IK Multimedia SampleTron
SampleTron virtual instrument software from IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality offers some of the most unique, musically useful tones you can imagine. Combines the authentic recreation of "Tron" sounds such as Mellotrons, Chamberlins, and Optigans with the powerful SampleTank engine to take those nostalgic sounds into the new millennium. SampleTron allows you to manipulate, process, and stretch all these gritty, emotional, and quirky lo-fi sounds. The SampleTron virtual instrument was made for many styles including hip-hop, electronic, and classic rock. The sounds in the IK SampleTron package are diverse, powerful, and inspiring. You'll be creating everything from the nostalgic sounds used by The Beatles, Moody Blues, Genesis, Yes and other high-profile bands of the 60's and 70's to the modern production of artists like Kanye West, Smashing Pumpkins, and Beck. You can even create new sonic creations never heard before.

The "Tron" sound
The unique, easily recognizable, and instantly classic sound of the "Tron" instruments started with the Chamberlin keyboards in the 1950's, and peaked with the Mellotron 400, in the 1970's. This precursor to today's samplers uses tapes to play back prerecorded sounds at the touch of the keys. They are large and easily broken, but have such a unique sound, it's difficult not to love the nostalgic tone and instant 'vintage' gratification that comes from hearing one.

Whether you know it or not, you've heard the sound of a Mellotron or one of its siblings. Just about every famous artist or band has used one in a song at one point or another. Possibly the most famous example of the "tron" sound can be heard in the opening bars of "Strawberry Fields Forever". This is the classic "Tron" strings that is still widely used by artists today. Mellotrons have been used in countless songs, and just about all genres, from '60s and '70s rock, to alternative and hip-hop. It's an instrument that works with just about everything.

One of the amazing things about the "Tron" instruments is that, although relatively few have been made, they still bear a large relevance in today's music. In fact, they are in such high demand, that the makers of the original Mellotrons, Streetly Music, began making them again in 2007 (although with some upgrades to 'modernize' them). Unfortunately, for most of us, these hand-made keyboards are out of all but the most die-hard enthusiast's price-range. However, if you want that sound now, IK Multimedia SampleTron gives you a much more affordable way to get it.