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Is this a mellotron? Instrument?

  • 18-10-2013 04:27PM
    #1
    seachto7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,863 ✭✭✭


    Hi

    Just wondering what this instrument is and how I could recreate it?

    It's at 1:27 of this Radiohead song (Exit Music...)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RByvzmmEFiQ

    Is it a mellotron? It almost sounds like sampled vocals?

    Is there an app that could recreate this?


Comments

  • #2
    martinedwards
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,046 ✭✭✭martinedwards


    unlikely that a mellotron would be used on a modern recording as they are so notoriously unreliable.

    great CONCEPT, especially in the early 60s, but a real tiger by the tail to try and actually keep in tune as the tapes would stretch and so detune.

    Strawberry fields is the stand out use that most people will have heard.

    King Crimson used them a fair bit, but KC is a bit.... well..... niche!


  • #3
    Gregor Samsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,138 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    martinedwards wrote: »
    unlikely that a mellotron would be used on a modern recording as they are so notoriously unreliable.

    In all fairness, unreliability or difficult to keep in tune is hardly going to stop Radiohead. And anyway, according to this, their restored one works well:
    Streetly admit that some of their parts are 'over-engineered' with traditional technology to make sure that the part's life can be measured in decades. One example of this approach is shown in the fact that Radiohead's restored Mellotron hasn't put a foot wrong in nearly 10 years and needs no maintenance!

    Source: http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/oct07/articles/mellatronm4000.htm

    A Google search will throne up numerous references to Radiohead using a Mellotron on "Exit Music (For A Film)", and some of the other tracks on OK Computer.


  • #4
    seachto7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,863 ✭✭✭seachto7


    Would the mellotron app for apple be any good me wonders.....


  • #5
    raindog.promo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,514 ✭✭✭raindog.promo


    I got the sampletron plugin from IK Multimedia a while ago and quite like it.

    Might be worth checking out.



  • #6
    seachto7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,863 ✭✭✭seachto7


    That IK Multimedia plugin looks great. I might have to investigate some more!
    I see comments on the vid that last year they had a deal and were selling it for €30. It's €75 at the moment.


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  • #7
    zafo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 276 ✭✭zafo


    There's a great thread on stompboxes.co.uk on the different ipad mellotron apps available with sample recordings and all.


  • #8
    losthorizon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭losthorizon


    seachto7 wrote: »
    Hi

    Just wondering what this instrument is and how I could recreate it?

    It's at 1:27 of this Radiohead song (Exit Music...)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RByvzmmEFiQ

    Is it a mellotron? It almost sounds like sampled vocals?

    Is there an app that could recreate this?


    This is a mellotron

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajGdNTFxRy0


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88uv7S9Bz9U


    As another poster said Mellotrons are never really used anymore as they continuously break down. The sound can be reproduced now anyway. The Moody Blues used them between 1967 to 1973 during their psychedelic period.


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