The Mellotron Group

Isn't it past your bedtime, Bastard?
 
 
In a message dated 11/6/2010 9:07:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
tronbros@aol.com writes:

 
 
 
Ok, we record new sounds because we want to offer a contrast to what has  
gone before.  The website samples are excellent but exist to whet the  
whistle.  If you were to listen closely to the new recording, it is full  of air, 
odd intonation and quirks of nature.  It is mellotronic.  Do  you want us to 
call a halt or expand the library? I really do wonder why some  even bother 
having a tron when the parameters are known and the technique is  unique.  
Mike has produced excellent recordings with an instrument the  needs a 
service and Andy Thompson's website is testament to how prolific the  awkward 
bastard has been.  Mike, Woolly, Pinder, Banks and a host of  others make it 
sound good.  The problem lies with the player and NOT the  instrumen


Bastard Smith   

_mellotronics.co.uk _ (http://mellotronics.co.uk/)  






On 6 Nov 2010, at 23:27, _fdoddy@aol.com_ (mailto:fdoddy@aol.com)  wrote:





 
you're kidding 'bout all this right?   


fritz









-----Original  Message-----
From: Mark <_epdowd54@yahoo.com_ (mailto:epdowd54@yahoo.com) >
To:  newmellotrongroup <_newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) >
Sent:  Sat, Nov 6, 2010 5:31 pm
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] New Sounds In  General


 
 
 

 
Sorry this is going to be a bit of rant, so don't read any  further!

I am not sure what the new sounds are trying to achieve. I  have just 
listened to the new organ demo which sounds fantastic but doesn't  sound like a 
mellotron to my ears, which admittedly aren't the greatest. To  me that 
sounds exactly like a church organ I would not have picked that it  was a 
mellotron. If the new samples are aiming for fidelity they are  certainly 
succeeding but in that case why not use samples or the real  thing?

Certainly if new samples sell and make money for Streetly they  can only be 
a good thing for those of us that own trons and will be looking  for 
replacement parts, but there really aren't that many sounds that are  
characteristic of the mellotron or aren't easily mistaken for anything  else.

In my opinion there are  2.

The Mark II 3  violins
The 8 Choir

I would have added combined brass except there  is at least one track where 
I mistook it for the real thing and some of the  people on the list have 
long memories.

I suppose the Mark II flute is  useful if you want to play "Strawberry 
Fields" but I can't think of any  other use for it.

Essentially the mellotron has been mainly used as a  "string, brass and 
choir machine" which explains why they fell out of  production when there were 
reasonably reliable polyphonic  synthesizers  available. The current 
resurgence in use is mainly due to the complete lack  of anything new in popular 
music so that producers are looking for some 70's  vintage sound to bring some 
sort of nostalgic feel to their  music.

But anything that keeps Streetly going has to be  good!

Mark


 
____________________________________
 From: Mike Dickson <_mike.dickson@gmail.com_ 
(mailto:mike.dickson@gmail.com) >
To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
Sent: Sun, November 7, 2010 5:46:47  AM
Subject:  [newmellotrongroup] New Sounds In General


In what may be a futile attempt, I will attempt to introduce some  
discussion into this group.

Do you think there is any merit in  recording and selling new sounds for 
the Mellotron?


    *   Pro this, I'd say that it expands the palette of sounds available 
for  the instrument, keeps it 'alive' and generates revenue for those who 
want  to sell it as a product.  
    *   Contra this, you could argue that it transforms the Mellotron into  
just another sampler and that there are probably better digital  products 
out there for the job, plus the fact that usually the Mellotron  is sold to 
sound like a Melotron and not like just any other instrument.  

Discuss?
-- 




Mike Dickson, Edinburgh