I own and use some expensive crap just to make some truly terrible garbage sounds at times.
With that out of the way, I hope it doesn’t come across as judgey when I say this sounds a lot like what I could achieve with a thrift store casio through some cheap pedals.
I still see the appeal and versatility of something like this though.
Perhaps this is a better example? Also sounds nice to me 
Sounds nice for sure. The interface looks quick and to the point, which is where I like to put my money personally.
I’d consider myself more of a “player/jammer” like you, rather than sequencer. Simple and focused tools alway win.
Very good point!
might be an obvious thing to have checked but… the Mini and Micro 1/4" outputs are not balanced, so if someone is expecting it is and using a TRS cable it would be ‘quiet’…
The normal M4000D is balanced XLR outs.
I still plan on getting one, but still not sure between the Micro and Mini. I feel like as soon as I buy a Micro, they’ll release a sound card with Rhodes samples on it (which I really would love). I’m also kind of waiting to see what the Nord Electro 7D will look like.
Has the NE7 been announced?
Yeah, I hear you that a Rhodes sound would be cool, but each one of those sound cards is a fortune here in Japan. For a Rhodes, I’d likely reach for my Yamaha Reface CP (which is almost half the price of the sound cards if you don’t have one, lol).
Also, just thinking outside the box, but the Celesta 74 sound is very electric piano like, maybe you could fake a Rhodes by layering that with one of the pianos.
8:44 in this video for the Celesta 74
Or, maybe you could mix it with the vibrophone at 8:58. That also has kind of electric piano vibes.
No it hasn’t, but the 6D has been out for about 6 years at least, so there has to be a 7D coming soon.
These mixed sounds are so great.
I’ve been playing around with the Arturia Mellotron while I decide if I want to pick up the Micro. The Sound on Sound article about it reminded me that you can add your own samples to kind of roll your own Mellotron type sounds and I have to say that’s been pretty fun. Even if I do get the Micro, I could see myself continuing to use this plugin for that feature. Very fun way to breath some life into one shot samples.
I did not mention it before because hardware alternatives were not an option, but here is the Hansy Synth Mister -M-.
It supports sample import and mixing, amongst others.
I would pay for a simple but large comprehensive sample pack of great mellotron samples. I would rather have them in my Deluge for example than in this official mellotron keyboard taking up space. I own the Mtron pro so I guess I could auto sample that but what a bore.
I wish they made a little desktop module version
The output level is indeed quite low.
I’ve plugged it into a kind of mini-mixer next to a Little Phatty and the later sounds significantly louder at similar volume settings.
Does anyone have expansion cards in the Los Angeles area? I have very old firmware on my m4000d mini (v 2.9, they are on 4.5) and I am missing some key features like the ramp speed when switching between hi/lo. I believe this is done with expansion cards. I have reached out to mellotron but not getting the vibe that the guy is going to be helpful. I don’t want to buy a $500 expansion card just to update the firmware. If anyone here in LA has cards I’d be happy to pay some amount to bring my unit to you and update from one of your expansion cards. Thanks so much!
I wonder if there is anything like an pcmcia/sd adapter that we could use for updating, or if it would just take a very cheap pcmcia card or if it has to be a card from the Dev?
anyway if you find a solution please let us know…
Sneaky way is to buy a new one(Mellotron)and use that to update your firmware off the installed firmware. Then send it back in the return window .Sneaky but doable.
I’m not sure how I’d update one unit from another. I was told you can only update from the flash cards, and that not all flash cards would even have the firmware. I’d bite the bullet and purchase an expansion card, or they offered to sell an update card for $50, but I got the rudest, most unhinged and unprovoked emails from the owner so I’m not sure I can stomach sending them another dollar.
BEWARE AT THE 10:17 MARK there is some harsh clipping, turn down!
The latest flash cards(from a new unit) would have the latest firmware if they are new products not old stock. Otherwise the new buyer would have the same issue as you. And that makes no sense.