Mellotronists

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, Donald Tillman <don@...> wrote:

> You're abstracting out all the interesting stuff.  The feedback from
> the touch of the keyboard, the feel of the tape under the keys, the
> ability to use pressure to control the dynamics, separate pressure
> control for individual notes ("polyphonic aftertouch"), a direct
> connection to the sound-making process as opposed to going through
> that ridiculous midi protocol, the delightfully quirky behavior of the
> tape handling mechanism, the relationship the musician has with the
> instrument's intrinsic workings that inspires the music.

Always an interesting debate.  I think that it has more to do with
what a player is comfortable and familiar with.  People like Richard
Barbieri, John Hawken, Pinder, McDonald, Banks...etc have become
familiar/comfortable with modern sampler keyboards.  McCartney, Julian
Cope, Woolly Wolstenholme... etc prefer to use mellotrons.

There's no right or wrong answer here Don.  There's nothing ridiculous
about midi.  Some of the modern samplers are better than others.  The
good ones are definitely valid musical intruments and tons of fun to play!


Clay