A Sampling Powerhouse
Melodeon, also spelled Melodium, also called Reed Organ, or American Organ, keyboard instrument sounded by the vibration of free reeds by wind. It is an American development of the harmonium, from which it differs in two principal respects.
- Into it and play it like a piano. Comes with both short blowpipe for hand-held playing and longer hose for tabletop play.
- The AIR AIEP3 Complete Instrument Pack combines multiple synthesis technologies, premium instrument samples, high-definition drums, vintage electric pianos, and a comprehensive groove-creation platform to provides today's musician, composer, and producer with the latest innovations of German-engineered software.
Structure is a multi-timbral instrument with a built-in sample library and editor that enables you to combine, layer, and edit your samples. At its core, Structure has a powerful 128-level multi-timbral universal sound engine that can support up to 8-channel interleaved samples. With Structure, you can create complex, rich patches by blending together multiple samples and effects. Each patch can have an unlimited number of parts, and each part can consist of a single sample, multiple samples, a sub-patch, a MIDI processor, and audio and MIDI effects. All of these elements can be rearranged and tweaked for extensive sound experimentation. Alter your voice.
A World Of Sounds
Structure comes with a massive 37+GB premium sample sound library from AIR Music Technology. This comprehensive collection equips you with almost every instrument imaginable, and includes AIR Music Technology's exclusive orchestral elements (strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion), acoustic and electronic drums (including Nashville Signature drum kits captured from sessions at the famed Blackbird Studios), hand and pitched percussion, pianos and keyboards (including a new high-definition grand piano), choral sounds, guitars, basses, synth pads, synth leads, surround sounds, and atmospheres.
In addition to its built-in library, Structure can also play third party sound banks, allowing you to load and manipulate unencrypted Avid SampleCell, Native Instruments Kontakt, and Apple Logic EXS24 sound libraries. Structure supports samples with any standard bit depth, sample rate, and surround format — up to 24-bit, 192 kHz, 7.1 surround audio. Plus, its built-in REX file player can handle any tempo you may wish to work into your projects.
Sample Editor & Effects
Structure comes equipped with an integrated Sample Editor, enabling you to tweak and fine-tune a sound without leaving your DAW. It also provides per-zone editing, allowing you to alter different characteristics of a sound using standard waveform tools, or manipulate various parameters such as the pitch, envelope, filter, amplifier envelope, output, and effects routing. The Sample Editor is resizable and can be stretched across your computer screen for precise editing.
Structure also features an integrated multi-effects processing engine that offers over 20 types of world-class effects algorithms in stereo and surround. Choose from a variety of reverbs (including stereo and surround convolution reverbs), delays, compressors, EQs, and more. You can meticulously dial-in a custom effect to complement your sound, or select any of the hundreds of presets for a quick enhancement with zero effort. An unlimited number of effects can be inserted within each patch, and you can route any patch, part, or zone to four global effects sends — each of which features four effects inserts — enabling you to fine-tune each aspect of your creation for unprecedented patch design.
Intuitive Organization
Structure features a built-in database and file browser to help you locate sounds quickly and manage your sound library. Search for sounds by instrument type, manufacturer, style, name, and more, and audition samples right in the browser to find that perfect starting point. You can also register, categorize, and edit any file's metadata to optimize your search results.
Structure was designed to be a powerful, intuitive tool that enables you to create complex sounds with simple controls. As a result, its interface and operational controls are straightforward and organized, allowing you to spend more time creating. The Structure interface features a built-in keyboard that allows you to test notes and play parts at any time, or connect a MIDI controller for full hands-on sound triggering and musical performances. It also features six Smart Knobs that provide easy access to key sonic parameters on a patch-by-patch basis. You can also assign any rotary controller within the Structure interface to a knob on your own hardware MIDI controller for total hands-on, real-time control.
| Keyboard instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Wind; free reed aerophone |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 412.132 (Free-reedaerophone) |
| Developed | 1950s |
| Playing range | |
| Usually 2 or 3 octaves | |
| Related instruments | |
| accordion, harmonica, pump organ, yu |
The melodica is a free-reed instrument similar to the pump organ and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole, allowing air to flow through a reed. The keyboard usually covers two or three octaves. Melodicas are small, light, and portable. They are popular in music education, especially in Asia.
