Japanese Toy Piano from 1957 has electric bells inside!

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  • Опубликовано: 23 дек 2024

Комментарии • 534

  • @DavidHilowitzMusic
    @DavidHilowitzMusic  2 года назад +1344

    Ugh! The Telegram scammers are out in full force. If someone replies to your comment pretending to be me and saying you won something-ignore them. I don't have a Telegram account and I don't run comment-based giveaways. Stay safe! :)

    • @davejohnsonmusic
      @davejohnsonmusic 2 года назад +45

      I think most with a brain are privy that those accounts are not you. I always report them when I come across them. Thanks for sharing your toy with us. I always enjoy your backstories to your gadget finds.

    • @brandonecholsmusic
      @brandonecholsmusic 2 года назад +12

      Oh, wow. That has to be so annoying.

    • @saketjoshi4476
      @saketjoshi4476 2 года назад +18

      This means your channel is much famous !

    • @ActualAshCam
      @ActualAshCam 2 года назад +21

      A popular tech RUclipsr (ThioJoe) created a tool called YTSpammerPurge, which is very effective at getting rid of spammers in comment sections. Just letting you know if you want to use it.

    • @nitro8416
      @nitro8416 2 года назад +8

      @@ActualAshCam It's not that advanced, and most bots will bypass it

  • @MayhemJack
    @MayhemJack 2 года назад +2511

    I like how he always says it like, "so, something exciting just arrived in the mail," like they really just arrive in his mail randomly. If only that happens to the rest of us too.

    • @bobbuilder895
      @bobbuilder895 2 года назад +124

      gave me blue clues vibe. i couldnt help but get a childish wave of exitement when he said it lol

    • @marcoscasco222
      @marcoscasco222 Год назад +4

      i mean could happen if you buy something from a foreign country and it took months to arrive, you really never know when they're gonna be there

    • @spingleboygle
      @spingleboygle Год назад

      @@bobbuilder895we just got a letter

    • @Mr_Fancypants
      @Mr_Fancypants 11 месяцев назад

      @@spingleboygle look at mr rich guy here recieving letters.

    • @CryptToneMusic
      @CryptToneMusic 7 месяцев назад +1

      Like some wholesome music SCP that just leaves random musical instruments in your mail

  • @dekoningtan
    @dekoningtan 2 года назад +347

    Seriously--- every time you say "something exciting arrived in the mail" I'm like "oh man where does he find this stuff!?!" and I get excited for you...

    • @iantophernicus6042
      @iantophernicus6042 2 года назад +11

      Where does he find this stuff? I thought it just showed up in the mailbox one day!

  • @MrWigg1es22
    @MrWigg1es22 2 года назад +472

    This is such a cool, weird little niche. No one else is doing anything like this that I know of. I love it.

  • @sinkdemon5813
    @sinkdemon5813 2 года назад +1004

    you're amazing for giving us these obscure intrument sampler instruments for free. you make nerds like me really happy.

  • @frackingoil322
    @frackingoil322 2 года назад +752

    You do the most amazing work I have ever seen. I can't imagine the engineers behind the design ever thought this would come of their work. Great job!

    • @patricksharpe
      @patricksharpe 2 года назад +28

      I love seeing these old lost instruments come to life and be given the ability to be enjoyed by everyone forever. This video goes to show just how important Davids work with Decent Sampler truly is!

  • @Narinjas
    @Narinjas 2 года назад +249

    I really wish there would be a version with 37 keys (having a classical piano distribution) with a silent dual motor design that would also incorporate some clever "microphone" sensors on the "bells" to be able to amplify the sound in a cheap electrical analog way. (I am drooling at the thought of what this new sound could bring to the modern music)

    • @nuberiffic
      @nuberiffic 2 года назад +8

      ...why not just use the virtual instrument he made?

