mellotron

mechanically, how did the mellotron work? mellotron is a sample play back keyboard. it was an invention stolen from the chamberlin which was the original sample play back keyboard. the way it worked was it had a bunch of sample tapes and you would be a able to play them just by holding a key down. each key has a tape which different sounds are recorded onto and each note can be held down for 8seconds.

why were the master tapes so important and why was the acquisition of them crucial? master tapes were important because it would give you the variety of picking the sounds you wanted. with out master tapes you would b limited to just a few sounds.

who were the key players? the inventor? the significant users of the instrument? the inventor was Harry Chamberlin. he introduced the very first chamberlin in 1949. the instrument would replicate sounds from another instrument. it would be able to play orchestral sounds. with the chamberlin a sound would be able to be reproduced and played again. it was originally an invention for himself and his family. he would record himself and then send it to his family. it was conceived as a "parlor instrument". it was mainly for home entertainment. bill franson offered his  services as a sales man to try and sale and make it a big thing. soon after franson stole two chamberlins and fled to england to find someone who would build more as his own idea. in the 1960s the bradley brothers (Bradmatic) started producing them. they named it the mellotron. some of the significant players included: the beatles. king crimson. moody blues. rolling stones. the zombies. pink floyd. david bowie. stevie wonder. it was presented as a "rich mans toys." the mellotron started to fall as it there wasnt much reliability for it. in the late 80s mitchell droom brought it back but soon enough it started becoming a generic sound so he stopped using it.

theories as to why the instrument didnt receive wide-spread use. and how is this similar to the theremin? it just wasn't selling enough.  they weren't making a profit from the instrument. they didn't expand there market enough. no investors.  they owed money to a lot of companies. the mellotron was similar to the theremin as where it was used as a sampler but it wasn't concerned with pitch and it would make there own loops.


this instrument introduced/preceded what significant recording technology?
this instrument introduced a way of making music with out having a instrumental talent what so ever. just by striking a key on the keyboard you would have the ability to sound like an orchestra or a band.


general time line, geography and business drama?
1948:chamberlin 100 1951:chamberlin 200 1957:chamberlin 300 1960:chamberlin400 1961:chamberlin500. 1963:MK1 is made. 1964:MK2 is made.1968:M300 is made. 1970:M400 1990-91: 1993: 1997: 1999: new version of M400 is made(MKVI).


thoughts with the goal of synthesis.
it just makes playing music a lot easier. it is a way for musicians to get really creative with there music and obtain new levels of experimental music. or its an easy way for amateurs to compose there sounds. making music has just gotten a lot easier with the improvements of synthesizers and all other modern electronic technology.

discuss mellotron vs the chamberlin...differences.
mellotron was the precursor of the chamberlin. the mellortron weighed a ton as where the chamberlin was lightweight. although the mellotron was more hi tech with a lot more tapes and changeable tapes as well. it was also built better. the chamberlin however sounded the best. it was a "beautiful source." chamberlin wanted to make an instrument whereas the mellotron wanted to sell an instrument.