mellotron vs Birotron

 

Yes, I know that 2 books. A friend (from who i brought my mellotron) had them. I was looking at them and seems pretty good but i think they are now out of print. I have other books like Vintage synthesizers by Mark Vail (very good) and the Mellotron book by Frank Samagaio (a little deceptive,i was expecting more).

Yes, I own my mellotron M400 s/n 719 since 1998 and i loved it since the day one. It's a classic sound.I have 1 tape rack only with the string section,pipe organ and 8 voices choir sound but i am waiting for another tape rack with the 3 violins, flute and mixed choir.My mellotron used to belong to the Quebec prog group Morse Code in the 80's and did the album Code Breaker in the beginning of the 80's and a canadian tour with Asia(where Morse Code was the open act). I rented mine one time for the jazz group Medesky, Martin and Wood during the Montreal jazz festival in 2003. I received a lot of demands for renting it but they are fragile machines and I rent it only when it's worth it.

I have a Hammond organ, model L-112, a Wurlitzer electric piano and a Clavia Nord Lead.I have begin a new band one month ago with a very good guitarist/bassist and we have write 2 pieces since then.We will recording it during the next weeks and write others.We are very influenced by the italian groups like Museo Rosenbach and Il Balletto di Bronzo but with "Quebecois " lyrics, a little like Quebec band Pollen. We are also influenced by others Quebec bands like Harmonium, Maneige and Sloche.

 

 

 

Edited by pierreolivier

No, no, I am to blame and it's a genuine Freudian slip! These two books (A-M and N-Z) are really worth to check out for keyboard aficionados, like you I presume?! By the way, do you own also a Mellotron? This year a progrock dream will come true because I'm going to visit a musician who owns a Mellotron. After playing on a Minimoog, Memorymoog and Ribbon Controller and the Hammond B3 (I only know some chords, I'm less than an amateur but a die-hard Tronmaniac and vintage keyboard aficionado), I'm thrilled, for me the Mellotron is progrock!

You are right, Pierreoliver, my 8 minutes were a Freudian slip because I wished that it was 8 minutes instead of 8 seconds  .! And you ar also right about the superiority from the Mellotron above the Birotron, I love that moving instrument so much !

I just checked the book "The A-Z of analogue synthesizers from Peter Forrest and read: the Birotron (1975-1978) went never in full commercial production. It was used by Earthstar and Rick Wakeman. It contains using loops instead of finate tapes so you can hold a note as long as you wants (no rewinding), the Melllotron only 8 minutes. By the way, the rumour is that Rick was so frustrated about the technical and commercial difficulties that he once kicked a Birotron off stage and left it there...

MegaMoog wrote: Moogtron III wrote: Could you give some examples of albums / songs where the Birotron is being used? Rick wakeman may have been the only man to ever use one,I know he used they on Yes's Tormato and a solo album Criminal Record. If there are other please forgive me for not knowing

I forgive you, naturally. There are some Moog-like sounds on both albums you mentioned which I REALLY like, but I don't suppose that they have anything to do with the Birotron.

So one vote for the Mellotron!

Edited by Moogtron III

Could you give some examples of albums / songs where the Birotron is being used?