    • @bacicinvatteneaca
      @bacicinvatteneaca 2 года назад +4

      This could work if the spindle was non-magnetic and the bells were ferromagnetic, one could use pickups

    • @NeoNovastar
      @NeoNovastar 2 года назад +10

      @@nuberiffic oh you can always use the digital version, but sometimes being able to touch the physical thing just makes a difference

    • @NeoNovastar
      @NeoNovastar 2 года назад

      @@nuberiffic oh you can always use the digital version, but sometimes being able to touch the physical thing just makes a difference

    • @nuberiffic
      @nuberiffic 2 года назад

      @@NeoNovastar Yeah.
      Seams like a lot of work for such a niche sound.
      You might also lose some of the charm by engineering it to a high degree

  • @jean-francoisdaignault9612
    @jean-francoisdaignault9612 2 года назад +33

    Part of what makes this instrument so magical is that when you play the scale it is not tuned in the Ionian mode (AKA a major scale) as one would expect, but in the Lydian mode, in which the raised fourth scale degree (think C major scale but with an f sharp) creates a feeling of upward motion, of lightness and suspension.
    I call it the “starry night” mode, become it is often used in film music when something flies up into a star-filled sky. Very often a high-pitched metal instrument like a glockenspiel is also used to evoke the twinkling of the stars.

    • @SarafinaSummers
      @SarafinaSummers Год назад +1

      Thank you! My music teacher just expected me to be able to get it just by hearing it!

  • @SirLightsOut99
    @SirLightsOut99 2 года назад +70

    This is really cool. Obscure instruments like this kind of fascinate me. Also it's weird thinking about how eventually people are going to be making videos like this about the toys we played with as kids.

  • @Nazferot2
    @Nazferot2 2 года назад +45

    I love when you do these unique musical instruments videos.

  • @shrimmirhs292
    @shrimmirhs292 2 года назад +29

    Your channel is one of the few that's an immediate click once I get the notification. The vibe of your channel really embodies one of my life's mantra:
    "Everything is interesting, all the time."
    Thank you for your wonderful and easily consumed videos and for providing such unique sample libraries.

  • @violetmirrors
    @violetmirrors 2 года назад +68

    I love your voice, and the way your instrumentals always mix so perfectly with the tone of the video, honestly these are so well produced that it gives me chills sometimes watching them. Thanks for making content!

  • @LouieTaylorMusic
    @LouieTaylorMusic 2 года назад +29

    I love these historical, restoration, music making, sample library creation videos - amazing! keep em coming :)

  • @nohandleleft
    @nohandleleft 2 года назад +1

    It's a percussion instrument, it doesn't really fit the traditional form factor of a vibraphone which may ruffle some feathers, but I would argue that it is, in fact, a vibraphone. It has beaters that strike a tuned bell, those same beaters perform double duty and provide a vibrato effect driven by a motor coupled to a spindle. Properly restored and tuned, this would be a pretty cool piece to have.

  • @PaisleyPatchouli
    @PaisleyPatchouli 2 года назад +65

    What a little treasure from post war Japan!
    I understand your intent on sampling the best sounding single bell in the array and then using it for your entire sample library; but I would suggest that you go back and sample at least a couple others. My reason for this is that, in my opinion, much of the charm of an instrument like this is going to be in its idiosyncrasy, and this will be even more apparent when the tones are not all identical, and actually reflect some of the fragility and 'unevenness' of the original. Note I'm not suggesting you use them all, but at least use several of the best ringing samples for your library. Just a thought...

  • @DheerajSukumaran
    @DheerajSukumaran 2 года назад +67

    the back story behind this is just really interesting to know about

  • @billyparham630
    @billyparham630 2 года назад +9

    The fact that you always turn the unstrument into a plugin is too amazing. You are simply great! Thank you

  • @ZacChien1
    @ZacChien1 Год назад +1

    So vibraphones actually have small electrically powered spinning fans above the resonators (the tubes beneath each metal bar) and make a vibrato effect, so in that way this is somewhat similar. It also has a vibrato effect although it does it by continually hitting the resonators (the bells). It definitely doesn't look like a piano though.

