Mellotronists

Hi 'tronists,

Perhaps the answer to this lies in the achives, so please pardon if it's a
repeat, but does exist a sample CDROM with Birotron and/or Orchestron
samples? In Roland format as icing on the cake?

I've had an Orchestron on my workbench, once, doing a service for a friend
(pinch wheel adjustment or something like that), but that was long ago. I
suppose I was a bit snobby at the time and not so much interested in the
charm of the thing, because I was not too impressed by either the
construction or the sound. The "toy" keyboard with its brown "black" notes,
like, totally grossed me out. Nowadays my attitude is more cultured and I
would love to find one, but certainly not for the current eBay prices. The
"cheese factor" is something I enjoy now... recently I found a wood-cased
Magnus chord organ at a garage sale for $20. And for those eBay Magnus organ
sellers out there - ahem, it does NOT sound very much like a Mellotron. :)

Question - does not an Orchestron grind away at the clear plastic of the
disk as it is running, thereby gradually reducing it's already questionable
fidelity by merely being turned on? I saw one recently on eBay with "master"
disks that could be reproduced using transparencies in a photocopier (so
they said) and I though "now that's the way to do it" but I could not muster
up enough interest to pop for a couple of grand. Couple hundred, yes, but
THAT's not gonna happen, not these days.

Now a CDROM, that would be different! I actually even have the ROOM for
that!

Best Regards,

- Gene

M400S #1023
M400S #1213
M400S #1289

Hi !

As far as I have understood the sound isn´t really effected by the usage as there isn´t really any contact on the disc except the holder thingie...

And soundwise I think it is really great...It isn´t as apparent as the Mellotron. If you put it on a track it has a tendency to add some kind of weird scratchy gloss...More padsy in a way.

Also I like the fact with the infinte hold as it loops so that you can put a high String note that sustains over an entire chorus or midsection....And of course no decent Kraftwerk medley would do without it...

And so far....Thomas in Änglagård has being playing all his Mellotron-esque parts on ´tron ( Orchestron that is....)

And it is on a felt bed....And yes you can do scratching effects...

// Mattias
 





----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Gene Stopp" <gene@...>
To: <Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 9:51 PM
Subject: RE: [Mellotronists] Birotron/Orchestron CDROM?


> Hi 'tronists,
> 
> Perhaps the answer to this lies in the achives, so please pardon if it's a
> repeat, but does exist a sample CDROM with Birotron and/or Orchestron
> samples? In Roland format as icing on the cake?
> 
> I've had an Orchestron on my workbench, once, doing a service for a friend
> (pinch wheel adjustment or something like that), but that was long ago. I
> suppose I was a bit snobby at the time and not so much interested in the
> charm of the thing, because I was not too impressed by either the
> construction or the sound. The "toy" keyboard with its brown "black" notes,
> like, totally grossed me out. Nowadays my attitude is more cultured and I
> would love to find one, but certainly not for the current eBay prices. The
> "cheese factor" is something I enjoy now... recently I found a wood-cased
> Magnus chord organ at a garage sale for $20. And for those eBay Magnus organ
> sellers out there - ahem, it does NOT sound very much like a Mellotron. :)
> 
> Question - does not an Orchestron grind away at the clear plastic of the
> disk as it is running, thereby gradually reducing it's already questionable
> fidelity by merely being turned on? I saw one recently on eBay with "master"
> disks that could be reproduced using transparencies in a photocopier (so
> they said) and I though "now that's the way to do it" but I could not muster
> up enough interest to pop for a couple of grand. Couple hundred, yes, but
> THAT's not gonna happen, not these days.
> 
> Now a CDROM, that would be different! I actually even have the ROOM for
> that!
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> - Gene
> 
> M400S #1023
> M400S #1213
> M400S #1289
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> 
>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
>

I don't know about the sound of the Orchestron being "charming." Mine was 
decidedly "low fi" and you could even hear a slight click in the sound on 
each rotation of the disc. This occurred at a slightly different time 
depending on what note was being played. Do yourself a favour and save your 
money for something worthwhile. If you want to simulate this sound I 
recommend you sample a tron on an early sampler.(The less memory/fidelity, 
the better). Then enlist one friend, two tin cans and a length of string, and 
then record the results of playing the sound into one can whilst holding a 
microphone to the other can. That should just about do it.
On no account should anyone pay good money for this sterile useless piece of 
junk. I remember keeping mine for about 2 months. Looking back I'm surprised 
I kept it that long.
Andy K 
EMI m400 # E4/1405

Eehhh !!

I read that...

I like the Orchestron...anyway...

I sampled the Mellotron Oboe on my Casio SK-5 and no...It didn´t sound anything like the Orchestron....

mumbly and borderline grumpy...

// Mattias

----- Original Message ----- 

From: <kinchmusic@...>
To: <mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 11:53 PM
Subject: [Mellotronists] Birotron/Orchestron CDROM?


> I don't know about the sound of the Orchestron being "charming." Mine was 
> decidedly "low fi" and you could even hear a slight click in the sound on 
> each rotation of the disc. This occurred at a slightly different time 
> depending on what note was being played. Do yourself a favour and save your 
> money for something worthwhile. If you want to simulate this sound I 
> recommend you sample a tron on an early sampler.(The less memory/fidelity, 
> the better). Then enlist one friend, two tin cans and a length of string, and 
> then record the results of playing the sound into one can whilst holding a 
> microphone to the other can. That should just about do it.
> On no account should anyone pay good money for this sterile useless piece of 
> junk. I remember keeping mine for about 2 months. Looking back I'm surprised 
> I kept it that long.
> Andy K 
> EMI m400 # E4/1405
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> 
>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
>