Let's Play GForce M-Tron MKii, A Musical Time Machine | Livestream Flashback

[@neoaureus]

Nights in White Satin !!!!

[@gordrum]

I’d never leave the house if I had your talent 👌

[@PraiseTracks]

Thanks Gordrum, that is very kind of you. It is important to get outside of the bubble at times, it’s not only healthy but allows you to sort of do a reset for your ears and perception of the projects you are workin on. I do have to really work on not getting trapped in the zone when working on a project, time has a way of standing still when it is actually continuing to hurl forward. It is all about finding that healthy balance. Thanks so much for the support. Joyfully!🎹

[@pscott000]

That final performance really knocked my socks off.... LOL

[@PraiseTracks]

Oh yeah Peter, it was a lot of fun. Thanks for watching and for the kind words. Joyfully!🎹

[@Baueresque]

Best walkthrough vid ever. Love your one man band

[@zachhaywood1564]

I already have M-Tron Pro, and wasn't sure if I wanted to spend the kind of money on this that they're asking, but you sold me on it! You might want to get in touch with them about a commission check 😉

[@michaelvanranderaat2728]

nice to see your Using UNIFY it's from Pluginguru everybody should have it

[@PraiseTracks]

Oh yes, I am a BIG fan of what John and Shane are doing with UNIFY!

[@bird3124]

Yes! Unify is brilliant and pluginguru deserves to be more widely known and loved.

[@Transterra55]

String sounds starting at 5:15 "and" at 5:44 were used on "Days of Future Passed" by the Moody Blues. BRAVO on the excellent rendition of "Love!"

[@PraiseTracks]

Thanks so much. I am learning a lot about the history of these very amazing instruments thanks to all of you. The MKII reminds me of the auto-accompaniment organs that I played while working at various music stores in the mall 🤓 I really appreciate the kind support, I am grateful to be able to share my personal discoveries with you. Joyfully! 🎹

[@MaximeLuft]

I recently stumbled across what GForce does and wow, super impressed!

[@PraiseTracks]

Oh yes, they are doing some amazing work. Their realizations of the Oberheim and Arp synths are second to none. The Mellotron instruments overflow with life and expression. Thanks my friend for watching, so good to see you. Joyfully!🎹

[@MaximeLuft]

​@@PraiseTracks I'll have to take a closer look at those synths. Surely all well made! It's their Odyssey emulation which made me think like "Ok, now that's brilliant!"

[@teddym2808]

This is the only one that's still not Apple Silicon native. I really hope they port it soon rather than constantly releasing new synths. Really frustrates me as a customer that owns 80% of their stuff, as this is a good one indeed. I loved the demo time I had with it.

[@larryschaeffer5523]

On the original Mellotron there were no tape loops, The tapes are 8 seconds long that spill into a bin. When you release the key the tapes slap back to their starting position by means of a spring mechanism. I owned a M400 back in the day.

[@bearsdj]

wow so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@PraiseTracks]

I know, right, and this is only scratching the surface as there are so many instrument banks included. I am so glad you enjoyed watching.

[@zedxxx9]

Thanks for the demo Simeon! I really want the whole G-Force Mellotron collection with all the extra Optagan volumes... maybe one of these Black Fridays when I have $300 to spare. In the meantime, I have the IKM SampleTron 2 collection in case I have a Mellotron emergency...

[@dafingaz]

Nice! Just found out about G-Force through Minimonsta a few weeks ago. Great company!

[@zachhaywood1564]

Check out their Oddity 2 as well!

[@dafingaz]

@@zachhaywood1564 Thanks! Will do!

[@josekuhn2819]

The original mellotron had both instruments and Spike Milligan kind of sound effects. It was Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues who hooked up the Beatles with their first Mellotron... In fact Ray Thomas, the flute player of the Moody Blues played bass harmonica on The Beatles Fool on the Hill. Both He and Mike Pinder contributed vocals on I am the Walrus!!

