Optigan - Optical audio discs for an early sampler (Masters "cut" on a Scully)

[symatic]

Hi Guys

I just saw an interesting video about the Optigan - a 70's sampler that used interchangable 12" optical discs with loops printed on them, similar to a Melotron in a way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scd1lCgS490

The comments section had some great contributions by people who were involved in the machine, and that led me to this photo essay, which documents the production process of the masters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osIPvp8kfbM

at about 05:25 are some shots of a Sculy lathe with an optical print head making the master discs. pretty cool stuff!

[flozki]

nice find! thanks for sharing.
happy cutting. f.

[Fela Borbone]

Crazy! Thanks

[dmills]

The old speaking clock mechanisms that the phone companies used to run were the same basic idea, optical variable area tracks much like cinema film of the period on glass disks run by a synchronous motor so everything kept time.

"At the third beep, the time will be 9 52 and 25 seconds...... beep, beep, Beep".

IIRC there is one in a museum somewhere in Australia.