My Slidophone

Hi, i'm building a simple ElectroTheremin based on a ribbon controller made out of S-VHS videotape, you can find a tutorial there:

http://asmidius.googlepages.com/home

I used this as a potentiometer in a basic relaxation oscillator, and it works pretty well! There is no volume control, but i'm working on a VCA, not to make the audio signal directly passing through a volume tape. Then i'll try to find a simple and good VCO, and run it in full CV...

The name, Slidophone, is not from me, it came from a guy who released a video of it's own on YouTube:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ce82F6uFR5s

You can find pictures, sound samples and comments there, for those who read french..

http://diyforever.forumactif.info/Projets-Realisations-c2/Projets-f9/Instrument-Le-Slidophone-t28-0.htm

Enjoy!

Hi, some news there!

I'm working on a Modular Slidophone project, the aim is to get something close to the Ondes Martenot, with the elements of a modular synth. For the stuff I used VCO, VCA, VCF and LFO coming from MusicFromOuterSpace, a great DIY synths website, to get this:

http://frankyfuzzfire.free.fr/Fofo/imgs/Organigramme.PNG

I just added the FET Mixer to create a lot of waveforms by mixing classic ones, and to mix an external input by the way.
There will be no ADSR or EG system there, the VCA is totally driven by the ribbon (and the LFO if engaged)...

For the ribbons, I'm dealing with SpectraSymbol that sells good ones, at low price. I need a 50cm long for the pitch and a 10cm long for the volume.

Keep On Slidin' =)

go ahead on your project!

i ve read your posts and are very interesting, i hope when your machine was finished, you share photos and samples, congratulations and good luck!

Thank you!

The main problem so far is to stop having ideas, or I will run out of space in the box! I just have to design the Power Supply Unit, and I beggin when I have money (it will cost a lot..)

About the enclosure, here's a little preview of the thing:

http://frankyfuzzfire.free.fr/Fofo/imgs/Slidophone/RenduSlidophone.PNG

It looks like Moog synths, like the Voyager, and its size would be 700x200x100mm. If i find the time, i would make a dedicated webpage in english (and obviously in french) with more details about the project, the building and all the feedback..

Hi guys, there are news!

The theory is finished, and i'm gathering the datas on a small website, so far in french but i'm working on a translation..

You can find it here:

http://frankyfuzzfire.free.fr/DIY/Slidophone/slidophone_en.htm

So far there is just the first page, the others will come soon (in english, they are available in french)

Keep on slidin'!

The construction is beginnig!

The parts (wood, front pannel metal plate)

http://frankyfuzzfire.free.fr/DIY/Slidophone/Photos/Resize%20of%20IMG_4046.JPG

The "enclosure" assembled for rendering:

http://frankyfuzzfire.free.fr/DIY/Slidophone/Photos/Resize%20of%20IMG_4050.JPG

I've recieved the sensors from SpectraSymbol, didn't have the time to test it in details, but they look good, so far it's enough to finish the design!

This is what the front pannel should look like:
http://frankyfuzzfire.free.fr/DIY/Slidophone/Face%20avant.png