Mellotronists

What type of reverb seems to be most effective when 
recording 'trons?  I'm looking to buy a new unit and wanted to know 
what you guys thought on the matter.
Craig

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003, chmorris2000 wrote:

> What type of reverb seems to be most effective when 
> recording 'trons?  I'm looking to buy a new unit and wanted to know 
> what you guys thought on the matter.
> Craig


to state the obvious, differnt reverb types have different character.
a spring sounds VERY different from a plate.
and the desired effect/context determines the proper tool.

i prefer a digital unit 'cuz i can emulate [quite well in most instances]
just about any reverb type with a couple of knob twiddles. [and humping an
old EMT plate around is almost as much fun as hauling a tron around...]

my own preference is anything from lexicon.
it's what they [lexicon] do best, and there is good reason that just
about every decent studio in the world uses them.
if you can get or use a lexicon 480 or 960 then by all means do!
[they cost thousands however]
otherwise, thier smaller units are also quite useable.

a lexicon "hall" reverb does magic for the sound of even a badly
maintained tron.

one key thing to listen for in a digital reverb is the "tails"
- the trailing sound as it fades away... cheap/crappy units with
wonky algorhythms start to sound pretty squirrely/cheesy on the tails...

NOTE:  the opinions expressed herein are mine.
if you don't like them then get your own ;)

...jeff

Personally, I have been very happy with the Alesis Nanoverb, Which can be had 
for under $100.00 and sounds just great.

Frank Stickle (400SM #1562, Baby-sitting 400SM 1334 and nearing completion of 
the restoration of M400S # 1225 {photos available})

I use the EMT spring plate when recoerding in our studio. Wken we play out we use a Mackie 808s mixer/amp whith a few crowns to"help out". I also have used with great results an old Premier reverb tank from the 60's-70's. Premier reverb  works nicely with #285 .
                                  Jimmy
                           #285; F/X 006