Phoenix Board Index

Always use Ctrl-F5 to update this page

Phoenix Construction Index

- My original theremin design is not easy... only because we are human and make mistakes -
..

Disclaimer: Things that will doom your build are you want to complete it in two weeks, I could do it but take your time. Then some think they have most of the parts to build with in their junk drawer, instead of ordering my list. Then there are those that are going to convert it to surface mount while they have no understanding how a theremin works. All of this will lead to failure. I am not your teacher, your troubleshooter, babysitter and just showing you what I do. You build at your own risk. The 3.04.20 PCB's are still available as of 1.04.21 at no charge Send me your snail mail address exactly how it should go on an envelope. Succeed you will have something better than this theremin sound priceless! Modern engineers avoid analog and want to make everything digital because that is what they know. - My knowledge of theremin principles is always evolving so never completely correct - * This link gives you the entire Phoenix 2020 Website in a 150 meg Zip file * - someday this site will go away and you will have a copy to share -
EtherWave Standard Box Mod This is most up to date, where my focus is now		Stuffing the Board Modifications
The Oscillators A new design for theremin		The Audio Enhancement under construction
Volume Control Volume Has Rapid & Smooth Response		Special Pitch Electrode Electrodeum Pitch Antenna
Power Supply & Troubleshooting under construction
phoenix-oscillator-theory.pdf		Mods for Phoenix 2013 Board
Mouser Parts List List is for a Single Board 10.01.20		Project Schematic PDF 9.19.20 by Don Parrish Bell
how the pitch field works.pdf		Frequency to Voltage

The Vactrol VTL5C1 is found on ebay

Mouser Parts List
List is for a Single Board, Order for one Board to be sure you can Build it.

Always Check Parts List For What is Out of Stock!

Construction
As of 3/27/20

Setup #2 PDF
As of 2/21/20

Gerber Files
As of 3/04/20

Silkscreen PDF
As of 3/06/20

Copper PDF
As of 3/06/20

* I need to revise all of the above *

Here are never done before Phoenix Theremin concepts

1. The Becker Electrodeum is a parallel tuned electrode or Pitch Antenna for ideal Pitch Field Linearity.

2. The use of L3 - 3.3 mh choke to sense the inductive field from coils L1 & L2. This approach eliminates the need for buffer components with more control over the audio wave shape.

3. The use of the VO618A opto-isolator feedback with the 600 ohm 1:1 transformer to enhance the sound.

4. Thermal Drift Control - This is done with Pot-3 by balancing the voltage drop across both transistors. Most drift comes from the PN junction capacitance.

- View Latest Updated Phoenix Board - - Someone Else's Good Webpage -

Click on Picture to Enlarge

A $75 single board construction can be either a Pitch Board or Volume Board

The 10 light tan capacitors on the left side oscillator section are 47pf, except C7 & C31 are 100pf, C17-10pf, C19-Empty

Graphic of Actual Parts Locations
3.03.20

Image above the long yellow wire is on Volume & Pitch Board, Add switch on Volume Board on yellow wire for Mute.

Pink wire with Pot-2 50k Timbre1, Pot-1b 50k both Timbre2 on Pitch Board only. Experimental

- Every yellow line must be a wire jumper or the actual component to work properly -