In the 041019 MMDigest Tom Hutchinson asked about the best system
for playing MIDI files on an acoustic piano.  Most of the responses
discussed actuating a reproducing piano from MIDI files.

I am looking for a system to play the MIDI files which have velocity
information (not reproducing piano coding) for expression.  I have not
heard of any software that can convert velocity information into Duo-Art
or Ampico coding, so I assume all the files I could download from the
Internet, except for those that came from reproducing rolls, can only
be played without expression on systems like E-Roll [controlling a
pneumatic reproducing piano].

On the other hand, the Disklavier, Pianomation, and similar solenoid
systems do use the velocity information to produce the expression in
the performances.  So downloaded free MIDI files which include varying
velocity information will play with expression on these systems.

I wonder if anyone has any experience with QRS's "Playola" system?
It would seem to be the Pianomation system with solenoids installed
in a bar which sits over the keys.  This could obviously be used on
any reproducing piano without disrupting the pneumatic system at all.
I am curious whether it has the same range of dynamics as Pianomation
and I wonder how it actuates the pedals.

Does anyone know of software to convert MIDI velocities into Duo-Art
or Ampico coding?  It is hard to imagine how it could decide, say,
whether to use an Ampico crescendo or changing intensity steps, etc.
The Pianocorder did the opposite: changing Welte, D-A, and Ampico
intensity coding into velocity (or duty-cycle) information, but this
direction of conversion is much easier and, to my ears, Pianocorder
sometimes did a fairly sloppy job of it.

David Sharpe
Western Massachusetts

 [ Jody and I experimented with his prototype QRS Playola keytop
 [ player.  We played Ampico and Duo-Art performances that were
 [ converted to MIDI files using the emulators developed by Richard
 [ Brandle.  The results were quite satisfactory, we felt, and sounded
 [ very much like the typical reproducing piano playing the same songs.
 [ We didn't make any quantitative tests.  Articles about Richard
 [ Brandle's "Wind" and "WindPlay" music roll editing programs are
 [ indexed at http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/KWIC/W/wind.html
 [ -- Robbie