Video: Solar-powered theremin shoved into Altoids can

Look out, modders -- the venerable Altoids tin is making a comeback. Shortly after the YBox2 rekindled our love for the immensely versatile box, along comes James G. Watt with yet another fantastical creation. The device you're gazing at above is a solar-powered theremin, which is good for making all sorts of cacophonic sounds anywhere that sunlight is abundant. For those unfamiliar with such gizmos, head on past the break for an admittedly strange sounding demonstration.

[Via MAKE]

[Big Al @ Jun 16th 2008 8:07AM]

what a total waste!

[Zorque @ Jun 16th 2008 1:11PM]

Much like you!

[vdogg89 @ Jun 16th 2008 4:11PM]

remember how Zen micro's could fit nicely in altoids cans? that was the bomb

[moneill @ Jun 16th 2008 8:09AM]

An amazing band that makes use of a Theremin:

The Octopus Project, http://www.myspace.com/theoctopusproject

[blade235 @ Jun 16th 2008 8:20AM]

Where are the barrels, the princess, donkey kong and mario......

[Mike @ Jun 16th 2008 11:00AM]

Love it -- I had the same thought at first glance!

[ma5t3rw1tt @ Jun 16th 2008 8:39AM]

Now ya just need to figure out which device you possibly want to charge (iPhone, iTouch, Cellphone, Gaming Device etc) and you have a portable charger. Freaking sweet!

[deyanimay @ Jun 16th 2008 3:12PM]

thats not a solar charger, did you watch the video?

[Rob @ Jun 16th 2008 9:00AM]

I have a full size solar-powered theremin and a solar-powered 500W amp. The solar panels are on my roof.

[MEAT! @ Jun 16th 2008 9:10AM]

Nothing makes more sense than demoing an audio device in a noisy environment. The filmcraft in this is almost as impressive as the hard drive music in a train station. http://www.hackaday.com/2008/06/07/more-hardware-music/

The device itself is cool. He should put a momentary button on top that disconnects the speaker, for playing rests, and what about an oscillator and some kind of capacitor setup? Perhaps it could make a beat, with the tempo depending on the power collected.

[MarbleMad @ Jun 16th 2008 11:07AM]

Sorry about the noise. It's the silly little mic on my digital camera. It picks up EVERYTHING. I have a momentary button on my moded solar theremin and the mod is documented along with a line out mod (which I will use to record some clean sound at one point.. that way you'll all be able to complain about how badly I play :) ).

[mrazzino @ Jun 16th 2008 10:03AM]

my favorite theremin video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW0B1sipLBI

[Bruce Carroll @ Jun 16th 2008 12:13PM]

Wanna hear the worlds most annoying sound....

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

[sinai @ Jun 16th 2008 12:26PM]

@Bruce

HEY JACKASS, have some respect! if it weren't for the theremin, we wouldn't be bombarded, nay IMMERSED, with the mightiest music known to man: DARUDE'S SANDSTORM

[moneill @ Jun 16th 2008 2:45PM]

holy crap that is eerily amazing.

[LarryLarryLarry @ Jun 16th 2008 11:24PM]

With the right wave shape, this would be fun. A square wave through a 1 cm speaker is not fun. It's incredibly irritating.

[MarbleMad @ Jun 18th 2008 10:31PM]

also you can attach an amp.

[MarbleMad @ Jun 17th 2008 8:11AM]

It's sort of a sawtooth. A sin wave would be nice but would require a significantly more complicated circuit.