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Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 3990 Location: Los Angeles
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 6:06 pm Post subject: 'Mellotron' product review/Demo session ...
This video features Mellotron’s contemporary creator 'Markus Resch' at Westlake Pro Studio (Los Angeles). His presentation covers early Sampler/Chamberlin and Mellotron history. Then he talks about how Mellotron evolved to meet modern standards while maintaining the original sound and style.
Contemporary products mentioned here:
M4000D - a 24 bit digital uncompressed audio playback unit with 100 Mellotron and Chamberlin sounds built in and a custom built full Mellotron style wood keyboard featuring depth sensitivity and polyphonic aftertouch out via MIDI .......as well as the M4000D's smaller Mini & Micro versions.
I could only use the footage from one camera, so excuse the quality.
Joined: 15 Aug 2017 Posts: 635 Location: Australia
Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 7:35 am Post subject:
Thank You Sam CA! Great stuff. You seem to have knack for picking stuff I have a big interest in! I bought my e5000 back in 2000 to try to emulate a Mellotron. _________________ Stuff I'm using: Umm right now, well there's a Volca Drum, a Micro Freak, an ADX-1, a Pulse, a Blofeld, a UNO Drum, KeyStep/Beatstep Pro/Keystep Pro (one of each), a Circuit, a LiveTrak L-12 and this nonsense: The Brief-case as it was about a bit over a year ago(the the complete ridiculous GAS monster collection here)and here
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 3990 Location: Los Angeles
Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:17 pm Post subject:
Thank you! You have an impressive list of gears in your signature and that's probably half of the stuff you own! Did you happen to have any recordings of those E-mu samples?
On reddit and KVR people did complain about the price. They were basically saying that if these machines are not actually using a tape, then why not just use a plug in or generic rompler to play them back. I totally understand that point of view, but at the same time I appreciate a dedicated retro looking machine that does one specific thing. Apparently it's all made in Sweden as well. It is a difficult instrument to own for sure. No bread and butter type of sounds at a premium price. I'm not tempted myself, but there is a small market for it indeed. _________________ Sam
Joined: 15 Aug 2017 Posts: 635 Location: Australia
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 10:04 am Post subject:
Sam CA wrote:
Thank you! You have an impressive list of gears in your signature and that's probably half of the stuff you own! Did you happen to have any recordings of those E-mu samples?
On reddit and KVR people did complain about the price. They were basically saying that if these machines are not actually using a tape, then why not just use a plug in or generic rompler to play them back. I totally understand that point of view, but at the same time I appreciate a dedicated retro looking machine that does one specific thing. Apparently it's all made in Sweden as well. It is a difficult instrument to own for sure. No bread and butter type of sounds at a premium price. I'm not tempted myself, but there is a small market for it indeed.
You are welcome! I appreciate stuff like this as I tend to miss it.
There are a few things not listed as they are not hooked up. I need to update the list a little, some things have come in and some have left and some things put away.
The price is rather high for something that is basically a softsynth in a box, but the semi-weighted wooden keys are a really nice touch I feel and poly-aftertouch is a a real boon! Show me another synth with those two features for around the same price, AND do an authentic Mellotron emulation.
The recordings I made at the turn of the century were all done on 4trk cassette records, so may as well be lost as I made them on a Yamaha MT200 (I think that's what it was called) at high speed with noise reduction. The Yamaha died and I 'upgraded' to recording on a G4 until I stupidly installed OSX. I'm resurrecting my e5000 but getting at the zip discs I used to store the samples is possibly a harder task than getting another Yammy 4trk. I gotta find the box with the discs then find a Zip 100 drive in SCSI.... Oh well, I think I can do a better job at it these days anyway. _________________ Stuff I'm using: Umm right now, well there's a Volca Drum, a Micro Freak, an ADX-1, a Pulse, a Blofeld, a UNO Drum, KeyStep/Beatstep Pro/Keystep Pro (one of each), a Circuit, a LiveTrak L-12 and this nonsense: The Brief-case as it was about a bit over a year ago(the the complete ridiculous GAS monster collection here)and here
Don't forget the rack version, too!
The M4000D is strictly three octaves starting on F. As a midi controller, the pitch shift and the aftertouch works well with the Kronos. You might get a few "stuck" notes when messing about in the menus while playing the M4000D. It's a pity that the Half-Speed doesn't also work as an octave down switch.
The Micro does have a proper octave switch but apparently the keys below F cease to control its internal sounds when shifted down.
There is also something slightly off about the Aftertouch Ribbon beneath the keys. It takes a bit more applied force in the 4 or 5 most lower and most upper keys to activate the aftertouch. It's uneven.
The keybed of the M4000D is excellent and I love that the lid opens up like the old originals. The key travel is more shallow compared to a piano.
There's plenty of sounds to scroll through and more can be added, but it sure is difficult to find the #01 Expansion Sound Card for it. There's also a lot of essential features that allow you to manipulate the sound, like editing the motor speed? I think it makes the samples sound more "old".
I find that the samples of the M4000D and the default Tape samples of the Korg Kronos are very different. The key depth sensitivity of the M4000D plays a large part in that. It has its flaws, but I do enjoy the Mellotron very much. _________________ Need CX-3 sysex help?
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 3990 Location: Los Angeles
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 5:30 am Post subject:
So the rack version is a whole different product then. Apparently these newer models had some midi problems too, but they took care of it with an update. _________________ Sam
In case anyone is interested in using the Mellotron M4000D as a controller, I made a video detailing my experience with the polyphonic aftertouch, using it with the OB-6. I enjoy it very much!
https://youtu.be/yZwyutReyR4
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