Popsci has a quick how-to on building theremin-esque device for under 20 bucks –
A full-fledged Theremin will set you back nearly $400, but with the instructions below, you can build a pocket-sized Theremin-like instrument that won’t break the bank. Unlike the real McCoy which relies on grounded variable capacitance for changing frequency and volume with the wave of a hand, our Pocket Theremin uses variations in light for producing its unearthly vibrato.
Interesting choice of enclosure – Build a Pocket Theremin on the Cheap
Related:
HOW TO – Make a Theremin
14 thoughts on “How To – ‘Theremin’ on the cheap”
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i wish bre would come back no offense Kip Kay but he inspired me to make things more
all those ads you have in the video and then at the end were pretty bogus
@Walenga – We didn’t choose that ad format – those pop-ups are put in by Blip.tv. I don’t believe they were doing this when that podcast was first posted.
@Samuel – The current incarnation of weekend projects will keep evolving over time – and I hope some of my posts can inspire you too!
Good to see people pay attention to those “Related” items -now how about that pocket theremin? :)
i just put this together on a breadboard a few days ago – its a fun, quick build. I’m still playing with different resistors and capacitor values, and trying to find a better box to put it in (that metal cage isn’t my thing). I may add another 555 controlling a couple leds, to give it a slight ‘beat’.
I recognize that enclosure, I believe I got one from allelectronics (furturelec?) they just looked soo cool, I couldn’t resist popping it in the cart. Also, let’s stop calling anything with an photoresistor a ‘theremin’ okay?
What happened to Bre?
I can happily spend many hours swapping part values on cimple circuits like these – good times.
@[blank] – Bre’s @ Etsy now – you can see his new vids in their blog/news/multimedia section
@vt-pete – agreed. I understand why the ‘theremin’ name was used in describing devices like the above in the past, but it’s time we began referring to these circuits properly.
Perhaps ‘Light-Controlled-Oscillator’ / ‘LCO’ would be more appropriate?