[@PraiseTracks]

Wow Jose, thanks for sharing. There is so much musical history contained in these instruments and their influence is far reaching. The more we know, the more we understand and appreciate what we now have access to. Joyfully🎹

[@josekuhn2819]

@@PraiseTracks kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3yzZKaPerp0o5I This part of the documentary is about when the Moody Blues started to write their own material with the new members and how that along with the mellotron led to Days of Future Past. BTW Marvel did steal the mane of that album which the Drummer Graeme Edge came up with. They never sued when the comic book came our and again when the movie came out because it was free publicity vs negative publicity. It helped that Graeme Edge was a sci fi and comic book geek and it was his call!!! John Lodge was the evangelical of the group. The song Ride My See Saw was a metaphor when the other band members dropped acid, he said no thanks!! Actually there are several song by John that were of the same ilk!!! The cook thing about the band is that you had 5 very different people come together like a band of brothers and create 7 magical albums together. Then it became more like a business and the separated for 4 years... In an interview in 1998 Justin came out and said about his band mates "These are the only guys in this business I don't have a contract with. The Original three founding members saw the hell the Beatles went through on their final tour, because they were the opening act for the Beatles. So when they second version of the band decided not to go after fame or celebrity. Just let the music speak for itself....It's probably why at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Jon Bon Jovi said about meeting the Moody Blues "They are the nicest people I have met in this industry"

[@PraiseTracks]

Jose, so interesting, thanks again for sharing, I will definitely check it out. I appreciate all of the kind support.

[@josekuhn2819]

@@PraiseTracks Lastly, John Lodge, the Evangelical Moodie wrote this song for their December Album which came out 7 months after we invaded Iraq in 2003...It is basically about where is the Spirit of Christmas when you're heading into war. It is sad that this song is relevant again!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6K9fYqea9-bpas

[@pooliansshots6731]

You're so talented. wish I could do half what you do.

[@PraiseTracks]

That is very kind. The longer you stay on this journey, never stop learning and making the most of every opportunity to share and experience music with other musicians. After a while you will look back and discover so many things that you are able to accomplish, that were previously something you felt was unattainable. I am still finding so much that is still yet to be discovered. Thank you so much again for the kind support. Joyfully!🎹

[@lfradkin]

I owned a MkII and there are no “tape loops” in the machine. Each tape played for a max of 8 seconds.

[@PraiseTracks]

Yes, my mistake. With today’s keyboards and samplers we deal with loops so much that you take it for granted at times. Having that 8 second restriction actually causes you to create more realistic performances. Thanks for watching along with the feedback. Joyfully!🎹

[@Alexander-iq5yq]

So they recorded a recording of instruments so we can record them again ourselves? I like it.

[@PraiseTracks]

Well said 🤓 Thanks so much for watching.

[@vicnest]

LOVE💖

[@izakboom8487]

Cool Simeon! :)

[@PraiseTracks]

Thanks Izak 😎

[@petergreen2013]

Where is set-up? How to connect to MIDI keyboard? First comes first

[@lazyguy3555]

Mellotrons don't use tape loops. They use strips of tape. If they used loops, there wouldn't be a 7 - 8 second limit. The MkII was designed for home use, but a few bands used them until the M400 came out. However, they generally used only the right keyboard. The samples in this new GForce product were provided by Streetly Electronics, the British company that developed the Mellotron, so you know they are the highest quality samples you can get in any Mellotronic product. Another myth is the Mellotron is lo-fi. Not so. The instrument itself is hi-fi, even if the tapes aren't. The recordings that Streetly created in the 1990's and into the 21st century like Ian McDonald's Classical Flute, Cor Anglais/Oboe Split and the Russian Choir are hi-fi. Streetly is still producing modern, analog Mellotrons and providing support for the vintage ones still out there.

[@PraiseTracks]

Oh yes, the looping ;^) I actually think that having that limit causes you to play in a more sensible way as sometimes I might hold a note for a vocal, brass, or woodwind instrument, and it's like "when are you ever going to let them take a breath!" ;^) I think that GForce in their partnership with Streetly have done a fantastic job of keeping the Mellotron legacy alive and well. Thanks so much for the insightful feedback and the kind support. Joyfully!

[@lazyguy3555]

@@PraiseTracks I agree that the 8 second limit keeps things realistic for wind instruments. You can hear the trumpet player running out of breath towards the end of a couple of the highest notes. That same 8 second limitation resulted in the development of the spider technique of playing the Mellotron to keep the sound continuous.

[@GertoHeupink]

Totally right there Lazyguy. You can not use loops because you would mis the initial onset of the tone such as piano or guitar. I once was a repair technician in a music store in the seventies and got a real Mellotron in my place to change the tape banks. It's a hell of work to get that right I can tell you. But still.... It is a fantastic machine.

[@RobertWilks-j1m]

i have a mellotron 400 which streetly made for me 10 years ago crimson colour great machine

[@CalvinCarter1989]

can you create your own accompaniments?

[@PraiseTracks]

No, as the content is from tapes sampled from the original Mellotron instrument. These were actual recordings of full performances captured to tape, so when you played a key, it would trigger that piece of tape. It is a fascinating early approach to how we sample instruments today. Thanks so much for watching.