The Mellotron Group

Just listening to some live Moody Blues track on Last FM, well actually Melancholy Man. Just got me thinking of the difference between the live and studio sound of the mellotron. I much prefer the live sound, not knowing much about recording, what do they do them in the recording studio to take most of the life out of them?

Mark

Melancholy man might have had a Chamberlin on it as I recall. But he used  
the Mark II live.
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 2/5/2009 1:53:42 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
markpringnz@yahoo.com writes:

Just  listening to some live Moody Blues track on Last FM, well actually 
Melancholy  Man.

**************Who's never won?  Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on 
AOL Music. 
(http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?ncid=emlcntusmusi00000001)

Well then, if you sample the Mellotron tapes, then take those samples and  
return then to tape and play them on a Mellotron, what do you get? This is how  
MA and Streetly do it. Those old tape masters won't last forever.
 
 
In a message dated 2/5/2009 2:16:56 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
jonesalley@cox.net writes:

That's  why Mellotron samples don't sound like a  Mellotron.

**************Who's never won?  Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on 
AOL Music. 
(http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?ncid=emlcntusmusi00000001)

Certainly sounded like the Mark II 3 violins on the track I heard. Not one of my favourite Moody Blues tracks but I enjoyed the live version more.

--- On Thu, 2/5/09, lsf5275@aol.com <lsf5275@aol.com> wrote:

From: lsf5275@aol.com <lsf5275@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 8:06 PM











    
            


Melancholy man might have had a Chamberlin on it as I recall. But he used 
the Mark II live.
 
Frank
 

In a message dated 2/5/2009 1:53:42 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
markpringnz@ yahoo.com writes:
Just 
  listening to some live Moody Blues track on Last FM, well actually Melancholy 
  Man.
 Who's never won?  Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.

Pinders MkII's were also different animals than the normal MkII's. 
His solid state preamp changed the original sound. There's an audio 
comparison between Frank Samagaio's Pindertron and Jerry Korb's MkI 
on Ken Leonard's website (towards the bottom of the page):

http://kleonard.com/mellotron/vt0304/pindertron3.htm

Bernie

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mark Pring 
<markpringnz@...> wrote:
>
> Certainly sounded like the Mark II 3 violins on the track I heard. 
Not one of my favourite Moody Blues tracks but I enjoyed the live 
version more.
> 
> --- On Thu, 2/5/09, lsf5275@... <lsf5275@...> wrote:
> From: lsf5275@... <lsf5275@...>
> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 8:06 PM
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     
>             
> 
> 
> Melancholy man might have had a Chamberlin on it as I recall. But 
he used 
> the Mark II live.
>  
> Frank
>  
> 
> In a message dated 2/5/2009 1:53:42 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
> markpringnz@ yahoo.com writes:
> Just 
>   listening to some live Moody Blues track on Last FM, well 
actually Melancholy 
>   Man.
>  Who's never won?  Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on 
AOL Music.
>

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

From: Mark Pring
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 22:53:20 -0800 (PST)
To: <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio

A combination of eq and compression, usually. Same as any other 
instrument. Overdubbing won't help at all, which is why the compressor 
generally gets wheeled out.

Mark Pring wrote:
>
> Just listening to some live Moody Blues track on Last FM, well 
> actually Melancholy Man. Just got me thinking of the difference 
> between the live and studio sound of the mellotron. I much prefer the 
> live sound, not knowing much about recording, what do they do them in 
> the recording studio to take most of the life out of them?
>
> Mark
>
> 

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

The reason why Mellotron samples don't (usually) sound like a Mellotron 
is because people making the samples come up with their own judgements 
regarding eq, volume, pitching and the rest of it that makes it veer 
well away from the original sound. Some samplers interpolate the sounds 
(only recording every third note or so) whereas others take sounds they 
feel are 'ugly' (like the top D or second F on the flute) and replace it 
with the note below it pitched up by a semi tone.

I /have/ sampled my Mellotron strings, choir and brass faithfully 
without making any adjustments whatsoever and I would happily defy 
anyone to tell the real instrument from the samples. My problem is not 
with the samples, it's with the samplers.

