Jaycar Electronics is now offering a MIDI theremin kit. This model doesn't actually produce a theremin tone, but rather relies on a MIDI-capable sound source. I suspect this might be more useful as a gestural controller than as a traditional theremin, but it looks like a fun project!
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afaik: it uses midi note data, so when you change note, it re plays it, but it will pitch bend up and down inbetween the notes.
ill post some midi files when i get it connected to my computer.
Abdul
I contacted SiliconChip Online and they want you to purchase a FULL YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to be able to access just the two issues that have the MIDI THEREMIN in it!! (Unlike EPEonline, SiliconChip IS NOT in PDF format) (a little outdated I would say-but anyhow)
If either above or someone could scan the constructions articles and put them up on this site it would be greately appreciated. OR, feel free to email me a copy if ya want to. I am at: StevenThompsonATyahoo.com
ive been having a fair bit of trouble in regards to tuning it. it all works fine when the lid and front pannel are off, but when you put it on the volume and pitch antenias just dont work very well.
Also, how difficult is assembling this unit? I'm quite interested in it, but I want to make sure I would be able to build it well to even begin to consider playing with it in a live setting.
i'm a new poster here so first let me thank the community for giving me the incentive to go ahead and order one of these jaycar midi theremin kits, which hopfully will arrive before the holiday.
i also went ahead and paid to download the 2 silicon chip articles that detail the construction as i felt the extra expense might forestall any possible problems - you don't actually have to buy a year's subscription as a previous post states.
i guess others may wish to read the articles but i'm not sure of the legality of posting them wholesale on a forum such as this, so here are a few links to images(jpeg) of schematics. (if this violates any forum rule please let me know)
overview (http://wildchurch.com/mtcd1.jpg)
analogue circuit (http://wildchurch.com/mtcd2.jpg)
digital circuit (http://wildchurch.com/mtcd3.jpg)
i'm aware that the discreet note limitations of midi will make it less than 'theremin-like', but i'm fairly confident that the pitch shift messages can create something interesting. i'm kind of more interested in this thing as another means of enabling human interaction with my software. for those interested you can see what i currently use to manipulate soft synths here (http://wildchurch.co...).
that's enough for now.
here are some photos, showing my custom box/antennae:
[img]http://wildchurch.co...[/img]
[img]http://wildchurch.co...[/img]
[img]http://wildchurch.co...[/img]
just need lots of practise now, i'll post some midi files/mp3s if anyones interested.
regards
and if i buy all parts and put together will be working ?? or i must save something to microcontroler and if i must someone know that?? :)
sorry for english ;)
T1, T2, T3, T4 are the coils that provide the variable voltage that theremin use to adjust pitch and volume.
if you purchase the kit from jaycar all the components are included. if you want to build one from other sources i'm not sure how to advise you but the coils i believe are the same as in a regular theremin. the midi components may also be standard, but i can recommend this kit from jaycar for convenience and ease of build. however i built my own box and antennae to improve the playability and looks - the kit supplied looks like the image in the first post, on page 1 of this thread.
if you have any specific questions or want a list of the kit components, please ask and i'll be happy to help.
one more point, the pitch antenna is opposite to a regular theremin for some reason, i.e. moving your hand inward lowers pitch and away increases it. why? i don't know, the article that jaycar provide states this as being the way a theremin works which is wrong. i posted at their forum but no answer yet. still, as a gestural controller for software it's very effective.
regards
i would like to know if someone can send me the parts list of this midi theremin.
thank you very much my email is maitsum12@yahoo.com
PS if you have some pics of your theremin send them aswell
Normally I would say that you simply need to tune the pitch circuit but if their documentation says it is supposed to work that way I can only scratch my head and wonder why they designed it that way.
It seems the site discontinued this?
Anyone know where I can get a MIDI theremin?
link please?
i found their theremin but can't find any info on the midi addon
This link:
http://paia.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9201FK
... will take you to the Paia MIDI Fader Kit that converts 0-5v control voltages to MIDI CC messages.
The Theremax's CVs are sluggish ... there is a mod to remove the sluggishnes:
www.thereminworld.com/forum.asp?cmd=p&T=1828&F=1
I read that someone reported the MIDI Fader Kit's response was sluggish with the Theremax. However, I have wondered if the issue is with the lag in the CV.
Good luck. I am interested in the MIDI Fader Kit myself and will enjoy reading about others' experience with it.
[i]-- Kevin[/i]