Keyboard Musical Instrument
The modern form of the instrument was invented by Hohner in the 1950s,[1] though similar instruments have been known in Italy since the 19th century.[2]
Use[edit]
The melodica was first used as a serious musical instrument in the 1960s by composers such as Steve Reich, in his piece titled Melodica (1966).[3] Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal developed a technique consisting of singing while playing the melodica, resulting in a wide tonal and harmonic palette.[4] It is associated with Jamaican dub and reggae musician Augustus Pablo who popularized it in the 1970s,[5] and more recently with Jon Batiste, who is often seen playing the instrument on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Types[edit]
Melodicas are classified primarily by the range of the instrument. Melodicas with different ranges have slightly different shapes.
- Soprano and alto melodicas are higher-pitched and thinner sounding than tenors. Some are designed to be played with both hands at once: the left hand plays the black keys, and the right hand plays the white keys. Others are played like the tenor melodica.
- Tenor melodicas are a lower-pitched type of melodica. The left hand holds a handle on the bottom, and the right hand plays the keyboard. Tenor melodicas can be played with two hands by inserting a tube into the mouthpiece hole and placing the melodica on a flat surface.
- Bass melodicas also exist, but are less common than other tenor, alto, and soprano.
- The Accordina, generally made of metal, uses the same mechanism as a traditional melodica. The keyboard is replaced with a button arrangement similar to a chromatic button accordion's keyboard.
Wooden melodicas[edit]
Although the majority of melodicas are made of plastic, some are made primarily of wood. The Sound Electra corporation makes the MyLodica, a wooden melodica designed '..to produce a warmer richer sound than that of its plastic relatives.'[6] The Victoria Accordion company in Castelfidardo, Italy, produces a range of wooden melodicas and accordinas that they market under the name Vibrandoneon.
Alternative names[edit]
The melodica is known by various names, often at the whim of the manufacturer. Melodion (Suzuki), Triola (Seydel), Melodika (Apollo), Melodia (Diana), Pianica (Yamaha), Melodihorn (Samick), Diamonica (Bontempi), Pianetta (Guerrini), face piano, and Clavietta (Borel/Beuscher) are just some of the variants. When a recording technician unfamiliar with the melodica called it a 'hooter,' the band The Hooters took that as their name.[7]
Two hands[edit]
Melodica can be played with two hands employing an air tube. To blow air, a foot pump can also be used.[8][9][10]
Recording of a Clavietta melodica playing traditional Irish music, 'Rakes of Kildare', played by Troy Banarzi |
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History Of Keyboard Instruments
Gallery[edit]
A Suzuki melodion
Hohner alto melodica
Melodica being played vertically, without air tube
Patent drawing for accordina
Accordina being played
See also[edit]
Keyboard Instruments For Kids
References[edit]
- ^Missin P (2004). 'A Brief History of Mouth-Blown Free Reed Instruments: Melodica Family'. Archived from the original on 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^'Vibrandoneon'. Duskyrecords.nl. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^'Steve Reich – Melodica'. Boosey & Hawkes. 1966-05-22. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^Hermeto Pascoal – Rebuliço on YouTube
- ^Kliment and Watchtel (2007). 'Augustus Pablo'. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^'Mylodica'. Melodicas.com. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^Darling, John (2000). What's in a Name? – The Book of Bands. Xlibris. ISBN978-0-595-09629-9.
- ^'Oscar Bettison – Composer: Los Angeles Times'. www.oscarbettison.com.
- ^Blow Keyboard with foot pump, using wine cask / bota bag, cork, tubes and a pump, in a similar way to feet bagpipes.
- ^Blow keyboard bagpipe mod in magazine Make
External links[edit]
- Media related to Melodicas at Wikimedia Commons
