[sdiy] Newbie

[ethan tripp]

hello all. my name is ethan and i'm incredibly intimidated to be on 
this list. however i'd really like build some things and figured this 
was a good place to start. unfortunately i know nothing, so i'd 
appreciate anything at all you can tell me.
my first project in the synth relm, i'd like to be a ribbon controller 
(trautonium style). i've been circuit bending for a while, so i get 
relatively simple electronics concepts and am trying to learn how to 
read schematics.
the type of controller i'd like to build is really stripped down. it 
won't be pressure sensitive like the trautonium, it's just the playing 
style i'm after. i'd really like to just have a simple band manual, a 
volume pedal, and an output that can control synth modules like the 
paia stuff. for now i'm just concentrating on the manual itself. the 
problem i have so far is that the construction of the bandmanual is a 
secret no one wants to give up. you can get all the general info, but 
none of the specifics, like how the voltage is controlled, how the 
"string" is made, what rating/gauge of constantan/nichrome it's made 
out of, or what kind of circuit to build so that it can control other 
things. i'm sure this is all pretty simple, i just can't find 
specifically how to do it.
so, that being said, if anyone has built one of these, please throw me 
a bone, it's driving me nuts.

thanks a lot,
-et-
ps, i'm also interested in tannerins, so any info on these would be 
greatly appreciated. btw, i've visited every web page i can find, i'd 
love to hear some specifics, even if the are purely theoretical. thanks.