Beginner, where to start?

Hello all,

I very recently got interested in this and I am no expert at reading schematic yet. Is there a basic design I can use just to try and get something working?
Thanks

You sound like your interest is more in design and being a musician second?

The theremin has a very steep learning curve in both design and as a musical instrument. It kicks the ass of many engineers which is why they abandon Lev's original phenomenon to only imitate it with a synth. The two sound completely different.

You must decide if you want to study what Lev Theremin originally discovered which is a Miracle of Nature

Authentic Theremin Sounds:

https://oldtemecula.com/+aranjuez.mp3  RCA tube design

https://oldtemecula.com/+lights-go-down.mp3 – my own solid-state design

You could also explore the many imitations today that sound more like a flute.

Best of success

Christophe

not looking to be a musician, I just find the idea of making something that works interesting. Some of the designs I looked at are way out of my league for now, I need a simple design to start

Hey! I had a very similar question about a month ago. Take a look at the post called “Greetings Thereminworld!!!” that was posted about a month ago for loads of helpful advice.

I have actually read that one already lol. You having any luck with a build yet? Find any good circuit design?

I have not started my electric project(s) yet because I got distracted with my the start of school. However, if you are  still around on this site when you start I'll send my schematics.

If you start building before I do, I want your blueprints!

The end goal for me is a D-LEV theremin or something of the sort, but I plan to start with a CB or HAM radio because as far as I know, they are somewhat easy, require little to no coding depending on what you do, and have lots of examples online I think.

If you want to build a theremin, learning by doing is the best approach. This is the only way to identify the pitfalls: antenna geometry, hum modulation, linearity, temperature drift, power supply etc. To start with, you can also use a breadboard, but make sure it is a high-quality one, not a cheap product, which would lead to frustration. Take a modular approach.

Start with the variable pitch LC oscillator and use a high-inductance coil of a few mH for it. Choose a circuit for this: there is a wide selection of oscillator types available. The antenna rod should not be too thin. IlYa has provided a useful calculation tool for this. In addition to the antenna capacity, a trimmer against ground of approx. 15 pF is recommended. Measure the frequency (some hundred kHz) with an oscillator via a high-impedance, low-capacitance probe. Ground the circuit via the oscilloscope or separately. Then observe the frequency change as your hand approaches the antenna from a distance of approx. 50 cm to 2 cm. If more than 3 kHz is exceeded, this is sufficient.

Now build the fixed pitch oscillator in the same way, without an antenna. Build a simple detector from a diode and an RC combination with a time constant of approx. 1 kHz. Connect it capacitively to an amplifier; a high-impedance guitar amplifier is well suited.

Couple the two oscillators weakly via capacitances of approx. 10 pF, a common resistor to ground about 10 kOhm, and connect this to the detector. Find the zero point of the beat by changing one of the trimmers and determine the tone range by changing the hand distance.

It is recommended to view the overtones with an FFT analysis program controlled via the microphone input, e.g., the Spectroid app. If the individual overtones are split, there is a problem with interference from devices or via the power supply.

Test the linearity: Double the beat frequency at equal distances. If you have been successful so far, you can start with the volume section.

"If you want to build a theremin, learning by doing is the best approach. This is the only way to identify the pitfalls: antenna geometry, hum modulation, linearity, temperature drift, power supply etc."  - JPascal

Excellent advice!

"Start with the variable pitch LC oscillator and use a high-inductance coil of a few mH for it."

This is the trick IMO, finding inductors with high Q (a measure of how ideally the inductor behaves) and therefore worthy of Theremin use.  The RF chokes used in the Etherwave are long gone, IF transformers are on the endangered species list.

"IlYa has provided a useful calculation tool for this."

Agree, ILYA's Theremin tool is a godsend for anyone starting out with Theremin design.

Hey trymeinchesss I am waiting on some parts before I can get started but I will share if I find something good. I like your idea of doing a radio build also, think I may give it a try. 

Jpascal thanks for the advice, a lot to digest there lol. When I start my build I may reach out to you for advice if your interested