From: Randy Goodhew Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 10:17:09 -0500 Subject: Re; Melodica - Truly Superior
Hi Mike:
Back in the 1980's, a company called Star Instruments in Connecticut made a melodica/synthesizer looking device called a Starwind. It had white and black button keys (one octave) laid out like a piano keyboard tuning. Breath controlled amplitude and a five octave transpostion system gave it a reasonable range.
Also, there was an electronic melodica, the Variophon that was manufactured by a German company called Realton.
The current issue of The Harmonica Educator has a neat article and pictures on a three-row button melodica-like device called an accordina, made in France.
I "electrify" my melodicas by using accordion mics, from MicroVox, then running the signal through an effects box. At one time, Hohner made Melodica Microphones, but discontinued them.
Mike Will wrote on Sat, 17 Jan 1998:
> Anyone ever tried a synth with a breath controller? - -- All the best... =[oooooooooo] Randy Goodhew
