Ian Etheridge
Published

Beverage Can Theremin

Build an analog theremin using only the Analog Discovery 2, the Digilent Analog Parts Kit, and your choice of an empty beverage can!

BeginnerFull instructions provided2 hours2,523
Beverage Can Theremin

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Analog Discovery 2
Digilent Analog Discovery 2
×1
Digilent Analog Parts Kit
All proceeding parts can be found in this kit. They are listed for your convenience or if you would like to compile the parts without this kit.
×1
Resistor 10k ohm
Resistor 10k ohm
×2
Resistor 20k ohm
×2
Resistor 47k ohm
×2
Resistor 100k ohm
Resistor 100k ohm
×3
Capacitor 100pF
×1
Capacitor 0.047uF
×1
Diode 1N3064
Small signal diode. An equivalent diode may be used.
×1
Op Amp OP27
High-Precision, Low-Noise, 1 channel operational amplifier. Link to manufacturer's page with data sheet: http://www.analog.com/en/products/amplifiers/operational-amplifiers/high-speed-op-amps-bandwidth-greaterthanequalto-50mhz/op27.html
×2
Op Amp OP37
High-Precision, Low-Noise, 1 channel operational amplifier. Similar to OP27. Link to manufacturer's page with data sheet: http://www.analog.com/en/products/amplifiers/operational-amplifiers/high-speed-op-amps-bandwidth-greaterthanequalto-50mhz/op37.html
×1
Small Speaker
×1
Breadboard (generic)
Breadboard (generic)
×1
Breadboard Pins
×1
Jumper wires (generic)
Jumper wires (generic)
×1
Aluminum Can
×1

Story

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Schematics

LT SPICE Schematic

This schematic was generated with LT SPICE - a free, circuit-simulation software. The dotted box in parallel with the 100pf capacitor is where you would implement your beverage can and hand-held wire for the theremin effect! If you wish to simulate the circuit, you will need to insert a small AC voltage source (maybe 1uV) in series with the 100pF capacitor since the oscillatory behavior is an environmental effect. LT SPICE is available for download at http://www.analog.com/en/design-center/design-tools-and-calculators/ltspice-simulator.html

Scheme-It Schemetic

This schematic was built using Scheme-it from DigiKey available for free at https://www.digikey.com/schemeit/
Note: voltage sources to op amps need to be +/- 5 volts.

Breadboard Diagram

Here is an example of how you might connect the circuit on a breadboard. The purple wires indicate the signal path. Note: your circuit may be laid out different depending on how you route wires, power supplies, grounds, etc. This diagram was created with Fritzing, a free download available here: http://fritzing.org/home/

Credits

Ian Etheridge

Ian Etheridge

6 projects • 11 followers
I am an EE student at UW Bothell, an intern at Digilent Inc, a performing/recording musician, and a guitar/amplifier technician.

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