This was the first electronic project out of the Squareness Factory. It is a light-sensitive theremin based on the design from Popular Mechanics. The electronic circuit that drives this unit is based on the stepped tone generator. This wooden case is from a set of bird magnets. Check out the sounds on the video below.
Here's a shot of the insides. Where it differs from the Popular Mechanics design is of course in the case design but also I added a simple diode in line with the speaker so that it changes intensity along with the sounds coming out of the speaker.
I recessed the CDS resistors into the side of the case.
While this was a fun project it doesn't produce an extremely beautiful sound. I'm tempted to call it "interesting" but that can slide into "annoying" pretty damn fast.
A more elegant design might be to pirate a circuit out of a cheap music keyboard from the second hand shop and then make it constantly play one note which can be pitch bent using a light sensor. Maybe I'll have to try that. The noises would probably be less crazy but also more musical. Always another project to try out.
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