Anyone here using M-Tron? At all????

I couldn't resist ordering the M-Tron plug-in program after reading so many good reports and reviews about it, and seeing the Rick Wakeman demo posted recently. Still awaiting delivery - will report in the near future!

Edited by mystic fred - August 18 2006 at 06:01

Propellerhead Reason 2 is a sequencer and virtual instrument standalone package for creating music on the computer, a key board can be used to play samples, loops and synthesisers, loads of fantastic sounds and effects with this. Sonic Foundry Acid Pro 4 is also a loop/sample sequencer that can also accept guitar or keyboard input, for more info see the website links for these... hope these help Brian!

Edited by mystic fred - August 18 2006 at 11:24

utah, what is your controller, does it have buttons/knobs?  do they work with pitch bend and such? can you change tape banks through your controller?

Mystic Fred, is that Mello T just like m-tron in all respects?  Does it work with midi controllers, knobs and buttons?  Has a volume switch, a tone and bitch changer?

The Lost Chord wrote: Mystic Fred, is that Mello T just like m-tron in all respects?  Does it work with midi controllers, knobs and buttons?  Has a volume switch, a tone and bitch changer?   Looks interesting, im getting fed up with these M-Tron problems!!

Edited by mystic fred - August 26 2006 at 18:15

Lost Chord,

I'm using M-tron with an EMU Xboard 49 midi controller keyboard and I've got some info to share with you.  First off, when using M-tron in standalone mode, it freezes up (like you've described), anytime I attempt to issue any midi command (pitch bend, tone, volume, attack, release) with the exception of the midi commands for the actual keyboard notes.  However, when used as a VST plugin in a midi music recording program like CUBASE, ABLETON LIVE, PROTOOLS, etc., M-tron responds properly to midi commands issued from the keyboard controller.

The hard part is finding which CC channels M-tron is using for which functions, and then adjusting your keyboard controls to send on the proper channels.  The EMU Xboard is easily adjusted with editing software that allows you to reassign any control to any CC channel

Here is the list of the CC channels that M-tron uses.

Pitch bend is CC95
Volume is     CC07
Tone is        CC74
Attack is      CC73
Release is     CC72

I haven't looked for the Pan function yet, nor can I find a channel for changing tape banks, though I think this must be possible.

While reassigning these controllers, I took the liberty of assigning the pitch bend to the Modulation wheel rather than the standard pitch bend wheel.  As the modulation wheel isn't spring loaded to return to its zero point when you release it, it actually approximates the funtionality of the pitch bend knob on a real Mellotron, which was essentially a rheostat.  It stays put to where you bend it until you're ready to bend it somewhere else or put it back to the zero position.

I love the M-tron software and their faithful approach to recreating the M400.  I do wish that they might have searched  just a bit longer for some of the source tapes, as a few of them are a touch too noisy for my taste. 

When you consider the cost of a new (or vintage) Mellotron starting at a base price of $5,200 vs. the $260 investment I made (M-tron with all tape banks on Amazon for approx $90 and $170 for the Emu Xboard at Guitar Center), I'd say it's money well spent.  And the sound is incredible.

jb