MainStage Vintage Mellotron controls

Vintage Mellotron is divided into two sections. The upper section is used to choose one or two sounds, set the playback octave for each, and to adjust the mix between them. The lower section houses global controls for the entire instrument.

Vintage Mellotron parameters

Sound A/B pop-up menus: Choose an A or B instrument sound.
Sound A/B Transpose buttons: Set an independent playback octave for instrument sound A or B.
This mimics the behavior of the half speed or double speed tape switches found on some Mellotron models, but enhances these facilities by enabling independent octave control for each sound.
Blend A/B knob: Set the level balance between instrument sound A and B. Set to the full left or right position to hear sound A or B in isolation.
Tape Speed knob: Set the tape speed for all notes. This mimics the tonal fluctuations caused by this control on the original instrument.
Tone knob: Rotate to the right to reduce bass and to make the sound brighter and more nasal. Rotate to the left to reduce brightness, making the sound warmer and more mellow.
Volume knob: Set the overall output level of Vintage Mellotron.

Vintage Mellotron extended parameters

The extended parameters provide three additional controls that were not available on the original instruments. These provide flexibility, but their use isn’t true to the source hardware.

Click the disclosure triangle at the lower left to view the extended parameters.

Attack knob: Set the time required for the signal to reach the initial signal level, known as the sustain level.
Release knob: Set the time it takes for the signal to fall from the sustain level to a level of zero, after releasing a key.
Pitch Bend Range slider: Set the pitch bend range in semitone steps. This allows you to use the pitch bend controller of your keyboard to bend Vintage Mellotron pitch.

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MainStage User Guide

MainStage Vintage Mellotron controls

Vintage Mellotron parameters

Vintage Mellotron extended parameters