- Published in issue 1/2018 on page 32
MicroTesla Music Synthesizer
Sing along with sparks

In a previous article we staged the Spiral MicroTesla, a USB-powered, flat mini Tesla coil capable of producing crackling sparks of up to about 4 cm. Although a great design, its usefulness is rather limited with its fixed 5-, 10- and 20-Hz spark rates. In this article we will show you how to transform the device into a MIDI-controlled music synthesizer.
- www.elektormagazine.com/160498
- www.elektormagazine.com/160592
- http://forum.devmaster.net/t/fast-and-accurate-sine-cosine/9648
* USB & MIDI controlled
* Tesla-coil-based oscillator
* Precise frequency control
* Musical performance controls
* Tesla-coil-based oscillator
* Precise frequency control
* Musical performance controls
Component List
Resistors (0.25 W)
R1=1kOhm
R2=220Ohm
R3=100Ohm (see text)
Capacitors
C1=100nF, 5mm pitch (see text)
C2=100µF 6.3V, 2.5mm pitch (see text)
C3=1nF, 2.5mm pitch (see text)
Semiconductors
D1=1N4148
IC1=CNY17-3
Miscellaneous
K1=5-way 180° DIN socket
K2=3-way pin pinheader, 2.54mm pitch
PCB #160592-1
From the Store
160592-1: MIDI input adapter PCB
160498-91: Spiral MicroTesla module
Resistors (0.25 W)
R1=1kOhm
R2=220Ohm
R3=100Ohm (see text)
Capacitors
C1=100nF, 5mm pitch (see text)
C2=100µF 6.3V, 2.5mm pitch (see text)
C3=1nF, 2.5mm pitch (see text)
Semiconductors
D1=1N4148
IC1=CNY17-3
Miscellaneous
K1=5-way 180° DIN socket
K2=3-way pin pinheader, 2.54mm pitch
PCB #160592-1
From the Store
160592-1: MIDI input adapter PCB
160498-91: Spiral MicroTesla module