Jean-Jacques Perrey on "I've Got a Secret", 1960, Part Two - Ondioline Demonstration

Legendary Electronic Music pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey appears on "I've Got A Secret." From June 22nd, 1960. In this Part Two segment (Part One in another KZbin clip), Perrey demonstrates the Ondioline - a rare vacuum tube (pre-Moog) synthesizer. This television demonstration was the American Debut of this instrument. Later that year, the Ondioline was featured on the soundtrack to "Spartacus."

[@LFOVCF]

As a synthesist, this little marvel, takes some beating. Those instrument sounds were beautifully engineered, and not even easy on modern equipment.

[@erich1394]

is he dialing in additive harmonics or something? I'm trying to understand it. My understanding is that the keybed moves side to side for pitch bend? I think a lot of the quality comes from his skill.

[@BetamaxFlippy]

The real problem is that in order to make them affordable they were put together like card houses.

[@JonasClark]

Saw him live in Seattle a few years ago and he was just as smiley and silly as he apparently was back then. Fun to watch.

[@vagsvaggy5689]

you are not even a hair of his testicles

[@JonasClark]

Vags Vaggy I am utterly confused by your comment, and it takes a whole lot to confuse me.

[@vagsvaggy5689]

it was about ''silly''

[@JonasClark]

Vags Vaggy ....oookay then. Not that kind of silly, sir.

[@vagsvaggy5689]

sorry for the rough comment..... i admire briliant peoples-real inventors and good musicians and jean is one of them

[@happymoogman]

I am lucky to own one of these instruments.

[@LuisEduardoGalindo]

Longue vie cher Jean-Jacques Perrey!! 1929-2016. Genious Synths Piooneer tu nous manquera toujours!

[@y2penni]

Perrey is a genius.

[@FoxPopvli]

Perrey is like the mad scientist of the music! :D

[@hurricanefury439]

Was

[@MajoraWaffle]

was :(

[@cube4547]

Maybe. I hate calling anyone a genius but he had great knowledge in music BACK THEN. Which is impressive because most knowledge had to come from books or other people

[@superbangpower]

Fascinating instrument. What a genius.

[@charliewecker]

Why cant modern keyboards sound this good? WTF

[@matthiasstock9620]

Besides modern instruments lacking that warm tube sounds it also has to do with most synthesizer “players“ today having less playing skills than that guy in 1960.

[@crisbowman]

@@matthiasstock9620 Get an analogue

[@Tutnese]

Hey, I'm from 9 years in the future and here, sample libraries/modelling technology has rendered most non keyboard musicians obsolete. lol

[@kyma1999x]

today sampling and synthesis are light years ahead of ondioline....except for a thing, REALTIME EXPRESSION (VIBRATO AND VOLUME). what sets special ondioline or ondes martenot is the realtime capability to change pitch (vibrato) or volume with gestures, ondes has ruban, sliding keys and touch of intensity, ondioline has sliding keys for vibrato and knee lever for volume. in almost every analogue or digital synth the vibrato is done by LFO controlled by modulation wheel or pedal or aftertouch, but the oscillator controls the speed and nature of vibrato, whereas in those ancient electronic instruments YOUR FINGER controls the amount AND speed of vibrato, sliding every key left and right, more complex compared with modern sensor keys BUT similar to an acoustic instrument. why all modern stuff hasn't those old tehcnologies? because instruments in the past were done for PERFORMERS working in orchestra or ensambles, todays most of people buying synths are dj or electronic music producers, not real performers. Mastering a good natural vibrato technique on the ondioline, ondes martenot or trautonium takes years of pratice, whereas doing the same with an LFO takes some hours of understanding how it works. In a nutshell, ondioline per se isn't more realistic than a modern super digital synth, but has means to be expressive like a real instrument, so to ears it sounds vivid and musical like real acoustic instruments.

[@em7dim9]

The player had a lot to do with how this demo was pulled off. He uses the perfect example for each tone.

