Re: [TCML] MIDI Pro Tesla Coil Controller - frequency response

[David Petzer <davepetzer@xxxxxxxxx>]

The frequency profile of audio produced by a Tesla coil is very Tesla coil specific.
 
It depends on the modulation technique, the size and intensity of the electrical discharges/corona, the shape of the topload, the resonant frequency and the frequency response of the driving circuitry (plus all the others I forgot)
 
Generaly small coils are not good for low frequencies due to the small amount of air that they move. Trying to create sound with plasma is also analogous to using a sponge with large holes in it, if you move it slowly the air is not pushed, it flows through. 
 
Very large coils with a high Q and resonant frequencies approaching the audible range have a poor high frequency response.
 
Usually the goal of a musical tesla coil is not high fidelity sound so little consideration goes into equalizing circuitry on the driving electronics.
 
Sorry there was not a more specific answer to your question about frequency response.


________________________________
From: Bart B. Anderson <bartb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Saturday, 31 March 2012 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] MIDI Pro Tesla Coil Controller

Hi Drake,

The controller plays midi files either from the SD card or through the midi input. I imagine you could also play notes in real time through the midi input. The midi (note on, note off, volume, etc..) are output to a fiber optic transmitter. The fiber cable connects from the controller down to the base of the DRSSTC driver which receives those pulses and fires the gates of the IGBT's which of course switch power to the primary coil. In my case, I'm using a Steve Ward Universal Driver (one of the later revisions). So in the end, the coil is being driven directly by the midi. It is of course sparks creating the sound and sparks are only so good as a sound source, but it's quite fun and interesting to listen to. I'm not exactly sure on the frequency range you've asked about. There are of course limits, but that is mainly the coil itself and switching capability of the IGBT's themselves.

Take care,
Bart

On 3/30/2012 8:22 AM, Drake Schutt wrote:
> Hi,
> as an amateur keyboardist and producer I'd be very interested in this.  I
> think that if I were ever to take an act on tour that a midi DRSSTC would
> be a great way to attract people to an event!  Is this something that you
> load midi files on to, or are you able to play notes in real time?  Also
> how does it translate midi into audio?  I'm not terribly familiar with
> midi, but when dealing with it in a DAW (digital audio workstation,
> protools or ableton etc.) you always need a virtual instrument to translate
> it into audio.
> 
> If it just translates the midi straight into audio somehow that's fine
> because the TC 'sound' fits nicely into electronic music.  Just out of
> curiosity what's does the freqency response curve of say the DRSSTC in the
> video on 4hv look like?  As in where does the volume start to roll off in
> the very high and low audio spectrum?
> 
> Lots of questions,
> Drake
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