Theremin fiddle project?

I just got a product sample in from Spectra Symbol, a company that makes potentiometers, ribbon controllers, and key pads.

The sample they sent is an 8 inch long by half inch wide ribbon pot.

All I need now, is a good schematic for a simple tone generator, (preferably sine wave).

My goal is to create a minature cousine to the theremin celo, which would be played much like a violin would, only like the theremin celo, would have a ribbon controller on the fingerboard, and a lever that would control the dynamics.

With a ribbon this short, I doubt I could get more than an octave, or two out of it, but it's worth a shot anyway.

I'd like to build the theremin fiddle with it's own built in mini amp, and speaker, but for now, would be satisfied with getting the tone out to a regular amp.

Any ideas?

That same company makes a backlit version of ribbon controlers.

Hi, I also asked for a free sample at this company (yesterday, so I don't know when I get it)

My idea to get a sine wave with an easy-to-change frequency is to use a triangle wave, then a low-pass filter.
With a little range of frequencies due to the length of the ribbon, you shouldn't have some problems of waveform shaping..

Anyway, if someone else's got a schematic of an easy-to-build sine oscillator, without matching resistors or caps to fix the frequency...

Thomas,

I have some of their samples as well and I also have an old cello in the garage that probably will not take strings very well.

I think it would be cool to put two or three controllers on the neck. they could either be tuned in unison or as a chord. With unison you could get some nice chorus/flange type effects controlled by your fingering.

Or maybe the neck could be played with both hands like a Chapman Stick.

I bumped my thread from a while back.

When I got my smaples they did not seem to have any backlit ribbons pots.

I think we should all band together and place an order for some of these things.

I just baught a violin for 60 dollars. if it turns out that it just won't stay tuned (it's cheap, waddaya expect?), I may just convert it, but I really want to do a theremin fiddle from scratch using transparent accrylic.

I think the backlit stuff has to be specially ordered. I did see the backlit ribbon pots, and keypads on their site.

Just found a cool short demo of a home built ribbon controlled synth called the slide-o-phone on youtube. The guy used SVHS tape to make the ribbon controller. I'd seen a site that shows how to do this, but I didn't think it would work. I was wrong about that assumption. Here's the video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ce82F6uFR5s

Uuh, ugly sound =) (a sine or tri wave should be better huhu)

Hum for a packed order why not, if they have some good backlit XY pads, to make a Korg KaossPad replica.. Or anyway some good touch-sensitive strips (cheaper than midi-compatible sensors)

How about a, medium-sized x/y pad for volume and tone plus a ribbon controller for pitch?

Both backlit, of course.

Thomas, have you tried putting some resin on the tuning pegs? That might help with the tuning.

I just tried it, and so far, the violin is holding tune all day long now. You also have to cram the pegs deeper into the peg pox for better friction. Not too bad for a 60 dollar Cecilio.

Touch pads and ribbons would make a cool volume, and pitch controlled device.

Might be cool to find a presure sensitive version that would also provide volume right in the same strip that does pitch. I guess one could mount a pitch ribbon right over a pressure pad.