Mellotron and Moog synthesizer

The mellotron was invented so that you could record string arrangements without actually having to contract groups of well payed musicians. Behind every note is a little tape (max 8 seconds I believe) of a recording of - for instance - three cello's. This allowed the early prog musicians to expand their vision of rock: they could now use these low-fi string sounds to create epic and melancholy arrangements (without having to hire orchestra's). There's actually no symphony orchestra in a symphonic rock band ;).

The moog on the other hand creates single lead tones (never chords) that could be tweaked endlessly to create many new lead or bass sounds. There are also some famous melody effects that can only be created on a moog; for instance when notes gradually shift in pitch from one to another.

friso wrote: The moog on the other hand creates single lead tones (never chords) that could be tweaked endlessly to create many new lead or bass sounds.

The song Dirge by Welcome is one of the best examples of both the Minimoog and Mellotron in action.

I got Arturia's Mellotron VST last year and I've been trying not to put it in every song since  I absolutely love the instrument, it has that beatiful and mysterious vibe and it blends so well in the mix with other instruments.Regarding the cleanliness of the sound, I recently used the technique used by King Crimson and Genesis, playing the Mellotron through an amp and recording with a condenser microphone in an echoey room, and it worked wonderfully.

Although the Mellotron is well known for it's up front sound in classic progressive rock albums. It was also widely used in RnB and soul studios as well. On many RnB hits, the Mellotron is pushed to the background and coated with just enough reverb that it does sound very much like strings.
A friend of mine had the thankless job of repairing Isaac Hayes' Mellotron. Hayes, of course, was a producer for many pop RnB hits.

In progressive rock, the Mellotron did not so much imitate strings, but instead was used to sound like its own unique instrument, giving songs a certain science fiction or fantasy mystique.

At the time, these instruments had sounds and tones like nothing else available that were easy to access. The Moog may have been a synthesizer, but it was analog and sounds very different from more recent digital devices. To use an old model mellotron is to get a type of sound that the new models cannot fully replicate. To use one is to get a particular retro sound. Musicians then as now were attracted to new technologies and the moog and mellotron were new at one time. Their unique characteristics helped facilitate the way the music sounds and feels.

SteveG wrote: Easy Money wrote: Although the Mellotron is well known for it's up front sound in classic progressive rock albums. It was also widely used in RnB and soul studios as well. On many RnB hits, the Mellotron is pushed to the background and coated with just enough reverb that it does sound very much like strings. A friend of mine had the thankless job of repairing Isaac Hayes' Mellotron. Hayes, of course, was a producer for many pop RnB hits. In progressive rock, the Mellotron did not so much imitate strings, but instead was used to sound like its own unique instrument, giving songs a certain science fiction or fantasy mystique. "Right" said Fred. The mellotron was used much more for genres outside of prog, but it's prog that made it famous. ‘Kashmir’ by Zep is one of my non-prog favorites.

SteveG wrote: ^ The studio version of Kashmir had a combination of strings, horns and mellotron, added by JPJ, as it just didn't sound "creepy" enough.

SteveG wrote: Easy Money wrote: Although the Mellotron is well known for it's up front sound in classic progressive rock albums. It was also widely used in RnB and soul studios as well. On many RnB hits, the Mellotron is pushed to the background and coated with just enough reverb that it does sound very much like strings. A friend of mine had the thankless job of repairing Isaac Hayes' Mellotron. Hayes, of course, was a producer for many pop RnB hits. In progressive rock, the Mellotron did not so much imitate strings, but instead was used to sound like its own unique instrument, giving songs a certain science fiction or fantasy mystique. "Right" said Fred. The mellotron was used much more for genres outside of prog, but it's prog that made it famous. ‘Kashmir’ by Zep is one of my non-prog favorites.