[@jordibague1051]

RIP FATHER

[@Tutnese]

This thing is amazing and he is a fantastic musician .

[@happymoogman]

He was the maestro.

[@paperboxcutter]

The Ondioline became a recording studio tool. A secret ingredient on many hit records.

[@BZHLover29]

L'Ondioline est vraiment l'ancêtre du synthétiseur actuel. C'est comme incroyable le nombre d'instrument qu'il est capable de reproduire alors qu'il a été crée à la veille de la guerre 39-45

[@bigred997]

i feel honored to view this bit of history in the making.

[@guillermoromerogutierrez4449]

In those performances, Jean-Jacques was the happiest man in the world since he could have the interest of the audience, amaze them and make them laugh all at the same time. Great Jean-Jacques and Jenny the developer of such a magnificent instrument.

[@JamalQutub]

Mind blown. A Pioneer indeed.

[@Polyphemus47]

Jamal - if you'r still being notified on YT, search Perrey & Kingsley - Pioneers of the Stars. One of my top faves of theirs.

[@Squiddlysplooch]

This brought such a huge smile to my face.

[@mcgintymusic]

Thanks Dana for the amazing clip of Mr. Perrey!

[@morningcoffeecat2271]

Rip JJP died of lung cancer aged 87

[@McOuchies]

Cutting-edge for 1960!

[@KC9UDX]

1940*

[@astrophonix]

I like how JJ's way ahead of the panel while they're still 'bufferin''!

[@steveswan5714]

Unbelievable 😱❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@valerock667]

I didn't know that! Wow it's rare to have a polite response on a KZbin comment nowadays, thanks :)

[@nickcarter4006]

I’ve seen an Ondioline in action, and even I am watching this thinking g “this can’t be real.” Imagine watching in 1960!

[@thinkbubblefilms]

hey Dana! I looked all over for this... looking forward to seeing the doc too.

[@mootbooxle]

And the Musicians' Union gatekeepers all shat bricks in unison, no doubt. ;) I didn't know the Ondioline was THAT versatile! Now I'm gonna have to re-listen to all my JJP records to try and spot it...

[@musicart9257]

he had lots of presets in this ondioline, amazing.

[@analogue71]

Great post, thanks very much !!

[@marisaelenenadiejamusiccom3974]

Cool equipment....instruments...I like them a lot really great

[@AR1264]

Fabulous, thank you!

[@hypnotiquemusic]

Cool. I didn't know jean-jacques was also the co-inventor of the Ondioline. At the end does he say 'soon to be found in Phil Collins living room'? That I'd like to see! I'm sure if Phil Collins had an Ondioline we would have been spared 'another day in paradise'.

[@matthewdavis8774]

I'm 10 years late but he wasn't a co-inventor. he called into a radio show where the Ondioline was being played on and told the inventor that he just had to have one but he was broke and the inventor (forget the name) offered him a job to showcase it on shows like this. I think he tells this story on his autobiography on his website

[@anorganlover6281]

He says - BILL CULLEN'S living room 😂

[@juanarellano5511]

No cabe duda... Jean jackes perrey fue el genio del "mini Moog" un instrumento innovador y adelantado a su tiempo para ser del año 1966...

[@fisermarketing2922]

Crees que estaba adelantado a su tiempo? Yo lo veo exacto en tiempo y espacio. El emerger de la Psicodelia, el inicio de la era de Acuario.

[@madjidhamdini8114]

mister perrey is was a genius and capable to make serious and very funny sounds ! RIP dear ;(

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

I want to build one of my own so bad. I’ve gotten a schematic set for this. Building the keyboard is tricky, though.

[@aleanscm9350]

Would you be willing to share the schematics?

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

@@aleanscm9350 They are available online.

[@valerock667]

wow the 60's were real magical.. all those beautiful sounds from just one keyboard and the first computer was not even been invented!

