This set of videos, via James Bennett, takes a look inside the rare Mattel Optigan, and doing some basic repairs.
The Optigan is a 70’s optical sample playback keyboard. It uses transparent sound discs that are encoded with rhythms, chords and sounds.
The Optigan has enjoyed a small renaissance in the last decade, with new sound discs available via Optigan.com.
Kraftwerk used an Orchestron (a relative of the Optigan) for the choir sound on the opening track of their 1975 Radio-Activity album. Go check out the Kraftwerk track on YouTube if you’re not familiar with it. The Orchestron choir sound was great for 1975, and it still sounds good today.
I have an octagon that turns on but nothing else works it makes a very loud sound while it plays but no sounds come out of any keys or buttons. I need someone that really knows about these machines to repair it for me can anyone help me out I live in Los Angeles California thank you so much.