The Tale of The Ondioline: Music's Oldest Synthesizer?

video upload by The Lemon Master

0:00 Intro
1:21 Design
5:50 History
7:46 Rise
10:39 Downfall
12:47 Revival?
14:24 Outro

Note the first "synth" is debatable. The Telharmonium (1897), Ondes-Martenot (1928), Mixturtrautonium (1936), Novachord (1939), amongst others predated it. The Theremin, although not a keyboard instrument, but the inspiration if not the basis for Bob Moog's creations arrived in 1921. For a timeline of electronic instruments see https://120years.net, and for more synth centric, as we know them, see The First Synth to.....

For reverything Ondioline see https://ondioline.com

And related posts:

Jean Jacques Perrey & Dana Countryman - The Good Old Days

New Website Dedicated to the Ondioline

Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline (pics of my copy here)

And of course, see the Ondioline label for additional posts.

Voice of the Cylon - Battlestar Galactica, The ARP 2500, and the EMS Vocoder 1000

Published on Nov 20, 2019 supajc

Amazing series sent my way via John L Rice. Playlist and descriptions for each video in the playlist above, directly below. Enjoy. ;)

See here for previous posts featuring Battlestar Galactica.

Playlist:

1. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 1 The Synthesizer [ARP 2500]

Battlestar Galactica fans & synthesizer community, rejoice! For the first time in history the mysterious sound of the Cylon voice is revealed. I tracked down probably the last person alive who knows the entire formula, very private individual still works in visual arts. To him it was just a job he did 40 years ago, to me it's one of the most mesmerizing sounds in musical/sci-fi fx history. 6 parts to this series as of 11-2019.

2. Voice Of The Cylon Pt. 2 the Voice Recording

My contact told me "they brought us the voices" on Nagra III and IV tape machines. Vocoder recorded back to Nagra for film sync. Voice actor Micheal Santiago was hired to do the voice, but didn't, telling youtube user intromix later that "they ended up getting someone cheaper" to do it. One actor did all the voices, for consistency, reading the script in a lifeless, monotone voice as to not shift the frequency spectrum in the vocoder.

3. Voice Of The Cylon Pt. 3 The Vocoder [EMS Vocoder, specifically the Vocoder 1000]

Finally it is known exactly which vocoder was used for the Cylon voice. Universal Studios had rented the EMS and Sennheiser, and when sound designer Peter Berkos was asked about it circa 2008 he mis-remembered due to having the Sennheiser manual still. Youtube user intromix has owned both and tested oscillators, it could not have been the Sennheiser but now we know for sure anyway.

4. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 4 the Phaser & Distortion [Countryman Associates Type 968A Phase Shifter]

The rare, quirky effect box that was used as an impromptu distortion device. My contact told me that they floated the idea of using a guitar amp and/or pedals, but did not even try it once they found this. ** Also, he told me NO Marshall Time modulator was used as it hadn't even been released yet.

5. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 5 Recording Gear

Two main pieces of studio recording gear that were present at Universal Studios in 1978 that had a big impact on the sonic character of the Cylon voice recording. Big thanks to Ken from Electrodyne for all his advice, as well as https://vintageking.com/ and http://petesplaceaudio.com

6. Voice Of the Cylon Pt. 6 Audio Demos & Credits

Resurrecting the sound of the Cylon Centurion from the original Battlestar Galactica 1978 using the original equipment. Once the vocoder was recorded, it was further altered/degraded by multiple tape transfers in the video editing process, post-production techniques (EQ and reverb, to "place" the character in a big room, spaceship, etc) My contact said there were just pieces of tape on the gear to place knobs/switches back where they were; and that the synthesizer frequently sounded very different from day to day or after a power outage. In the series there are wildly differing Cylon tones, tiny movements in gain or EQ settings (especially the ringy ARP 2500 filters) radically alter the vocoder due to the ultra-harmonic richness of the tone. So many preamps and transformers involved, it was hard for THEM to make the Cylon voice consistent. Supposedly sound designer Peter Berkos wrote notes on the process, Universal Studios couldn't locate any info at all, it likely all burned down in the great fire of 2008 as well as the golden ARP 2500 oscillator used all throughout Galactica 1980.
Preamp was running a bit hot in this demo, didn't catch until after, so this tone sounds extra crunchy in this example. I sampled my tones with lowpass filter a bit too low, hope to get another chance with the real thing some day.

