Birotron
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The Birotron was an ill-fated tape replay keyboard conceived by Dave Biro of Yalesville, Connecticut, USA, and funded by Rick Wakeman of the progressive-rock group Yes in the late 1970s.
The Birotron was a keyboard instrument that used 8-track cartridge tapes to play sounds whenever a key was pressed on the keyboard. It is similar in concept to the Chamberlin and Mellotron. The difference was that the Birotron used tape loops, which allowed it to have sounds playing indefinitely, a big change from the 8 seconds limit of the Mellotron.
Dave Biro invented this instrument and showed it to Rick Wakeman, who was so impressed by the idea that he offerred to fund it's manufacture. It was developed by Birotronics, Ltd which was one of Wakeman's Complex 7 businesses. The Packhorse road case company was under this umbrella as well. Birotronics apparently made just 17 Birotrons, 4 of which were owned by Rick Wakeman who noted in an interview in 1999 that 2 were stolen and 2 were damaged beyond repair. Lack of necessary consistent funds sunk the project as a whole.
Like the Mellotron, the Birotron "sampled" instruments and uses 8-track tapes for the various sounds. This was necessary before digital sampling became available. They were mainly used for strings, choirs, brass, and flutes; sounds not easily reproduced on the synthesizers of that era. Only 5 or 6 are accounted for.
It is interesting to note that some dispute exists as to the exact number created. David Biro says only 17 were made, including the original and 4 prototypes, while Rick Wakeman claims 35.
This instrument was used on the Yes albums Tormato and Yesshows and Wakeman's solo album Criminal Record. It also appears on 3 albums by the band Earthstar. The Birotrons' looped sounds are close to the sounds of the Orchestron and keyboard section of the Optigan.
