instantly accessible Mellotron and Chamberlin sounds, captured from original tape sources at 24-bits, uncompressed Apart from the originals, many brands have also created pedals for a Mellotron effect for guitars and basses. Electro Harmonix’s MEL9 is an emulation that offers the user a variety of traditional Mellotron sounds such as strings, orchestra, cello, flute, etc. 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. The first Mellotron was invented in the 1960s in Birmingham, England, and these were originally meant to be home entertainment devices. 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.

The Mellotron Micro is the smallest version available of the M4000D Digital Mellotron, and includes many of the features of the full-size version. One hundred 24-bit uncompressed sounds are immediately accessible, sourced from original first-generation Mellotron and Chamberlain tape libraries. An octave selector switch provides access across the same range as the larger M4000Ds from Micro’s two-octave keyboard. The semi-weighted keys and MIDI connections also allow the Mellotron Micro to be used as a high-quality controller in your studio or on the road. Additional controls include octave selector, volume, tone, normal/half-speed play and pitch adjustment. The master output is mono, only using a single 1/4” instrument cable. At first, I was a little bummed that it didn’t offer a stereo output for some of the more complex sounds, but once I heard the Mellotron Micro through a nice set of monitors, I realized there was no need for a stereo output.

Similar Threads

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....! Invented in the 1960s in England, it gained popularity with bands like The Beatles, King Crimson, and Genesis. Over the years, I’ve got to play with a couple vintage Mellotrons as well as a modern reissue that works in the same fashion as the older models. I was blown away by how responsive the keyboard is to the reels of tape within. There is virtually no lag between hitting the same note repeatedly, and the sound is unmatched by any digital synthesizer I’ve ever heard that tries to copy it. That is, until recently. 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.

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. I've never played the Swedish M4000D, but I've heard a few in concert. Practically every Mellotronist I know, if they didn't already own real Mellotrons, would choose the Memotron over the M4000D because it sounds more authentic (we have discussed this subject at great length). The M4000D sounds very sterile. The only advantage I can see with the M4000D is the keyboard because it allegedly feels like an M400 keyboard, which is actually inferior to the MkII, M300 and M4000 keyboards. Those feel more like Hammond keyboards. 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. 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.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: Manual shows one patch per screen, as it will also tell you which library the source is being pulled from, as well as offering a meter that shows the amount of blend you have between the A and B sound bank. This mode was fun to use when creating patches on the fly, since I didn’t know what was coming up next, I was just scrolling through until I found something that caught my ear.

The Mellotron is truly unique in not just the way they were designed but also the sound they produce. No matter what the genre, they have found their way into some of the most classic pieces of music made over the decades. Thanks to innovations in technology, they have morphed into a digital form, and they now take up very little space on your computer. Whether you are a fan or immensely dislike its sound, a Mellotron is not a mere fad in the history of music, and it continues to thrive and inspire even today.The Memotron sounds like a well used Mellotron with all its special character caused by the used tapes and the electronics inside. While the Mellotron Micro sounds like you sampled the original tapes in high quality. so the character of the Mellotron itself is missing. Just the tapes are from the same recording. The software and audio engine has taken 3 years to develop, but our concept of the digital Mellotron has been in development since the mid 90s. We bought parts of the original inventory from a company called 'Mellotron Digital' 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. Second, if you use Mellotron sounds live, these units are a godsend, because they just sound great and generally are 100% problem free in a live setting. 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.

mousegarden wrote:But TBQH, I can't tell the difference between the app and a hardware digital Mellotron, or any other digital Mellotron for that matter. The master section includes high-quality knobs for selecting your patches on the A and B sound bank, octave selector switch, blend control between the two banks, master volume, tone, and pitch up and down adjustment.The Mellotron is, in fact, an electronic keyboard, but unlike a traditional synthesizer, the sound is generated from the 35 individual tapes containing different sounds. This allows them to emulate completely different instruments like modern-day sampling devices. The Mellotron Micro is the smallest version available of the Digital Mellotron, and includes many of the features of the full-size version. One hundred 24-bit uncompressed sounds are immediately accessible, sourced from original first-generation Mellotron and Chamberlin tape libraries. The 100 sounds are the sounds on the built-in Sound Card 01 of the Micro and M4000D series of instruments. An octave selector switch provides access across the same range as the larger M4000Ds from Micro’s two-octave keyboard. The semi-weighted keys and MIDI connections also allow the Mellotron Micro to be used as a high-quality controller in your studio or on the road. Additional controls include octave selector, volume, tone, normal/half-speed play and pitch adjustment. FEATURES: It has our very advanced and in-house developed streaming technology for uncompressed 24 bit audio reproduction Keys are not aftertouch-sensitive. Still could be considered pricey. Modified foot controllers required for some control features.