Yak Bak: Making music with a sampling toy from the 90s

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[@revan7383]

The fact you put the music you make with the instrument in the video before you even make it is so cool. Its like confirmation that this thing is a working instrument

[@shaunsolomon3229]

I was working graves at a 24 hour Wal-Mart in the 90s. I was in the toy section. There were no kids at 3:00am. They had a lot of noise making toys, including Yak-Baks. Fun fact, the same company made tiny guitars and drum kits. They also had the backwards model. I would amuse myself by multi-tracking from one device to another, bouncing the audio and embellishing it with speaking dolls or choice vocal phrases or beat boxing. I was able to get some very... interesting/disturbing "tracks" in this manner. They sounded like aliens and demons fighting on AM radio, or dance music through a portal from another dimension coming over a ham radio set. I enjoyed leaving these tracks for people to encounter. I always wondered what folks would make of them.

[@g-starthefirst]

Do you still have these music tracks? I would love to listen to them if you put them on SoundCloud or Bandcamp or similar music platforms.

[@shaunsolomon3229]

@@g-starthefirst That's cool of you, but I am afraid I do not. This was in the dark ages, and I didn't even consider the results important at the time. Just picture the sounds in your mind and you will have a better version than I was able to produce. Rhythmically modulated harsh noise with glitches and dolls saying "I love friends!" stuff like that. They were several seconds long at most. I guess Tick Tock length? I feel obligated to mention I have a few audio collages I assembled from garage band loops on SoundCloud under the name "Bevan Lurrito" If you see an ugly guy with octopus tentacles, I'm your man. Cheers.

[@AldenAudet]

@@shaunsolomon3229 Lounging with lucifer is actually crazy. I'm diggin it.

[@shaunsolomon3229]

@@AldenAudet thanks! It is pretty odd, but I like that sort of thing.

[@orionstarr5313]

Holy fracanolli but batbin I love this! You know that there is somebody out there right now telling the story of how they got this toy when they were little that had some weird thing on it that potentially shifted them into the current field of work they do whether that be sound scaping or psychology due to their own trauma lol. You sir changed the world in a tiny way! Hat tipped.

[@sahandn9]

Your problem was the speaker output line impedance. You connected something that had a very different impedance than the built-in speaker probably

[@albertopeixoto]

I saw this on the decent sample library and thought “hey, must be a new video” It’s funny that it worked better than KZbin notifications.

[@MATroiano]

How you say “my friend Cameron” is so heartwarming and refreshing to hear on the internet. No cold “partnership” or “collaboration.” It’s just two friends having fun making music, which is so rare to see

[@RayvenNeverland]

i like that this is relitivelly common on music youtube, its a refreshing sight for sure

[@michaelhaydenbell]

It's rare for friends to exist and make music? Lol what?

[@MATroiano]

@@michaelhaydenbell nope, it’s rare to see that specifically on this platform, where collaboration is encouraged as a way to blend communities and gain followers, rather than to genuinely connect

[@facudrycosmos]

my man did a lot of mathematics things just to declare that the toys from the 90' have a lofi sound, respect man. I love the sounds through the pedals, beautiful.

[@scillyautomatic]

Two white wires... White goes to hot and white goes to ground... wait...

[@k1tt3hk4t6]

Fortunately it shouldn't matter, since an inverted sine wave sounds no different than a normal one-- would only be a problem if you were to have two speakers with only one wired up backwards, as then they'd destructively interfere (like is done intentionally for noise cancelling). (I know you're joking, but it's interesting I think :D)

[@JoshFreilich]

Pressure…SO MUCH PRESSURE

[@mitchyyy18]

I had like 4 yak baks growing up! Nostalgic as heck! ❤

[@BeniRoseMusic]

My yak back power pen was my most prized possession!

[@g-starthefirst]

can I have one

[@chrissherren1374]

I used to have the Yakbakwards...I'm still obsessed with reversing my voice and other sounds!

[@TerbInYourFace]

I remember mine broke after chocolate milk spilled on it

[@Fl4ppers]

I love how this is a thing. Back in the early 2000s there were a few of us trying to use degradation techniques (tape, bitcrushing) to create sound and it was really frowned upon. Only Boards of Canada really took off with that technique back then. Its lovely to hear it on people's releases, soundtracks etc as part of the mainstream.

[@EdgarRoock]

Now that you mention it, the sonic connection between David's tunes and BoC has become obvious to me.

[@jd87a]

Frowned upon? By whom?

