Published 14/11/08
Mellotron & More
G-Force have come a long way since we reviewed their first product, M-Tron — a software emulation of the classic Mellotron tape-based keyboard instrument — over eight years ago, in the December 2000 issue of SOS. They’ve now got a whole suite of virtual instruments and are a software partner of M-Audio, who distribute their software to retailers across the world.
Their latest product is a ‘Pro’ version of M-Tron, which has 45 new instruments, or tape banks, that were never available on the hardware version of the revered keyboard. There are also new sample sets compiled by “world-class” recording artists and programmers.
When we reviewed the original M-Tron, we praised the manufacturers for staying true to the spirit of the Mellotron; there were few parameters to fiddle with, and the eight-second tape-length limitation of the keyboard was replicated in the software for ultimate realism. The Pro version, however, has a whole bank of parameters for the user to embrace.
There’s an LFO, a filter (with envelope), an on-board delay, and an ensemble section, and the plug-in has what GForce call “dynamic keyboard control”, which features filter aftertouch. Further new features include the facility to layer two M-Tron patches and change the range in which they operate, enabling split-keyboard setups. The tuning of each layer can be shifted up or down by half a semitone, and the virtual tape reels can be set to run at half speed, and even reversed — a feature never available on the real Mellotron.
GForce M-Tron Pro is available now for £149 including VAT. It works as a plug-in with any VST, Audio Units or RTAS-compatible host application, and operates in stand-alone mode on both Mac and PC.
M-Audio UK +44 (0)1923 204010
www.maudio.co.uk
G-Force have come a long way since we reviewed their first product, M-Tron — a software emulation of the classic Mellotron tape-based keyboard instrument — over eight years ago, in the December 2000 issue of SOS. They’ve now got a whole suite of virtual instruments and are a software partner of M-Audio, who distribute their software to retailers across the world.
Their latest product is a ‘Pro’ version of M-Tron, which has 45 new instruments, or tape banks, that were never available on the hardware version of the revered keyboard. There are also new sample sets compiled by “world-class” recording artists and programmers.
When we reviewed the original M-Tron, we praised the manufacturers for staying true to the spirit of the Mellotron; there were few parameters to fiddle with, and the eight-second tape-length limitation of the keyboard was replicated in the software for ultimate realism. The Pro version, however, has a whole bank of parameters for the user to embrace. There’s an LFO, a filter (with envelope), an on-board delay, and an ensemble section, and the plug-in has what GForce call “dynamic keyboard control”, which features filter aftertouch. Further new features include the facility to layer two M-Tron patches and change the range in which they operate, enabling split-keyboard setups. The tuning of each layer can be shifted up or down by half a semitone, and the virtual tape reels can be set to run at half speed, and even reversed — a feature never available on the real Mellotron.
GForce M-Tron Pro is available now for £149 including VAT. It works as a plug-in with any VST, Audio Units or RTAS-compatible host application, and operates in stand-alone mode on both Mac and PC.
M-Audio UK +44 (0)1923 204010
www.maudio.co.uk
