Sub-title: From Paper Rolls to Midi

Hello Everybody,  I am sure that I do not hit on an unfamiliar
subject when I mention the frustrating task of "repairing" paper rolls
to playable condition.

I have tried almost every method that I have read about, and everybody
who has done this knows that most repairs usually result in stiffening
of sections of the roll, which prevents it from closely hugging the
tracker bar, with the predictable results.  However, there is no cure
for aged, brittle paper that just crumbles to pieces when you try to
do some repairs.  Playing such a roll could spell instant disaster as
well.

I have eagerly pursued and investigated methods that circumvent the
usage of paper rolls while retaining the integrity of the piano and
its roll playing system.  We all are familiar, to a more or less degree,
with some novel "solutions".  I, as well as you, I suppose, have also
heard some of the problems encountered with those design's approaches.
Some of us may even have bought a "conversion kit", installed it and
probably enjoyed that "new" wondrous machine.  Some may have bought the
whole works in one neat package, made by off-shore manufacturers, along
with a box of floppies.

It is not my intention to either support or disagree with these
approaches, although I have my own opinion on the matter.  I have in
my library many, many, many rolls which get a bit more worn every
time I play them on the piano.  But what can you expect from rolls that
are 70 and 80 years old.

I know that there are people who have designed and put together
devices that "read" the  holes in paper rolls, and store that informa-
tion in whatever format on floppies or CD-ROM.  Larry Broadmoore of the
Broadmoore Research Corporation has designed, in conjunction with Octet
Design Corp., a playback product that does not require modification to
the piano.

This product which he has, called "PowerRoll", takes the place of a
conventional paper roll by physically interfacing with the tracker bar
holes, and opens and closes access to these holes with the aid of small
low-power magnet valves.  In fact it's the closest to a paper roll that
I have run into, and uses _your_ piano and _your_ piano operating
system.  It installs in the same area where you normally place a roll
for playing.  I have so enthusiastically received this new idea that
I placed an order with him.  I suggest you contact Larry should you wish
to find out more about his new product.

However, in all these systems, you have to buy pre-recorded music on
floppy disks, etc., that someone else has selected and transcribed.
And then, I could be wrong but believe, the format for all these
systems differs enough between systems so that you have to use their
particular recorded music on their system.

Now, that is not necessarily all that bad as long as you like their
selections and you don't mind paying for the whole thing, even of
course for the pieces you don't like and would never play.

Now I come to my point.  I would love to buy complete, or buy design
plans, for a product that would allow _me_ to "transcribe" _my_ own
rolls, etc., for the system that I have installed on my piano, organ
etc. -- whatever that system may be.  I like my rolls and I would like
to salvage the music that's on them.  What's so wrong with that, I ask.

For those that have designed such a product, put a price on it that
you think it's worth and make it available.  I believe it would sell
if reasonably priced and also enhance the sale of the product it is
designed for and so get a daisy-chain going that benefits all.

Too simplistic?  I don't believe so.  If I had such a design, and
I don't have it, I would make it available "to the market".  Should
I be so out of touch and not know that such products are already
marketed, I will quickly shut up and hurry to get one.

I would like to hear some comments from users, or potential interested
parties.

Albert de Boer