[@Fl4ppers]

@@jd87a just the general internet folk at the time, and a few labels we contacted. Many of those labels are gone now

[@davemakesnoises]

@@jd87ai think a major trend of the digital audio generation has been fidelity, how high we can get sample rates to preserve as much of the curvature of the sinusoid original analog waveform as possible, so to pursue the stepping or degradation of the waveform might have been construed as antithetical to the priorities of digital audio reproduction at the time and thereby panned by individuals who enjoy criticizing

[@abraxasjinx5207]

Who is this "few of us"? Any artists I should check out/ might recognize?

[@gilesmoss5860]

I like how the pedals really bring it to life (no I don't need to get into buying pedals myself.. that feels like an expensive rabbit hole!) Thanks for the VST : )

[@scottangelides9237]

an opportunity was missed in not calling the sample library the "yak bak pak"

[@dustyaudio]

Memories unlocked. My first sampler I guess…. Dang

[@a11pu1poj]

Wow, I remember asking my parents for one of these when I was like 7. What a throwback!!

[@DonutShoes]

Me and my 3 siblings had a whole fleet of these toys as kids. I remember having the simplest, earliest models that didn't have any crazy effects on them. Great job with the library!

[@MakeSomething]

absolutely beautiful. the processed audio sounds so good!

[@my_m4n]

Your videos are always so gentle and comforting. It’s my favorite thing. I get excited every time that I see one in my recommended. Thank you for them.

[@greatheightsu]

Came for 90's fun. Stayed for advanced sound theory.

[@OceanusHelios]

Bitscape 95: The next soundscape for Bladerunner, or the next Space Movie Epic. This could become iconic for a franchise.

[@YFZ52]

I always look forward to your uploads. Super interesting content with the most comforting delivery. Very calming experience going through your videos. I remember messing around with these toys in the 90s. Love the sounds you got using this through your signal chain.

[@jonassink]

I love your videos, David. They bring me so much joy every time.

[@mpusch88]

These videos are always so satisfying, the pacing is perfect

[@andycordy5190]

Conducted with your gentle obsessive work ethic, the results are shockingly pretty given your starting point. I remember back in the early 90's when sampling software and associated effects began to bloom, thinking that one day one would be able to take a sample of (more or less) anything and manipulate it into (more or less) anything else. That is (more or less) proven by your experiments here. This is not the first time you have proven an important point, such as: A Stradivari in the hands of someone who is not a musician of exceptional ability might as well be a thrift store violin.

[@smashrhythm]

I had a Yak Bak 2 when I was in like grade 4 of 5. It just had a Rec and a Play button and a speed control wheel. It was the only toy I ever had that died from old age rather than me pulling it apart or loosing it. Also I ended up getting a similar noise maker called “Mega Mouth” it was like a megaphone but with cartoon sound effects and a speed control. It was the bane of my parents existence for a long time. I found it years later when I was in my first band and my singer used it for “Mike Patton” style vocal effects, but of course he never gave it back and never owned up to it …. Anyway I recommend getting your hands on one, there was a few different editions too like rock n roll sounds and animal noises. Loads of fun

[@AzamisBox]

i dont think i cant get enough of your content when it show up on my home page. your video quality is outstanding and i love your workflow ! 😁

[@BasementEraAudio]

Picking this up tonight. You and Cameron are a huge inspiration to me and I can't thank you enough for the sounds and videos!

[@ryan.noakes]

I guessed to myself that it would be 2 minutes tops into the video before you took it apart to add a proper output jack. Love the way you update these things to make sampling them easier/better. Also. Your test to figure out the sample rate was one of the most interesting ways of demonstrating the Nyquist Theorem I've seen in a long time. Also also. This looks like a really fun sample library, can't wait to play around with it.

[@kuroageha1096]

That’s my nostalgia. Exactly the same thing was sold under the name “しゃべ録(Shabe-roku)”.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

oh wow, I really like the way the Japanese version looks

[@mesientogut6701]

I am having trouble finding this using the terms you provided. I tried searching the Japanese and the romaji

[@donnieka696]

Good thing I bought one last year because the prices are gonna go way up after this video

[@protojem]

these types of videos are awesome, i really wished you'd post more of those short background synth loops on ur soundcloud, they''re so simple yet so relaxing!!

[@thetalenthousetx]

Dude i love this. Great work. Killer thumbnails by the way. *chefs kiss*

[@natemorton1473]

Your channel proves more and more useful to my life. What an epic representation of making beauty. Thank you.

