Mellotron M4000D Supplement - Internal Settings And External EQ

[@synthblock]

Great tutorial! The EQ section of the video was fantastic.

[@JohnLRice]

Thanks for the kind words, Jonathan, high praise from someone who knows the M4000D so well! For anyone else who reads this and is looking for more Mellotron M4000D content check out Jonathan's KZbin channel since he must have almost 100 M4000D related videos! 👌😎👍

[@nx01craig]

Excellent! Thank you! It's so nice to have someone read the manual so I don't have to. (LOL) Some of the Mellotron purists that don't like the digital Mellotrons because it's the combination of tape head, key pads and rollers and tape position that gives each and every key subtle (And sometimes not so subtle) variations in timbre on a tape replay Mellotron. To some that is the Mellotron sound. With all these different adjustable parameters in the digital Mellotron, you could in theory, give every key slightly different characteristics, making it one step closer to the sound of a tape playing Mellotron. As it is, the digital Mellotrons are still fantastic.

[@JohnLRice]

haha, my pleasure, Craig! I love my digital Mellotrons and while I can recognize and understand the sonic advantages of an actual tape based Mellotron and/or Chamberlin, I think those advantages are more often than not subtle at best (IMHO) and the smaller simultaneous sounds available, care/maintenance required, and space needed, etc isn't worth the time and cost for me. Of course if I was in MUCH better shape financially I'd likely buy a brand new top of the line Mellotron from both Streetly and Mellotron and maybe a used Mellotron and Chamberlin too . . .because I know myself and once I start down a path I get tunnel vision and just want to BUY ALL THE THINGS!!! 🥳🤣

[@nativeVS]

Nice to see there's a tape rewind feature; now the only thing that is really missing is a way to get the iconic tape head smack sound when one is a bit too keen on the M400 keyboard.

[@JohnLRice]

😁👍

[@NicolasMelis]

thanks for the info! great video

[@JohnLRice]

You are welcome! I'm glad you found it useful and thanks for commenting! 🙂

[@stargate1555]

I'm reluctant to dig into the options on my M4000D because I don't know if I'll be able to restore it the original settings. I don't want to be stuck with sounds I don't want or not be able to return to the original settings. I was going to email Marcus to see if there was a Mellotron clinic in my area where I could experiment with someone else's M4000D equipment first. It's 3am and I've been drinking so I'll watch this again tomorrow when I'm sober as the pope and then maybe give it a go.

[@JohnLRice]

Hi Merritt, thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂 I don't think you need to worry about messing things up because there is a "Load Defaults" command in the main menu, see it near the bottom at 0:45 in this video. 😎👍

[@rogercormier5610]

I was wondering how to edit the attack . Thanks!🙂

[@JohnLRice]

You are welcome, thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂

[@PanikBaskit]

Ive got an additional setting of "very high" for the sensitivity in my midi settings. using very high has caused a couple of my black keys to require significant pressure to trigger a sound. while all others are responding as you would expect. note trigger with very little pressure to trigger a change in volume. idk if i should be concerned. it did help show me that even at "high" sensitivity that those keys did need more pressure to respond to pressure.

[@JohnLRice]

Interesting! I just checked my Micro and it has a fourth setting called "Highest". I played around with it a bit and regardless of the setting all the black keys responded similarly to the white keys. Which M4000D do you have, the full sized with wooden keys or the Mini with synth keys? You might want to write to Markus at Mellotron and ask him for advice on adjusting or repairing your keyboard if you think it needs it?

[@PanikBaskit]

@@JohnLRice I have the full sized one with wooden keys. It used magnets on the underside of the keys and a board underneath with gaussian proximity sensors to check how close the keys are, and also a rubber depth sensor that is used for AT. I'd imagine that those settings on the micro are just holdouts from the large version that just aren't implemented? Anyways, I did email him and he walked me through the very apple esqu method to recalibrate my keyboard. Def a technical job that you have to find tune. But it helps out a lot with my issue.

[@JohnLRice]

@@PanikBaskit Glad Markus was able to help you out. 👍 The MIDI sensitivity settings on the Micro do actually make a difference, from a more organ like static response on Low to a more dynamic response on Highest but it's likely just a "curve" applied to the normal MIDI velocity value and I'm guessing isn't as nice to play as it is on the more complex keyboard you have?

