Nord User Forum

I purchased my first Nord Keyboard about 6 weeks ago and love it more and more as I learn the system. Now I’m about to add some purchased presets and add samples. To make room, I will start removing factory installed samples and pianos I like realistic sounding acoustic instruments strings, woodwinds, brass , or percussion, leads synths or pads.
For the life of me, I can not think why I would use the vintage Chamberlin or Mellotron sounds. Perhaps if I was doing a Beatles cover, but unless someone has a good tweak of the samples to breath life into them, they are all going to be removed to make room for others. Does anyone have a good use for those sounds? I have an open mind, and willing to learn. Please send me where you have used those sounds in your play.

Just to get a retro sound. mellotron flutes and strings will make your song sound like a late 60's 70's song. etc

I think you nailed it: those sounds bring a very specific nostalgia with them for many people. They are also useful in film scoring if you want to sound period-correct. Otherwise, treat them as any other sound / sample and use them if you like, replace if you don’t! For me, they have a few uses in that some music I like to play has elements of vintage horror and dramatic movie score which rely on that sense of time and place. But otherwise I could easily get by with a synth string patch and I’ve considered removing the mellotron samples from my stage 3 too. You can always add them back later!

Ranelsonoh wrote:For the life of me, I can not think why I would use the vintage Chamberlin or Mellotron sounds. Perhaps if I was doing a Beatles cover, but unless someone has a good tweak of the samples to breath life into them, they are all going to be removed to make room for others. Does anyone have a good use for those sounds? I have an open mind, and willing to learn. Please send me where you have used those sounds in your play.

I don't know what they were off-hand, but I have heard somewhat recent hits with mellotron. As for the heritage, while Beatles used it a little, it's much more associated with bands like Moody Blues, Genesis, King Crimson, etc. But if you're doing original stuff and the sounds don't speak to you, there's no reason you should feel compelled to find a use for them. As for a song where I've used them, here's one... skip to the 36 minute mark

as other have mentioned, if you're playing any Genesis, Pink Floyd, some Beatles (Strawberry Fields, anybody?) and most of '60s-'70s pop-prog-rock, you will need mellotron sounds.
If not, I totally agree they're not really "realistic" strings-brasses etc. Modern samples blow them away, still they provide a unique flavour which can suit many tastes and/or musical situations. But if you don't like, no need to keep them cluttering precious memory space. You can always load them back if/when you need, that's the great thing about Nords!

anotherscott wrote: As for a song where I've used them, here's one... skip to the 36 minute mark

Prog quote of the century! I did listen though, nice playing, and nice to put a face to the name.

Slightly off topic- I looked at a new digital Mellotron closely and although I liked it a lot, I thought Nord's samples sounded very good in comparison. So I can't justify a new, digital Mellotron from a cost standpoint and I'm grateful for Nord's samples. I really did like the instrument though and I see new Mellotrons occasionally in live acts. Around where I live, I see it mostly with Alt-country, Americana and Indie bands.

anotherscott wrote:

Ranelsonoh wrote:For the life of me, I can not think why I would use the vintage Chamberlin or Mellotron sounds. Perhaps if I was doing a Beatles cover, but unless someone has a good tweak of the samples to breath life into them, they are all going to be removed to make room for others. Does anyone have a good use for those sounds? I have an open mind, and willing to learn. Please send me where you have used those sounds in your play.

I don't know what they were off-hand, but I have heard somewhat recent hits with mellotron. As for the heritage, while Beatles used it a little, it's much more associated with bands like Moody Blues, Genesis, King Crimson, etc. But if you're doing original stuff and the sounds don't speak to you, there's no reason you should feel compelled to find a use for them. As for a song where I've used them, here's one... skip to the 36 minute mark

What string sample did you use in this first video?

evandrolino wrote:What string sample did you use in this first video?

At what time within the 40 minute video?
As a rule, ensemble strings were from a Yamaha (one of the stock sounds you'd find in the MOX/MOXF/MODX etc.), mellotron was from Kurzweil (sorry ) and solo violin was, well, the real violin player.