
The Mellotron is an electromechanical polyphony keyboard electronic musical instrument originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. The Mellotron, and its direct ancestor the Chamberlin, which in later years surpassed the Mellotron, were in effect the world's first sample-playback keyboards. The heart of the instrument is a bank of parallel linear (not looped) strips of magnetic tape, each with approximately eight seconds of playing time; playback heads underneath (but not directly underneath) each key enable performers to play the pre-recorded sound assigned to that key when pressed. The earlier MKI, and MKII models contained two side-by-side keyboards with 18 selectable sets of specially-recorded sounds on the right keyboard such as strings, flutes, and brass instruments which were called "lead", or "instrument" sounds, and pre-recorded accompaniment music (in various styles) on the left keyboard. The tape banks for the later, and lighter M400 models contain three selectable sounds (per changeable taperack) such as strings, cello, and the famous eight-voice choir. The sound on each individual tape piece is recorded at the specific pitch of the key that it was assigned to. == History == Although tape samplers had been explored in research studios (e.g., Hugh LeCaine's 1955 keyboard-controlled "Special Purpose Tape Recorder", which he used when recording his classic "Dripsody"), the first commercially available keyboard-driven tape instruments were built and sold by California-based Harry Chamberlin from 1948 through the 1970s. Things really took off, however, when Chamberlin's sales agent, Bill Fransen, brought two of these remarkable devices to England in 1962 to search for someone who could manufacture 70 matching tape heads for future Chamberlins. Harry Chamberlin was not at all happy at first with the fact that someone overseas was basically "copying" his idea, and that one of his own people (Bill Fransen) was the reason for this. He eventually found a UK company that were skilled enough to develop the idea further and a deal was struck with Bill and Lesley Bradley of tape recorder company Bradmatic Ltd. This resulted in the formation of a subsidiary company named Mellotronics, which produced the first Mellotrons in Birmingham, England. Bradmatic later took on the name Streetly Electronics. Many years later, following financial and trademark troubles, the Mellotron name became unavailable and later instruments were sold under the name Novatron. A small number of the instruments were assembled and sold by EMI under license. Through the late 1970s, the Mellotron had a major impact on Rock and roll, particularly the 35 note (G-F) M400 which was released in 1970 and sold over 1800 units, becoming a trademark sound of the era's progressive bands. The novel characteristics of the instrument attracted a number of celebrities and among the early Mellotron owners are Princess Margaret, Peter Sellers, King Hussein of Jordan and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Mellotrons were normally pre-loaded with string instrument and orchestral sounds, although the tape bank could be removed with relative ease by the owner and loaded with banks containing different sounds including percussion loops, sound effects, or synthesizer-generated sounds, to generate polyphonic electronically generated sounds in the days before polyphonic synthesizers. Although they were highly prized and enabled many bands to perform string, brass and choir arrangements that had been previously impossible to recreate live, Mellotrons were not without their disadvantages. Above all, they were very expensive -- the official Mellotron site gives the 1973 list price as US$5200. And like the Hammond organ they were a roadie's nightmare -- heavy, bulky and fragile. The tape banks were also notoriously prone to breakages and jams and those groups who could afford to (like Yes (band)) typically took two Mellotrons on tour with them to cope with the inevitable breakdowns. Despite these shortcomings, Mellotrons were prized for their unique sound, and they furthermore helped pave the way for the later sampler (musical instrument). == The Mellotron in popular music == The Mellotron was first made famous by The Beatles, who used it prominently on their groundbreaking 1967 singles "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Baby, You're A Rich Man", and it was also used by The Zombies, the Moody Blues, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and others during the psychedelic era. Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones was supposedly the first musician to master the instrument. The Mellotron was widely used to provide backing keyboard accompaniment by many of the progressive rock groups of the 1970s and alongside the venerable Hammond organ it was crucial to shaping the sound of the genre. It features on albums such as ''In the Court of the Crimson King'' by King Crimson, ''Fragile'' and ''Close To The Edge'' by Yes (band), and ''Foxtrot'' and ''Selling England By The Pound'' by Genesis (band). Led Zeppelin used a Mellotron to recreate the flute arrangement for live performances of ''Stairway to Heaven'', and it featured prominently on "The Rain Song" from ''Houses of the Holy''. It was also used extensively by pioneering German electronic band Tangerine Dream through their prime, including solo work by Edgar Froese. The advent of cheaper and more reliable polysynths and preset 'string machines' saw the mellotron's popularity wane by the end of the 1970s. Following the impact of punk, the mellotron tended to be viewed as a relic of a pompous era. One of the few UK post-punk bands to utilise its sounds were Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, who featured it heavily on their platinum-selling ''Architecture & Morality'' album (1981). The unique sound we associate with the Mellotron is produced by a combination of characteristics of tape replay such as wow and flutter, the result being that each time a note is played it is slightly different from the previous time it was played (a bit like a real instrument). The notes also interact with each other so that chords or even just pairs of notes have an extremely powerful sound. Mellotrons were not intended to be portable (they often become misaligned even when lightly jostled), and when installed permanently in a studio they provide a very realistic effect. An example of this can be found on Elton John's ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' album. ==See also== * Orchestron Mellotron users: *Bernard Butler *Rick Wakeman *Brian Jones *John Paul Jones (musician) *Jean Michel Jarre *Nine Inch Nails *Tangerine Dream *Spock's Beard *Vangelis *Tony Banks (musician) ==External links== * [http://www.mellotron.com/ Web site of the current Mellotron manufacturer] * [http://mellotronics.com Mellotron tapes and restoration] * [http://freespace.virgin.net/andy.thompson/index.htm List of Mellotron recordings] * [http://www.kleonard.com Mellotron enthusiast's site] * [http://www.gmediamusic.com GMedia, makers of the Mellotron simulation] Companies from Birmingham, England Electronic music instruments Keyboard instruments Music from Birmingham, England
I added some Mellotron users; this might spin out of hand and become a second List of Moog users. On the other hand, Jarre testifies that some of his music would have sounded different if some keys on his Mellotron had not been broken... Vangelis used it a lot in the early 1970s (with Aphrodite's Child, his albums Earth and Apocalypse des Animaux), but seems to have gone off it afterwards. User:Jfdwolff | User_talk:Jfdwolff 10:17, 27 Jun 2004 (UTC) Nice article. User:Tempshill 02:25, 9 Nov 2004 (UTC) Yes, Kraftwerk used a Vako Orchestron, never a mellotron! Perhaps this article should have links to http://www.mellotronics.com and http://www.mellotron.com the current manufacturers of mellotrons? -- DAVID DAVIS == Kraftwerk & the Mellotron == "It was also used extensively by pioneering German electronic music band Kraftwerk on many of their earlier recordings." As is, the above contains two errors. According to the biography of former Kraftwerk drummer Wolfgang Flür ("Ich war ein Roboter", Hannibal 1999), Kraftwerk purchased a VaKo Orchestron while on tour in the US in 1975. Similar idea to the Mellotron -- different implementation. While they may have owned (or, own) a Mellotron, they don't appear to have used one in performance or during recording. In fact, their first five albums (including "Tone Float", RCA 1970) do not feature either the Orchestron, or a Mellotron, at all, while their sixth, seventh and eigth albums feature the Orchestron most prominently. Considering that Kraftwerk's total output to date counts eleven original albums, the reference to "earlier recordings" is misleading. At most, Kraftwerk can be said to have used the Orchestron, an instrument somewhat similar in sound to the Mellotron, at the height of their popularity, and output, in the mid- to late 70s. Yrs, &c. Lech ::That will need some checking, since 1975 was about the time the Orchestron was introduced. Before that, if they used any sampling keyboards, they would likely have been the tape variety. User:IMeowbot~User talk:IMeowbot 09:57, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC) It can be easily checked by LISTENING to any Kraftwerk record prior to 1975's "RADIO-ACTIVITY" - none of them have any mellotron on. Neither is any mellotron listen on the (often detailed) list of instruments used. Neither can any mellotrons be seen in the photo galleries of instruments on the album sleeves! The firt time you can hear the choir and string sounds, is on recordings from the US Autobahn tour, 1975. Flür's biography explains how Kraftwerk visiting the Vako company during the tour, and bought an Orchestron, and began using it on the tour. It really is very simple! --User:Feline1 11:10, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC) == thanks == Knowing that all Wikipedians do appreciate some feedback now and then — It is nice that this article was there when I needed it. User:Femto 12:02, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC) I thought i started this article earlier this year but maybe i only added to it? anyway my name isn't there and i can't remember now, i didn't know Vangelis used it in AC? that makes me want one even more now :) User:Nick Boulevard 22:11, 15 Dec 2004 (UTC)