  • @64village
    @64village Год назад +1

    wow… This is so cool!
    Thanks for sharing this with me!
    from Japan🇯🇵

  • @Wyklepheph
    @Wyklepheph Год назад +2

    I just recently discovered your channel and have to say thank you. Not many people sample these types of things and then just put it out there for free. Much love, major respect.

  • @NicStage
    @NicStage 2 года назад +1

    This just kept getting better. The toy itself, what it looks like opened up, the crazy Deagan one, the conversion to Decent. Awesome!

  • @patprop74
    @patprop74 2 года назад +5

    I like that toy for what it is, lots of technical metal folding and forming... a combination of multiple materials that all come together as a toy that probably indirectly inspired someone, somewhere to make music.

  • @justindtackett
    @justindtackett 2 года назад +3

    This is some top notch community content. I mean this is too good for RUclips. Bravo

  • @someshpanchal2091
    @someshpanchal2091 2 года назад +9

    You are inspiration for a new 21 year old music learner.... This type of videos are so satisfying

  • @1969mew
    @1969mew 2 года назад +15

    Another beautiful video - thank you, David! It's wonderful to think how this charming little instrument is now able to ring out across the world - instead of rusting away in a landfill. It all could never have been foreseen.

  • @alienecho9634
    @alienecho9634 2 года назад +4

    This is magical. Thanks for these type of videos. I love how you research the backstory and the way you present it and then even give us a free toy to play with.

  • @floatingdoor
    @floatingdoor 2 года назад

    Yes. Another awesome vid. Thanks for sampling this thing man.

  • @Davett53
    @Davett53 Год назад +1

    FUN,......Cool. I was 4 in 1957. I like what you did,....and the music at the end, was probably the best that toy will ever sound. I hated the sound of (child sized) toy pianos when I was growing up. I wish I had known about this (child) sized electric organ I found in a junk store, that also ran on batteries, with a small blower-fan. It was all made of plastic. I was already in my 30s when I found it, and was pleased it was in perfect running order. I'm sure I didn't pay more than $5.00 for it. I played with it for a couple years, it sounded good. I sold it to a retro toy buyer, in my town when I got bored with it. Its either in somebody's collection, or in a display, by now.

  • @Sarsour_
    @Sarsour_ Год назад +1

    You make some of the most amazing content I've seen in a long time.

  • @semyonboyk0
    @semyonboyk0 2 года назад +2

    What a wholesome video, loved it. Thank you for sharing, David!

  • @Luckeorg
    @Luckeorg Год назад

    one of the best channels ! much love from Brazil !

  • @shiralleehaggart72
    @shiralleehaggart72 Год назад +1

    The music at the end sounded lovely with this toy piano added to it and would love to hear this in full. Thank you for a great video.

  • @SkaterDeeVlog
    @SkaterDeeVlog 2 года назад +7

    That sounds a lot better than I was expecting. A nice feature to add would be a speed control for the motor, sort of like a Leslie Speaker, that would increase and decrease the rate of the knockers against the bells. Just something to add a little bit of an accent to the sound.

  • @Jerkcurb1
    @Jerkcurb1 2 года назад

    Another beautiful , informative & fascinating video. Quickly becoming my favourite channel on the ‘tube

  • @mixedfiction
    @mixedfiction 2 года назад +3

    Having the spindle does bring it close into the vibraphone territory. Vibraphones have rotating paddles inside the pipes that can either be powered electrically or mechanically by a pedal, which create a very similar vibrating sound to this little piano. Just a little insight that there might be more to the naming than just the popularity of the instrument. I have a vibraphone that also needs its string replaced and it gets stuck on occasion. Mine is electric and the foot pedal releases felt pads allowing the vibration of air in the pipes to ring out.

  • @barrythekuhmpozer
    @barrythekuhmpozer 2 года назад

    this is so amazing and the fact that its free...... omg dont get me started cuz man as a young producer with no money......... i dont think you know how much this is a blessing.

