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“The world is a university and everyone in it is a teacher. Make sure when you wake 
up in the morning, you go to school.” 
- T. D. Jakes


- The PDF Toner Transfer Files to make the PCB's are found Below -



logo by Brian Pfeifer      
neurolifesuit@gmail.com
      

  


In my Vision the theremin was revealed as art, stand alone simplicity revealing beauty. The pitch rumbled low, yet sang with the angels. Arm and hand movements control the range of volume, octave change and pitch. It is interesting to me that a beautiful sound is easier to play. It is as if the theremin finds joy in expressing herself. This theremin is reality and affordable for those who wish to share in the dream of Lev Sergeyevich Termen . . . Christopher    November 15, 2003

This idea was first brought to my attention by Brian Wilson when he demonstrated a theremin he had in 1965 and mentioned the one he experienced as a child. Later as fate would have it, I became friends with Paul Tanner and his wife Jan. Paul never called it anymore than his Paul's Box. It was the media hype calling it a theremin. This caused Paul's success with the Beach Boys to be severely overshadowed by anal retentive washed up musicians... and it still happens in this age when anything can be called a theremin, now these people are creepy. He apologized to me as if he needed too, and that still bothers me today, thinking the noise most Thereminist are making is also not a theremin. 

Dr. Paul Tanner has taught over 75,000 students music and jazz in his 23 year career at UCLA, in that he will always shine. 

"Paul had a passion for music, if you look at the date of when he died six years ago, and of Valery's video date below, coincidental? 
Maybe Paul's selfless giving of all that he had, is reflected in "The Swan"

- By "bewitching design" he brought more attention to the Theremin than anyone had before, 
let's finally give him the recognition he deserves -

Trombonist with Glenn Miller Band from 1938-1942 (Lived: October 15, 1917 – February 5, 2013)


The Seventh Connection: Lev Sergeyevich Termen, Clara Rockmore, Samuel Hoffman, Brian Wilson, Paul Tanner, Peter Pringle and then me Christopher S Becker.

Nothing in my design is copied from any previous designs. It is developed around the "Becker Electrodeum" which by "nature" gives a perfectly linear Pitch Field and sings in a beautiful timbre, not a cheap whistle. It uses phenomena that will never be seen in computer modeling. In a way it compliments the work of Lev Sergeyevich Termen but using a different approach. Not wanting to be an imitation or copy of anyone else I will call it the Phoenix Electrodeum. Theremin like but possibly better?

- This webpage explores recapturing an original classic sound -

Musicians why did nasty reverb replace the Timbre, Color and Quality of Sound?

Raw Sample.wav
Solid State RCA (buzzy)

Low End.mp3
Smooth Low End

Original Classic.wav
Electrodeum with Tubes

- I heard a whisper "true beauty is hidden within simplicity" -

Electronic parts are around $100 for a pitch/volume NPN transistor theremin with results better than the 
vacuum tube designs!

Theories on these WebPages are my observations, there is always room for improvements or opinion change. Let's get back to real creative experimentation and not imitation. The Electrodeum is a electronic build project, if it is musically playable is not for me to say.

Phoenix Electrodeum Features:

Perfect Pitch Field linearity up to 7 octaves of any width.
The Classic Old School Fat Sound, not a cheap whistle or kazoo.
On board Pitch Preview amp with Steady or Volume reversing
(coming soon)
Drift resistant in normal indoor use, user balance adjustment 
Volume - wide or narrow window of control
(>24") smooth quiet side
Volume - mute switch
Mic to Line level Output adjust
Output Mono/Stereo s
electable

Knobs:
Pitch Null
Volume Null
Volume - normal, softer, snappy, mute
Timbre Control for Color -
mellow - vocal - excited violin, all morphing through a dynamic range.


The Pitch Board
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The Volume Board
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The β Pitch Antenna 
(The Becker Electrode)

Make Your PCB's
(video instructions)

The PDF Toner Transfer Files
 need to do a modification, check the volume page

 The Basic Build
Valery S begins to assemble

Theory of Operation
Phoenix 2020

Original Circuit Designs 
From a 15 year Journey


- If you have never played or built any other theremin design, this should not be your first! -
If you are a seasoned electronic engineer, please go elsewhere, this is too simple for you

The latest complete schematic drawn by Peter N of Slovenia

Watch the Evolution of His Circuit Board Development
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This is recorded 2.4.19 by Valery S of St Petersburg Russia
It is sitting on top of the box I shipped it in.

