The Package
I received my copy of Hollow Sun's NEWTRON BOMB cd-rom only two
days after ordering it, a record speed! It's the S5000/S6000 version
(which is what I use) but I understand it will also come as a
multi-platform version for all the soft-sampler users.
After removing the two padded envelopes it was shipped
in, I found a nice looking slim CD case, with a colour booklet,
and the CD with matching label, showing a picture of the white
Mellotron M400 model (the one I used to own - ahhh the memories...).
The three page booklet holds the copyright notice, describes the
sounds, and ends with a short Mellotron history, in Steve Howell's
unique style.
My initial impression was positive, even before I
had heard any of the sounds.
What's On The Disc?
On my mpc4000 the CD produces the following list of directories:
| Tron Boys Choir |
| Tron Brass |
| Tron Choir |
| Tron Flute |
| Tron Strings |
| Tron Violins |
| Tron Watcher |
All of the Tron folders contain up to five programs
and 35 samples, one sample for each of the three-octave Mellotron
keyboard. Yes, Steve sampled each and every key separately, so
you get the authentic sound of the tape, for every original key.
The samples are all around seven seconds long, and
looped! For those not familiar with the instrument, the Mellotron
simply stopped playing a note after eight seconds when the tape
ran out. So a couple of seconds after laying down a chord, paranoia
sets in, and all you can think about is how to prevent that lovely,
massive sound from being abruptly cut off (listen to old Yes albums
for how Wakeman dealt with it). All of that old pain is now gone,
and I can enjoy the Newtron Bomb sounds while they go on forever,
with perfect loops.
The Sound
How does it sound? In short: perfect!
What I hear is exactly what I remember from the my
old M400 - that is, when it had a good day! The sound is very
detailed and honest, and fully captures the spirit of the old
beast but without the tape flutter problems and without the noisy
'klunk' sound you would get when you release the key. And of course
the sounds now loop, something the original should have done in
the first place.
Since Hollow Sun sampled each of the original Mellotron
keys separately, there's that unique effect again that I loved,
but truly puzzled me when I first played my original Mellotron:
the sounds are not perfectly 'balanced' at the harmonic level.
For example, when playing the Tron Choir sound, some keys sound
a little more mellow than others. The reason, of course, is that
each and every key was recorded separately in the Mellotron studio.
I imagine the producer asking the choir something like “Okay,
now please sing again in A.”, and off they went. So unlike
a synth or organ sound, every key is a totally new recording with
its own unique, organic sound. The result on the original Mellotron
was a very lively sound with subtle sonic variations. Playing
the Newtron Bomb sounds now, I hear that again for the first time.
Variations
The seven sounds come in several variations (programs) in velocity
and attack/release.
Of course there's the authentic Mellotron style where
every note plays equally loud with the (in-)famous organ style
attack and release and no velocity. A second variation plays loudness
with velocity sensitivity but still has the organ style attack
and release.
The next two variations are my absolute favorites.
Considering the sounds and the organ style of attack and release,
the original Mellotron played like a brick! For a smooth choir
or string sound, you absolutely needed a volume pedal (to produce
a slow attack/release) and tons of reverb and delay (to have a
note continue while the next note was faded in).
The NewTron Bomb variations, however, give you a built-in
slow attack and release, one variation with- and one without velocity
sensitivity. Every note you play now has its own dedicated volume
pedal applied, and I can fade in a new note while I hold others.
The result is that you no longer need your own volume pedal, nor
the reverb and delay to get smooth Mellotron sounds, which is
turn results in detailed yet dreamy sounds, using the dry samples!
On top of that, because sounds like strings and choir
now get a nice slow attack and release when playing these variations,
you suddenly hear the original reverb that was used when Mellotron
Inc. recorded the tapes. When playing absolutely dry, you'd swear
there's a reverb unit used somewhere in the audio path. Try 'Tron
Violins 2V' and you'll understand.
Conclusion
10 out of 10, and a steal for the price. Newtron Bomb is a real
joy to play (unlike the original Mellotron!). This is simply better
than the original.
Robert van der Kamp - 15 May 2005 |