  • @YashKMusic
    @YashKMusic 2 года назад

    you are one of my favorite youtubers right now, keep up the good work 🙏

  • @leanderfalkenberg4308
    @leanderfalkenberg4308 Год назад +1

    Your work is phenomenal. All the research, knowledge, effort and the way you put it all together in this 8 min format without rushing it is really impressive. And to be able to get the sounds you make is a gift, thank you very much!

  • @stevedaycreative
    @stevedaycreative 2 года назад +2

    ‘TN’ - I recognised this immediately from my robot collecting years. I saw lots of Nomura’s toys, but never this one. Beautiful. Thank you!

  • @RSpudieD
    @RSpudieD 2 года назад +6

    This is such a cool, weird little instrument with an interesting history! It's more of a toy than anything else but when you started playing with the sample you got from it, it rally does sound nice! I like the constant percussive ringing of the bells a lot!

  • @MsTribus
    @MsTribus Год назад +1

    I can stop watching these. I like how a story is told and you always end on a happy fulfilling 'note'. It goes full circle :) instant subscribe

  • @MaxDeirmenjian
    @MaxDeirmenjian 2 года назад

    The sound of that motor would be a fantastic sample on its own!

  • @five-toedslothbear4051
    @five-toedslothbear4051 Год назад

    Aw, that is so sweet! What a clever little toy, and when you got it working and sampled it and made some music, I got all misty. It might have hit me at the intersection of nostalgia and how much I like Japanese things.

  • @urbanretroxboxseriesxgamin1964
    @urbanretroxboxseriesxgamin1964 2 года назад +1

    To give this out for free for the love of resurrecting noise makers that would have been lost to time is Champion stuff. Well done Sir.

  • @YakulDeath
    @YakulDeath 2 года назад +3

    I honestly thinking there’s some relation to real vibraphones, they also have a motor that creates the “vibrato” effect. That might be where they’re taking the name from.

  • @mediumfalse
    @mediumfalse 2 года назад +1

    I recently started my discovery into analog synthesizers and stumbled upon your channel. The creativity, curiosity and production of these episodes hooked me in. Subscribed. ✌️

  • @alexkuhn5078
    @alexkuhn5078 2 года назад +2

    I used to have a thing very similar to this. It was a Sesame Street keyboard from the 80s, it's keys were directly coupled to xylophone bars that would lift up into a rotary striker a lot like this. I always thought the workings were really cool.

  • @neptune-io
    @neptune-io Год назад

    WOAHH THE WHOLE VIDEO I WAS WONDERING IF HE WAS GOING TO PLAY ALL THE NOTES SO I COULD SAMPLE IT OR SOMETHING BUT HE MADE A FREE SAMPLER THING????? THATS SO NICE TYSM

  • @craig5856
    @craig5856 2 года назад +1

    Your videos are amazingly well put together and just such a delight to watch!

  • @MilesBeatsLive
    @MilesBeatsLive 2 года назад

    So … the tone you speak with ..and the vibe of that backing track is just so captivating .. had to sub

  • @RyanFordStylo
    @RyanFordStylo 2 года назад +2

    Really love Dusty Planets David. Great progression ambient electronic vibe! First time listener, just bought the track. Keep up the amazing work!

  • @BirthquakeRecords
    @BirthquakeRecords 2 года назад +19

    Did you know that the mechanism that strikes the bells (the plectrums? the mallets?) looks like it’s based on the mechanism inside of bike bells?
    (The old style ones that go like “brrr-brrring!”, not the new ones that go like “PING!”)

    • @daveprice5911
      @daveprice5911 2 года назад +1

      man I had a bell like that, I loved it

  • @kimbercafe11
    @kimbercafe11 Год назад

    What a fun and original channel. Im glad I found you!

  • @xxcobxxtoffelk1620
    @xxcobxxtoffelk1620 Год назад

    Thank you for your dedication to reuse old stuff

  • @nickc4276
    @nickc4276 2 года назад +1

    This is awesome. Thanks for making this!!!

