The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

On Wed, 15 Jan 2003 10:34:50 +0200 "Timo Sandholm" wrote:

> I've noticed that in the list there are lot of knowledge about old
> analogue keyboards. So I'm asking if you can give me tips how to
> create mellotron and string machine sounds using AN1x - or is it even 
> possible to simulate those with my blue beast. What are the things to 
> look for? Also I'm curious how the sound is created originally by
> those machines? I understood that in the mellotron there is some kind 
> of tape inside but that's all I know :-) ... but what is the sound
> creation method of string machine I don't have a clue :-) 

A Mellotron has little endless tape loops with the sound recorded on
them. Depending on the key you press, they get played faster or slower,
thus affecting pitch.

So the best way to emulate a Mellotron is with a sampler, because the
Mellotron can be considered as an analogue sample player.

- Peter
-- 

-------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Check out www.di-ve.com for the latest breaking news in Malta and Gozo!

Actually a Mellotron has one piece of tape per key. They weren't
endless, but only ran 7-8 seconds.  There were three tracks per tape
so the heads could be shifted to provide different sounds.  The whole
tape frame could be lifted out and replaced to change "banks".  Crude,
but effective. 

An emulation is now available for VST.  It is tough to synth, because
it is a sampler.


rich  (an old guy!)

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Peter Korsten <peterk@m...> 

> 
> A Mellotron has little endless tape loops with the sound recorded on
> them. Depending on the key you press, they get played faster or slower,
> thus affecting pitch.
> 
> So the best way to emulate a Mellotron is with a sampler, because the
> Mellotron can be considered as an analogue sample player.
> 
> - Peter
> -- 
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------- 
>  Check out www.di-ve.com for the latest breaking news in Malta and Gozo!

Hi Timo,

The Mellotron is actually a collection of many tape playback machines, one for each key.  The combination of tape-recorded strings, added to the unique but imperfect way that the Mellotron reproduced them, is hard to copy even with a ROMpler such as the Alesis QS or Korg WS families; I think it's almost impossible to create with an analog (or analog modeling) synth.

The other, analog-based string machines -- ARP/Solina, Crumar, Elka, etc. -- are easy to recreate on the AN1x.  Check the programming "contest" results in the Files section.  I know I submitted several string sounds that may help you; I'll bet that others did, too.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Ashby Solutions™   http://music.ashbysolutions.com
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...


At 09:58 a 1/15/2003 +0100, you wrote:
>On Wed, 15 Jan 2003 10:34:50 +0200 "Timo Sandholm" wrote:
>
>> I've noticed that in the list there are lot of knowledge about old
>> analogue keyboards. So I'm asking if you can give me tips how to
>> create mellotron and string machine sounds using AN1x - or is it even 
>> possible to simulate those with my blue beast. What are the things to 
>> look for? Also I'm curious how the sound is created originally by
>> those machines? I understood that in the mellotron there is some kind 
>> of tape inside but that's all I know :-) ... but what is the sound
>> creation method of string machine I don't have a clue :-) 
>
>A Mellotron has little endless tape loops with the sound recorded on
>them. Depending on the key you press, they get played faster or slower,
>thus affecting pitch.
>
>So the best way to emulate a Mellotron is with a sampler, because the
>Mellotron can be considered as an analogue sample player.
>
>- Peter
>-- 
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------- 
>Check out www.di-ve.com for the latest breaking news in Malta and Gozo!
>
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Bruce,

>Check the programming "contest" results in the Files section.
>I know I submitted several string sounds that may help you;
>I'll bet that others did, too.

I think that your patches are already in my user bank of AN1x :-) ... then
I'll just need to do some examination, thanks :) ...

I also found this free VSTi string machine plugin, which I think is nice,
something I was looking for (
http://bigtick.pastnotecut.org/index.php?action=PROD&pcode=110&lang=EN ),
but I still like to go for 'real realtime with knobs' ;-) ... actually what
I'd like to do with AN1x is to have a string machine patch with just 'basic
string machine sound' and then assing the assign knobs so I can change the
string machine settings little bit same way than the original ones... or
then I can do some shopping from ebay ;-D

Cheers,
TimoS

Hi TimO,

>>Check the programming "contest" results in the Files section.
>>I know I submitted several string sounds that may help you;
>>I'll bet that others did, too.
>
>I think that your patches are already in my user bank of AN1x :-) ... then
>I'll just need to do some examination, thanks :) ...

Actually, it turns out that I only submitted one string patch -- Cars Cello.  (The memory is the first to go when you reach my age!)  The reason that I only submitted one is that most of the string sounds I use are based on library sounds that I downloaded, and although I modify just about everything at some point, it would have been difficult to a) give proper credit to the originator, and b) tell if I had really done enough tweaking to call the patch "mine."  At any rate, I use a patch I call "Analog," which is probably based on the Solina patch, but sounds a little bit warmer to my ears.  I also use Cars Cello, which sounds more like Roland strings.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions\ufffd   http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
978.386.7389  voice/fax
bruce@...

Hi Bruce,

>At any rate, I use a patch I call "Analog," which is
>probably based on the Solina patch, but sounds a little bit warmer to my

Thanks for reminding me for that patch, I think that it would be good
starting point for my quest :) ... and yes it is way too warm and distant as
far as I can recall but I think that there is (once again) used too much fx
section :D

Cheers,
TimoS