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From: wmartin@brl-vgr.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.wanted,net.music
Subject: Re: Need info on Optigan Corp.
Message-ID: <24@brl-vgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 9-Apr-84 16:39:40 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-vgr.24
Posted: Mon Apr  9 16:39:40 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Apr-84 00:27:58 EST
References: <228@iwu1c.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistics Research Lab
Lines: 28

(Mail doesn't work here... [at least the "r" command doesn't])

Optigan organs were handled by Sears around here for a while, so you
might be able to get some info/parts/pointers from them. Look for
a salesperson in the Sears audio/tv section that is old enough to
have been around for some years, as it was a while ago that they
carried them.

For those who don't know why Optigan organs are different from any 
ordinary electonic organ: Instead of generating the tones from internal
oscillators, these have a rotating flexible plastic disc, the size
of an LP, on which are optically-encoded tracks, using technology
similar to optical movie soundtracks. Pressing a key reads a track,
pressing a chord button reads a group of tracks (I believe, as 
opposed to a chord track), and there are five special effect tracks
(applause, jungle birds, whatever, depending on the disc in place).
Discs are slid in and out of a slot under the keyboard, and easily
changed. Tempo is varied by a control that affects the disc speed;
a flashing light on the panel shows the tempo. Volume varies with
a foot pedal.

It's really not a bad idea; makes a very simple organ into a most
versatile device simply by changing discs to the type best suited
to the music you play. [Or most bizarre, by choosing discs LEAST
suited, like jungle melodies to play Xmas carols...]

Will Martin
St. Louis, MO