  • @zadooo
    @zadooo Год назад

    idk why this video touched me so much, how beautiful to see how music evolves in time, thx !!

  • @noon_GhuNNa
    @noon_GhuNNa 2 года назад +1

    you didi it again! love your video production and writing! Thanks so much for decent sampler!

  • @Notquitekris
    @Notquitekris Год назад

    What a delightful toy and story! The colour and design reminds me of a lot of my old toys. Sweet

  • @Leophred
    @Leophred 2 года назад

    I would like you to know that it makes me happy to see your videos pop up in my feed. Cheers

  • @bcbudrecords
    @bcbudrecords 2 года назад +2

    the motor in my "Big Mouth Singers" toy piano is louder lol ... exactly the same instrument thought ... just made of plastic ... and it has awesome heads with mouths that open when you press a key ... Nice video !

  • @yanyanso
    @yanyanso Год назад

    I found your channel today, and I've watched a couple of your videos. I'm in love with your content now. Well, I'll keep watching more.

  • @ahumblerequest5222
    @ahumblerequest5222 2 года назад

    I love your videos, they way you include a short history if an instrument is very engaging.

  • @Xvamp_novsX
    @Xvamp_novsX Год назад

    sounds so magical im happy you made it work!

  • @anjkos
    @anjkos 2 года назад

    Oh the plug-in really felt like a gift for my curiosity. I was in search of cool old sounds to use. Thank you soo much!!!💕💕

  • @ThomasRimidal
    @ThomasRimidal 2 года назад +1

    Amazing !! recording such sounds and digitalise them for future!

  • @glenesis
    @glenesis 2 года назад +63

    Cool toy! I've seen and heard instruments like this played in street music when I was a kid, for sure. As always, thanks for the very nice freebie :) How did you correct rhythmic striking for each note? That's cool!

    • @Esbe1280
      @Esbe1280 2 года назад +2

      Why you hurting them? :(( /J

    • @glenesis
      @glenesis 2 года назад +1

      @@Esbe1280 Awww, I'm so sorry! I made a typo. I fixed it. I'd never hurt a nice toy instrument :)
      /j

  • @redrumthebum
    @redrumthebum 2 года назад

    your videos bring me a great deal of comfort every time i watch them :)

  • @retinalcircus
    @retinalcircus 2 года назад +3

    Amazing. I saw something similar to this thing back in 2017 at a friend's house. It had plastic ducks heads on it and each one was a bell, when the beak opened it made the sound.
    I tried to sample it but also found it too noisy because of it's motor and didn't have time to try and mod it which was a shame. So this is awesome, gives me that sound I always wanted. Thanks

    • @Mauuuurice
      @Mauuuurice Год назад

      Ooooh, we had a version with frogs when I was a child

  • @toddbernstein3407
    @toddbernstein3407 2 года назад +1

    This reminds me of a musical toy I had as a kid in the 70's called Big Mouth Singers. It sounded just the same. Thanks for bringing back a fond memory.

  • @Jovocale
    @Jovocale 2 года назад

    very clever… and takes you/me back to when the toy would also have delighted a child many years ago. I was born in 1959, and my first musical toy was a xylophone, and a small tin, musical merry-go-round… that became the start of my musical career!!
    Well done!!

  • @IanWaugh
    @IanWaugh 2 года назад +1

    Wow! That is sooooo 😎 You're a bit of a geniius, Dave 👍

  • @PhillipRaymondGoodman
    @PhillipRaymondGoodman 2 года назад +6

    This is great, I kinda want one. Also this totally seems like the sort of instrument that Simon the magpie would do something with

  • @sosai8406
    @sosai8406 2 года назад

    Another amazing video! I don't know how these aren't getting millions of views yet

  • @Greg-om2hb
    @Greg-om2hb 2 года назад

    The vibraphone incorporates a motorized spinning mechanism that creates the modulated/warbling sound characteristic of the instrument by turning butterfly valves within the resonators placed beneath each key. I think this toy draws its appellation from the similarity of it’s clever motorized spinning striker mechanism.

