Hi Mark-
I believe that the attack of the sounds is an
issue. The M400's have spoiled us. On a good set of
tapes one can adjust the starts until the attack on
all tracks is just right.
However, the MK2 and M300 probably developed enough
uneven tape stretch over time that the starts didn't
line up anymore. So, re-align the starts. Cycle to a
different station, and the individual starts are
uneven again. To rectify this (somewhat), line up the
starts so all voices are heard instantly on every key
on every station, but loose some attacks in the
process(An possible example of this is on John
Lennon's early recording of "Strawberry Fields"
("Anthology 2")where a tron brass can be heard at the
end with little or no attack). Live with it, layer
it, maybe use a volume pedal, and add reverb to cover
the problem. I bet that many recording engineers used
their own standard formulas for Tron processing, and
just kept using them on the M400's. I think this is
what we are used to hearing on many recordings.
I like the dry sound once in a while. I finally got
a little Alesis mixer w/reverb (effects), and it does
change the "feel", which I also like. PLUS, the
effect creates a stereo effect, which is nice.
My take. Rip it apart.
-Bruce Daily
#1221 (with planks for feet while the paint dries on
the proper feet. Yes, the beastie could downhill ski
right now!!)
--- Mark Pring <markpringnz@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Whilst messing about with the dreaded M-Tron, I
> started to wonder about the pros and cons of wet or
> dry mellotron voices. In its natural state I would
> say
> the mellotron voices are very dry indeed but when
> used
> for recording by most artists they sound pretty wet,
> especially string sounds.
>
> Until recently I would have definitely have put
> myself
> in the wet camp. But I am beginning to think that
> the
> problem with the wet sound, to my ears, is that as
> you
> lose attack and add decay, although it starts to
> sound
> more realistic, you lose that choppiness that makes
> it sound like a mellotron.
>
> Played dry there is no way you can think you are
> listening to anything other than a tron, I
> particulalrly like that incisiveness that comes from
> playing staccato chords.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Mark
>
> #1565 at present producing only the very dry sound
> of
> the patter of tiny feet.
>
>
>
>
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