Mellotron MK II sample playback (tape replay)

The Mellotron MK II was the second version of the Mellotron, an iconic analog sampling instrument immortalized in The Beatles hit ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. As with the first model, pressing a key on the MKII keyboard triggered playback of a sound sample on a reel of magnetic tape, which might be strings, brass or flute, among others; however, the Mark II was more portable and used extensively in live contexts, allowing bands to employ a single person to produce a multitude of different sounds. The Mellotron’s popularity decreased significantly throughout the 1980s, with the rise of digital samplers that were smaller and more reliable, but it continues to hold favour with artists interested in recreating the specific sound aesthetic of the 1960s and 70s.