The Optigan Archives Vol. 1 represents a curated selection of audio samples derived from the original Optigan and Orchestron studio master tapes. This collection focuses on musical building blocks from the early 1970s, offering loops and keyboard samples in .wav format alongside Native Instruments Kontakt programmes. Unlike the lo-fi output of the original Optigan hardware, which relied on optical-soundtrack technology, these samples preserve the hi-fi quality of the master recordings. The material exclusively encompasses content from vintage 1970s discs and does not incorporate any contemporary Optigan or Orchestron disc releases. Only a fraction of the vast archive on the master reels was ever commercialised on production discs; this initial volume concentrates on that released material and related out-takes, with future volumes planned to feature entirely unreleased content.
The collection is available as a downloadable product. Upon purchase, users receive a download link and code via email, with instructions to check spam folders if the email does not arrive within minutes. Manual resolution is available if delivery issues persist. The set is priced as a standalone purchase or in a discounted bundle with the original Optigan/Orchestron/Talentmaker sample collection. Notably, the Talentmaker master tapes are considered lost, so the original sample set remains the sole option for that specific material. The audio content is provided on a royalty-free basis for creating original soundtracks (derivative works) for video and audio projects. Users may broadcast or distribute these soundtracks but cannot commercially distribute individual samples, sound sets, or loops on a standalone basis, nor repackage them as audio samples, sound libraries, sound effects, or music beds.
In honour of Mike Le Doux, Optigan’s music director and source of the tapes, 10% of proceeds from sales are donated to cancer research. Mike Le Doux passed away from cancer shortly after the editing of this collection began. The collection includes reference sheets for the tapes, allowing users to explore the sounds and anticipate future out-take volumes. These sounds exhibit characteristics distinct from modern loop libraries; they are presented in mono with potential tape hiss, mild distortion, or other audible flaws from early sessions. Studio musicians in the 1970s often played loosely despite click tracks, resulting in rhythmic and tuning quirks. No corrections were made to these imperfections; the sounds were selected based on the best-sounding iterations.
Specific sounds included in the collection are organised by chord sets. The 001 – Big Organ & Drums set features the original chord set plus three complete alternate chord sets, fully chromatic major/minor chords across all sets, and 13 drum/percussion loops. The 002 – Classic Guitar In 4-4 set includes the original chord set, true A major/E major chords, two endings, and six drum/percussion loops. The 006 – The Blues Sweet & Low set comprises the original chord set with fully chromatic major/minor chords, four augmented chords, six riffs, and 20 drum loops. The 009 – Bossa Nova Style set contains the original chord set plus fully chromatic major/minor chords, four augmented chords, and 17 percussion loops. The 012 – Folk & Other Moods Guitar set offers the original chord set with fully chromatic major/minor chords, four augmented chords, two endings, and 18 drum/percussion loops. The 015 – Guitar In 3-4 set provides the original chord set plus true A major/E major chords, two endings, and 22 drum/percussion loops. The 016 – Majestic Pipe Organ set includes the original chord set.
Separate from the Optigan Archives Vol. 1, a specific reel of drum patterns exists as the second in a series of classic hardware drum sounds. This reel contains 17 drum patterns taken from a collection of Optigan discs. Designed by Mattel and available from 1971 to 1976, the Optigan was an organ using an optical playback system to interpret drawings on clear discs as sounds, including organs, guitars, voices, and drum loops. The 17 drum patterns are formatted as individual splices designed to loop at the same rate. Users can patch these to clock dividers or multipliers to create new rhythms and sequences based on the Optigan loops.
Another available sample set, referenced as "OG Optigan Samples-Example Playlist" by BPockets, features vintage Optigan sampler organ sounds. These samples are described as "vibey" and "warbly," representing old-school melody loops chopped to proper lengths with tempo labels. The files are provided in a "Dual Loaded Tones" style, containing both a clean DI signal and a processed reamped version in one stereo file. Users can split the 48kHz, 32-bit samples into left and right channels to choose between clean or dirty processing options without navigating between folders.