Mellotronists

tron@... wrote:

>  > Ken L and I are desperately trying to get *that* Mellotron sound
> into our
> > recordings, but are coming up short so far.  We're working
> separately, both
> > recording directly to PC disk (no mics) using Echo 24 bit sound
> cards.  He's
> > playing his M400, I'm playing my MKII.  I'm using direct boxes and
> balanced
> > cables to minimize noise (thanks for that tip in Tronto, Fritz).  We
> both
> > have access to reverbs (spring, digital) and all kinds of software
> > processors, compressors, EQs, etc.
>
> Someone else is bound to mention this, but miking it up (rather than
> recording it directly) has a far more 'authentic' feel to it, if
> that's
> what you're after.
>
> Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
>

When Ian was up here last fall for Tronto MkII, I had a long discussion
about how the first KC album was recorded--specifically the mellotron.
Here's what he remembered:

Get one of those honking big Neumann U87s or U47s
Play the mellotron through a HiWatt stack, turned up fairly loud
Throw on lots of reverb at the mixing end and a bit on the amp/tron (if
you have a MkII) end
Stand back and make the hair stand up for everyone on your street
(assuming you're doing this in your basement).
Cost: about $7k
Results: priceless

Hope this helps. Obviously, there are cheaper ways to go about this, but
I would suggest a tube amp. I've run mine through a fair number and find
Marshall & HiWatt the best. Odd that they're both British... Stay away
from Fenders. For some reason, they seem to make melltrons sound pretty
harsh.

Rick (SFX 10030--what's wrong with my 10" Warfdale speaker?)

PS Mike, Rodney says hi. My younger son says F-off. I guess he still
hasn't forgiven you for his crab hat...