7. Gold Cylon Voice Vulpa [extra video]

Recreating the lower voice of the Gold Cylon commander. There are so many steps and factors to re-creating the Cylon voice even the original crew could not make it consistent on a day-to-day basis. Out of hundreds of test files this year I'm only really happy with about 5 of them but will keep working to recreate it perfectly.

Synthi with Countryman 968A Phase Shifter

Published on Apr 15, 2018 Christopher Anderson

"Amplitude response shifted phase"

The Countryman was recently listed here. Click through for details.

Countryman Associates TYPE 968A Phase Shifter

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

This is the first post to properly feature Countryman Associates (they were previously mentioned in the BBC video linked below). Check out the EMS SYNTHI in the background. I can't quite place what's on the upper left. Thought it might be the EMS SYNTHI Logik, but it's not. If anyone knows, feel free to leave a comment.

"Countryman released the first commercial phase shifting devices beginning with the Type 967 Phase Shifter around 1967; The 968A is the last model in this series, released around '71. Like the 967 and 968, the 968A uses an internal Envelope Follower rather than a cyclic LFO for phase modulation. There is also a CV input on the front panel, along with the audio input and output.

Besides being one of the very first of its kind, and having a very unique sound, the 968A is designed in a way that makes it particularly suited to experimental audio processes and special audio effects (as opposed to and different from your average stomp box phaser). There's not a lot of information online about this rare device, but what is available is mostly concerning it's experimental applications.

The 968A was used in a number of early electronic music studios including the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. It's featured in this BBC TV 70's documentary film." [posted here]

CLICK FOR MORE »

Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline - New Release Produced by Wally De Backer aka Gotye

Readers of the site should all be familiar with Jean-Jacques Perrey's work. His preferred instrument was the Ondioline. As many of you know, Jean-Jacques Perrey passed away on November 4th of last year. I was actually fortunate enough to see him perform live with Dana Countryman for his 2006 tour.

Wally De Backer aka Gotye has produced Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline, an archival project featuring Jean-Jacques Perrey's early music with the Ondioline. The release features previously unreleased and rare tracks both on vinyl and digital download.

via Wally De Backer: "I got to know JJ in the years before he passed and this is a labour of love I undertook to pay tribute to his incredible work, specifically with the remarkable Ondioline."

You can read a great article on the Ondioline, Jeen-Jacques Perrey, Wally De Backer and the release at The New Yorker here.

The following are the official details for the release:

"Out on Forgotten Futures on LP/digital

- Never-before-released Ondioline cuts from Jean
- Jacques Perrey’s archive.
- Super rare tracks from early private press releases.
- Meticulously restored and remastered from original sources.
- Includes collaborations with Angelo Badalamenti and Billy Goldenberg.
- 36-page booklet with unreleased archival photos and an essay by Simon Reynolds.
- Compilation curated and produced by Wally De Backer (Gotye)

Jean-Jacques Perrey (1929-2016) was a pioneer of electronic pop music celebrated for his uniquely whimsical sampled soundworld, his groundbreaking style of rhythmic tape editing, and his early use of the Moog modular synthesizer.

From seminal instrumental albums such as The In Sound From Way Out! (1965, with collaborator Gershon Kingsley), to Moog Indigo (1970, featuring the classic cut E.V.A.), Perrey’s inimitable sounds have been sampled by everyone from Fat Boy Slim and Gang Starr to Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade!

Not as celebrated or widely known is the fact that Perrey was the world’s only virtuoso of the Ondioline, the remarkable proto-synthesizer developed by Frenchman Georges Jenny in the 1940s.

Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline focuses on this early period of Perrey’s musical life, when he traveled the world as the Ondioline’s prime demonstrator, began experimenting with multitrack recording technology, and made demo recordings designed to exalt the Ondioline’s incredible array of sounds and effects.

The compilation features never-before released collaborations with Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, the films of David Lynch) and Billy Goldenberg (Steven Spielberg’s Duel, Columbo) as well as a collaboration with Dick Hyman which delivers the only piece of music composed by Ondioline inventor Georges Jenny currently on record.

Further gems include a sparkling early version of the beloved Pioneers of the Stars, given a stirring Ennio Morricone-esque arrangement here, as well as choice selections from Musique Electronique du Cosmos, the highly collectible album of library music Perrey recorded in 1963.

Ondioline enthusiasts will be excited to hear a super rare extended demonstration of the instrument, recorded by Perrey in the early 1960s, which also receives its first commercial release on this compilation.

A must for dedicated fans, and a vibrant introduction for new listeners to Perrey’s wonderfully individual style of music, Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline canvasses his unparalleled mastery of the Ondioline, points towards the exuberance of his later sample and Moog-heavy work, and importantly, illuminates a reflective and melancholy side to his recorded work that expands on his already considerable achievements.

Curated by long-time Perrey fan and recent collaborator Wally De Backer (Gotye), this is the first release on Forgotten Futures, a new record label set up by De Backer to excavate lost works by pioneering producers and musical instrument inventors. De Backer got to know Perrey over the last few years of his life, visiting him a number of times at his home in Switzerland, and coordinating the archiving of his recordings, photos and music scores. Perrey mentored De Backer in the restoration and playing of Ondiolines, and through their developing connection over this instrument, Perrey entrusted De Backer with a number of the rare masters and one-of-a-kind test pressings of Ondioline recordings that form the basis of this compilation.

Tracks:1. La Vache et le Prisonnier 2. Visa to the Stars (commercial arrangement) 3. Chicken on the Rocks4. Danielle of Amsterdam 5. Cigale 6. L'âme des Poètes 7. Dandelion Wine 8. Barnyard In Orbit9. Sérénade à la Mule 10. Mars Reflector 11. Pioneers of the Stars (orchestral arrangement)12. to 38. Ondioline demonstration from Satellite Records acetates"

https://jean-jacquesperrey.bandcamp.com/

Photograph by Anna Webber

via The New Yorker:

"Wouter De Backer, known as Gotye, has a keen understanding of the electronic musician Jean-Jacques Perrey’s discography, and of the nuances it contains."

Gotye to Pay Tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey at Moogfest

via Moogfest:

"At Moogfest 2017, Gotye will present a tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey. Jean-Jacques Perrey (1929-2016) was an alternative pop visionary, a pioneer of rhythmic tape editing techniques, and a virtuoso of the rare French electronic musical instrument, the Ondioline. Gotye, a long-time Perrey fan and a budding Ondiolinist, has assembled the Ondioline Orchestra, an ensemble dedicated to reviving the spirit of this rare and unusually expressive early synthesizer. The ensemble features thereminist/keyboardist Rob Schwimmer, vintage synth specialist and ex-Psychedelic Furs member Joe McGinty, as well as members of acclaimed alternative band Zammuto. Perrey’s best-known songs will be celebrated alongside ultra rare pieces co-written with Angelo Badalamenti and Billy Goldenberg in an eclectic set juxtaposing Perrey’s joyful and boisterous pop with more reflective work spanning three decades of his career. Ondioline Orchestra perform all sounds live, including Perrey’s signature sample sounds, classic Moog patches, and a rich variety of Ondioline timbres on fully-restored original instruments. This show is a rare opportunity for fans of early electronic pop music to celebrate this influential producer/performer’s wonderfully inventive studio work in a live environment."

How cool is that? I had no idea Gotye was into the Ondioline and Jean-Jacques Perrey.

