The new Mellotron M4000.

Yikes, $2700? You could get an even better replica with GMedia M-Tron for a couple hundred bucks - it's all digital samples so nothing is different about the hardware version except that hardware is more limited and expensive. You could even start from scratch and get a brand new laptop/MIDI controller AND the software and still save a thousand dollars...

Then think of all the other advantages with software - you can map a split with Mellotron on one side and Moog or Hammond on another, or layer with another sample or synth sound, add whatever effects you want...you can even transpose it and have it stretch over more than 3 octaves, get infinite sustain instead of the 8-second limitation, etc...

You can also get fantastic mellotron sounds very, very cheaply with a used E-MU Vintage Keys module. They can usually be found on Ebay for around $220.

If you eventually upgrade your main keyboard to a current Motif/Fantom/Triton, which are the standard gigging keyboards nowadays, they all come with a plethora of great Mellotron sounds...

Buying a Mellotron?

lolno

Samples and plugins.

Actually Stonebeard is saying something along the lines of what I'm saying, but himtroy, it sounds like you are definitely an old=fashioned keyboardist. I don'twant to open up a can of worms by suggesting modules and software that might eventually drive you nuts, but that is definitely the way to go if you want to have a powerful and portable keyboard rig that can get you all the sounds you want - and yes, that includes outstanding Hammonds, Mellotrons, Moogs - all of the parameters of which can be assigned to knobs and sliders as you wish...

If you are willing to invest about $90 on a soundcard for your computer, and about the same for a MIDI keyboard, I could send you to a few sites to get you started - once you get into what can be done on a computer using a MIDI keyboard and software, you will probably find such a wealth of possibilities that you won't leave your house for a year! But that only works if you have the interest and inclination to go that route.

Everything on the latest Shadow Circus album is entirely with plugins - including all pianos, strings, Mellotrons, Moogs, and even the guitar amps and effects - you can listen to the whole album at: http://www.shadowcircusmusic.com/audio.



Edited by jplanet - August 24 2010 at 03:24

himtroy wrote: I assume I'm missing something here, but then how can I get away from my computer with all these sounds?  Because while I occasionally record, my favorite thing to do is jamming with others.

There not much of anything in the world more vexing than getting into MIDI, which is what you should start looking into.

I can't help you much with specific, but you need a MIDI keyboard so you can load up plugins of synthetic sounds and samples of real life acoustic instruments, such as a mellotron. These sounds are mapped to the MIDI keyboard and it's like you can load the sounds of a Hammond organ or a mellotro--or anything really when you consider samples--right to the keys on the MIDI keyboard.

Yeah, I don't have nearly these kinds of finances, so maybe I'll revisit the idea in five years.

jplanet wrote: Oh, nevermind - i was misled, I thought you were interested in even getting something like the Memtron and that I was helping you save thousands of dollars! You can get into this with hardly spending anything, himtroy. If you have a computer that can surf the internet, then all you need is any cheap MIDI keyboard (get a Casio for $50 off of Craiglist ) and a soundcard (M-audio Audiophile can be bought used for $50)...Grab a few cables from Radio Shack and you're good to go - That'll keep you busy playing and recording, then you can always upgrade to a laptop when you can eventually get one... Or, you could sell your Hammond and have enough cash to build a totally modern set-up!

Oh, the $500 is just for a laptop. But that can wait - if you already have a MIDI keyboard lying around, just get an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 (new=$100, used $50, and you'll have a blast!

I only push this idea because I think once you discover what you can do with it, you'll be in nirvana!

himtroy wrote: Yes sir, and thank you for it.  I haven't gotten anywhere yet since I haven't left the room, but I plan on getting it soon.  Especially as I've been getting into ambient music recently, all those settings would be a godsend.  I'll still never fold on Hammond tones though, I've played pretty top of the line imitators and, while their good, they do not replicate a Hammond enough to abandon mine.

Cool! Please be sure to post here if you get into it!

Oh,m I hear you about the Hammond emulations. Native Instruments B4 is pretty incredible, though. If you can discern which tracks on this page use the software version, and which use a real Hammond, I'll buy you a setup myself! http://www.shadowcircusmusic.com/audio

Agreed, I don't like fake drums. But I use them to demo songs so that I can do the arrangement and the band can then learn them before going into the studio, but of course I would never release a prog album with anything but real drums - unless I was doing a parody of trance music or something for fun and it was obvious...but never to replace the real thing...