The eMelodeon and eMelodeon.2 now boast improvements and new features. Samples of actual melodeons have replaced the generic single-voice MIDI accordion sound of the original model. The eMelodeon.2 also has improved sound reproduction and a superior hardwood finish.

To listen to some of the new melodeon samples on the eMelodeon.2, listen to The Liverpool Hornpipe and Shepherd's Hey on the media page.

Every streb eMelodeon feels and plays like a conventional melodeon, available with a combination of 2 or 2.5 treble rows and 8 or 12 bass buttons (2 row / 8 bass pictured on the homepage, 2.5 row / 12 bass pictured right).

The instrument comes as standard with low notes systems 1 to 8 (that includes the usual accidentals and extended octave) although you can specify your own note layouts if you order an instrument. The basses supplied are standard although again you can also specify up to eight bass layouts of your own.

There are 8 user-definable voice patches, each allowing the configuration of:

Treble and bass voices: these can be set independently from each other and can be chosen from over 100 instrument sounds, including a variety of sampled melodeons as well as most of the standard MIDI soundset.

Treble and bass octaves: each voice may be shifted up to 2 octaves up or down from normal pitch.

Instrument tuning: 7 diatonic (English) tunings are available: F/Bb, G/C, A/D, Bb/Eb, C/F, D/G and E/A.
4 chromatic (Irish) tunings are available: B/C, C/C#, C#/D, D/D#.
Up to 8 different note layouts can be specified.
Bass stop to remove thirds from chords.

Bellows pressure response: the voice level may be set as either variable volume dependent on bellows pressure or fixed volume.

Chorus and reverb effects level

All patches and tunings are easily selectable during normal playing, and the instrument fine-tuning allows accurate tuning +/- one semitone around standard pitch.

The streb eMelodeon can be played via the built-in stereo amplifier and loudspeakers. Alternatively, it can be played through the stereo headphones output for silent practice, or the stereo line-out which enables use with PA systems or recording equipment. There is also a MIDI out.

The instrument is battery operated with a long battery life, rendering it completely self-contained. Including batteries, the eMelodeon weighs around 4kg.

The electronic elements of the streb eMelodeon are what make the instrument unique. To get a better look at these components, click each of the thumbnails below to see in more detail the display screen and controls (left), the battery-hatch (centre) and the row of outputs (right).

Patent applied for

The streb eMelodeon is currently available in the following models:

eMelodeon: melodeon samples and standard soundset, ply casework.

eMelodeon.2: melodeon samples and standard soundset, louder reproduction, hardwood finish casework (below).

Please contact Steve Rouse for further information and prices.