synth. even simple r-c based filters can be pretty interesting.
05/06/08
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Per
Sure, I would very much appreciate it. Will probably get a new bulk of componements from Futurlec during the summer,
and this looks very interesting. Nothing beats getting a tan whilst soldering
Btw, Is the enclosure homemade or prefabricated?
05/06/08
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lematt
i quite enjoy the name: 'poobox' is charming as i'm a big fan of the 'poo jokes' in general.
but if your ass gets to sound like that you gotta see a doctor.
05/06/08
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kenrestivo
"it sounds like ass"?
What, exactly, does ass sound like?
Most of the time it sounds like nothing, unless it is filled wih gas, and then it makes the sound of it escaping.
05/06/08
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ricemutt
right I guess the closest thing would be a very tight stiff fart, and I think that's what he meant
05/06/08
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j_chot
time to start sellin' them badboys on ebay!
(ask for 20$)
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