The First NEW Optigan Disc since 1974!

http://blogtigan.wordpress.com/

Over the years, I've had lots of folks propose various schemes for making new Optigan discs using computer software. Finally, someone has come through with a workable system! Robert Becker is the engineering wizard that made this technological advance possible! And what kind of sounds do I give him to make the first test disc with? Crappy-ass cheesy 80s synth pop!!

OK, this is just a quickie demo, and actually the sound quality on this video isn't that great but trust me, the disc sounds fantastically lo-fi and sounds just like an Optigan disc except with brand new sounds!

We screwed up a few of the chord button assignments, but that's an easy fix. The drum sounds are from an Oberheim DMX. The chord patterns are sounds from Native Instruments Reaktor, sequenced in Cubase. And the scale tones are also from Reaktor.

We're working on developing a scheme for making more discs and making them available. All I can say right now is that generating a master is very expensive, and additional copies are also quite expensive. So unfortunately we won't be able to just do whatever the hell we want. But soon I'll post a survey of some sort at optigan.com so y'all can weigh in on what kinds of discs you'd put down some cash for!

Oh, and yes- we'll be able to make new Orchestron discs too! (In theory we could make new Talentmaker discs, but the demand for those probably would not justify the expense.

If you're interested in purchasing new Optigan discs, please take a moment to fill in our survey so we can figure out what we should make! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=pxR19imAvY0ripwmuwf09w_3d_3d

Category:

Music

Tags:

• optigan
• optigon
• orchestron
• talentmaker

[wdln]

Congratulations... did you use the original Optigan process when it came to physically making the disc?

[peahix]

no, in this day and age computers are much more appropriate and efficient for this sort of thing. the original customized hardware used to make the original discs doesn't exist anymore, and would be a huge project to recreate, and the results would be inferior to what we're getting using a computer.

[spershall]

You. Kick. Ass.

[RaygunShaun]

@Lamonjello The optigan is much more than an 'obsolete toy' to Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Sparklehorse, Blur, Fiona Apple, and Ani DiFranco, just to name a few.

[mellotrongirl]

wish my Optigans ran as good as yours...(gotta get that badge logo metronome light thingy working, tho'!)

[mellotrongirl]

ha! sounds like that song from 1984 You spin me right round like a record baby Right round like a record baby Right round round like an Optigan disc baby

[Dolores5000]

Trip

[DraxDhampir]

@wemetee i am pretty sure it is



[DraxDhampir]

Seriously.............it sounds great and such......but how big are those disks ?

[dinoboxe]

maravilha! great job!!! ;-)

[wemetee]

Is this that thing that Mattel made in the 70s?

[danceofthedruids]

Genuis!

[JDHammondman]

Outstanding! I'd love to put it in my optigan. How did you get the optigan to sound so good and clear? I need help and tips for that big time.