I am seeking advice from you folks involved in MIDI installations.
We have a 1914 upright Mason & Hamlin straight piano.  We also have
two very old PianoDisc kits from 1992 that have never been opened.
I remember that these kits had MIDI inputs on the back of the control
box, and I am wondering if I could put one of these kits in this piano
just to play MIDI files from my computer, i.e., roll scans or any of
the other MIDI roll transfers and files available on the Internet.

My question is, is this old PianoDisc system (I believe it is the first
version, PDS-100?) okay to use just for feeding MIDI through it?  I am
thinking it would work just fine for what I am trying to do, which is
get rid of these old PianoDisc Systems and also make this Mason &
Hamlin play e-rolls.

The one thing I recall is this early system had problems being able to
be calibrated evenly for low volume playing; maybe there's a way around
this.  The other thing I recall was the sustain solenoid being very
spastic.  It's been a long time since I installed one of these old
systems, so the details are blurry.

I just figured I have nothing to lose.  This is just an awesome piano,
but unless it can play itself, it does me no good here and would just
be sold.  I'd appreciate corresponding with others more experienced in
MIDI and the old PianoDisc units for assistance.

Also, besides Spencer Chase's web site, do others post roll scans for
playing on MIDI pianos?  I know lists have been made of piano roll sites,
but is there a listing of either pay or free e-roll sites as well?

Thanks,

John D. Rutoskey

 [ Mike Carey wrote in 971024 MMDigest about PianoDisc systems that
 [ can play standard MIDI files:
 [
 [> If you have a PDS-32 or a PDS-1000, then you will NOT be able
 [> to upgrade the system software.  Sorry!  (And I did ask them
 [> about this!)
 [
 [ -- Robbie