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  1. News

NAMM 2010: New Mellotron plus modular madness in pictures

By Chris Wickett
published 14 January 2010

New Mellotron
The new digital Mellotron on top of an analogue Mellotron Mk VI, exhibited at the Big City Music stand at NAMM 2010

New Mellotron

Page 1 of 18
Page 1 of 18
Analogue Mellotron
The Mellotron Mk VI is fully analogue and is, of course, powered by...

Analogue Mellotron

Page 2 of 18
Page 2 of 18
Under the hood
...tape loops! How cool does that look?!

Under the hood

Page 3 of 18
Page 3 of 18
New digital Mellotron
This one's new for the NAMM show

New digital Mellotron

Page 4 of 18
Page 4 of 18
Digital Mellotron keyboard
The keys are finished just like those of a piano, with wood grain visible on the black notes

Digital Mellotron keyboard

Page 5 of 18
Page 5 of 18
Live tweaking
Using the mix control to blend sounds

Live tweaking

Page 6 of 18
Page 6 of 18
The back panel
Connectivity ahoy!

The back panel

Page 7 of 18
Page 7 of 18
Analogue Systems 8500
Elsewhere on the Big CIty Music stand, we find this modular monstrosity

Analogue Systems 8500

Page 8 of 18
Page 8 of 18
Frequency Shifter
An unbelievably cool-looking massive knob

Frequency Shifter

Page 9 of 18
Page 9 of 18
Polyphonic generator unit
Hang on a second, 'Analogue' Systems... is that a MIDI unit?!

Polyphonic generator unit

Page 10 of 18
Page 10 of 18
French Connection
Pretty much the only Ondes Martenot-a-like CV controller on the market

French Connection

Page 11 of 18
Page 11 of 18
Sliding Ring
The Ondes Martenot is famous for its sliding ring controller, which (on the French Connection) outputs a CV

Sliding Ring

Page 12 of 18
Page 12 of 18
Control Panel
The French Connection costs around £1000, although a cut-down unit called the Demon will set you back £550

Control Panel

Page 13 of 18
Page 13 of 18
More modular madness
Not only is it cool but it slips right inside a laptop bag too...

More modular madness

Page 14 of 18
Page 14 of 18
Cwejam units
Started in the '70s, Cwejman is still going strong

Cwejam units

Page 15 of 18
Page 15 of 18
Wiard units
Borg Filter? We hope Wiard aren't suggesting that modular synthesists are mostly nerdy-looking Star Trek geeks... ahem.

Wiard units

Page 16 of 18
Page 16 of 18
Metasonix units
Available in yellow, apparently

Metasonix units

Page 17 of 18
Page 17 of 18
Crazy effects
Big City has some nice boutique-y modules on show, too

Crazy effects

Page 18 of 18
Page 18 of 18
Chris Wickett
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