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25th Nov 2016, 2:10 pm | #1 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 58
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Musical neon oscillators
I have made a musical neon oscillator circuit, based on a schematic from Practical Electronics 1966! It works, but will need a better keyboard and finer tuning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhmYvPe-Qqk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fivAN-3wFDc
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Lucia |
25th Nov 2016, 3:00 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Manchester, UK.
Posts: 860
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Love it! I've just got a breadboard so you shouldn't be putting ideas into my head! I get out precious little enough as it is...
I'm slowly getting my head round the idea of making some very basic oscillator type instruments (I use the term "instruments" in the broadest possible sense...) and this is definitely unusual enough to get my interest. Regards, Paul
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25th Nov 2016, 5:37 pm | #3 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Shropshire, UK.
Posts: 3,051
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
A number of commercial electronic organs were based on the same technology.
Try shining a bright torch or similar at the neons for an alternative way of achieving a tremolo or pitch-bend effect. |
25th Nov 2016, 7:14 pm | #4 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,496
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Quote:
I love Practical Electronics designs! This must have seemed quite out-there at the time. Thank you for sharing it!
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Al |
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25th Nov 2016, 7:17 pm | #5 |
Guest
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
That's very silly, great!
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25th Nov 2016, 8:05 pm | #6 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,801
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
A high-voltage stylophone!
David
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25th Nov 2016, 10:19 pm | #7 | ||
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 58
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Glad you all like it.
Quote:
Quote:
Yes! The original schematic had a 90V battery, but I am using a nixie tube power supply of 107V DC. The reason I am using it as a stylophone for now is that it needs a better keyboard.
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Lucia |
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25th Nov 2016, 11:48 pm | #8 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,801
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
With the exponentially-rounded sawtooth, once you have enough notes, I'd suggest playing 'Telstar'
David
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Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
26th Nov 2016, 12:58 am | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 3,601
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
I had an organ some time ago that had a whole row of neon's practically across the width of the keyboard, they were used as frequency dividers on many instruments of the time.
Peter |
26th Nov 2016, 4:42 pm | #10 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,852
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Hello,
At a tangent I had to find out some info on Neon Relaxation oscillators as part of the restoration of a Stereosound amplifier in this thread https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...t=94293&page=3 There is a link to a PDF of some info I found in a book Electronic Musical Instruments Manual by Alan Douglas, which can be found in post #51 in the above thread. Terry |
26th Nov 2016, 6:08 pm | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Resolfen, Wales; and Bristol, England
Posts: 2,588
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
For that tune you really need the Selmer Clavioline that's in my workshop.
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26th Nov 2016, 9:02 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 8,173
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Hi Lucia, I have plenty of spare wire ended neons if you need more
Ed |
27th Nov 2016, 12:07 am | #13 | ||
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 58
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks Ed, I think I have enough of them for now, but I will let you know if I need more. Are they the standard mains indicator size?
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Lucia |
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27th Nov 2016, 7:42 am | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 8,173
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Hi Lucia, standard size, wire ended and with no series resistor
Ed |
30th Nov 2016, 11:51 pm | #15 | ||
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 58
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Quote:
Quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9N4uBwL9vY
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Lucia |
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1st Dec 2016, 7:33 am | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK.
Posts: 7,638
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Sounded ok to me Lucia. BTW, where did you get your "grippy", spring loaded jumpers from?
Nice project, Andy.
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1st Dec 2016, 9:29 am | #17 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Good!
I'm also glad you're not suffering for your art. Though if you ever got the original stylophone advert's demonstrator to play it, most people would want you to use much higher voltages and currents David
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Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
1st Dec 2016, 2:47 pm | #18 | |
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 58
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Quote:
Does anyone have any ideas of what to use for keys? Some kind of spring loaded buttons? The buttons which I used in the first video are too difficult to press, and I have a hand problem which means anything has to be really easy to use. The stylophone method has the drawback of making it very difficult to play more than one note at a time, and unlike a real stylophone, it is polyphonic so it seems a shame to have that limitation. Also the stylophone's reputation has suffered because of its annoying tone and that advert.
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Lucia |
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1st Dec 2016, 3:17 pm | #19 | |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
Quote:
Problem is if I got one of those for the keys I would restore it. |
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1st Dec 2016, 5:28 pm | #20 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 8,173
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Re: Musical neon oscillators
For keys try micro switches with lever arms on them.
Ed |