Mellotron

ELI5 - What is a Mellotron, and why are they famous?

The Mellotron is a keyboard instrument created in England in 1963. An evolution of the earlier Chamberlin, the Mellotron is basically an early form of modern synthesizers. Instead of using digital playback, however, Mellotrons have an array of magnetic tapes played when their corresponding keys are pressed. Mellotrons come equipped with several sets of these tapes, each with a different voice such as "flute" or "strings."

The Mellotron's analog tape playback leads to subtle, random variations, giving them a unique and interesting sound. Many recording artists have experimented with this sound, perhaps most famously the Beatles, whose song "Strawberry Fields Forever" begins with a Mellotron flute intro.

By Alex 1 year ago

Mellotron

ELI5 - What is a Mellotron, and why are they famous?

The Mellotron is an early, synthesizer-like, analog keyboard instrument invented in the UK in 1963. In contrast to when a piano key is played, resulting in its corresponding hammer striking a tuned piano string, each of a mellotron's keys activates the playback of a sample of magnetic tape. Mellotrons come equipped with different voice settings for each key, such as piano, strings, flute, and even orchestral arrangements. The unique sound resulting from small variations in tape playback has long captured the imagination of experimental musicians, such as the Beatles.

By drollparadox7655 11 months ago