> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 01:10:54 +0000
> From: Nic Lewis <nic@...>
>
> The Birotron was an interesting device, the original Dave Biro
> prototype consisting of 20(?) or so standard auto 8 track players
> in a flight case - 8 tracks being endless loops meant that there
> wasn't a limitation on the length of play of a given note -
> something which I understand was a limitation of Mellotrons of
> the day. Biro convinced Wakeman that it was worthy of investment
> and a small but dedicated ;-) team set about turning it into a
> saleable product.
What was the ∗purpose∗ of the Birotron?
I can't believe that the 8 second time limit was the motivation. It's
not like you hear keyboard players say "Damn this Mellotron and its 8
second time limit!". Besides, one can always loop the tapes in an
M400.
My guess would be a cost reduction from using commodity 8-track
drives, or the potential reliability from using a mass produced
tape mechanism, or the ease of mounting new tapes.
-- Don
--
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California, USA
don@...http://www.till.com