European Earth Ground

I am still not clear how Thereminist in Europe validate their earth ground. In my own research this ground must be direct to the negative side of my circuits or I will not get the ideal wave shape. I learned about really good sound with my vacuum tube oscillators, which by adding a 200v 2uf capacitor between the oscillator and earth ground for DC isolation that this caused unwanted distortion in the wave shape. The earth connection must be as clean and the conductivity as direct as possible. The most beautiful sound is a controlled wave shape.

Edit: In Analog Theremins for the ideal sound and wave shape with ideal Pitch Field response earth ground will not work properly if passing through any components like a diode, capacitor, etc. The oscillators need to be a clean direct connection to earth ground for the natural spiritual interaction with Nature. This is misunderstood by many. I am sure most Thereminist recognize when their sound is spiritually dead so they add a bit of reverb hoping to artificial resuscitate her. 

If ground is misunderstood and I send my design into a knowledge pit she would die with everyone thinking it is not their fault. I would rather keep her here in the states so she will live.

That is one of the fun aspects of the sensitivity of theremin design, that it reveals things & behaviors in components that are normally never considered.

Using this adapter how does it get from the European side of 220v & ground to 110v & ground? Is the earth ground on the US ground pin really a clean direct earth ground? One side of our two prong plugs in the states is ground and a bit wider than the other pin. It does not work clean like true earth ground. I think Europe has a safety ground, not sure how that works.

Christopher  

This is probably the answer I was looking for. I am inclined to believe the Phoenix board is filtered good enough for this switching action but ground will always be a theremin mystery unless her acting up reveals something is not right.

If your equipment requires a specific voltage, then you need a converter or a transformer. Converters use an electronic switch to approximate 110v by rapidly cutting on and off the current received from a 220v source. This is okay for some electrical items like hair dryers but not good for anything electronic (something with a computer chip in it). Also, converters should not be used for anything that is going to be plugged in longer than a few minutes.

Electronic items need a transformer. You will also want to use a transformer if you are stepping up from 110 to 220. Where a converter would simply limit the amount of electrical output without really reducing it, a transformer actually reduces the voltage of the electricity going through it. This is a very important distinction. Always use a transformer with electronics!

Christopher

The way modern wall warts work is they run the mains AC to a full-wave bridge (4 diodes), filter the resulting DC ripple a bit with a small capacitor, then feed this to a high frequency buck converter.  High frequency operation allows the buck converter to use a much smaller transformer than bulky 50/60Hz type transformers (similar to how higher frequency Theremins use much smaller oscillator and EQ inductors).  Some high frequency content does end up on the final DC output, and this might or might not cause trouble for an analog Theremin (it doesn't seem to bother the D-Lev), but since it is high frequency it is likely easier to filter out than mains hum.  Analog Theremins should use (simple, inexpensive, 3-terminal) analog voltage regulation as their first line of defense against oscillator drift, and this will help filter out power supply noise as well.

"In Analog Theremins the ideal sound and wave shape, earth ground will not work properly if passing through any components like a diode, capacitor, etc. The oscillators need to be a clean dead short to earth ground for the natural interaction with Nature. This is misunderstood by many."  - oldtemecula

This is misunderstood by you.  Theremin ground doesn't need to be a dead short, it can be done through a relatively small capacitor.  You only need the reactance of the capacitor at the Theremin pitch axis operating frequency to be minimal.  For example, at 300kHz a 0.1uf capacitor "reacts" like a 5.3 ohm resistor.

I will be posting some new sound sweeps hopefully next week. In this comparison with your sound samples people will hear what I am talking about. What is interesting I showed you how I did everything along the way on my path and you seem closed minded to the real and Natural World. We all live in our own realities and this leads me to ask:

Are you a Trump supporter?

Christopher

The Analog Theremin sound comes from an interaction between the artist and Nature. If my journey has shown anything it is how her natural wave shape can once again become her voice that in the early 1900’s terrified people. It is almost like channeling the spirits or at least her, the spirit of the theremin.

Seen in the sample below is an ideal channeled wave shape, clean and then another polluted by a poor earth ground. If she is polluted all kinds of havoc will happen as she will not be happy and she will not give her best performance. As most know I cannot play a tune but I can tell the muffled sound of most theremins today that need reverb to have some sort of life that have lost her spirit. If anyone questions the importance of earth ground ask for their sound sample.

My latest theremin build has a very broad range of Timbre which I hope to demonstrate next week. It also has a volume control that is more aggressive in the outer field which gives much more range in quieting near the loop. My Electodeum design is completely original.

Christopher

dew said: "Anyway, it seems your completely original design is borrowing heavily (non-linear volume field) from the D-Lev.  Which is fine."  

[center].

"With no earth ground RF pollutes the audio signal"  - oldtemecula

You need to quantify what you mean by "RF" - can't tell much from a fuzzy waveform.  For all we know it could just be a scope grounding issue.  An FFT would go a long way here. 

You should be more rigorous with your terminology, as it conveys definite, real-world meaning.

"It also has a volume control that is more aggressive in the outer field which gives much more range in quieting near the loop. My Electodeum design is completely original."

You want just the opposite: If it has conventional volume sense (farther = louder) you would make the near-field or mid-field more aggressive, not the far-field.  Anyway, it seems your completely original design is borrowing heavily (non-linear volume field) from the D-Lev.  Which is fine.

dewster said: " Anyway, it seems your completely original design is borrowing heavily (non-linear volume field) from the D-Lev.  Which is fine."

In a way I think you gave me a complement?

In my sound byte below I flutter my volume hand to demonstrate a fast response, I think you musicians call it staccato. There is no latency as so often found in digital approaches. Then at the end I do a normal volume fade. Using the radio as a sound source, that tune happened to be playing, notice how there is no distortion in the sound. A full spectrum of audio frequencies easily pass through.

dew if I copied your idea it would be wonderful as Thereminist want more from their Volume response, demonstrate something. Being my Volume Control is separate and independent from the Pitch side, some artist might want this effect for other applications. Did I mention my design also has CV & Gate outputs 0 - 10 volts = 0 - 1000 hz, along with switchable regular or reverse Pitch Preview? (Most top Thereminist do not use these features)

All of my methods and classic sound can be adapted to most other theremin models including Vacuum Tube theremins. 2020 is about every theremin design and a special moment for those that reach further and want more.

Christopher

Edit: dew notice what the song says:

.

"Did I mention my design also has CV & Gate outputs 0 - 10 volts = 0 - 1000 hz, along with switchable regular or reverse Pitch Preview?"  - oldtemecula

Completely original.