  • @wheninroamful
    @wheninroamful 2 месяца назад

    Just found your channel a few days ago, the Squire vid, then the Botempi vid; love you 'content'. Really interesting and well done. Thanks man!!!

  • @WowVital
    @WowVital 2 года назад +2

    Accidentally discovered your youtube channel. Very interesting digging into musical history, please keep up the good work!

  • @imaginexist
    @imaginexist 2 года назад

    i just found your channel, i deeply appreciate what you do with these tools to create new music and provide them to us. thank you!

  • @Jellyperson1202
    @Jellyperson1202 2 года назад +3

    I love this instrument, it sounds kinda space like. I think I know what I’m going to use it for.

  • @aprilraver9785
    @aprilraver9785 2 года назад

    your such a legend i’m gonna put this in so many lofi jams

  • @s.javadhashmi7754
    @s.javadhashmi7754 2 года назад +1

    Your videos are amazing man

  • @LifeOnHoth
    @LifeOnHoth 6 месяцев назад

    Your work is great dude! Think about what the people who made that toy would've thought if they knew it was sampled and used in contemporary music - decades and maybe centuries later.

  • @dancingbetweenus
    @dancingbetweenus Год назад

    Just found your videos today. Loving your videos!

  • @faxinadu
    @faxinadu 2 года назад

    wonderful, so cute

  • @harrymarkandjohn
    @harrymarkandjohn 2 года назад +12

    I love how the black keys are just painted on the white ones :D
    Another awesome video! I love watching your content and I really need to get back into making music again...

  • @malibubeatsprod
    @malibubeatsprod 2 года назад

    great format! Really, you create something special! Thank you very much! Can't wait for the next video!

  • @talhadriss2370
    @talhadriss2370 2 года назад +1

    That was selenoid engine for the electric bell in museem we still use it in doorbells

    • @talhadriss2370
      @talhadriss2370 2 года назад

      Okay I would like to much ❣ i like ur videos

  • @bacoose
    @bacoose 2 года назад +3

    The sound reminds me of both calliopes and old phones. The bell you sampled from especially reminds me of phone ringers.

    • @nuberiffic
      @nuberiffic 2 года назад

      well it essentially is one

  • @MikeMcMan93
    @MikeMcMan93 11 месяцев назад

    thats amazing, thanks for the plugin!

  • @fulviobennato
    @fulviobennato Год назад

    that sound is special
    Thanks for sampling it
    I actually didn't despise the engine noise it had a vibe

  • @FreeAudioZone
    @FreeAudioZone 2 года назад

    Really cool, as always. I greatly enjoy your channel, keep it up!

  • @AlSteinMusic
    @AlSteinMusic 2 года назад

    This is the best channel on youtube, by far!

  • @greatkingrat
    @greatkingrat Год назад +1

    I really like the tune that you made. It’s a very happy Japanese sound. :)

  • @HallieEva
    @HallieEva Год назад

    Love your samples.

  • @Gurumarx
    @Gurumarx 2 года назад

    YOU ARE AMAZING 🔥❤️

  • @MasDouc
    @MasDouc 10 месяцев назад

    Man I am so glad I found this channel

  • @Fahrvergnugen
    @Fahrvergnugen Год назад

    What a charming little toy instrument!

  • @DreamyDaisies-b3u
    @DreamyDaisies-b3u Год назад

    This little piano is so cute it is perfect for small dolls❤

  • @aronpolner4479
    @aronpolner4479 2 года назад

    Always a delight to watch your stuff ✨🎷🐛

  • @kimsoftboy9776
    @kimsoftboy9776 2 года назад +1

    Some restoration and some tuning and I'm sure that little piano sounds good

  • @SamSung-xz7jt
    @SamSung-xz7jt 2 года назад +1

    It does have a vibraphone sound, if you ignore the motor.