Optigan videos on You Tube

[mathewhebailey0]

There are several Optigan videos on You Tube including an Optigan drive in intermission trailer. Look for Optigan Drive in Intermission Clock.

 

[toggleswitch]

Here is the link I believe is referenced, but...........

I don't get it.

 

[selectomatic]

It's an Optigan Intermission Count-Down

If you have to ask, you'll never know.

-kevin

 

[brisnat81]

What is a hot Sandwhich?

In Australia it would be a toasted sandwhich, but I'm assuming in American speak it could be a hamburger or cheeseburger?

 

[bundtboy]

never say never

I wasn't born knowing, and I have to ask. Perhaps the person who started this thread could illuminate.

'cause I don't get it either.

Never is a mighty long time.

b

 

[bundtboy]

made by mattel?

From what I can gather, it was an organ like device which used an Lp sized vinyl disc encoded optically with pre-sampled sounds - Originally built by a toy company, Mattel, in 1972.

Here's a couple discs for it on ebay now, one which has the tones of the majestic pipe organ on it - THAT could be pretty neat. I'd like to play with one some time.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[bundtboy]

optigan player

Here in this video you can see a fella fingering his Optigan.

I can hear with my little ear that the turntable speed has the accuracy of a close-n-play. This system could have worked very nicely if the turntable drive was built like a high accuracy machine and not a toy.

It's still very cool. I'd love to have one to play with some time and will keep an eye open for the discs in the thrift store bins.

 

[bundtboy]

swapping out the disc

This one's cool 'cause he shows what happens if you put the disc in upside down~

This dude ain't right~ I liked it right side up MUCH better~.

I really want one of these now~.

Bob

 

[tolivac]

Interesting instrument-but was it to be a toy or a musical instrument-I am confused.The device would be something to have and "play" around with.I would also have to venture to guess its demise could be due to the development of processor based synthesizers and organs also coming out at that time.In the demo videos the playing of its discs backward was another way to add dimension to its sounds.You would have to handle the discs with some care-or the scratches would be "read" by the optical sound head like scratches on film.Who knows the scratches may add another effect to the music.Guess another thing to hunt for at yard sales and thrift -swap shops.

 

[jasonl]

Optiganally Yours

A band based on the Optigan.

 

[selectomatic]

Very groovy Optigan playing,

Too bad the vocalist sounds like a Karaoke-contest loser.

-kevin

 

[tolivac]

Too bad they don't show more of the "Optiganist"instead of the bozo lead singer-and the goofy "breakdance" scenes.I wanted to see primarily the Optigan and how it was played.

 

[jasonl]

But that's the point. It's supposed to be funny.

Anyway, on the credits, he's playing a "Laptoptigan", which I'm guessing he is really playing a laptop with samples from an optigan. I guess that's more reliable then trying to use a real Optigan in a concert setting.