Mellotron
 

Do keyboards usually come with a Mellotron setting? I really want to start fucking around with one of these. Does anyone possibly know of any keyboards with a Mellotron setting?

A Mellotron is basically just a sampler that used a selection of recorded material. A good bit of keyboards don't actually use synthesis for sound production, but instead rely on samples of actual recorded material. So assuming that you can find audio samples recorded from a Mellotron, you could possibly load them into a sound bank of any sample-based keyboard and effectively emulate the concept, although it wouldn't be as cool as actually having a Mellotron.

you're basically asking for a device that digitally re-creates a device that was originally created to re-create instrument sounds with tapes (analog). it's one notch too far in traditional synthesis.

it's not like there's a specific 'mellotron' sound, it was just the name of the device that used tapes to determine the type of sounds manipulated by its keyboard. like FD said, the closest modern device is a sampler.

The mellotron does have a sort of distinct sound though. I mean, samples created these days are overproduced compared to the classic mellotron sound.

Do you guys know of any good keyboards/samplers that are somewhat affordable? I mean, I really don't want anything special. Just something that will play samples.

I own a Casio WK-200. Its originally 400$ but was on sale for 200$ so I bought it. Now its no state of the art keyboard but it has room to load your own samples (quite a few in fact) and lets you multi track record on the actual keyboard. It allows you to hook up a mic (which i dont do because I like using computer for that) and just about anything else that makes sound.

The only real downside is the keys are semi weighted. There still touch sensitive but are not fully weighted like a true piano. So if your a real dedicated pianist dont get it.

http://www.bonnersmusic.co.uk/file_store/32066.jpg

edit: Another advantage is it has very nice sounding speakers, so you dont have to use up precious cables or receiver slots to hear it :)

Skysword... you could really do well with a software sampler and a MIDI keyboard. Probably the cheapest solution you'll find. But it depends on whether you're actually trying to be mobile with it and intend on playing gigs or what have you.

If you're just wanting to record, or mess around, you're better off with a software sampler and a MIDI keyboard to trigger the samples.