Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Mellotronists

Ken Leonard wrote:

I have noticed that when I listen to #805 through the cans from the
mixer,
it's very brash. It's not distorted, it's just IN YOUR FACE,
especially
the 3 Violins.

I've noticed that it almost completely loses this brashness when I
record
it (PC-based, not analog tape) and play it back. It starts sounding
more
like a well-heeled 'tron.

In my experience, mellotrons are much more difficult to get a good sound
from when recorded via a direct feed.
That's especially where that brashness you're experiencing comes in,
Ken. A good amp rounds things out and
warms them up considerably. (Watch out for amps that can give it a nasel
sound, though -- bass amps, especially)
Some echo (reverb) before the amp and then some more on the mixing board
gives added depth and flexibility for
smoother articulation of the notes. If you're careful how you set it up,
an echo unit (echoplex is my
recommendation) can also add a lot to the sound as long as the tape is
changed relatively frequently (playing live, I
used to do try to remember to do it once a week).

Those who've spoken to Ian McDonald about the recording of "Epitaph"
will know that this is the way KC did it
(a Hi-Watt stack and WEM spring reverb). They put a U-87 about 20 feet
away and let it rip. It came out all right,
I'd say...

Also, if you were at Tronto MkII, check out Fritz Doddy's excellent
reference CD about some other ways to
approach recording. He has a lot to say.

Rick (FX 10030)