[@opiejaye]

I love the sounds you can get out of these old samplers. I recently rediscovered the old Casio SK-5 I had as a kid and have been doing similar things.

[@benjaminreggers9106]

Amazing, as always with your videos David !

[@SatelliteSounds]

Love what you did with this thing. Everything sounds like a dream.

[@Ryuusei924]

ahhh i love your step by step visualization and explanation of the way the sound characteristics were modified, takes me back to my favorite communication systems engineering and DSP classes in college

[@B14k3]

Your videos are so amazing. Love it dude!

[@danieladdled]

I had one of these in high school and I don't know what happened to it but I regret losing it. Especially after looking at the prices to get one used!

[@davidmuller2220]

I looove your videos i could listen forever to this videos and love how you remake old instruments

[@wittworks]

Beautiful

[@EBThisThat]

Your range of instruments boggles my mind and how you’re making music with the YakBak is fascinating.

[@corodoug813]

I am a bit surprised that I have never heard of this toy. (Edit: 7:46 is such a beautiful sound!)

[@IanBourneMusic]

It is awesome as a sample library. Thanks.

[@stephpicher]

I love how your video and Cameron's complement each other perfectly. Very inspiring.

[@kirkydaturkey]

wow I love this lofi pad. Great work guys!

[@seda8537]

Hey man. Just discovered the video where you finished Dreamlife today. I've gone and checked out some of your band's stuff and I really like it, y'all have gained another listener :)

[@damnedsam1330]

You're amaazing i love every upload the amazing sounds you make with every tool at the end of every video

[@damnedsam1330]

instrument =tool

[@samothrace2106]

I had a yak backwards when I was a kid. It was one of my favorite toys and I wish I still had it. I DIY'ed something similar for my kids.

[@BackspinZX]

Man, y'all two both come up with some of the most fun sample sets on the internet. Like, alt.strings was already killer, but this is just it's own kind of whimsical fun.

[@Taeodoestech]

David is also a circuit bender?! This channel is so inspirational

[@SMAAAASHTV]

The one I remember most was the YakBakwards which played the audio in reverse. The commercial had a kid insult his family by speaking in reverse then playing the reverse of that, which was in plain english.

[@sonikkuffffff]

i've owned one of these since i was a kid. it can do simultaneous playback/recording. meaning you can push one of those sound effect buttons, record it, play it back with an effect while recording that, play it back again with more effects on it while also recording that, etc.

[@SalutanisOrkonus]

Love these kinds of videos. On top of that, they really make me wanna try doing stuff with analog and effect pedals and such, seems a lot of fun.

[@matsuomasato]

wow what a nostalgia trip! This was one of my favorite toys as a kid

[@gizaha]

I bought yak time watch back then. One of the best toys i've ever had. 6 seconds of digital sound was nowhere to found back then (in such a cheap price)

[@Steambull1]

Oh shit, I had this! Would never have thought of it again in my life without seeing it here, it's like how working in a thrift store I would see toys and suddenly unlock memories from having the same one as a kid. I remember having mixed feelings about this thing, because I legit thought you could express yourself with it and that I occasionally pulled off some cool stuff, but at the same time I felt bad about thinking so because it was just a toy and not a real instrument. Like, enjoying it made me think I was perhaps a simpleton about music, that I shouldn't have felt any pride for the ideas.

[@artemvsprime]

Very educational, great work!

[@asaphazais1648]

I was a 90s kid who had a Yak Bak. I played the onboard sound effects all the time as well because they were funny!

[@juhakopman2430]

I had that same exact Yak Bak, still got it somewhere! awesome toy for the era

[@Entoron055]

I wonder how it would reproduce drumsounds. Thanks for another great project David!

[@clarkem4119]

The moment that upward pitched sine wave started, I quickly reached up to take off my headphones, but then you said "I am not going to play the whole thing..." Thank you. I know that sound well. :)

[@__Jan___]

Great Video! Thankyou!

[@vko7059]

Best channel on youtube right now

[@stevedaymusic]

Valuable, and value full. Brilliant! Yes please…

[@beau-2222]

I had the Yak Bak 2 and adored it as a kid.

[@khajo9486]

Thanks for knowing how sound works. You make something out of anything.

[@klownck]

Interesting why you would get rid of the harshness. It's wonderful. Well done on making this ❤️

[@rectify2003]

Great theory explanation 🙏❤️

[@timdanyo898]

Art and science in unison. Thanks for the process journey!

