Mellotronists

Hey folks!

It's gotten awfully quiet since the blow-up last week. Is everyone 
scared to post or something?

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone besides me has ordered Streetly's new 
magnum opus, Martinge's soon-to-be-famous Sad Strings. How sad are 
they? Martin tells me that Dickson was so depressed he moved south 
across the border, realizing he couldn't face another Scottish winter 
because of his emotional state. He also bought a puppy and has taken up 
flower arranging in an attempt to lighten his mood.

As far as I'm concerned it's a "must have" along with the Russian 
choir. Maybe I'll put them side by each in the same station! Wow! Think 
of the Doom. Think of the Dread. Think of the complaints from band 
members!

Seriously though, this is a fabulous voice that I can't wait to have in 
the new set the lads and I are in the middle of designing. Is anyone 
else as interested in this new voice as I am -- or am I alone in the 
vast wasteland of common mellotron sounds?

Rick (FSX 10030 -- what no Ted Turner choir this time? And you're not 
even going to send me over there to hang out with the lads at the Twat 
and Handbag?! Cor blimey! (said with the finest Disk van Dyke Cockney 
accent)

> It's gotten awfully quiet since the blow-up last week. Is everyone
> scared to post or something?

I think people are too busy buning Frank's book.

> Martin tells me that Dickson was so depressed he moved south
> across the border, realizing he couldn't face another Scottish winter
> because of his emotional state.

Pure fantasy. Why do you think we invented whisky? (Arguably, to make us
forget about the neighbours, I suppose)

> As far as I'm concerned it's a "must have" along with the Russian
> choir.

I think it's a must have for frame #6. I'm set on the GC3 brass (for all
your Tangerine Dreanm, Hours Of E-Minor needs), Boys Choir (for my
planned recording, 'Have A Castrati Christmas') so the #3 spot is open.
I *was* thinking about French Horns but the Strings Of Suffering are
likely to edge them out.

> Seriously though, this is a fabulous voice that I can't wait to have in
> the new set the lads and I are in the middle of designing. Is anyone
> else as interested in this new voice as I am -- or am I alone in the
> vast wasteland of common mellotron sounds?

You're alone, but for entirely different reasons.

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/

sad strings, russian choir and the rhodes, I've decided. if there's any go 
left in the razor blade after they're installed, the executor of my estate will 
be auctioning a bloodstained and tatty 400 which has the additional cachet of 
having belonged to radio massacre international.

so do these sad strings have the cello blended in? that would seal it for 
me.... the choir is fantastic. it's the sound that everyone thinks they've 
already heard and when you check y'r yes albums and so forth, the choirs just aren't 
as... choirish... somehow, as these fake ruskies. 
martin- the bass clarinet got the thumbs-up too, by the way. give me a couple 
of weeks to clear some other bills and I'll be ready for frame.. er... 10? 
10. 'kin 'ell. 10 frames.

1098ski

I've just taken delivery of a new tape frame from Streetly - some great
stuff to be found here.

Anyone else using GC3 brass? I'm sure you could use the bottom end to
bring down large buildings. There is a surprisingly dramatic change in
timbre halfway up the keyboard. It starts off sounding like the Queen
Mary and ends up sounding like...well...er...Tangerine Dream, I suppose.
I vow to include C#2 wherever I can squeeze it in. It's wild.

Boys Choir ranges from 'the football team' up to 'young castratii'. The
top end is a bit shrill (and a bit out of tune, unsurprisingly) but the
mid ranges are great on a good reverb.

Talking of reverb, save the best until last. The Sad Strings are better
than I ever imagined they would be. Not only are they all in tune (!)
the timbres are exquisite and the attack on some of the notes is imply
breathtaking. If you're thinking of this frame (and you should) then do
*not* get Streetly to 'fix the attack'. It sounds best the way it is.
You'll nver get 64th trills out of a Mellotron at the best, but playing
notes fast on this voice can end up silent, so lazy they are.

I've run off a warbling little demo of this sound for you. It's at
http://www.systemstheory.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Demos/Sad%20Strings%20Demo.mp3

Last thing - the new frame has new *metal* turnbuckles that have what
looks like PTFE sleeves on the runners. The tapes simply whizz through
them. Is this a new design?

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/

On Sunday, February 8, 2004, at 02:13 PM, tron@...  
wrote:

> Talking of reverb, save the best until last. The Sad Strings are better
> than I ever imagined they would be.

> I've run off a warbling little demo of this sound for you. It's at
> http://www.systemstheory.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Demos/ 
> Sad%20Strings%20Demo.mp3


Never thought I'd be able to say this, but in listening to this demo,  
it's obvious that old Mike has -- or is at least developing -- a  
sentimental side to his otherwise acerbic personality. Next we'll hear  
that he's helping little old ladies cross the road and feeding stray  
dogs and cats.

Besides all this, it's a damn fine demo. Well done, Dickson!

What is this world coming to? Here I am making nice comments and  
everything. Could world peace be around the corner?

Rick \ SFX 10030 -- "Dickson sensitive? Don't make me larf!"

> Never thought I'd be able to say this, but in listening to this demo,
> it's obvious that old Mike has -- or is at least developing -- a
> sentimental side to his otherwise acerbic personality.

No, Rick, you can't shag me. How many times do I have to tell you this?

> Next we'll hear that he's helping little old ladies cross the road and
> feeding stray dogs and cats.

I do. Well, I feed the dogs and cats on the fetid carcasses of the
little old ladies.

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/

Melancholia never sounded so sweet.

-----Original Message-----
From: tron@... [mailto:tron@...] 
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 11:13 AM
To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Mellotronists] Sad Strings

I've just taken delivery of a new tape frame from Streetly - some great
stuff to be found here.

Anyone else using GC3 brass? I'm sure you could use the bottom end to
bring down large buildings. There is a surprisingly dramatic change in
timbre halfway up the keyboard. It starts off sounding like the Queen
Mary and ends up sounding like...well...er...Tangerine Dream, I suppose.
I vow to include C#2 wherever I can squeeze it in. It's wild.

Boys Choir ranges from 'the football team' up to 'young castratii'. The
top end is a bit shrill (and a bit out of tune, unsurprisingly) but the
mid ranges are great on a good reverb.

Talking of reverb, save the best until last. The Sad Strings are better
than I ever imagined they would be. Not only are they all in tune (!)
the timbres are exquisite and the attack on some of the notes is imply
breathtaking. If you're thinking of this frame (and you should) then do
*not* get Streetly to 'fix the attack'. It sounds best the way it is.
You'll nver get 64th trills out of a Mellotron at the best, but playing
notes fast on this voice can end up silent, so lazy they are.

I've run off a warbling little demo of this sound for you. It's at
http://www.systemstheory.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Demos/Sad%20Strings%20Demo
.mp3

Last thing - the new frame has new *metal* turnbuckles that have what
looks like PTFE sleeves on the runners. The tapes simply whizz through
them. Is this a new design?

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/


 
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