Mellotronists

> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 01:10:54 +0000
   > From: Nic Lewis <nic@...>
   > 
   > The Birotron was an interesting device, the original Dave Biro
   > prototype consisting of 20(?) or so standard auto 8 track players
   > in a flight case - 8 tracks being endless loops meant that there
   > wasn't a limitation on the length of play of a given note -
   > something which I understand was a limitation of Mellotrons of
   > the day. Biro convinced Wakeman that it was worthy of investment
   > and a small but dedicated ;-) team set about turning it into a
   > saleable product.

What was the *purpose* of the Birotron?  

I can't believe that the 8 second time limit was the motivation.  It's
not like you hear keyboard players say "Damn this Mellotron and its 8
second time limit!".  Besides, one can always loop the tapes in an
M400. 

My guess would be a cost reduction from using commodity 8-track
drives, or the potential reliability from using a mass produced
tape mechanism, or the ease of mounting new tapes.

  -- Don

-- 
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California, USA
don@...
http://www.till.com