G-FORCE
Jun 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By James Rotondi
With the sudden flood of virtual synth software plug-ins that emulate coveted vintage instruments, it was only a matter of time before someone took on the legendary Mellotron. The classic British 35-key, tape-based proto-sampler is one of the most distinctive-sounding keyboards ever made. Its flute sounds graced the intro of the Beatles' “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and a Mellotron provided the psychedelic string frosting on the first King Crimson album and the choir sounds that were a staple of the Moody Blues. The Mellotron's quirky tones entranced even technocentric acts like Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. More recently, this vintage beast supplied retro flavors to albums by Radiohead, Oasis, and Soundgarden. An original vintage Mellotron could cost you anywhere from $1,500 to more than $5,000, which makes G-Force's new $69 M-Tron VST plug-in instrument an almost irresistible bargain.
THE QUICK ANALYSIS
G-Force's M-Tron is based on the 1970 version of the Mellotron, the M400, but also features many of the rhythm and chord sounds available on the M400's predecessor, the Mark II. Both models were essentially tape-playback instruments in which each key controlled its own tape. The sounds were recordings of real instruments played by real musicians, but they inherited a distinctive tone — a bit noisy and quite warm — from the tape mechanism that was used to store and play them.
The M-Tron plug-in works with any VST 2.0 — compatible host application, including Emagic's Logic Audio and, of course, Steinberg's Cubase VST 5.0. It requires at least a Pentium II/300 MHz PC with 96 MB of RAM and Windows 95/98/2000; or a Power Mac 604e/200 MHz with 128 MB of RAM, a 256K second-level cache, and Mac OS 8.5 or later. Installation is a simple matter of placing M-Tron in your VST Instruments folder, relaunching your application, and making the necessary connections to use a MIDI keyboard controller.
STRAIGHT TO TAPE
M-Tron's onscreen layout is simple and mostly true to the original form: a 35-key keyboard; Pitch, Tone, and Volume knobs; and an on-off switch. (G-Force even throws in some virtual dents and coffee-cup stains just for fun.) However, the A/B/C sound bank selector switch, which on the original Mellotron provided access to only three sounds, is called the Function Knob on M-Tron. Here the A position keeps the “lid” closed, B provides access to sliders for Attack and Release (a feature not found on a genuine Mellotron), and C reveals the tape selection window, which houses 28 tape sounds from the original Mellotron library.
Sounds include choirs, accordions, brass instruments, flutes, oboes, mandolins, strings, vibes, and rhythm patterns. Just as on the real thing, each note you play triggers a separate recording. Each sound lasts for about eight seconds, just as if a strip of tape were playing when you strike a key. Though G-Force has remained faithful to the original, this is one place where the company might have harnessed software technology to upgrade a classic: why not at least offer looped sounds as an option, allowing users to play longer pads or to extend the rhythm patterns into longer segments? It's worth considering.
SONIC FLASHBACKS
The sounds themselves are extremely close to the originals, though you may want to run them through a tube-mic preamp if you want the full predigital warmth for which the Mellotron is known. Nevertheless, the choirs are as epic as ever, the strings grainy but convincingly orchestral, and the mandolins entirely worthy of a run through the theme from The Godfather. Sample-based producers will eat this up; it's the equivalent of a library full of Mellotron samples already laid out in key maps (and for less money than most Mellotron sample CDs cost, I might add).
With the Tone, Pitch, Attack, and Release controls, you can further craft the sounds — punchy or smooth-fade string swells, chipmunk accordions, or dragon-breath saxophones. Those onboard controls are just as useful with the rhythm sounds, which include Tom Waits — style jazz-blues plods; New Orleans brass-band fanfares complete with banjos; alternating oompah-loompah bass figures; and cheesy-listening samba breaks. Speed the rhythms up or slow them down, alter their pitch or tempo, and create entire songs simply by working your hands up the keyboard in various intervals.
Producers and keyboardists who are into '60s and '70s sounds have scoured countless classified ads and estate sales in search of a genuine Mellotron, an instrument that rightfully belongs in the Ultimate Cool Gear pantheon next to the Chamberlin and Orchestron. But thanks to M-Tron, even the remotely curious can now afford to add a little Strawberry, Crimson, or (Moody) Blues to their palette of tonal colors.
PRODUCT SUMMERY
G-FORCE
M-Tron VST Plug-In Instrument
$69
PROS: Faithful, easy-to-use simulation of the classic Mellotron. Useful control parameters. High-quality sounds evoke an era. Great price.
CONS: No looping option.
Overall Rating (1 through 5): 4.5
Contact: tel. (800) 454-4563
e-mail info@quparts.com
Web www.quparts.com
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