[@PanikBaskit]

@@JohnLRice I really enjoy the action of the keyboard, the long wooden keys on metal springs idk just feel really organic and natural. My other fav keyboard has to be the hydrasynth, just for the Poly aftertouch

[@PanikBaskit]

@@JohnLRice Im having so many issues mith my M4000D. i almost regret buying it. the AT respomce is horrible, and the velocity sensitivity is very sporadic. I've been uploading videos of the issues and sending them Markus. perhaps I just got a bad unit, but at this price, I find that unacceptable.

[@JohnGoodman909]

Is the attack time polyphonic? Thanks so much for this video btw, I’m looking to buy a mellotron soon and couldn’t find this info anywhere.

[@JohnLRice]

Hi, if by polyphonic you mean each note/key produces it's own attack then yes! 🙂

[@1kingstan795]

My volume and tone button is not working on my rack mellotron any ideas i have a and b outputs going to my inputs and midi out to midi in on audio interface thats it

[@JohnLRice]

Hi, that's normal, the volume and tone knobs only affect the master output. The Mix knob will affect the A and B outputs though. The A and B outputs are mainly intended for use with an external mixer I think. You should write to Markus at Mellotron and request a manual (send your Rack's serial number) or you can use the online form here: www.digitalmellotron.com/contact

[@1kingstan795]

@@JohnLRice i figured it all out

[@nicolasmalcles-sanuy5875]

Hi, is there any settings for the Aftertouch?

[@JohnLRice]

Hi, on my M4000D Rack there is one setting for input poly aftertouch gain, Off, +6 db, and +9.5 dB. There may be additional settings for the keyboard versions that don't show up on my Rack version?

[@nicholasmarshall6361]

Thanks! Any idea if it is possible to disable the timer (tape length simulator) completely on the Micro?

[@JohnLRice]

The short answer is no. The samples in the Mellotron Micro aren't looped, they are just samples of the original Mellotron and Chamberlin tapes which weren't loops either, so they just play start to finish and then stop. Now, If you get one of the larger M4000D models, have the updated firmware, and one of the later sound cards like 04 or 05 etc. there are certain sounds that are looped and that will play as long as you hold the keys down. Also note that the Micro has fewer option settings in the menu than the larger models, for instance the Micro has Attack and Release time but it doesn't have Start Point or Tape Rewind settings.

[@nicholasmarshall6361]

@@JohnLRice thanks!

[@ProgPena]

How do you change the sensitivity of the notes?

[@JohnLRice]

In this video check out the Key Settings section starting at 1:11 and also the Sound Settings section starting at 13:53 :-) Or, if you did but that's not what you meant, let me know more of what you want to do and I'll try to help.

[@ProgPena]

@@JohnLRice thank you so much, we were so annoyed about the sensitivity I appreciate your help

[@JohnLRice]

@@ProgPena You are welcome, I'm glad I could help! 🙂

[@rickfowler3710]

Anyone know how to save a playlist? I don't know why they dont just give you a manual or post it online.

[@JohnLRice]

If you write to Markus at Mellotron and provide your serial number he'll email you the brief manual PDF. I've never understood why he controls the distribution of his manuals so tightly either. 🤷‍♂ Below is maybe the bit of info you need? "List View Edit: Here the sounds are presented in list form. Turn ‘Select A’ to choose sound A and ‘Select B’ to choose sound B. Press ‘Select B’ to save the Entry. Then the screens will show the two sounds that you have selected. Use ‘Rename Entry’ in the playlist edit menu to change the Entry name. Turn ‘Select A’ to the next Entry if you want to edit that Entry. Program as many Entries as you like, up to 32 per Playlist. Press ‘Select B’ to leave ‘Playlist’ mode. Use ‘Rename Playlist’ in the playlist edit menu to change the Playlist name."

[@rickfowler3710]

@@JohnLRice Thank you for replying to me John. I registered for the manual straight away but I'm still waiting, it seems others have the same problem. Very strange Idea isn't it I've never seen anything like it. If I was him I wouldn't wanna be bothered by people asking for manuals all the time. Thank's that's a great help and thanks for the videos showing the expansion cards too

[@troublesomecorsair]

There are even more system settings but that's a secret ;)

[@JohnLRice]

Say WHAAAAT??? 😲🤯 Please tell me more, I can keep a secret! 😎👍

[@troublesomecorsair]

@@JohnLRice It's nothing, really. Boring admin stuff. Just some calibration settings.

[@JohnLRice]

@@troublesomecorsair Ahh, I see. Still cool! ;-)