In the March/April 2019 AMICA Bulletin there is a complete guide
to MIDI.  The articles are informative and explain how to convert
pneumatic systems to MIDI.  I am new to MIDI and found them very
informative and interesting.  The articles list several ways to
accomplish this.

I recently purchased a MIDI controlled steel drum that is made by
Ragtime Automated Music.  This system uses a valve system that I have
never seen.  I have been working on player pianos as a hobby since
1973.

The system that is used in the steel drum is a small valve that when
activated allows air to cause a pneumatic to collapse.  It is a neat
little valve that will allow for the converting player pianos to MIDI
without adding anything but a "Y" connector in the tracker bar tubing.
It will allow the system to be either played as a MIDI or with a roll
without taking up much space and will allow the instrument to be
converted back without any damage.

I am going to try it in some of the other instruments I have.  The
valves are a little pricey ($28) when you buy one but cheaper in their
kits.  I am curious if anyone has used these in anything other than
the products manufactured by Ragtime Automated Music and what success
or problems they had.  The valve can be seen on the Ragtime Automated
Music website at http://www.ragtimewest.com/

Tom Noble
St. Louis, Missouri
tel.: 1-314-471-3390
tbnoble@aol.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ MMD articles about Ragtime Automated Music are indexed at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/R/ragtime.html  -- Robbie