Music played significant role in our lives as long as we can remember.
And guess what as we discover new technologies still it is growing
A good example of this is found in electronic instruments which is particular a electronic organs.
It has completely changed how we compose and enjoy music.
The Technology Behind Electronic Organs:
Even though fancy organs are expensive and tricky to build, make a simple one yourself with a basic circuit.
This circuit is easier to use than others because it does not require a complicated setup.
- One part tone generator makes the basic musical tones.
- Another part vibrato unit can add a little shake to the sound, making it more interesting optional.
- You touch a probe to choose different notes.
- The sound changes depending on a special chain of parts.
- The whole thing uses very little power, so you can run it with a regular battery.
Advantages:
- Simplified circuit for easy construction.
- Low current consumption which is suitable for battery power.
Disadvantages:
- Limited note character and pleasantness.
Circuit Working:
Parts List:
| Component Type | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Resistors (1/4 watt) | 10k | 1 |
| 4.7k | 1 | |
| 39Ω | 1 | |
| 33k | 2 | |
| 1.8M | 1 | |
| 2k Preset | 1 | |
| 10k Preset | 1 | |
| Capacitors | Electrolytic 50µF 25V | 1 |
| Ceramic 0.1µF | 2 | |
| Ceramic 3000pF | 1 | |
| Ceramic 0.05µF | 3 | |
| Transistors | 2N2926 | 1 |
| UJT 2N2646 | 1 | |
| Switch On Off | 2 |
Construction can take any form, but it is essential to note that the probe cannot be metal.
Various probes can be tried until one that instantly makes a nice clean note is found.
The circuit consumes a low amount of current and can be powered by a PP3 battery.
The tone generator comprises a unijunction transistor type 2N2646, C5, R5, VR1 and the tone resistors.
The emitter of the unijunction goes to a probe which can select the correct notes.
The frequency of the note depends on the total resistance in that chain and VR1 is preset that alters the whole range.
The output is taken from the oscillator via C6 to the volume control which should be connected to an external amplifier.
The circuit will produce the correct notes but may lack character and pleasantness.
The vibrato unit works at a frequency that will lie in the range of 10Hz to 30Hz and raises and lowers the output level very slightly at this frequency.
This stage can be built separately and mixed with the note to add character.
It is strongly recommended to fit this stage.
The oscillator is a phase shift type and the output is taken from the collector via C4 to feed directly to the emitter of the unijunction.
The low frequency note is not heard when the probe is not selecting a note.
Phase shift oscillators can sometimes be troublesome but a slight change in the value of R3 usually cures the problem.
Formula:
The frequency of the note fnote depends on the total resistance Rtotal in the chain as given in the following formula.
fnote = 1 / (2 * π * Rtotal * C5)
where,
- Fnote is the frequency at which the circuit produces a musical note.
- Rtotal is a representation of the circuits overall resistance which influences frequency.
- C5 represents the circuits connected capacitance value in farads.
- pi is about 3.14159 is represented by the symbol π and is used in calculation pertaining to circles and periodic functions.
Note:
The formula shows how to determine the frequency of a musical note produced by an electrical circuit by using the circuits total resistance and capacitance values.
It is necessary for creating and modifying circuits that generate particular tones or frequencies in music.
Modifications to C5 and Rtotal enable for tuning to alternate notes or frequencies as required.
Conclusion:
Building your own electronic organ is not only an exciting task but also an educational one.
It offers an excellent chance to study the fundamentals of music theory for understanding the way electronic instruments function.
It has never been easier to develop an electronic organ but thanks to the availability of modern technologies.
In addition to encourage you to explore more into the fascinating field of electronic organs this article will give you important knowledge about their design and technology.
Now this is your chance to let your creativity go wild and begin creating your own electronic organ that can create lovely music in your own special style.
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