Sorry, the word "looping" is wrong, What I heard on the Memotron was evidence of "speeded up" samples. For example, we all know what the top "D" of a Mellotron flute sounds like like, right? It's really quite harsh sounding. On the Memotron its as smooth as a babys bottom. It was as if each note hadn't been individually sampled. I may be wrong, but that was my impression.
AK
Andy Kinch
kinchmusic@aol.com
kinchmusic@aol.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Kinch <kinchmusic@aol.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 8:17 am
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: need opinions for making a mellotron choice
From: Andy Kinch <kinchmusic@aol.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 8:17 am
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: need opinions for making a mellotron choice
On the desert island, there would inevitably be a compromise on something! With the Nord, instant selection of all the principle classic sounds plus the ability to EQ and add pretty good reverbs along the way. When I had a Memotron, I'm sure I heard artifacts of looping, and as I said, only a single frame of 3 available at any one time. I remember being initially disapointed with the flutes and the Church Organ, both had been ironed/ smoothed out! OK, it looked fab, but.....?
Interestingly I did an experiment with a recording using the Memotron's violins, and ending up resorting back to the 400 (as I nearly always do for the sounds I have a tape frame for) because in a condensed mix the Memotron didn't poke through in the same way as the real deal.
Someone else might come to a different conclusion, but IMO the Electro 3 has less crosses and more ticks in the column that just about anything if you're looking for a good allrounder.![\":-)\"](\"https://ec.yimg.com/ec?url=http%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fcdn.webmail.aol.com%2Fresources%2Fcore%2Fimages%2Fsmile.png&t=1572489095&sig=aGxS3vTuwWyMkXI99pa3Qw--~E\")
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Kechagias <mkmellotron@yahoo.gr>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 7:30 am
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: need opinions for making a mellotron choice
From: Mike Kechagias <mkmellotron@yahoo.gr>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 7:30 am
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: need opinions for making a mellotron choice
i own a nord 3 and i admit that is a great tool,but the small sample ram and the absence of layerind and blending two sounds together makes it incomplete... so memotron sounds are worse than the nord library??
i thought that a 2000$ specialised keyboard would be better
Michael kechagias
Michael kechagias
On 20 Φεβ 2012, at 2:45 π.μ., Andy Kinch <kinchmusic@aol.com> wrote:
I consider myself lucky enough to have either owned, or to be currently owning some of the main contenders up for debate. (Excluding Streetly's M4000(sadly) and M-tron).Which is/was the best though? Which one produced the most satisfying "sound"?Top of the pile soundwise, a Mk2 I bought in around 1976. No doubt, the best sounding tron these ears have ever heard bar none! However, a nightmare in terms of transportation, tuning, and just practicality and stability. I'm told that the magic of the Mk 2 was created by a combination of the heads and tube preamp. Remember, it's not only "the" sound of the tapes themselves, masters or otherwise, it's under what conditions the tapes are replayed.2nd has to be my current m400 which, though originally was a clapped out EMI machine, it has been completely restored and rebuilt by Martin and John and is a lovely instrument!3rd is my beautiful, and those here who have got one will agree, Digital M4000. Practically perfect in both appearance and sound. Yes, I must admit, in a direct comparison to my 400, the sound is a tad softer, with not quite as much "grunt" as the 400. But to play, it's a dream, and for me who does a fair bit of recording, to have ALL the Mellotron and Chamberlain samples instantly available either on their own, or by mixing two to create something a bit different is a very useful tool indeed.4th would have to be the Memotron, which I sold immediately I heard the proposed spec and initial price of Marcus's instrument. The sound of the Memotron falls way behind the frontrunner's. Though, I must say it is very easy to move around and looks gorgeous, though to have a digital instrument like this, and still only have the 3 voices available instantly at any one time was annoying.5th would be the first m400 I had back in 1973, which was ALWAYS out of tune. I don't think I ever got that one to sing properly.6th. I have the vintage card for my Roland XP80. Under some recording conditions, you could just imagine a real machine was being used, but not often.So there we have it, the instrument I would take to my desert island would be the Mk 2, running reliably through my everlasting amp, powered by my everlasting electricity supply (difficult on a desert island), Right?Well... Er.... well, wrong actually.In this peculiar situation, I would only be able to have one instrument, so.... (roll of drums....)Ahem, the overwhelming winner would be my Nord Electro 3 synth, with the excellent tron library in situ. Y'see, the sound of the Nord tron library would fit between the Digital M4000 and the Memotron. But of course, as well as these, I would have some of the best B3, Piano and Rhodes samples as well in one very well built, and light portable keyboard!Needless to say Streetly's m4000 would probably have been in 2nd place had I had one, and from what I've heard of their sample pack for the M-tron, those really do sound amazing, retaining all the previosly mentioned "grunt" of a proper Mellotron.Hope you find these observations of interest. All IMHO of course!Cheers.Andy K-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Kechagias <mkmellotron@yahoo.gr>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Feb 19, 2012 11:43 pm
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: need opinions for making a mellotron choicethats more like it!!!
Michael kechagiasThey would suit a digital keyboard but the price will decide the winner longterm and it may well be a blood bath.its strage that the streetly tapes stand for a software but not good enough for a digital keyboard though
Michael kechagiasOur ears! And we know what is what 'cos it's what we do. If we can't judge, who can?
Best,
M
mellotronics.co.uk
On 19 Feb 2012, at 23:06, lsf5275@aol.com wrote:
> Not that I'm doubting you Martin, knowing your sincerity and objectivity, but can I see the statistical analysis and report on that? How many subjects were tested? What sound system was used? Were the comparisons done in a theater, studio, small room, cathedral, or stadium? What sample playback machines were used? Was there a M4000D or Memotron available? iPad 1 or iPad 2? Was this one of those Consumer Reports thingies?