I would like to thank Michael Ryan for his article about WindPlay,
which I asked Richard Brandle to design specifically for inclusion with
the PowerRoll electrical music roll for pneumatic instruments, and
which he so kindly agreed to do for us.  We decided that the program is
so spectacular, as it incorporates nearly all of Laurent Coray's and my
suggestions as well as Richard's brilliant ideas, that it should be
available to the general public to operate other MIDI-controlled
devices.

My main desire was for a program with an intuitive interface which
would not distract from enjoyment of the music.  This it does
admirably, and Richard, who is a highly talented freelance
troubleshooter and programmer for IBM, will surely be adding other
ideas we have discussed as time permits.  It is doubtful that any more
convenient means of playing, sorting and maintaining a collection of
music rolls, exists.

To appreciate WindPlay's powers fully it must be seen connected to a
PowerRoll.  Thus it serves as a versatile reference library, containing
a seemingly unlimited number of selections.  For example, the entire
Stahnke Ampico CD, including all 460 Ampico rolls, are neatly listed in
a scrollable grid-formatted database.  These can be sorted in ascending
or descending order by any parameter, such as Composer, Pianist,
Selection, Ampico "A" or "B", or Roll Number, by clicking on that
description at the head of the column.  Don't forget that Welte-Mignon
and Duo-Art CD-ROMs are also available from Wayne Stahnke.  All of the
three Stahnke CDs are only $59.50 each for PowerRoll owners, $89.95 to
others.

It is important to point out that, at this date, optimal dynamic
expression with any type of reproducing music roll can only be reliably
heard through WindPlay from an ideally restored PNEUMATIC instrument of
that type; WindPlay simulates this expression for solenoid pianos such
as the Disklavier and even for synthesizers, but the accuracy of such
performances is unproven.  There are still many complex problems
involved in translating reproducing piano coding of any type for use
with a dissimilar instrument, although there are few who know more
about this subject than Richard Brandle.

The bottom line is that, to hear Ampico rolls at their best, with
certain rare exceptions, one must still hear them on the Ampico;
Duo-Art rolls on the Duo-Art; and Welte-Mignon rolls on the
Welte-Mignon!  This may change someday, but we are not there yet.

I simply click "Play All" to hear my Ampico, Duo-Art or Welte-Mignon
pianos play all day long with the PowerRoll, either at random selection
or sequentially, based on the current sorting order.  There are many
more WindPlay features, which will be discussed as time permits.  Or
simply buy a PowerRoll, which includes the full version of WindPlay; or
purchase the program for $49.95 from us.  However, without a PowerRoll
attached to a pneumatic player or reproducing piano, a solenoid piano,
or the equivalent, you will have to be contented to hear the selections
as electronic tones from a speaker, instead of rich piano notes from a
soundboard.

I can provide a free working, but non-playing, demonstration version of
WindPlay by e-mail, upon request.

Larry Broadmoore, Broadmoore Research Corporation
1709 First Street, Unit "C", San Fernando, CA 91340
tel: (800) 497-4266, (818) 365-6231 ; fax: (818) 361-0911
website:  http://www.erolls.com   for PowerRoll information