[@theunboundsound]

Oh my! This brings back some great memories 😂❤😂

[@k2a2l2]

god i love lofi sounds like these so much.. lately ive been using a bunch of old video game soundfonts for music and it just has a very special sound

[@pesyaivry9650]

quite beautiful

[@Vuohipukki]

I remember having one of those and how it drove my parents nuts. Good times.

[@JC20XX]

I had one of these! Looking back that may have sparked an early interest in sampling. I wonder whatever happened to it.

[@trashtbyghosts]

your channels so awesome bro - hope u guyz r making mad $$$

[@Pbdijonnaise]

Oh my god you just unlocked some memories for me here

[@Bealzabub]

That commercial clip unlocked such a visceral nostalgic memory that I didn't even know I had?

[@basmatine]

Wow, what a blast from the past! Back in the 90’s I started a lo-fi electronic project and this toy was one of my first samplers. There were a bunch of great audio based toys on the market back then, one of my favorites was called the mega mouth warper- a lo-fi pitch shifter. Nice and crunchy! Try to find one to review. Another pitch shifter toy I used was Mr. Mic, the boombox character from Toy Story.

[@ShredderBenjamin]

I had a green yak back as a kid, loved stuff like this! Also had an opaque red similar thing with a face on it, teardrop shape but still struggling to think of it's name but it's of the same era!

[@edmorris1437]

I think this proves you can find beauty in almost anything.

[@GabeWilliams]

Yes, I did watch both videos back to back

[@Smokinjoewhite]

I had the yakbak 2 back in the day, loved the thing.

[@CopperPrettyBlood]

The fact that the Yak-Bak has The Noise scream sfx is pure gold

[@scottbitz5222]

David, this is amazing! and I feel your pain with those foot switches (though my fingers are hardened from years of violin playing and lots of typing as a developer) so I found awhile back that MOOER makes these footswitch pads that fit many of the pegs! For those they fit (Zoom pedals are just a BIT too large...) it's WAY easier on the hands to tap a larger plastic pad than a metal one! For those I can't fit the MOOER pads on, I'm going to 3D print my own peg covers and can send over the print files if you'd like them once they're done!

[@marcussilva9623]

the output when you thought you had broken it sounded pretty cool!

[@kaitlyn__L]

This is kind of a small detail but thank you for always showing B-roll of the music being played in sync with what we're hearing. It's always so jarring to me when there's a disconnect there.

[@alexandregallois6878]

you're a magician...! so great thx

[@TRAVIESO_NA]

I just realized, after being 9 mins into this, BRO make some ARPS/ Arpeggiators WITH THIS WILL SOUND SO COOL

[@NeonDreams7]

hahaha. I've still got a yak bak around here somewhere from the mid 90's. This is great to watch

[@alleycatjack4562]

I need to get my hands on one of these to pair with my circuit bent Casio SA-10. I'd probably add a toggle switch in parallel to the playback button.

[@MulryTime]

Very cool video. The sound you got demonstrating the Nyquis Theorem sounds like the opening of "Radio Havana" by Rancid.

[@huffdm]

I had one of these! 😊 very cool!

[@liontamer4132]

OMG WOW WHAT A THROWBACK I HAD TWO OF THESE omg holy heck

[@iblackfeathers]

yakbaks were used by the prop department of the 1997 tv show la femme nikita. they visited toys r us back in the day to repurpose them as a component for the futuristic pdas they called panels. it was the speaker/handle portion on the right of the panel. note that this was in 1997, before smartphones and tablets even existed. these were part of what those represented back then. i have some yakbaks lying around somewhere.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

that’s amazing!

[@jameswilkes451]

I used to have a "Spy Kit" when I was young which had all sorts of gubbins in such as night vision glasses, a sound magnifier which could listen through walls (hehe) and the thing I kept the longest, which was something like this. You could record audio but it had a slider to make it faster or slower! It was so addictive and probably one of the reasons why I love sound engineering/producing as an adult.

[@theejackalope]

It amazes me what can be pulled out of such small unexpected things.

[@timwindling436]

I have fond memories of these. I had 2 that I would record into each other. It probably sounded like crap but was magic for a 7 year old.

[@ajmckinney33]

I had one of these!!!! I feel like a child again 😊

[@hammies.]

so cool man, really cool

[@ethanpschwartz]

I wanted a Yak Bak SO BAD as a kid. Although my parents, probably quite correctly, assumed I would get bored of it after ten minutes. It's nice to see it getting use today.