The Mellotron Group

Funny that with so many of the studios  getting back into analog tape  we
are having this chat about mellotrons going digital.... a backwards lot

> I basically agree with the idea that if Harry were alive he'd be
> interested in digital. And take a re-look at the original demo film for
> the Mellotron - Eric Robinson says "it makes the actual sounds of the
> orchestra". Of course when he said that, the only way you could
> (practically) do that was with tape.
>
> There IS a difference between a 'pure' digital instrument and a
> electro-mechanical - there has to be  - in just the ways that have been
> noted.
>
> BUT who cares? -- I love my Chamberlin for all that it is. And if you
> like something, then more power to you.
>
> On the topic of a choice between the two - they are not competitors. The
> Streetly machine _is_ a Mellotron (regardless of the name issue) - The
> Markus machine is a digital playback machine apparently called a "Resch"
> (look at the photos) that happens to be loaded with the
> Chamberlin/Bradley sounds and Markus has the right to use the Mellotron
> name/tm's from Dave Kean (I really don't know if Richard gave permission
> or if "Chamberlin" is in the public domain).
> Vance
>
>> not a valid comparison...a guitar relies on the wood and strings for
>> sound. The Mellotron doesn't rely on it's cabinet. Does the plexiglass
>> tron sound different from the wooden ones?
>> The M4000D is a DIGITAL MELLOTRON....not a tape playback
>> Mellotron...but is entitled to the name nonetheless IMO since it is an
>> offspring of the line of instruments. As far as tuning & denoising
>> etc. ruining or changing the sound....aren't these the very things
>> people have bitched about for decades. Now someone fixes them and you
>> bitch about that! (shakes head....walking away....smiling)
>> Markus could offer non tuned/non-denoised versions of the sounds as an
>> option.And if you can detect the missing bits of analog tape sound in
>> the digital version you must have super hearing.
>> Yeah...the Classic Keys sounds aren't good. The E4K/Pinder CD sounds
>> as accurate as I need. I even have samples from my old 400 in it
>> (hissy & out of tune) every note sampled full length, non looped.
>>
>> --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
>> <mailto:newmellotrongroup%40yahoogroups.com>, lsf5275@... wrote:
>> >
>> > Charles,
>> >
>> > Suppose you make a wooden thing with a neck and buttons on it
>> instead of
>> > strings. All of the sounds are digitized and you press buttons to
>> get the
>> > sounds. Is it a Guitar? It looks like a guitar, but is it a guitar?
>> No. A
>> > Mellotron or Chamberlin were TAPE playback machines. Just because
>> you make
>> > something that kinda looks like one and plays digital
>> representations of the
>> > original tape samples doesn't make them one.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > In a message dated 1/22/2011 8:48:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> > charel196@... writes:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I just don't get all this "it's not a Mellotron" talk....the digital
>> unit
>> > is a logical progression from tape replay and Ill bet Harry
>> Chamberlin would
>> > have moved into this area if he were alive now. The whole point was
>> > playing instrument sounds on a keyboard, not the tape technology
>> (which was the
>> > only method available)
>> > If all sounds are from original tapes and only last 8 seconds and
>> are the
>> > best digital representations that can be done, personally to me it's
>> a new
>> > Mellotron.It's the offspring of the tape machine. So what that it
>> doesn't
>> > use Chamberlin heads etc. With EQ'ing and processing I imagine you
>> can get
>> > near 1000% close.
>> > Heck I have used samples on my albums (from my EMU E4K, EMAX 1, and
>> > CLASSIC KEYS) sometimes on the same songs I used my real M400 (when
>> I had it) and
>> > I defy anyone to tell me which is which. And the E4K was using the
>> Pinder
>> > CD. The M4000D samples are said to be way beyond the Pinder CD in
>> quality.
>> > I think it's totally anal to hang on to tape playback technology as
>> the
>> > only thing that can be called "Mellotron" or "Chamberlin". The 4000D
>> is just a
>> > new and different model in the family tree....made by the people who
>> own
>> > the name and masters.
>> >
>>
>>
>