-- An Opinion on Old Piano Rolls --

Sometimes recut rolls sound better than the originals.  What is the
reason for this?  As a recutter of rolls I see the nuts and bolts
of music roll making in great detail, and have some opinions.

First off, there are more errors in original rolls than one might
think.  High-end classical rolls tend to be carefully edited and made,
but that is often not true for the popular rolls.  Slew and skew,
missed punches and variations in step size are common, particularly
in the later Aeolian rolls.

The recutting process includes using programs that [automatically]
correct most of these problems, though I find that some errors
occasionally remain, requiring careful editing.  And there are a few
errors that are actually introduced by the programs, again requiring
editing.

Where errors have been corrected one can appreciate that the music will
sound more pleasing, but in my opinion another reason recuts may sound
better is becoming more important.  In short, the original paper is
getting older and more brittle, and does not seal against the tracker
bar as well as it did when new.  This is compounded by the prudent
decrease in brake pressure on the supply side of the tracker bar.

Reproducing rolls depend on accurate control of the expression systems,
and leakage degrades this.  The Welte system is particularly sensitive
to leakage, being essentially an analog controller.  The Ampico system
is also partially analog, and is degraded by leakage, especially the
faster moving B crescendo.

When I scan rolls there is no music playing, so I can often hear the
old paper making crinkly sounds and watch it buckle slightly as it
passes over the "tracker bar".  The new paper we use today seats
smoothly against the tracker bar and seals as originally intended.

"Old paper making crinkley sounds"...  The original rolls are not going
to hold up forever.  Some seem as good as new, others (think of old
International rolls!) are so fragile that they may self-destruct if
played.  Collectors may wish to have originals, but those who want to
play the music should think about copying them on new paper, or buying
copies that have already been made.

Then there are the Philistines who play converted music on their
Stahnke LX systems, or the older Disklaviers.  (I'm one of them!)

Bob Billings - Sierra Music Rolls
Reno, Nevada
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