Mike

Jon wrote:

>
> I would imagine that the multiple overdubs that the studio albums have 
> really dilute the raw sound of the live instrument, as do 
> the musical sensibilities of the producer.  Hearing that 
> realtime audio of tape moving across heads and passing through amps 
> and speakers has an immediacy that doesn't seem to translate to 
> recording.  That's why Mellotron samples don't sound like a 
> Mellotron.  They sound like samples of a Mellotron.
>  
>  
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* Mark Pring <mailto:markpringnz@yahoo.com>
>     *To:* newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
>     <mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
>     *Sent:* Thursday, February 05, 2009 12:53 AM
>     *Subject:* [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio
>
>     Just listening to some live Moody Blues track on Last FM, well
>     actually Melancholy Man. Just got me thinking of the difference
>     between the live and studio sound of the mellotron. I much prefer
>     the live sound, not knowing much about recording, what do they do
>     them in the recording studio to take most of the life out of them?
>
>     Mark
>
>

I'm with Fritz and Mike on this one.....

Clay


>  I'm with Mike on this one.....
> 
> fritz
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@...>
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 12:05 pm
> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     
> 
>             
> The reason why Mellotron samples don't (usually) sound like a Mellotron 
> 
> is because people making the samples come up with their own judgements 
> 
> regarding eq, volume, pitching and the rest of it that makes it veer 
> 
> well away from the original sound. Some samplers interpolate the sounds 
> 
> (only recording every third note or so) whereas others take sounds they 
> 
> feel are 'ugly' (like the top D or second F on the flute) and
replace it 
> 
> with the note below it pitched up by a semi tone.
> 
> 
> 
> I /have/ sampled my Mellotron strings, choir and brass faithfully 
> 
> without making any adjustments whatsoever and I would happily defy 
> 
> anyone to tell the real instrument from the samples. My problem is not 
> 
> with the samples, it's with the samplers.
> 
> 
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
> 
> Jon wrote:
> 
> >
> 
> > I would imagine that the multiple overdubs that the studio albums
have 

> 
> > really dilute the raw sound of the live instrument, as do 
> 
> > the musical sensibilities of the producer.  Hearing that 
> 
> > realtime audio of tape moving across heads and passing through amps 
> 
> > and speakers has an immediacy that doesn't seem to translate to 
> 
> > recording.  That's why Mellotron samples don't sound like a 
> 
> > Mellotron.  They sound like samples of a Mellotron.
> 
> >  
> 
> >  
> 
> >
> 
> >     ----- Original Message -----
> 
> >     *From:* Mark Pring <mailto:markpringnz@...>
> 
> >     *To:* newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> 
> >     <mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
> 
> >     *Sent:* Thursday, February 05, 2009 12:53 AM
> 
> >     *Subject:* [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio
> 
> >
> 
> >     Just listening to some live Moody Blues track on Last FM, well
> 
> >     actually Melancholy Man. Just got me thinking of the difference
> 
> >     between the live and studio sound of the mellotron. I much prefer
> 
> >     the live sound, not knowing much about recording, what do they do
> 
> >     them in the recording studio to take most of the life out of them?
> 
> >
> 
> >     Mark
> 
> >
> 
> >
>

This one crops up on a regular basis.:

Mark  Pring wrote:
>
> Just listening to some live Moody Blues track on  Last FM, well 
> actually Melancholy Man. Just got me thinking of the  difference 
> between the live and studio sound of the mellotron. I much  prefer the 
> live sound, not knowing much about recording, what do they  do them in 
> the recording studio to take most of the life out of  them?
>
> Mark
>


Pinder rolled off all the top end, sent the MKII through speakers in a room  
which was then miked up and the sound then went to an EMT plate on a  
particularly wet setting.  He did lots of overdubs and judicious footpedal  work for 
his definitive sweeping effect.  Apart from the pedal work, the  rest can't be 
imitated on stage easily, hence the rawness live.
 
Best,
 
M
 
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
_www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 


US  Sales East: Jimmy Moore_  JMoore6397@aol.com_ 
(http://JMoore6397@aol.com/) 
US Sales West: Paul Cox_  pjc56@earthlink_ (mailto:pjc56@earthlink)

To hell with it, I'm not going to take on all three of you.....

john



ceccles_ca wrote:

