Mellotronists

Wow.

Ken, I've noticed that clip before, but I actually listened to the 
whole fifteen and a half minute epic just now while feeding the cats 
(that's just for you, vbr8r) and I'm stunned.

It's the difference between a hologram and a black and white 
newsprint picture listening to the two.  The synth (which sounds very 
good in and of itself) sounds like a recording of a recorded 
Mellotron played in another room, and the M400 sounds like it's right 
in the room and very warm and immediate.  I admit I didn't expect 
there to be THAT much difference between the two.  The Roland clearly 
transposes samples rather than sampling individual notes, and once 
the loop point hits, it just sounds like the typical washing-machine 
string loop.  The pitches have all been cleaned up, the intonation is 
mathematical, and the attacks feel really compressed. The volume has 
also been scaled across the keyboard and the volume bumps of 
different notes across the Mellotron is absent.  There's also a real 
nasal honk to the overall sound, especially noticeable on the flutes 
and choirs.  I find it interesting that when lots of notes are played 
on the Roland, the D/A's overdrive pretty badly, and the Mellotron 
always manages to sound like separate and clearly articulated 
instruments.  I've long wondered what it would sound like to put D/A 
converters on each voice of a synth/sample playback unit and mix the 
audio in the analog realm - I wonder if it would yield a clearer 
separation of voices in the manner of the Mellotron.  A question - is 
the Roland unit available in rack-mount or is it strictly a keyboard 
or expansion card unit?  Does the card work with a JD-800? Street 
prices today? I think it would be fun to play with programming with 
sampled Mellotron sounds and try to get a more authentic sound out of 
the instrument.  One thing for sure, after listening to that, I'll 
stick with my little X5D and my home-brewed Mellotron sounds for 
stage use in the kind of night-after-night club playing my band 
does.  My efforts so far have yielded 3 violins, flute, cello, 8-
voice choir, mixed brass, saxophone, and bass clarinet patches that 
I'll put up against any samples, and certainly what I heard out of 
the Roland!  8 second cutoffs, much more immediacy of sound, 
detunings and tuning randomizations, even bass viol instead of cello 
for the bottom notes...  

...not that I'm anal about achieving perfection or anything.

Once again, thanks to Mr. Chamberlin, and the Bradleys and the 
Streetly people and everybody I've neglected to mention for bringing 
this glorious obsession into being.  The more I hear the real thing, 
the more I love it.  All I have to do is play the low "D" with the 3 
violins and feel the way the sound grows and swells and blooms 
through the entire duration of the bowing, and I remember what it is 
that gives me such a rush from the sound of the Mellotron.  And, 
having not weighed in yet on the announcement regarding new 
productions coming from the tronbros - we have a saying here in 
Kansas, USA, which I normally refrain from using but seems 
appropriate now: 

"YEEEEEEEEHAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


P.S.
I managed to persuade the band to do "The Rain Song" in addition 
to "Dancing Days."  Give me a little time to get programs worked up 
and to get a decent live recording of it, and I promise you, I will 
upload or post a file that will amaze you with the Mellotronistic 
power of my little Korg!

JS