Jean-Jacques Perrey has been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH numerous times in the past. I was fortunate enough to see him perform live back in 2006. I'll never forget that show. It was pure magic. That image to the left was from it. That's Jean-Jacques Perrey on the left and Dana Countryman on the right.

RIP Jean-Jacques Perrey 1929-2016

The image to the left may be a little blurry, but it comes from the one time I actually got to see Jean-Jacques Perrey live with Dana Countryman, back in 2006. I took that photo. That was one of the rare times I could sum up an experience in one word: magical. Well maybe two: magical, and joyful. That may sound cliche to some, but it is 100% accurate, and I do have to say, with the absolute upmost respect, Jean-Jacques Perrey (and Dana Countryman) put on one of the funnest shows I've been too. The man brought absolute joy to life. When I was a kid I had no idea I was listening to his tunes while watching Disneland's Main Street Electrical parade! He was a pioneer of electronic music that brought humor and playfulness to his music throughout his career. I still remember his pet elephant (you'll need to go through numerous posts here on MATRIXSYNTH to find it. :) As you'll see his presence influenced many posts here on MATRIXSYNTH over the years. His main instrument was the Ondes Martenot.

Image credit: Mal Meehan, in via Dana Countryman, who had the following to say (Update: you can find his full words here - do take the time to read it for a fascinating bit of synth history):

"My dear friend and mentor Jean Jacques Perrey passed away today, November 4th, 2016. His illness came on quickly, and he did not suffer long, for which I’m happy. I’m extremely sad that I’ll never see him again, but I have been playing some of his happiest music today, and it immediately cheered me up. I know that’s what he would want --- for everyone to be happy, and not to be sad."

He will be missed, but his music and memories will continue to bring joy to people for years to come. He brought so much joy to the world. Thank you Jean-Jacques Perrey!

Update: Dana Countryman wrote a longer piece on Jean-Jacques Perrey here. Do take the time to read it. From that piece:

"For those who don’t realize it, Jean-Jacques rst started recording electronic music in 1952, long before the Moog synthesizer was rst made for sale in 1967. Relocating from Paris to New York City, JJ actu- ally owned and recorded with the second Moog ever produced, and with his musical partner Gershon Kingsley, they released their rst Moog album -- almost two years before Wendy Carlos released her rst Moog album. Jean-Jacques was truly the pioneer of popular electronic music.

His crazy, happy music has been heard everywhere from commercials, to Sesame Street - in hip-hop songs, in dance remixes and most famously, for decades in the delightful featured music in Disneyland’s 'Main Street Electrical Parade'. In recent years, his music has even made appearances on the Simpsons, and on Comedy Central’s 'South Park'."

Update2: one more sent my way via @bronwenjones:

Jean-Jacques Perrey & Dana Countryman - Funky Little Spacegirl - Music Video

Uploaded on Jan 19, 2009 mee3d

"View a High quality version here - www.funkylittlespacegirl.com

Celebrating 80 years of Jean-Jacques Perrey's Legendary Happy Electropop Music here is the Music Video for "Funky Little Spacegirl", released from the new album with Dana Countryman 'Destination Space'. Available on Oglio Records. Music Video Created by Mal Meehan from mee3d"

Synthesizers.com New Midi Keyboard and Expression Block Demonstration by Dana Countryman

Published on Mar 13, 2014 Happymoogman Johnson·48 videos

"Dana Countryman demonstrates the synthesizers.com 5-octave pressure-sensitive midi keyboard, and the Q181 Expression Block."

"The Ondioline School of Paris" Ad & Ondioline User Manuals

You'll find them on Dana Countryman's Ondioline.com sub site here.

Geoff Countryman and the Electro-Harmonix Ring Thing, Single Sideband Modulator

Published on Jun 4, 2013 EHX·163 videos

"Saxophonist, Geoff Countryman, explores the EHX Ring Thing which provides unprecedented control of ring modulation, plus pitch shifting over a four octave range. Ring Thing lets you explore a new world of waveform interaction where complex ring modulations deliver everything from subtle color changes to slithering metallic sweeps. Fully programmable!"

