History is full of examples of great ideas which for technical or other reasons could not be developed further.
Then, years later someone picks up the idea and turns it into (commercial) reality, could this early machine have inspired the Mellotron?
The Phonogen was made in 1953 fitting in well with the Musique Concrete requirements for new and unusual sounds/instruments.
A monophonic one octave keyboard with each key controlling a pinch roller/capstan at various speeds against a single replay head.
Playing time was short due to the single short tape loop.
This is exactly the idea the Mellotron built on with more and longer prerecorded tapes
Early model:
Pierre Schaeffer playing (with) one:
And an improved model with integral keyboard and clearer tape playback area:
Then, years later someone picks up the idea and turns it into (commercial) reality, could this early machine have inspired the Mellotron?
The Phonogen was made in 1953 fitting in well with the Musique Concrete requirements for new and unusual sounds/instruments.
A monophonic one octave keyboard with each key controlling a pinch roller/capstan at various speeds against a single replay head.
Playing time was short due to the single short tape loop.
This is exactly the idea the Mellotron built on with more and longer prerecorded tapes
Early model:
Pierre Schaeffer playing (with) one:
And an improved model with integral keyboard and clearer tape playback area:
