Arturia Mellotron V, User Manual

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3.1.2. The Mellotron V main features
With the Mellotron V, you will be able to use replicas of many original tapes, coming from
the Mark I, Mark II, the M300 and the M400 collections.
Although we have limited the sound duration of each key to eight seconds, as was in the
original instrument, you have the option to define a loop so that you can sustain the sound
longer than that.
The Mellotron V has a special "sample editing window" where you can define sample start
point, sample end point, and loop points, as well as some other special sample parameters.
Those that already experienced the sample management and editing window in the CMI V
or the Synclavier V will feel immediately comfortable and at home in this window.
Another characteristic of the original Mellotron was that the instrument didn't transpose. The
sound of each note was produced by replaying its own tape. This means that, if we had a
vibrato in a sound, that vibrato would play with more or less the same velocity throughout
the entire keyboard (depending on how it was recorded, since each note was a different
recording). Also, if there were rhythms or special effects recorded, each recording would
always sound at the original pitch.
Digital samplers usually repitch the audio by reading the original samples at different
speeds (resampling). This causes a speed-up or speed-down of the internal rhythm and
transposition of the partials of the sounds, which sometimes may sound very unpleasant.
Since user samples can also be used with the Mellotron V, you will be glad to hear that
the instrument may reproduce them as if each note was played by its own tape. Internal
rhythms, like vibrato, or even rhythmic phrases are preserved throughout the keyboard. All
notes will play in sync. This is due to a special "stretch" mode, which is On by default.
Also, contrary to the original Mello, you can use more than one sound in each track. The limit
is 2 original tapes (factory samples). But if you use your own samples, you can go up to 8
user samples per track. This means that you can, for example, assemble a small drum kit,
or even some small drum tracks, with "phrases" like intro, verse, fill, ending, etc.
With the high quality "stretch mode" engaged you can play the samples transposed but
preserving their inner rhythmic pulse, which means this will be perfect for rhythmic
samples. And of course, all samples played through the Mellotron V will take advantage of
the emulated tape mechanism to achieve that vintage sound.
Arturia - User Manual Mellotron V - MELLOTRON V OVERVIEW 14