Mellotron Micro Digital Synthesizer

Product Information

Adding on to that, you can create some pretty incredible things with MIDI data being spit to something like an M4000D that could never be physically done on a real tape Mellotron. While the list is exhaustive, and there are many notable uses of the instrument throughout musical history, Mellotrons have also made their way into the sounds of current artists such as the Foo Fighters, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the Smashing Pumpkins, Wilco, and Air, to name a few. The Software Evolution Of Mellotrons Expansion slot gives you 100 extra sounds on special compact flash cards, all from the original archives. There will be ca 8 expansion cards released with a large variety of sounds Keys are not aftertouch-sensitive. Still could be considered pricey. Modified foot controllers required for some control features.

I recently got to play with one of my new favorite toys, the Mellotron Micro. I’ve always been a huge fan of the way a Mellotron sounds, as they are truly the key to capturing the audio mood of melancholiness. Made famous by The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields” and The Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin”, the Mellotron sound has been a favorite of many professional keyboardists since the early 1960s.This is a powerful function where the Mellotron can add layers of depth in a recording; you already have some other instruments recorded through MIDI, and rather than having to replay the part over and over again, the Mellotron and MIDI connections can do all the work for you. Famous songs featuring Mellotrons include “Strawberry Fields Forever,”“Kashmir,”and “Paranoid Android.” Procuring a Mellotron, with its pretty limited tonality, might not seem like the most practical thing to do. The good news is that now you have brands such as Arturia who have created software that specifically emulates them. The Arturia Mellotron V Software comes with presets that give you access to the original sound of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, and Genesis. Additionally, you can also tweak the parameters to customize the sound further. Having previously worked with the M4000D and a vintage M400, I maintain that one of the special aspects of the instruments is inspiration; there’s something about the combination of sounds that evokes realism—call it recordings of real people expressively instruments—while the mechanical limitations cause unexpected effects that give it a signature charm. The M4000D and Mini surely come as close as one can get to the vintage treasure, and in many ways add much-needed conveniences like portability, low maintenance, and instant access to up to 200 classic sounds (and live layering of any two).

i played the mini and micro in a store, they sounded perfect, hifi. in other words nothing like the M400 i had a few sessions with. the latter was in need of some service but still,, the colour and vibe was very different. i thought about getting the mini for live, but i just dont get that spooky haunting vibe from it. in the studio i used software and it sounded spot on. all it needed was good emt plate emul. The final mode of finding patches is Playlist Mode, which allows you the ability to save custom presets you’ve come up with, offering up to 16 playlists and 32 entries. this experience left me undecided. i do like the looks, the build, the displays and all. unfortunately never had a chance to play a memotron to compare. i dont like that its unnecessary wide with that extention right from the keyboard. when you carry stuff arround, every inch counts. at least,, that's what she said.Not to mention temperature change... how much voltage is going into it... what color shirt your wearing... the alignment of Jupiter to mars... how oh and the list goes on. Part of the charm I guess, but over time as the good ersatzplanet has suggested is not a good thing to such an instrument.

It is hard to not tell the Mellotron apart from other synths in a song. Since their invention, they have been used in many iconic and anthemic songs. Some of these are: instantly accessible Mellotron and Chamberlin sounds, captured from original tape sources at 24-bits, uncompressed This isn't like having a digital recreation of an old synth, it's different, recreations of old synths these days are quite good, and the differences sometimes are minimal. But the differences between a tape Mellotron and a digital one are huge, so huge in fact that it makes complete sense to want a tape based unit, digital hasn't got anywhere near reproducing the complex issues and problems that a tape Mellotron has. Build quality is excellent, indeed! I'm actually not even minding the AC connector as it's a relatively tight grip at the connector; maybe they have worked on that a little bit? The MIX knob is my go-to bit of fun on this unit so I hope it's built to last....! High-quality metal casing. Design and interface evoke classic Mellotron experience with modern conveniences. Expandable sound library. Instant layering of any two sounds. Lower price than M4000D.

Fast forward to the present, and Mellotron has continued to evolve. The latest models from the brand feature modern technology, improved sound quality, and a more extensive selection of sampled instruments. These contemporary versions capture the nostalgic charm of the original while offering greater versatility to musicians and producers. With the resurgence of interest in vintage sounds, the Mellotron remains a timeless classic and a symbol of innovation in the music industry.