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Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electromechanical polyphony keyboard electronic musical instrument originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. The Mellotron, and its direct ancestor the Chamberlin, which in later years surpassed the Mellotron, were in effect the world's first sample-playback keyboards. The heart of the instrument is a bank of parallel linear (not looped) strips of magnetic tape, each with approximately eight seconds of playing time; playback heads underneath (but not directly underneath) each key enable performers to play the pre-recorded sound assigned to that key when pressed. The earlier MKI, and MKII models contained two side-by-side keyboards with 18 selectable sets of specially-recorded sounds on the right keyboard such as strings, flutes, and brass instruments which were called "lead", or "instrument" sounds, and pre-recorded accompaniment music (in various styles) on the left keyboard. The tape banks for the later, and lighter M400 models contain three selectable sounds (per changeable taperack) such as strings, cello, and the famous eight-voice choir. The sound on each individual tape piece is recorded at the specific pitch of the key that it was assigned to. == History == Although tape samplers had been explored in research studios (e.g., Hugh LeCaine's 1955 keyboard-controlled "Special Purpose Tape Recorder", which he used when recording his classic "Dripsody"), the first commercially available keyboard-driven tape instruments were built and sold by California-based Harry Chamberlin from 1948 through the 1970s. Things really took off, however, when Chamberlin's sales agent, Bill Fransen, brought two of these remarkable devices to England in 1962 to search for someone who could manufacture 70 matching tape heads for future Chamberlins. Harry Chamberlin was not at all happy at first with the fact that someone overseas was basically "copying" his idea, and that one of his own people (Bill Fransen) was the reason for this. He eventually found a UK company that were skilled enough to develop the idea further and a deal was struck with Bill and Lesley Bradley of tape recorder company Bradmatic Ltd. This resulted in the formation of a subsidiary company named Mellotronics, which produced the first Mellotrons in Birmingham, England. Bradmatic later took on the name Streetly Electronics. Many years later, following financial and trademark troubles, the Mellotron name became unavailable and later instruments were sold under the name Novatron. A small number of the instruments were assembled and sold by EMI under license. Through the late 1970s, the Mellotron had a major impact on Rock and roll, particularly the 35 note (G-F) M400 which was released in 1970 and sold over 1800 units, becoming a trademark sound of the era's progressive bands. The novel characteristics of the instrument attracted a number of celebrities and among the early Mellotron owners are Princess Margaret, Peter Sellers, King Hussein of Jordan and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Mellotrons were normally pre-loaded with string instrument and orchestral sounds, although the tape bank could be removed with relative ease by the owner and loaded with banks containing different sounds including percussion loops, sound effects, or synthesizer-generated sounds, to generate polyphonic electronically generated sounds in the days before polyphonic synthesizers. Although they were highly prized and enabled many bands to perform string, brass and choir arrangements that had been previously impossible to recreate live, Mellotrons were not without their disadvantages. Above all, they were very expensive -- the official Mellotron site gives the 1973 list price as US$5200. And like the Hammond organ they were a roadie's nightmare -- heavy, bulky and fragile. The tape banks were also notoriously prone to breakages and jams and those groups who could afford to (like Yes (band)) typically took two Mellotrons on tour with them to cope with the inevitable breakdowns. Despite these shortcomings, Mellotrons were prized for their unique sound, and they furthermore helped pave the way for the later sampler (musical instrument). == The Mellotron in popular music == The Mellotron was first made famous by The Beatles, who used it prominently on their groundbreaking 1967 singles "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Baby, You're A Rich Man", and it was also used by The Zombies, the Moody Blues, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and others during the psychedelic era. Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones was supposedly the first musician to master the instrument. The Mellotron was widely used to provide backing keyboard accompaniment by many of the progressive rock groups of the 1970s and alongside the venerable Hammond organ it was crucial to shaping the sound of the genre. It features on albums such as ''In the Court of the Crimson King'' by King Crimson, ''Fragile'' and ''Close To The Edge'' by Yes (band), and ''Foxtrot'' and ''Selling England By The Pound'' by Genesis (band). Led Zeppelin used a Mellotron to recreate the flute arrangement for live performances of ''Stairway to Heaven'', and it featured prominently on "The Rain Song" from ''Houses of the Holy''. It was also used extensively by pioneering German electronic band Tangerine Dream through their prime, including solo work by Edgar Froese. The advent of cheaper and more reliable polysynths and preset 'string machines' saw the mellotron's popularity wane by the end of the 1970s. Following the impact of punk, the mellotron tended to be viewed as a relic of a pompous era. One of the few UK post-punk bands to utilise its sounds were Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, who featured it heavily on their platinum-selling ''Architecture & Morality'' album (1981). The unique sound we associate with the Mellotron is produced by a combination of characteristics of tape replay such as wow and flutter, the result being that each time a note is played it is slightly different from the previous time it was played (a bit like a real instrument). The notes also interact with each other so that chords or even just pairs of notes have an extremely powerful sound. Mellotrons were not intended to be portable (they often become misaligned even when lightly jostled), and when installed permanently in a studio they provide a very realistic effect. An example of this can be found on Elton John's ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' album. ==See also== * Orchestron Mellotron users: *Bernard Butler *Rick Wakeman *Brian Jones *John Paul Jones (musician) *Jean Michel Jarre *Nine Inch Nails *Tangerine Dream *Spock's Beard *Vangelis *Tony Banks (musician) ==External links== * [http://www.mellotron.com/ Web site of the current Mellotron manufacturer] * [http://mellotronics.com Mellotron tapes and restoration] * [http://freespace.virgin.net/andy.thompson/index.htm List of Mellotron recordings] * [http://www.kleonard.com Mellotron enthusiast's site] * [http://www.gmediamusic.com GMedia, makers of the Mellotron simulation] Companies from Birmingham, England Electronic music instruments Keyboard instruments Music from Birmingham, England
Mellotron
I added some Mellotron users; this might spin out of hand and become a second List of Moog users. On the other hand, Jarre testifies that some of his music would have sounded different if some keys on his Mellotron had not been broken... Vangelis used it a lot in the early 1970s (with Aphrodite's Child, his albums Earth and Apocalypse des Animaux), but seems to have gone off it afterwards. User:Jfdwolff | User_talk:Jfdwolff 10:17, 27 Jun 2004 (UTC) Nice article. User:Tempshill 02:25, 9 Nov 2004 (UTC) Yes, Kraftwerk used a Vako Orchestron, never a mellotron! Perhaps this article should have links to http://www.mellotronics.com and http://www.mellotron.com the current manufacturers of mellotrons? -- DAVID DAVIS == Kraftwerk & the Mellotron == "It was also used extensively by pioneering German electronic music band Kraftwerk on many of their earlier recordings." As is, the above contains two errors. According to the biography of former Kraftwerk drummer Wolfgang Flür ("Ich war ein Roboter", Hannibal 1999), Kraftwerk purchased a VaKo Orchestron while on tour in the US in 1975. Similar idea to the Mellotron -- different implementation. While they may have owned (or, own) a Mellotron, they don't appear to have used one in performance or during recording. In fact, their first five albums (including "Tone Float", RCA 1970) do not feature either the Orchestron, or a Mellotron, at all, while their sixth, seventh and eigth albums feature the Orchestron most prominently. Considering that Kraftwerk's total output to date counts eleven original albums, the reference to "earlier recordings" is misleading. At most, Kraftwerk can be said to have used the Orchestron, an instrument somewhat similar in sound to the Mellotron, at the height of their popularity, and output, in the mid- to late 70s. Yrs, &c. Lech ::That will need some checking, since 1975 was about the time the Orchestron was introduced. Before that, if they used any sampling keyboards, they would likely have been the tape variety. User:IMeowbot~User talk:IMeowbot 09:57, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC) It can be easily checked by LISTENING to any Kraftwerk record prior to 1975's "RADIO-ACTIVITY" - none of them have any mellotron on. Neither is any mellotron listen on the (often detailed) list of instruments used. Neither can any mellotrons be seen in the photo galleries of instruments on the album sleeves! The firt time you can hear the choir and string sounds, is on recordings from the US Autobahn tour, 1975. Flür's biography explains how Kraftwerk visiting the Vako company during the tour, and bought an Orchestron, and began using it on the tour. It really is very simple! --User:Feline1 11:10, 19 Feb 2005 (UTC) == thanks == Knowing that all Wikipedians do appreciate some feedback now and then — It is nice that this article was there when I needed it. User:Femto 12:02, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC) I thought i started this article earlier this year but maybe i only added to it? anyway my name isn't there and i can't remember now, i didn't know Vangelis used it in AC? that makes me want one even more now :) User:Nick Boulevard 22:11, 15 Dec 2004 (UTC)
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Mellotron
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