[@imaginemyshocko1455]

Herb Winckelberg 8 years ago, hi there

[@OudeisEimi]

Computers have existed since the 1930s

[@ArthrUK]

Great stuff

[@thetik100]

Beautiful. Creative. Pioneering.

[@Tecknorio]

This makes me cry :')

[@JonasClark]

Mr. Happymoogman, you are Mr. Countryman? Thank you for the video, the wonderful album, the incredible studio (I've only seen photos) and for the great live show (Triple Door, Seattle) at which I met both you and Mr. Perrey, one of the only people on my "wish to meet before I or they pass away" list that I've actually met.

[@happymoogman]

I’m sorry that I never saw this message 9 years ago. Thanks for all the nice comments! It was an honor to work with JJP. The experience changed my life. Take care, Dana Countryman

[@JonasClark]

@@happymoogman Good to see a response from you!

[@jaxnean2663]

I love this video

[@zonalibrer3357]

The link between the french Genius Jean Jacques Perrey and Latinoamerican people was .. CHESPIRITO (Mexican comedian creator and performer of "El Chavo del 8", "El Chapulín Colorado")

[@dannyrusso8279]

Look up the song "Suspicion" by Terry Stafford. A great example of the Ondioline, sounding like a horn section. Amazing!

[@happymoogman]

Absolutely true. Good ear.

[@fiquitoyunque]

I absolutely agree with @groovechaser. The thing sounds spectacular!

[@functionform]

Vibrato on the keybed? Nice.

[@lambertlambert7076]

No, it's a vibrato with a side command like all modern synth have a kind of joystick.

[@KC9UDX]

Yes, like Ondes Martenot

[@happymoogman]

Yes, he does, but it's not working currently. I have two -- one KIND of works, and the other is still in the shop. As soon as I get it back, I plan to sample it IMMEDIATELY, before it breaks again.... -dc

[@longde]

dana thank you very much for this video!!

[@PacoRobbins]

While I know it's been nine years, were you able to sample it?

[@charliewecker]

If you guys liked this look up the Violano Virtuoso!

[@RustyShackleford-oo9zh]

This must have been what inspired Gotye's "State of the Art".

[@PacoRobbins]

Cotillion Model D-575 is what inspired that song. He even mentions it in the lyrics.

[@TheAssholeAspie]

Funny you brought up Gotye...

[@RustyShackleford-oo9zh]

@@TheAssholeAspie Is it?

[@EruchanMiniaturasyManualidades]

OMG!!!💕💕💕

[@happymoogman]

Oh, you kids today! He said BILL Collins. This reminds me of a young guy that I work with, who keeps trying to tell me that modern music began with Sir MixaLot (!) Oh, and no, JJ didn't co-invent the Ondioline. That's something the media people insisted he go along with, back in the day....before Sir MixaLot.

[@valentin9261]

Actually it was Georges Jenny who invented the ondioline, he took JJP as a student. And the rest is history...

[@rogeliogomezA380]

Un verdadero genio en su tiempo

[@cyandinomashups]

Oh I'm afraid we have that.

[@willdatsun]

3:34 and now a SID chip.

[@edwingerardocampossolis5487]

😮😮😮WOW😊😊😊😘😘😘❤❤❤❤

Este es el inicio de la electronica?

[@sebastiancienfuegos2013]

Es increíble que el ondioline emulara mejor los sonidos de los instrumentos que muchos sintetizadores actuales

[@longde]

eso es exactamente lo que veo... tambien tiene que ver el que lo toca. JJP es un genio

[@OudeisEimi]

Es la técnica de interpretación. El teclado era sensible al movimiento de vibración para impartir vibrato, y además la digitación de Perrey era capaz de producir la articulación adecuada de cada nota para parecerse más al instrumento imitado.

[@JonasClark]

@mootbooxle The first JJPerrey record (records?) were almost entirely Ondioline, I think that's "The In Sound From Way Out"? It wasn't until after that that the Moog synth became his thing, though I'm certain the Ondioline was still used.

