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Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: M4000D nice review with photos

From: lsf5275@aol.com
Date: 2011-07-20

You can take the M4000D and manipulate it to be idiosyncratic in certain ways. But those idiosyncrasies will be the same to every sound. The character of a Mellotron is derived from how it plays its tapes, variances from frame to frame, tape age, keyboard adjustment, etc. It makes each one unique. Every M4000D will be exactly like every other one. Not a bad thing really, but a little soulless. When I think of a Mellotron, I think of a tape replay machine. The Mellotron sounds that come out of an iPad are no different except the way they are accessed. The sampling rate may be different but the concept is the same.The iPad delivers the sounds but imparts no character to them.
 
In a message dated 7/19/2011 8:37:30 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tron400@yahoo.com writes:
 

Looks like my last reply didn't make it.

The last frame I bought has tuned Cello/M400 Violins/Flute. Sure, the Violins are MkII Violins EQ'd for the M400, but the EQ, as well as the tuning, was done by Streetly, so there's a degree of authenticity there (like 100%).

I'd love to play around with an M4000D for a few days. It seems to be a practical machine for those who don't want to own a tape replay machine and a good supplement to an M400. But I don't think electronics can ever accurately imitate the electromechanical idiosyncracies of a Mellotron.

Bernie

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "Charles" <charel196@...> wrote:
>
> so if you bought a new tape rack and played an E Major chord and the fifth was recorded out of tune, you'd prefer that over buying a digital unit with all the notes properly tuned and de-noised?
> Even your Mellotron library was recorded and EQ'd with someone else's idea of how it should sound.
> I just don't get it, I guess.
>
>
> --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "tron400" <tron400@> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > It's one thing to alter the sound of your Mellotron or samples, but it's another thing to have someone else decide for you how it should fundamentally sound.
> >
> > Bernie
> >
> > --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "Charles" <charel196@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > do you think Mike Pinder never did any "tampering" to make his units sound "better"? Geeezus....to me the M4000D is the outgrowth of all the years of addressing the complaints about exactly what was wrong with the tape system by all the major artists (tuning, noise, etc.)
> > > Do you think if Harry Chamberlin had this technology at his disposal he would have used tapes?
> > > It may not be a "real Mellotron/Chamberlin" in the eyes of the hardcore obsessives but for me it's a completely normal development in the lineage and deserves the name.
> > >
> >
>