The Sound of the '60s in a Plug-in
UVI Mello takes us back to the birth of progressive rock and the keyboard instrument that shaped it. An array of tape machines formed the sound-generation system of the beast — one tape head per note on the keyboard, each key triggering playback of a uniquely recorded tape. With just an 8-second loop of (delicate and finicky) tape per key and an unwieldy 350-pound, white-laminated chassis, this cumbersome machine was far from roadworthy but nevertheless impressive for its time in that it had a polyphonic, multitimbral "sound engine."
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Classic sounds — from the convenience of your DAW
Launched to instant fame by the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" and used by countless other artists, including the Moody Blues, the Rolling Stones, and prog pioneers Yes, the original instrument delivered the must-have sound of the '60s. Although its popularity faded (mostly due to its size, weight, and dependability issues), it sounds like nothing else. At Sweetwater, we feel fortunate for a modern plug-in such as UVI Mello, which faithfully serves up these classic sounds from the convenience of our DAWs.
Authentic re-creation of a legend
For Mello, UVI deeply multi-sampled dozens of original tapes on three different machines to deliver an authentic re-creation of this legendary instrument. For the full holistic experience, they even recorded the key noise and internal mechanical sounds in stereo, including tape noise and key-off clicks — and of course, you can mix all these to taste.
A few tricks up its sleeve
For more versatility than the original instrument offered, Mello has a few tricks up its sleeve, including an analog-modeled tape delay, reverb, 3-band EQ, a custom unison mode for stereo sound without unintentional chorusing or transposition, a switchable multimode filter, and more. Mello delivers a warm, vibey tone indistinguishable from the original. It's a grand tribute to the quintessential '60s studio instrument.
UVI Mello Plug-in Features:
- Go back to the origins of sampling with this quintessential '60s studio instrument
- Nails the vintage grit of the original machine with modern software convenience
- Use presets as starting points for your own patch design
- Pristine and comprehensive sample library from 3 original machines
- Mixable key and mechanical noise for authentic experience
- Switchable keyboard range (original or extended)
- Stereo modes including custom unison
- Switchable multimode filter with cutoff and resonance
- ADSR envelopes for amplitude and filter with velocity sensitivity
- 3-band EQ with sweepable mid frequency
- Built-in SparkVerb
- Analog-modeled tape delay
