mellotron
Sign in to saveThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. As the key is released, the tape is retracted by a spring to its initial position. Different portions of the tape can be played for different sounds.
Key facts
- Synthesizer.synth_name
- Mellotron
- Synthesizer.names
- Novatron
- Synthesizer.image
- Mellotron.jpg
- Synthesizer.image_caption
- A Mellotron Mk VI
- Synthesizer.synth_manufacturer
- Bradmatic/Mellotronics (1963–70)Streetly Electronics (1970–1986, 2007–present)
- Synthesizer.background
- keyboard
- Synthesizer.classification
- Keyboard
- Synthesizer.inventors
- Frank, Norman and Les Bradley
- Synthesizer.dates
- 1963 (Mk I)1964 (Mk II)1968 (M300)1970 (M400)2007 (M4000)
- Synthesizer.keyboard
- 1 or 2 × 35 note manuals (G2–F5)
- Synthesizer.polyphony
- Full
- Synthesizer.oscillator
- Audio tape
- Synthesizer.synthesis_type
- Sample-based synthesis
- Synthesizer.related
- Chamberlin, Birotron
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
10 sectionsContents
- Operation
- History
- Notable users
- Competitors
- List of models
- Related products
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. As the key is released, the tape is retracted by a spring to its initial position. Different portions of the tape can be played for different sounds.
The Mellotron evolved from the similar Chamberlin, but could be mass-produced more efficiently. The first models were designed for the home and contained a variety of sounds, including automatic accompaniments. Bandleader Eric Robinson and television personality David Nixon helped promote the first instruments, and celebrities such as Princess Margaret were early adopters. It was adopted by rock and pop groups in the mid to late 1960s. One of the first pop songs featuring the Mellotron was Manfred Mann's "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James" (1966). The Beatles used it on tracks including the hit single "Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967).