Mellotronists

> I just think it's very strange to suddenly start calling conflakes a
> musical instrument just because they were used in a composition.  Do
> you disagree?

Absolutely. What do you think the term means?

>    > > Mellotron contributes its own musical process and its own musical
>    > > qualities, which is why we like it so much.
>    >
>    > That really is the most frightful baloney, Don! What you are
>    > saying that only *rubbish* or *lo-fi* samplers can be classified
>    > as musical instruments! Better throw away your Fairlight, Norm;
>    > you've just wasted your money.
>
> I said "musical process", not "rubbish" or "lo-fi".  I absolutely do
> not see how you get from one to the other.

Then you'll have to explain yourself a bit better; you say that a high
end digital sampler is not a musical instrument, whereas a Mellotron -
an analogue sampler - is. Having no inherent 'musical qualities' and
having myself no idea what you mean by 'musical process' you'll have to
help me out here. Why is a Fairlight not an instrument whereas a
Mellotron is?

Here's a thought; are drums a musical instrument?

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/