Thanks for stepping in, Frank. I know there's a fine balance between the key adjustments. This is a generic method that Jerry and Ken showed me. I used this method to initially set up my keyboard, then fine tuned using my ears. I know the adjustments aren't exactly 3/4 turn and 1.5 turns, but it was a good starting point. My pinch rollers are pretty new and they have made the biggest difference in ease of adjustment. One thing I didn't know about replacing them though, is that the hex nuts need to be reset. My keys were pretty tight before I reset them. Bernie --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote: > > Nah... that's over-simplification. A properly working keyboard is all > dependant on relationships. It's not just how fast you can play it, it's about > consistency. Does each key played maximize the sound of the tape passing > under it? Is there consistency in volume and EQ from note to note? When > blending tracks, does the blend sound similar from note to note? Example: > Blending strings and cello... a little more cello than strings on this key... a > little more strings than cello on the next, and so on, all over the keyboard. > > It is possible to not only get an incredibly light action, but incredible > presence and consistency from note to note, track by track, to the maximum > capability of the recorded tape if the keyboard is set up exactly right. > This is very subjective and the formula you show below is a compromise. > > Even changing frames can change playability. Different frames often have > different amounts of friction in the 35 individual tape paths, due to spring > tension, whether the turnbuckles are set up correctly and how much they > rub against the separators, how well the plastic rollers spin, etc. It's all > about friction, friction, friction. > > That leads me to pinch rollers. New ones are far superior to old ones. They > grab the tape with less pressure. Pressure pads with good felt, properly > aligned to the heads require less pressure. Friction, friction, friction. > > So here's a simple formula to get the most out of every frame. You need > enough roller pressure on each key to pull the tape all the way to the end > without loss of pitch. No more... no less. You need enough pressure from the > pad (once properly aligned to the head) such that when a key is depressed, > as the tape moves progressively forward, consistency of volume is > maintained for the full time the key is depressed. > > As the tape gets pulled forward, the return spring tension increases. > Especially near the end, as the turnbuckles approach the limits of their travel, > tape tension is going to tend to lift the pressure pad a bit, causing loss > of volume and clarity, The objective, therefore is to only apply enough > pressure pad adjustment to keep that pad against the head until the tape is > at the end. No more, no less. > > Making these adjustments means going back and forth a bit setting pad and > corresponding roller tension for each key. > > These adjustments are ENTIRELY subjective, although less so on a Mellotron > that has been properly set up by an expert. When I work on a machine, for > me the keyboard and head block are the heart and soul of the machine. Power > supplies, motors and preamps are easier. Component values and performance > aren't subjective... they are measured. Keyboard setup takes hours of work. > Head azimuths must be set first. When they re right, then you can match the > pads to the heads. > > You want your Mellotron to sound and play great? Perfect it. But remember. > Friction is the enemy. The less, the better, The less you need to pull the > tape, the better. Old pinch rollers can not be "reconditioned". Buying new > ones is one of the very best investments you can make. > > It's all about relationships. > > Frank > > > > In a message dated 3/19/2013 12:26:18 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > tron400@... writes: > > > > > Following is the method I learned from Jerry K and Ken L recently (for > M400's only!). > > DISCLAIMER: This is what I remember with the remainder of my aging brain > cells. If I've missed anything or something is unclear or illogical, please > correct. > > 1. Carefully remove the L-shaped stop bar over the keys. > 2. Adjust the hex nuts at the rear of each key so that all the keys float > evenly and not too high. > 3. Replace the stop bar. > > Then for each key: > > 1. Back off the pinch roller and pad screw until there is no sound and no > tape movement. > 2. Adjust the pinch roller screw until the tape just starts to move > (remove the back panel so you can see the tape movement). > 3. Adjust the pad screw until sound appears. > 4. Adjust the pinch roller screw until the tape stalls, then turn the > screw 1.5 turns clockwise. > 5. Adjust the pad screw until there is no sound, then turn the screw 3/4 > turn clockwise. > 4. Repeat steps 4 and 5. > > After following this procedure, I can easily and effortlessly do a > glissando across the keyboard. > > Bernie > > --- In _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) , Bruce Daily <pocotron@> wrote: > > > > Ummm....Ã Ã Little purple pills? > > Ã > > Ã > > Ã -Bruce D. > > Ã #1221 > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: matthew meixner <ccstickleback@> > > To: "_newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) > > > Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 11:43 AM > > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] re: New Video with Mellotron Mk. VI > > > > > > Ã > > > > Hi gang, > > Ã > > What is this method for improving action?Ã > > Ã > > Matt > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: "lsf5275@" <lsf5275@> > > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) > > Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 12:31 PM > > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] re: New Video with Mellotron Mk. VI > > > > Ã > > Well, I'm happy I could do at least something to help. > > > > In a message dated 3/18/2013 12:38:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > > rjtr2958@ writes: > > Ã > > >Thanks Frank. > > >Ã > > >It's only fair to add that the fact that I was able to play that > relatively fast lead line on the Mk. VI and it sounded ok was due to your tips on > improving the action. > > >Ã > > >Thanks again. > > >Ã > > >Rick > > > > > > > > > > > >________________________________ > > >From: "lsf5275@" <lsf5275@> > > >To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) > > >Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2013 11:37 PM > > >Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] re: New Video with Mellotron Mk. VI > > > > > >Ã > > >Really nice Rick! > > > > > >Frank > > > > > >In a message dated 3/17/2013 1:24:22 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > rjtr2958@ writes: > > >_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QotLuE0rPs_ > (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QotLuE0rPs) > > >
Message
Re: New Video with Mellotron Mk. VI
2013-03-19 by tron400