Electro-Harmonix Ring Things on eBay

Geoff Countryman and the Electro-Harmonix H.O.G.2, Harmonic Octave Generator

Published on Jun 4, 2013 EHX·163 videos

"Saxophonist, Geoff Countryman, explores the EHX H.O.G.2 which delivers complete control of 10 totally polyphonic and glitch free voices, ranging from two octaves below to four above the instrument's pitch---all without the need for a special pickup or instrument mods of any kind."

Electro-Harmonix H.O.G.2s on eBay

Breath Martenot - Breath driven Pulley/Ring controller - Work in progress.

Published on Mar 22, 2013 Mark Steiner·5 videos

"This is the 2nd prototype of my own version of a Martenot style controller. I decided to expose the pulley loop fully. I find it's pretty interesting/fun to watch the loop and hear the pitch change accordingly. I've had a few ideas about maybe attacking LED's to the pulleys to mix some light up real time. Could be fun.

Usually these kind of instruments (silimart to the Ondes Martenot) use a left hand pressure key for volume/filter brightness. On mine, I am using a Nyle Steiner breath controller, which really makes for smooth dynamics and fast articulation. There are even some parts showing multiple tonguing techniques often used by trumpet and other wind players to tongue fast by saying Tu Ku Tu Ku or Tu Tu Ka.

Special thanks to Nyle Steiner for the great sounding synth oscillators and filters used in this demo. Also thanks to Dana Countryman and Mike Beauchamp for their own expertise and inspiration in relation to instruments like this.

Thanks for listening! See my current classical electronic project at ThePinesofRome.com."

Squeeze Ribbon Synthesizer - Modification of an Eowave Ribbon

Squeeze Ribbon Synthesizer - My modification of an Eowave Ribbon.

Published on Sep 30, 2012 Mark Steiner·4 videos

"Squeeze Ribbon. I added a squeeze nuance inducer to this Eowave Ribbon. More consistency of dynamics across a phrase of notes than the pressure sensor on the ribbon controller. This would be a great way to phrase an Ondes Martenot. This frees up the left hand for sound changes, another instrument, chords, hitchhiking etc.

A small pressure sensor should do the same thing, used this way, perhaps thumb against ring, or index finger or (as Dana Countryman suggested to me) thumb against the third finger. First test of this, could be refined but good proof of concept.

Special thanks to Nyle Steiner for adding CV routing into a Steiner EVI sound module to allow this and some other modifications I'm working on.

Have a look at 'ThePinesofMars.blogspot.com'."

"When You Wish Upon A Star", played by Dana Countryman

Published on Jan 14, 2013 Dana Countryman·38 videos

"Dana Countryman plays the classic 'When You Wish Upon A Star' on his homemade 'Martenot Controller for Modular Synthesizer'. Easier to play than a Theremin! For more information about the Martenot Controller, please visit www.danacountryman.com"

I believe that is a synthesizers.com modular.

Also see:
Isao Tomita - When you wish upon a Star

Mark Evans Rock and Moog Party

via Dana Countryman on Facebook

"One of the coolest versions of "Caravan" I've ever heard.... on the MOOG!"

Dana Countryman plays with Jean-Jacques Perrey.

A search for Dana Countryman on the top right will bring up numerous posts featured here on MATRIXSYNTH.

"Melancholy Trumpet" by Dana Countryman

YouTube Uploaded by happymoogman on Jul 31, 2011

"A short demonstration of me, (Dana Countryman) performing a composition I'm working on: 'Melancholy Trumpet.' The trumpet modeling software is from SampleModeling.com. I'm still in the process of mastering how to play it.....

Note: Universal Music Group -- keep your hands off my music!
©2011, Friends Romans Music."

