Man builds mellotron from 14 Walkmans

thats incredibly creative. I wonder how he would change the pitch of the walkman to get enough notes for all the keys. i am guessing there is a resistor to make the motor go slower?
 

Read the page... he has each stereo channel playing one note, so Walkman 1 is playing low C and high C, 2 is playing low D and high D etc.
 

man...I was totally gonna do that.
 

This is fantastic! Why not use the same principle, but use fourteen CD Discmen? Then have a set of fourteen CDs and each track is a different timbre.
 

make that 14 iPods and you could play the same timbre for hours before having to hit 14 [<<] buttons :), You could call it the "expensiveashellotron" :D

I'd like to try the "meloman" tho.
 

Cos you wouldn't get the ever-changing -according-to-environment analogue sound with CDs or iPods :)

I'm wondering why he hasn't made special tapes that are just loops so they never run out.
 

Continuous loop cassette tapes do exist - they were used for the outgoing message tape on telephone answering machines. Or maybe rig up 14 reel-to-reel tape machines with continuous tape loops... Or 14 turntables... Or 28 Edison wax cylinders...
 

actually, he says on his page that it's on a tape loop. problem already solved.
 

The problem with tape loops i.e. tapes that repeat infinitely is that they cannot accurately reproduce a sound as it is played naturally. The Mellotron used 8-second samples on each tape, which reproduced the authentic attack and decay characteristics of the original instrument. Looping a sample like that would just cause a repeat at the length of the tape; a bell sample would sound like ding-ding-ding instead of the desired diiiiiiiiiiiiing. There was a follower of the Mellotron called the Birotron that used 8-track tape loops and used very small samples repeated over and over; this solved the infinite sustain issue but offered only a straight tone versus a sound that would have a distinct envelope to it.
 

This remains one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.
 

"thats incredibly creative. I wonder how he would change the pitch of the walkman to get enough notes for all the keys. i am guessing there is a resistor to make the motor go slower?"

The way a Mellotron works is that you record a separate tone for each key. So the C reproduces a recorded C the F# reproduces a recorded F# and so on.

Now that answers you question but I am left wondering if he used a modified cassette with a loop of tape.
I tried this and it works but the tape doesnt last that long. I built a simple copycat using a tape deck years ago and the biggest problem was getting the tape to loop and last long enough to be useful. I suspect that it would be a lot simpler to build a mellotron using a number of mp3 players and electronically loop the sound.
 

Hi there,
I had the great pleasure of playing w/ Mike Walters when I lived in NC- he used many of his instruments on my upcoming album Pilfershire Lane. You can hear the Melloman in the song "Pilfershire Lane" on this site:
myspace.com/tarabuschgirlonfire and more synths on myspace.com/tarabusch
these instruments are just as beautiful and soulful in the "flesh"!
t
ps...what a wonderful site this is.
 

Or maybe rig up 14 reel-to-reel tape machines with continuous tape loops...
You are, of course, talking about the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Look out for the TV documentary on the peer-to-peer sites, it includes a breakdown of the Dr Who theme, digitally reproduced track by track. All hail the great Delia Derbyshire.
 

This is somewhat similar, although with a more creative interface. Done with 3 iPods, each playing stereo tracks that are split up...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JskjKBHjIl8