Kraftwerk and the Lofi Legacy of the Optical Sampler

The 1970s saw a brief experiment with optical sound samplers like the Mattel Optigan, Vako Orchestron, and Chilton Talentmaker. These instruments, which generated sounds from pre-recorded discs, never achieved widespread popularity and faded away quickly.

However, one band saw the potential in their lo-fi charm. Kraftwerk, the pioneering German electronic music group, embraced the Orchestron, using it extensively on tracks like "Das Model" and "Uranium."

The Orchestron's unique sound continues to find fans today. Kyle Dixon, of the band Survive, incorporated the iconic "choir" sample from the Orchestron into the soundtrack for the hit Netflix series "Stranger Things." Dixon achieved this using the Quilter Labs Panoptigon, a modern adaptation of this once-obscure technology.

This article explores the legacy of the optical sampler through the lens of Kraftwerk and their influence on contemporary artists like Dixon. It likely also features:

• An interview with Kyle Dixon discussing his use of the Orchestron sound in the "Stranger Things" soundtrack.

• A demonstration of the capabilities of the Quilter Labs Panoptigon.

• Replications of classic Kraftwerk patches using the Panoptigon.

• A showcase of a custom disc created for the Panoptigon.