The Mellotron Group

Whilst messing about with the dreaded M-Tron, I
started to wonder about the pros and cons of wet or
dry mellotron voices. In its natural state I would say
the mellotron voices are very dry indeed but when used
for recording by most artists they sound pretty wet,
especially string sounds.

Until recently I would have definitely have put myself
in the wet camp. But I am beginning to think that the
problem with the wet sound, to my ears, is that as you
lose attack and add decay, although it starts to sound
more realistic, you lose that choppiness that makes
it sound like a mellotron.

Played dry there is no way you can think you are
listening to anything other than a tron, I
particulalrly like that incisiveness that comes from
playing staccato chords.

Any thoughts?

Mark

#1565 at present producing only the very dry sound of
the patter of tiny feet.


____________________________________________________________________________________
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Hi Mark-

I believe that the attack of the sounds is an
issue. The M400's have spoiled us. On a good set of
tapes one can adjust the starts until the attack on
all tracks is just right.

However, the MK2 and M300 probably developed enough
uneven tape stretch over time that the starts didn't
line up anymore. So, re-align the starts. Cycle to a
different station, and the individual starts are
uneven again. To rectify this (somewhat), line up the
starts so all voices are heard instantly on every key
on every station, but loose some attacks in the
process(An possible example of this is on John
Lennon's early recording of "Strawberry Fields"
("Anthology 2")where a tron brass can be heard at the
end with little or no attack). Live with it, layer
it, maybe use a volume pedal, and add reverb to cover
the problem. I bet that many recording engineers used
their own standard formulas for Tron processing, and
just kept using them on the M400's. I think this is
what we are used to hearing on many recordings.

I like the dry sound once in a while. I finally got
a little Alesis mixer w/reverb (effects), and it does
change the "feel", which I also like. PLUS, the
effect creates a stereo effect, which is nice.

My take. Rip it apart.

-Bruce Daily
#1221 (with planks for feet while the paint dries on
the proper feet. Yes, the beastie could downhill ski
right now!!)


--- Mark Pring <markpringnz@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Whilst messing about with the dreaded M-Tron, I
> started to wonder about the pros and cons of wet or
> dry mellotron voices. In its natural state I would
> say
> the mellotron voices are very dry indeed but when
> used
> for recording by most artists they sound pretty wet,
> especially string sounds.
>
> Until recently I would have definitely have put
> myself
> in the wet camp. But I am beginning to think that
> the
> problem with the wet sound, to my ears, is that as
> you
> lose attack and add decay, although it starts to
> sound
> more realistic, you lose that choppiness that makes
> it sound like a mellotron.
>
> Played dry there is no way you can think you are
> listening to anything other than a tron, I
> particulalrly like that incisiveness that comes from
> playing staccato chords.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Mark
>
> #1565 at present producing only the very dry sound
> of
> the patter of tiny feet.
>
>
>
>

____________________________________________________________________________________

> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>

____________________________________________________________________________________
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Interesting topic. While I await restoration of my recently acquired
M400 #872, I will admit to using M-Tron, The Michael Pinder CD Rom
and an old Emu Vintage Keys Plus primarily for the choir and string
sounds. The sound of the choir tapes when I first heard Genesis'
Selling England By The Pound back in 1973 drove me to musical nirvana
and changed my musical life forever! To me, how the voices need to
fit into the mix determines what I use. I have had great results
using M-Tron drenched in Sonar reverbs and delays as well as totally
dry Pinder CD 8-Voice Choir. I'm totally looking forward to using
#872 through any and all of my sonic toys.

Regards,
partune



--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mark Pring
<markpringnz@...> wrote:

>
> Whilst messing about with the dreaded M-Tron, I
> started to wonder about the pros and cons of wet or
> dry mellotron voices. In its natural state I would say
> the mellotron voices are very dry indeed but when used
> for recording by most artists they sound pretty wet,
> especially string sounds.
>
> Until recently I would have definitely have put myself
> in the wet camp. But I am beginning to think that the
> problem with the wet sound, to my ears, is that as you
> lose attack and add decay, although it starts to sound
> more realistic, you lose that choppiness that makes
> it sound like a mellotron.
>
> Played dry there is no way you can think you are
> listening to anything other than a tron, I
> particulalrly like that incisiveness that comes from
> playing staccato chords.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Mark
>
> #1565 at present producing only the very dry sound of
> the patter of tiny feet.
>
>
>

______________________________________________________________________
______________

> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>

I
particulalrly like that incisiveness that comes from
playing staccato chords.

Any thoughts?

Mark

 

That is so awesome. I am so happy for you. At least that's what I was feeling at the moment.

 

Personally, I like to play mine through all sorts of effects. I especially like the Roland Space Echo. I like the flexibility of doing whatever I want. I'm not very particulalr.

 

Frank

Hi Mark-

I believe that the attack of the sounds is an
issue. The M400's have spoiled us. On a good set of
tapes one can adjust the starts until the attack on
all tracks is just right.

However, the MK2 and M300 probably developed enough
uneven tape stretch over time that the starts didn't
line up anymore. So, re-align the starts. Cycle to a
different station, and the individual starts are
uneven again. To rectify this (somewhat), line up the
starts so all voices are heard instantly on every key
on every station, but loose some attacks in the
process(An possible example of this is on John
Lennon's early recording of "Strawberry Fields"
("Anthology 2")where a tron brass can be heard at the
end with little or no attack). Live with it, layer
it, maybe use a volume pedal, and add reverb to cover
the problem. I bet that many recording engineers used
their own standard formulas for Tron processing, and
just kept using them on the M400's. I think this is
what we are used to hearing on many recordings.

I like the dry sound once in a while. I finally got
a little Alesis mixer w/reverb (effects), and it does
change the "feel", which I also like. PLUS, the
effect creates a stereo effect, which is nice.

My take. Rip it apart.

-Bruce Daily
#1221 (with planks for feet while the paint dries on
the proper feet. Yes, the beastie could downhill ski
right now!!)

 

 

Now I feel like a dick for making fun

--- lsf5275@aol.com wrote:

>
> In a message dated 2/3/2008 2:12:18 A.M. Eastern
> Standard Time,
> lsf5275@aol.com writes:
>
>
> My take. Rip it apart.
>
> -Bruce Daily
> #1221 (with planks for feet while the paint dries
> on
> the proper feet. Yes, the beastie could downhill
> ski
> right now!!)
>
>
>
>
>
> Now I feel like a dick for making fun
>
>
>
>
> Oop, I've recovered.
>
>
>

Frank, I believe lithium will help this. :-)


-Bruce D.



____________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Frank, I believe lithium will help this. :-)

 

Lithium? As in grease?

Boy, was I wrong.  I thought he meant to take a sock and fill it with a bunch of lithium and beat you with it!

Frank, I believe lithium will help this. :-)

 

Lithium? As in grease?