Ginette - DIY instrument based on the ondes Martenot

YouTube Uploaded by pemakini on May 8, 2011

"I designed and built this instrument during 2010-2011. The idea is based on the ondes Martenot that was invented by Maurice Martenot in 1928. My instrument is named 'Ginette' after Ginette Martenot - an ondist and the sister of Maurice Martenot. She played ondes Martenot at the premiere of Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie.

The heart of the instrument is a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that produces the sound. I found great VCO design from Music From Outer Space -website. The VCO produces four waveforms or timbres - sine, triangle, ramp and square - which can be selected on the panel. The range of the fingerboard is four octaves and on the panel there is an octave selection knob, so the total pitch range is nine octaves. In practice the tracking isn't so accurate in very high and low registers. There are connectors for an external CV and a gate, so the instrument can also be controlled using external device like a keyboard or a sequencer, which both are my future DIY projects. I am going to improve the instrument by adding a voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA). This would fix the problem with the volume control button that leaks some signal when it's supposed to be mute.

The background noise in the video is due to the tube amplifier.

Here's the link to MFOS VCO:
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/VCO20090724REV0/VCO20090724REV...

Dana Countryman's ondes Martenot controller project inspired me to start my own project. Here's the link:
http://www.danacountryman.com/martenot_project/martenot.html

Thanks to: Ray Wilson and Music From Outer Space, Dana Countryman
Special thanks to: Heta, Mikko, Teemu"

Jean-Jacques Perrey Biography by Dana Countryman

via Dana Countryman

"My biography, "Passport To The Future: The Amazing Life and Music of Electronic Pop Music Pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey", is out NOW!
312 pages, and over 250 photographs. Interviews with Angelo Badalamenti, Robert Moog, Gershon Kingsley and many more...
Available online, and in select bookstores.

Order online here:
https://www.createspace.com/3489660

More info here:
http://passport-to-the-future.com/

- Dana Countryman
http://www.danacountryman.com"

Also on Amazon.

Added to the Synth Books section.

Moog_Tastic Offer from Dana Countryman

"The future of electronic music is now, and the legacy of Bob Moog's musical genius is alive. -- Dana Countryman

Bob Moog's inspiration spans generations of people who love music, technology and making a difference! That is why Dana Countryman—musician, composer and Jean-Jacques Perry musical partner and biographer—is offering something truly special for people who support Bob Moog's legacy with a donation to the Bob Moog Foundation

The Dana Countryman/ Jean-Jacques Perrey Holiday Moog Inspiration Gift Package

Dana's 2010 release of Moog-tastic: Electronic Melodies from the 24th Century

plus

Dana and Jean-Jacques Perrey's second collaboration, Destination Space, “a Moog-fueled trip dripping with Space Age Spy Pop and Funky Science Fiction”

plus

A handsome autographed photograph of Moog synth music legend, Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman in the studio.

All for your donation of $75 to the Bob Moog Foundation..."

Full details here. Also, don't forget to vote for the Bob Moog Foundation today and every day in December.

Jean-Jacques Perrey Biography

via Dana Countryman

"My biography on the legendary electronic pop pioneer, Jean-Jacques Perrey is finally out NOW!!!

This has been a seven-year project, and it feels so good to finally have my book completed, and out for sale!
It will be in stores soon, and also it will be on Kindle soon, but for now you can order physical copies from my web site.

The book is 312 pages long, and has over 250 photos and illustrations. This is the ONLY biography of this French genius, and I'm proud that Jean-Jacques chose me to write it.
I interviewed scores of Jean-Jacques' collaborators and friends for this book, including Angelo Badalamenti, Robert Moog, Gershon Kingsley, Don Dorsey, Vinnie Bell, Billy Mure, and many, many more.

You can view sample pages on the ordering site here:

http://www.danacountryman.com/not%20yet.html.

I hope you'll check it out."

Update: I originally had "Auto Biography" in the title. It's actually a biography. Title fixed.

BTW, this would make a great "stocking stuffer" for the coming holidays.