[@captainwormburner]

This is weird. Modern synths are really good at making electronic sounds, but this really old thing is really good at making acoustic sounds. Why is this?

[@willdatsun]

the old recording probably leaves some of it to the imagination

[@PolyesterMoustache]

2:58 my god, a bassoon.

[@anorganlover6281]

We have these on TYROS and ORLA - they are accurate. They sound just like IVOR THE ENGINE.

[@moparhemi1777]

Why do I hear a meowsic at 4:32 and a second time shortly after?

[@joelDQ]

bravazooooo !!!

[@MsDeliaStreams]

@UltraWill This make me chuckle

[@professionalhuman4429]

Sounds like every old Disney movie. 😮

[@Lorenshyne]

Amazing guy. Basically what is this? A thing that can reproduce every instruments voice?

[@annother3350]

Loosely!

[@romardu8587]

Se escucha mejor el violín de ese que los pianos de ahora

[@alfonsojuarez7852]

La nitidez del sólido y el tiempo que fue ejecutado. Magistral

[@jasonpp1973]

Al Kooper used one on the Super Session LP

[@sebastiancienfuegos2013]

Tecnologia antigua la mejor , en la actualidad todo es desechable :(

[@plateshutoverlock]

This is an entirely manual instrument that must be tuned and played expertly (working the warbles and such in real time) to sound like real instruments. There are modern videos of people playing this instrument on KZbin, and it sounds like a cheap Casio toy synth from the 1980s because they aren't doing all of the extra stuff needed to make it sound good while playing it. I thought at first that this was using endless loop recorded samples to make the sounds, but it's really a basic analog synth that requires an expert playing it to make it sound the way it does in this video.

[@simonsimon325]

Also there's every chance that what came out the other end of mass production wasn't quite the same as what's being played here. Don't get me wrong, that thing still wouldn't sound that way in the hands of most people, but I bet the mass produced version was nothing like this.

[@anorganlover6281]

He says - BILL CULLEN'S living room. But I bet PHIL COLLINS would like one in his !

[@Funnysterste]

that is how high tech is looking 50 years later

[@cavifaxlegacy]

Ain't that beautiful?

[@robinsss]

it sounds real

[@MelloCello7]

Yeah!! now when people cram down my throats that electronic instruments are real instruments, I'll say Yeah!! well they use to be anyhow!😂😂

[@RobertoGinsburg]

Edith Piaf --Jean Jacques Perrey--Serge Gainsbourg--France Gall--Francis Cabrel--Vanessa Paradis---IAM---Air--Daft Punk---Supa Saïan Cru : FRANCE GOES TALENT!!

[@happymoogman]

Oops, I mean Bill Cullen....

[@groovechaser]

this sounds better than anything that came after it. including samplers.

[@感謝します-f4y]

🎉😂👍👍👍

[@willproctor7301]

everyday i'm bufferin.

[@itsreal1971]

DEPENDS, MY FRIEND, IT ALL DEPENDS, HERE'S TO FURTHER YOUR ANSWER: The period 2700-2300 BC saw the first appearance of the Sumerian abacus (a basic analog computer), a table of successive columns which delimited the successive orders of magnitude of their sexagesimal number system.

[@siberiatheartist]

haha ! 1960...

[@mathildedecaux]

En tout cas, j'aurai appris que l'Ondioline est monodique (on pouvait s'en douter, mais bon).

[@3y3D]

Thats something you will never see in modern times 😒

[@Dan5482]

Bufferin...

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

+Dan5482 The days when sponsors had to stick their names on these shows.

[@mathildedecaux]

On savait encore s'émerveiller des sonorités électroniques ! Aujourd'hui, le snobisme bobo veut de l'acoustique, de l'acoustique et encore de l'acoustique. Unplugged sucks.

[@christopherjones1871]

Doesn't sound like the actual instruments!

[@joselourenco5542]

That's what you think. The audio quality wasn't at its best in 1960.