It is encouraging that the organizers of the upcoming AMICA
convention have shown their support for archival preservation of
music rolls via roll scanning.  Both Jack Breen and I will be
conducting workshops within which a roll scanner will be featured.

Jack and I are cooperating, so that our presentations will minimize
duplication.  As he has already reported on MMD, he will be focusing
on his commendable efforts to preserve the content of Violano rolls.
I will be focusing on archival preservation of other types of music
rolls.

I have been assured by the Convention organizers that our workshops
will not be scheduled simultaneously.  They will be consecutive,
making it possible for attendance at both.  I for one certainly want
to attend Jack's workshop.

Roll playing instruments can be repeatedly restored into perpetuity.
However, the rolls upon which they are dependent cannot be restored.
They continue to age, and with age comes fragility.

We have been entrusted with the care and protection of a unique slice
of musical heritage.  It is therefore important that the content of
century old music rolls be captured for the enjoyment of generations
to come, while still possible to do so.

There is universal agreement that paper rolls will endure for a very
long time.  High quality recuts are now possible such that new rolls
produced today will likely last another century.  But the critical
ingredient is that the simple economics of recutting rolls means that
the vast majority of the tens of thousands of titles produced a century
ago will not ever be recut.

There is also concern that digital storage of the content of music
rolls will not last.  Current technology does suggest that this concern
is valid.  But what is absolutely certain is that recognition of this
is provoking technology and processes to repeatedly re-capture old
digital data into newer, more long lasting media, into perpetuity.

Thanks to the pioneering leadership of Richard Stibbons, Kevin Keymer
and Warren Trachtman, to name a few, the process of scanning music
rolls is now well established.  It is now possible to routinely scan
a roll and faithfully replicate the original punch matrix.  An exact
punch for punch copy of an original production roll is now routinely
possible.

Till now, what has not been possible is to capture information printed
on the roll.  Such things as lyrics, stop changes and historical data
has not been possible to be captured simultaneous with the scan.  That
has now changed.  A roll scanning process to capture both printed data
and high quality perforation data simultaneous with a roll scan is now
reality.

Richard Stibbons developed the original MK3 system.  Then Kevin Keymer
picked up a Stibbons acceleration concept and brought it to life as
the MK3a system.  Then Larry Doe, working alongside Anthony Robinson,
further developed the system and the result is the new MK4 system.

Larry has coupled this with a precision roll scanner routinely capable
of high quality scan files.  For a quick peek at an image of a fragment
of a Duo-Art piano roll, complete with flawless perforation data and
lyrics, recently scanned by Larry, have a look at:

  http://members.shaw.ca/terry122/713133d.jpg

For my workshop, I will have a MK4 scanner available for viewing and
demonstration.  For those wishing to learn more about this remarkable
roll scanner, visit:  http://doesigns.spaces.msn.com

The ability to capture printed data is of critical importance when
considering non-automatic pipe organ music rolls which are littered
with instructions for operating various console controls.  Prior to the
MK4, scanning such music rolls would have been an exercise in futility.

It is also encouraging that arrangements are currently underway to use
a modified MK4 scanner for the purpose of remastering original Ampico
piano roll masters currently under the care and protection of Keystone
Piano Roll Co., while still possible to do so.

The focus of my workshop will be on archival preservation of the full
content of century old music rolls.  My scan files emerging from this
process will become freely available under the operating principles of
the IAMMP (International Association of Mechanical Music
Preservationists).  See  http://www.iammp.org/

These scan files will make it possible to recut new rolls, or hear this
music on solenoid pianos, or hear this music on pneumatic pianos
equipped with e-valves.

Other purposes will emerge with time.  One such purpose is the Music
Department of a university that is using my midi file output of piano
rolls to add another dimension to analysis of the piano stylings of the
legendary masters.

We have a duty and an obligation to ensure that the content of century
old music rolls, a unique slice of musical heritage, is properly cared
for and protected for future generations, long after the original rolls
themselves have evaporated.  Participants at this convention are urged
to attend both of our workshops if at all possible.

Regards,
Terry Smythe
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm