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I'm composing a Jimmy Page tribute piece and am trying to recreate the feel of the Mellotron on "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin. I can't quite find the right combination of string sound and effects. Does anyone have advice for replicating this classic 'tron sound on the Oasys?

I should add: My understanding is that the distinctive character of the Mellotron sound comes from the multiple 8-track playback devices going in and out of tune with one another. ("While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles and "Badge" by Cream are really extreme examples of this phenomenon.) So there is a detuning or modulation, but it is neither constant nor simultaneous across all notes being played. In that sense, the phenomenon is a bit like aliasing. Also, my impression is that this modulation is truly random, as opposed to being predictably episodic in any way. The Oasys does have some random effects, like the random flanger and random phaser. But those effects treat all notes on the keyboard, not a few notes here and there. I have no idea whether the Oasys has the ability to "randomize" the detuning or modulation of notes. (I know that an alternative answer to my question is simply to buy the actual Mellotron samples, but I would prefer an Oasys-based solution, if it exists.)

Just an idea.
Couldn't you do this by using Wave-sequencing?
Mike Conway has made a nice and simple tutorial how to use this feature on his DVD. You could use timing, sounds and effects just like you want without a regular cycling etc... And use several wave-sequences in 1 combi, even combined with Karma & & & ....
Global P4 Wave sequence.
Anashwaran

Frankly speaking I am not an expert and this may be a silly solution but try to apply a sample&hold modulation to the OSC pitch.
It should be possible, isn't it.

Otherwise don't read any further.

The sample&hld wave should run very fast but the modulation value applied to the pitch should be minimal.
This will make the pitch of a single program to drift unexpectedly.
Of course all the notes will receive the same treatement (which is not wanted)
You can then make a combi with more than one of these programs, each one will have its own "pitch drifting" effect.

The mellotron has 35 notes, so you can make an 8 zone layer in which two programs alternate themself in adiacent zones (this saves 8 more zone for other purpouses).
You will have the same sample&hold pitch driting effect for 4 or 5 notes while the subsequent 4/5 notes will drift randomly in a different way (sorry for bad english)

Helter skelter pitch effect.

The other solution is to go to Abbey Road (London) and dig inside the litter bin for a box labeled "Ken Townsend's ADT obsolete device"

jgsidak wrote:I have no idea whether the Oasys has the ability to "randomize" the detuning or modulation of notes.

One of the Random shaped LFO's with the Stop option turned on will generate a random amount modulation at note-on; ideal for this kind of task.