Andy Taylor wrote:

> It would be interesting to see how a PianoDisc or a Disklavier and
> Pianomation would respond, compared to a pneumatic system.  Of course
> the player used for the test should be in top shape or the test would
> be meaningless.

Andy e-mailed me a MIDI file he said his Pianomation system would not
play properly -- I assume this is due to the huge multiple chords and
blizzards of repeated notes!  (This is one of those musical
arrangements no human being could play. )

I put this file on the disk player, and it played absolutely perfectly
through the PowerRoll, not missing a single note!  So, we can't blame
the problem on MIDI or the software.  (I tried to call Andy to play it
over the phone, but couldn't find a number for him.)  I would like to
try the roll on the same piano to see if it plays as well as the
PowerRoll with regard to repetition and note capacity.

Gary Rasmussen will be representing the PowerRoll for us at the AMICA
Convention, and I am hoping he will have a chance to try it on many
kinds of instruments including all of the major reproducing systems and
any "O" roll machines, to test its abilities compared with paper rolls
and solenoid players.  It would be interesting to try all three modes
on the same piano, with the same roll data!

Dave Kerr contacted Gary and suggested that we attach the PowerRoll to
his restored early 1950's Aeolian keytop player, which can play on any
keyboard.  This would be another interesting demonstration.

Laurent Coray and I have the capability of measuring response times of
note functions of any type accurately in fractions of a second, using
special motion and pressure sensing apparatus with a storage
oscilloscope, while electrically actuating notes with a computer,
either by means of solenoids or pneumatics.  At some point, when time
permits, we hope to do an in-depth analysis which will settle these
fascinating questions once and for all.

Larry Broadmoore