Hi gang:  MMDer Richard Brandle has come up with a great music roll
editing program, named "Wind", that is for Windows.  It is still in
development, but it shows great promise.

It is much easier for me to understand the music when I can see the
perforations on the screen.  I have mine configured for the Tonnesen's
perforator, but I am pretty sure that it could be configured for others
as well.  You can punch, delete, cut and paste, then the image can be
converted to MIDI.  It will show the "roll" playing in the tracker bar.
Neat!!

I would hate to think about what our rolls would look like if I had them
perforated without looking at them through the editor.  They would have
played, but wouldn't have looked very nice, and some notes would have
been one perforation off or too short.  But now that is being corrected.

I have three files to go then Tempola will be back on track.  I have
learned much by the experience and I still am not a expert by far, but
I am learning and having fun as I go.  I originally had the idea of just
playing the piano and sending the files down to be cut -- Boy, was I
wrong!!

Some of you have asked me how I create these rolls; here are the steps:

1.  Use Cakewalk editing/sequencing program, slowly record the file on
the piano, bass track, tenor track, and treble track (sort of like a duo
with yourself).

2.  Fit to time, Paste all three tracks to one.  Quantize, Eliminate wrong
notes.  (Too much quantize will ruin the piece)

3.  Insert trills and rolls (if any).  I hold the notes down for the
duration of the trill (you will never be able to hand play a trill the
same way twice).

4.  Import the file into the "Wind" editor.  Make sure the perforations
are even, and the sustained notes are made longer.  I don't rely on an
auto sustain device.  Then a proof copy is perforated, and if needed it
is edited by hand, then reread.  Then hopefully it's ready to
cut.....????  Lots of work for a three-minute roll!

The "Wind" editor will save the files in .ROL format or .PERF files.  It
will also read Wayne Stahnke's "View" files and any MIDI format, type 0 or
type 1.

My point being if a Dummy like me can run it, It has got to be a good
program!  Richard Brandle and I have talked about new features, etc.,
and the program is being refined, bugs worked out, etc.

If you are interested, contact Richard directly at <rbrandl@us.ibm.com>.

Andy Taylor