Mellotronists

In a message dated 03/22/2002 7:21:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, don@... 
writes:


> Subj:Re: [Mellotronists] A question......... 
> Date:03/22/2002 7:21:09 AM Eastern Standard Time
> From:<A HREF="mailto:don@...">don@...</A>
> To:<A HREF="mailto:mellotronists@yahoogroups.com">mellotronists@yahoogroups.com</A>
> Sent from the Internet 
> 
> 
> 
>    > From: kenmerb@...
>    > Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 10:52:09 EST
>    > 
>    >  Whatever happened to the idea floating around for a
>    >  "cycling" M400?
> 
> This sounds weirdly cool!  Has anybody done this?  I haven't heard
> about this before.
> 

I forget exactly where I heard about this initially, but it was being 
considered at some point.  I think the idea was for a "new" M400 with this 
cycling ability built in, but I like the idea of a retrofit kit for existing 
M400s (or maybe do both).  I guess it would consist of a set of tape drums 
and a small motor.  You could even make one without a motor to keep it 
simple.  Some kind of hand crank - low tech system which would let you cycle 
manually between stations and "lock down" when you got to the next station.  
This would get around the MKII reliability problems.  Or, it could be done 
with an electric motor.  

I'm no engineer, and I'm sure that you could come up with about a million 
reasons for not doing something like this (technical, financial, feasibility 
issues), but from the Mellotron player's perspective,  this would be great 
and would provide access to many new sounds for your Mellotron.  Even if it's 
not practical, I like the idea.


Ken M.