There is nothing scarier or more terrifying than the soaring sounds of a theremin, an instrument that uses an electromagnetic field to produce different pitches when you move your hands around it. You may have heard one of your favorite science fiction flicks. It is one of my favorite instruments of all time. I’m always drawn to the weirder things in life and the theremin is definitely one of the weirdest instruments out there.
So I decided to put a theremin on a breadboard. Not only did the high-pitched sounds annoy my dog and husband (to my wicked delight), but it also helped me understand the circuitry better. If you have small children, this is a wonderful project to do with them. It is easy to assemble and the price is surprisingly cheap. Read on to learn more.
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Where can you get a breadboard there?
I bought the $39.95 Theremin Kit from MicroKits on a whim one night. The price is reasonable, as it has all the bits and bobs you need. MicroKits is run by David Levi, an electrical engineer and toy designer who wants to inspire the next generation of engineers. I love finding affordable, accessible products and the small businesses that make them.
The company also sells a small synthesizer that serves as a great introduction to analog sound synthesis. You can even hook the touchpad to a couple of bananas (these are considered conductive objects!) Cool, right? Maybe the synthesizer will be my next project…
The assembly is very nice
MicroKit
I’m not an electrician, but my fingers are small and I’m naturally very dexterous. The whole process involves placing wires, resistors, speakers, and antennas in the right places. The instructions are divided into stages, which I found helpful. The rows and columns of the breadboard are labeled and the wires are color coordinated.
I was able to assemble the parts in about twenty-five minutes. That said, the holes in the breadboard are quite microscopic. The kit doesn’t have any tools, so you can grab a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers. I was able to do OK without tools, but I had to lean in close to see what I was doing.
Ridiculously fun to play
As you can see in the video above, I had a grand old time playing with the breadboard there. A square-shaped antenna muffles the sound while a triangular-shaped antenna controls the pitch. It doesn’t look like a real theremin, but the concept is definitely there. I haven’t really memorized the Who is the doctor? theme song yet, but give me time and I’ll be the life of the party in no time.
I understand the circuitry better
The instruction booklet does a good job of explaining what each part does. Resistors, for example, prevent the flow of electricity while transistors amplify power. The transistor is the thing that makes the speaker louder in this particular device. The whole thing was really cool and I felt like I got something out of it—and I’m not just talking about my new instrument.
If you are looking to learn something new, you should consider getting the Theremin Kit from MicroKits. It’s amazing.