* I will not be able to help most troubleshoot *
I have a date with destiny

To the first builder, my computer hard drive crashed in the middle of making this new webpage. Many forces were against me getting this project to your bench, mainly burned out electronic engineers and washed up musicians. I have no working printer right now due to the hard drive crash so measure the loop around the graphic to be about 8cm x 20.7cm, if not do not go further and let me know. I say there are 10,000 reasons for a theremin not to work properly, why some go digital and more reasons preventing a webpage. For those lucky enough to recognize it... we are at one of life's rare junctures, a metaphysical moment. Did I invent the Electrodeum? No, like Lev Sergeyevich Termen we were guided to a discovery... and now for 2020. Christopher

She sang to me for over 10 years......  and she still does not like to be touched

she craves for attention, enjoys fingering, who will be seduced next?


 
Mouser Parts List

All parts are now in stock as of 1.04.19

* This will fit inside an EWS box, purchase one cheap that does not work. *

Two pc boards 75mm x 200mm = 400mm length

* substitute anything you will fail *


Purchase from Amazon:

Link - 12 volt AC transformer with earth ground prong, ideal for this project.
        
You need a good earth ground, 12 volts AC, DC or Switching Supply will work
          
Connect the proper length TRS cable to the transformer for connecting to the Phoenix 2020.

Link - β Antenna C-253 spring/coil for an ideal linear pitch field
(a modern day discovery)

Link - old Acorn End Cap Flag Pole Topper Finial (Fits 3/4 in. Pole)

Link - 1' 3.5mm Male Right Angle to 3.5mm Female Gold Stereo Audio Cable, 
         
dangle 3 outside EWS box for easy Power & Audio & Preview connection (Ideal)
         
Another one inside the EWS box for pitch board to volume board- Could use 4 total

Link -   you could use 2 @ 6 ft or more for audio output to computer & power supply connection

Link - Copper Clad Single Side PCB Laminate Board 150 x 200mm (one piece cut in half 75 x 200)
           This ships from China, could take 2 to 4 weeks to arrive.


Link - Ferric Chloride PCB Etchant


Link - Vactrol VTL5C1 used in my PWM volume control. Higher last number will not work, too slow.

Link - Plastic 18" Sleeve to keep circulating air off the sensitive spring/coil pitch antenna.  Arrived in 4 day USPS

Link - 1/4" x 3' wood dowel to support β Antenna spring/coil (get at local hardware store)


Extras:

Link - $12 VOM Meter with Transistor, Hfe, Frequency, Capacitance, etc Amazon

Link - Jonard Tools AT-6241 Non Conductive Alignment Screw Driver 7"

Link - Jonard Tools AT-6241 Pack of 10 Amazon

Link - $20 TaoTronics Wireless Portable Bluetooth Transmitter Amazon

Link - $20 Bluetooth Headphones, Hussar Magicbuds
Amazon 

Link - Acetone ?

* This will fit inside an EWS box, purchase one cheap that does not work. *

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My hard drive crashed in the middle of creating this webpage. I can still edit the webpage. I lost the ability to make or edit PCB parts. I can no longer record sound bytes until I get another computer or maybe the one on this webpage will be the last. I have just enough info on a USB stick and this laptop to get the PCB's toner transfers PDF's done. My thought is my 15 year journey has finished. Sending my final build to St. Petersburg Russia makes me think I am sending her home. I wish I could tell you about the greatest concept that most will never believe.

My personal expression and you can look it up on google  

"In life do something beautiful and do it well with your moment on earth."

If I offended anyone on my life's journey I apologize.

Christopher (oldtemecula)

* This is Not a Beginner Electronic Project *

Only you know your skill level. You will be mostly on your own. This webpage is to show you what I have learned over my 15 year theremin journey. I am not here to teach and you build at your own risk. If you follow my directions perfectly and do not substitute anything you will have built the finest theremin ever conceived in response and sound. With an open mind you just might discover something new.

Post your experience in my Chat Forum maybe others can eventually help one another.

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