Help with MicroControllers

[Box_Stuffer]

I have been searching for the most simple circuit for a functional theramin and I came across the Microkits theramin. They are very vague about the specifics of their ICs and the ones they include in the kit are blank with bug eyes (to appeal to kids) , but after a lot of searching I discovered that they are a 556 timer and a CY8C24123A-24PXI Multicontroller - which I can not find anywhere. I do have a few ATTINY13A that I got off of ebay. The resistors are 47K and 68K.


Here is a shot of the circuit on a breadboard from the instruction book.




Here is the pinout of the CY8C24123A-24PXI that they use and I can not get.



and this is the pinout of the ATTINY13A that I have.




Is there a way to make it work? I don't have any experience with MCUs.


 

[PRR]

https://microkits.net/products/microkits-theremin-kit
Circuit is in the "Read Booklet Online":


I think the basic instrument is the '556. The 556 is a dual timer, which can be oscillators. Since there are no explicit timing caps, I bet they sing 1/(3pFd*68000) or 5 MEGAhertz. The 3pFd and the 5MHz is more-or-less depending on hand position.

We don't call 5MHz "music" but if divided by about 10,000 it would be 500Hz, midscale of guitar or piano.

A 'tachometer' function on the left-hand oscillator would turn frequency to amplitude which could modulate a Volume.

The MICRO "could" also monitor for the lowest capacitance and set a standard frequncy (self-tune) or mute/clamp extremes of volume (to hide the low-pitch growlll when the piece is finished).

So they have replaced a LOT of circuitry with programming. That saves lots of labor when you make a million of them. But it may be a LOT of brain-labor to create that programming (beyond my vague verbal sketch).

> the most simple circuit

Because they hid the complexity. Not to be secretive, just to have fun and profit.

[Box_Stuffer]

https://microkits.net/products/microkits-theremin-kit
Circuit is in the "Read Booklet Online":


I think the basic instrument is the '556. The 556 is a dual timer, which can be oscillators. Since there are no explicit timing caps, I bet they sing 1/(3pFd*68000) or 5 MEGAhertz. The 3pFd and the 5MHz is more-or-less depending on hand position.

We don't call 5MHz "music" but if divided by about 10,000 it would be 500Hz, midscale of guitar or piano.

A 'tachometer' function on the left-hand oscillator would turn frequency to amplitude which could modulate a Volume.

The MICRO "could" also monitor for the lowest capacitance and set a standard frequncy (self-tune) or mute/clamp extremes of volume (to hide the low-pitch growlll when the piece is finished).

So they have replaced a LOT of circuitry with programming. That saves lots of labor when you make a million of them. But it may be a LOT of brain-labor to create that programming (beyond my vague verbal sketch).

> the most simple circuit

Because they hid the complexity. Not to be secretive, just to have fun and profit.

So does that mean the MCU needs to be programmed somehow to work properly?

[ElectricDruid]

So does that mean the MCU needs to be programmed somehow to work properly?

Always! An MCU with no code is effectively a dead chip.