Gene Gerety and I are developing a MIDI valve system for use with
vacuum operated players.  We have made great progress but are
proceeding very cautiously.  We want the units to be trouble free
on shipping, and dependable in the long run.

Literally hundreds of designs have been tested and we finally have
a very good design that is being tested with actual production parts,
made by the same processes that will be used to manufacture the retail
units.  Pricing for components is expected any day as the manufacturers
have the prototypes, engineering plans and tolerance information.

This has been an extremely difficult design to develop for a couple
of reasons.  First, we want the performance to be exceptional and the
units to be reliable.  We are being very serious with design factors
such as power dissipation and material choices.

Second is the small quantity of units that will be eventually sold.
If they were to be produced in the thousands, the design would have
been completed about a year ago as specialized tooling could have been
justified.  With the quantities we are likely to produce, it is just
not possible to have every tool or part made.  It has kept us busy for
the last year, at least, eliminating and improving every simple part.

The same is true for assembly.  Every extra step that can not be
automated adds considerable cost and contributes to eventual
unreliability.  We do not want critical glue joints or other avoidable
features to cause problems later.  Again this is difficult without
custom tooling for every process.

Both Gene and myself are highly committed to this project and fully
expect to have a device for retail very soon.  it will be worth waiting
for.

Basic information is available on the "MIDI Valve" page on my web site.
Some details may have changed but mainly for the better.

Spencer Chase
http://www.SpencersErolls.com/