>
> I'm with Fritz and Mike on this one.....
>
> Clay
>
> > I'm with Mike on this one.....
> >
> > fritz
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@...>
> > To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com 
> <mailto:newmellotrongroup%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 12:05 pm
> > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > The reason why Mellotron samples don't (usually) sound like a Mellotron
> >
> > is because people making the samples come up with their own judgements
> >
> > regarding eq, volume, pitching and the rest of it that makes it veer
> >
> > well away from the original sound. Some samplers interpolate the sounds
> >
> > (only recording every third note or so) whereas others take sounds they
> >
> > feel are 'ugly' (like the top D or second F on the flute) and
> replace it
> >
> > with the note below it pitched up by a semi tone.
> >
> >
> >
> > I /have/ sampled my Mellotron strings, choir and brass faithfully
> >
> > without making any adjustments whatsoever and I would happily defy
> >
> > anyone to tell the real instrument from the samples. My problem is not
> >
> > with the samples, it's with the samplers.
> >
> >
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
> > Jon wrote:
> >
> > >
> >
> > > I would imagine that the multiple overdubs that the studio albums
> have
> >
> > > really dilute the raw sound of the live instrument, as do
> >
> > > the musical sensibilities of the producer. Hearing that
> >
> > > realtime audio of tape moving across heads and passing through amps
> >
> > > and speakers has an immediacy that doesn't seem to translate to
> >
> > > recording. That's why Mellotron samples don't sound like a
> >
> > > Mellotron. They sound like samples of a Mellotron.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > > *From:* Mark Pring <mailto:markpringnz@...>
> >
> > > *To:* newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com 
> <mailto:newmellotrongroup%40yahoogroups.com>
> >
> > > <mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com 
> <mailto:newmellotrongroup%40yahoogroups.com>>
> >
> > > *Sent:* Thursday, February 05, 2009 12:53 AM
> >
> > > *Subject:* [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Just listening to some live Moody Blues track on Last FM, well
> >
> > > actually Melancholy Man. Just got me thinking of the difference
> >
> > > between the live and studio sound of the mellotron. I much prefer
> >
> > > the live sound, not knowing much about recording, what do they do
> >
> > > them in the recording studio to take most of the life out of them?
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Mark
>

Quite often from me. However a year down the track of owning one, #1565 sounds a lot more dry and raw these days. Woolly can borrow it if he ever makes it to New Zealand.

--- On Fri, 2/6/09, tronbros@aol.com <tronbros@aol.com> wrote:

From: tronbros@aol.com <tronbros@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Mellotrons Live vs Studio
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, February 6, 2009, 7:43 AM











    
            




This one crops up on a regular basis.:
Mark 
  Pring wrote:
>
> Just listening to some live Moody Blues track on 
  Last FM, well 
> actually Melancholy Man. Just got me thinking of the 
  difference 
> between the live and studio sound of the mellotron. I much 
  prefer the 
> live sound, not knowing much about recording, what do they 
  do them in 
> the recording studio to take most of the life out of 
  them?
>
> Mark
>

Pinder rolled off all the top end, sent the MKII through speakers in a room 
which was then miked up and the sound then went to an EMT plate on a 
particularly wet setting.  He did lots of overdubs and judicious footpedal 
work for his definitive sweeping effect.  Apart from the pedal work, the 
rest can't be imitated on stage easily, hence the rawness live.
 
Best,
 
M
 
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics. com
US 
Sales East: Jimmy Moore 
JMoore6397@aol. com
US Sales West: Paul Cox 
pjc56@earthlink

In a message dated 05/02/2009 18:43:05 GMT Standard Time, TRONBROS  writes:

 
This one crops up on a regular basis.:

Mark  Pring wrote:
>
> Just listening to some live Moody Blues track  on Last FM, well 
> actually Melancholy Man. Just got me thinking of  the difference 
> between the live and studio sound of the mellotron.  I much prefer the 
> live sound, not knowing much about recording,  what do they do them in 
> the recording studio to take most of the  life out of them?
>
> Mark
>


Pinder rolled off all the top end, sent the MKII through speakers in a  room 
which was then miked up and the sound then went to an EMT plate on a  
particularly wet setting.  He did lots of overdubs and judicious  footpedal work for 
his definitive sweeping effect.  Apart from the pedal  work, the rest can't be 
imitated on stage easily, hence the rawness  live.
 
Best,
 
M




 
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
_www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 

US  Sales East: Jimmy Moore_  JMoore6397@aol.com_ 
(http://JMoore6397@aol.com/) 
US Sales West: Paul Cox_  pjc56@earthlink_ (mailto:pjc56@earthlink)