Karl Ellison pointed me to this interesting news item,
appreciated:

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/business/420418,2_3
_AU10_PIANO_S1.article

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Beacon News
Chicago, IL, USA
10 June 2007

TICKLING THE TECHNOLOGY

Electronics play key role in new piano development

By Marissa Amoni

More than 100 years after the player piano was invented, it has
moved into the wide world of computer technology. It is no
longer just the background element in spooky films or smoky
saloons. Instead of musical notes eerily wandering down a
desolate hallway, picture neon glowing piano keys playing along
to Nora Jones in high definition.

Computer-activated solenoids have replaced rolls of paper in the
latest models of player pianos. And most pianos can be
retrofitted to serve without the accompaniment of two hands.
Laptops and iPods can be hooked up to equipped pianos to play
songs that are stored in playlists. No lessons needed.

"I don't think people are aware what there is available in music
technology. It has not passed up music," said Diane Cordogan.
Diane and her brother, John, own Cordogan's Pianoland on Route
38 east of Kirk Road in Geneva.

Cordogan's recently hosted an afternoon featuring manufacturer
demonstrations on the latest in piano technology. Sales managers
from Yamaha, QRS and PianoDisc showcased their brand's newest
piano accessories to almost two-dozen in attendance.

The focus of the dealers' presentations was on the ability to
play compact discs or DVDs and have a piano play the music live.
Slender black boxes attach to the undersides of the player
pianos and act as media centers accepting discs as well as USB
storage drives and memory cards.

"You can listen to beautiful piano music. It is unique and
different," said Terry Dolan of QRS Music Technologies and Story
& Clark Pianos.

Pianomation is QRS' take on the player piano of today. As with
the other systems, it works using analog and digital technology
and can be upgraded to provide numerous additional features.

"The system is so universal you can adapt anything to the front
end," Dolan said.

Add PNOscan and music played from the piano is recorded onto a
compact flash card by way of optical sensors. A library of music
can be stored on the card, he said.

"It's really cutting edge," said John Sagissor of PianoDisc,
referring to their latest player system that enables an iPod to
dock on a piano. Once combined with the "smart" player system
called iQ, music can be played on a piano from MP3 players,
discs and iTunes. It also can be connected to audio recording
software.

"It is the bridge between piano and home entertainment system,"
he said about the imbedded iQ system, which sells for around
$7,000. But that is just a start at merging pianos with modern
tech gadgets. Drop $20K and the company will bring extreme
multimedia to the piano with Opus 7. A hidden system that offers
wireless control, Opus 7 boasts a multitude of possibilities
that can be directed by a touchpad or other web-enabled device.

An architect who attended the event said that homes could be pre-
wired before they are built to easily welcome "smart" pianos.

And once owners are inspired enough to actually learn to play
the piano, the Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV eases the learning
curve with SmartKey technology. Keys wiggle, fingers follow and
soon a piano virtuoso is born.

Young pianists in the making can gain note knowledge with
assistance from Old MacDonald's farm animals. Piano keys "bark"
and "cluck" when hit correctly while the song appears in its
animated form via DVD.

Ironically enough, the first Disklavier MX100 was sold in 1985
to a McDonald's Restaurant in Limon, Colo.

Yamaha also has introduced into its player piano the option of
connecting a video camcorder to jacks in the piano to create
videotaped performances. The same PianoSmart audio and video
synchronization makes it possible to give or receive piano
lessons from a remote location.

Mike Urguhart with Yamaha said people are "mesmerized by what it
can do. You can recreate moments...you can program it to wake
you up with its eleven channels of streaming radio."

Those looking for a player piano can plan on spending $10,000
and up, said Diane Cordogan. She said the market for them is
much more residential, but they are seeing a lot of music
schools too. "We do a lot of homes, but it is all avenues --
it's not limited," she said.

And if the game room budget allows, a martini bar piano that
lights up glasses, coasters and piano keys in a rainbow of
colors costs under $20,000.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Terry Smythe                           204-832-3982 (land line)
55 Rowand Avenue                   204-981-3229 (cell)
Winnipeg, MB, Canada   R3J 2N6           smythe@...
Preserving a unique slice of our Musical Heritage
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm

Hello everyone, my name is Larry.  My interest in e-rolls stems from
several areas.  When I was in elementary school, my folks bought a
Pianola player piano and I took piano lessons.  The lessons didn't
take, but I enjoyed many of the QRS rolls that my folks bought.  Years
later the piano and rolls went to my older brother (12 years older...)
and, years after that he got rid of the piano and rolls (darn).  I
ended up getting a Baldwin Pianovelle PG2500 electronic piano for
playing music (3/5" diskettes, playing MIDI files, Disklavier disks,
and PianoDisc disks), so that my sons (15 and 5) could take lessons,
and so we could enjoy 'pre-recorded' music without the stereo.  I'm
interested in getting/enjoying old piano rolls that have been
converted to MIDI files, and maybe someday actually helping to convert
old rolls to MIDI files (I also just joined the RollScanners group).
I've been into MIDI since it first came out, and have a collection of
MIDI synthesizer and sampler modules, all controlled from multiple
Atari 16 and 32 bit computers.  I am also working on an analog modular
synthesizer and hope to do composition work with all the equipment
that I've collected over the years.  I have started a web site for my
hobbies at http://www.tfcg.biz/larry so please check it out.  I'm
looking forward to what every may come up and I hope to be able to add
value to the group as well as learning a few things.

Larry T.

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

I recently made a new version of the config_file_maker program for use
with my new E-Roll Player system. A new config.txt file was needed for
the new program. I just discovered that there was an error in this
file. The forth line from the last was a comment and contained two
commas in the text. If the file is edited in excel and is saved, excel
puts quote marks on the field and messes up the required formatting.
If the file is to be edited in excel, it is necessary to remove the
commas in the text. I have uploaded a new version to my web server
along with the new program. It is at the following URL. If you have
the new version of the program it is not necessary to download this
while file, just remove the commas. If you would like a new and better
version of the program, this one should work well now.

http://www.spencerserolls.com/Config_MIDI_maker.zip

--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

I would like to know what programs are being used to play E-Roll files
both on pneumatic and solenoid (and other) systems. Are you using my
E-Roll Player program, VanBascos, a Mac program or anything else that
we should know about?


--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Hi Spencer,

I have this hooked onto my HP notebook computer.  The only attachment to the
computer is the USB to MIDI cable the same as was hooked up for the wired
hookup.  Of course, the transmitter is hooked onto the 5 pin MIDI connector at
the end of the original cable and the transmitter is wired to the power supply. 
The setup at the computer end is somewhat messy with wires and such, but that
could easily be cleaned up by getting the shortest cables possible.

Last night I discovered that for some reason when I used the system playing
e-rolls with Cakewalk Pro it stopped transmitting data after about a minute of
playing, I could re-initiate it by pausing and restarting, but it still stops
after about a minute of playing.  When using your e-roll software the was not an
issue and it plays for well over an hour without pause.

Regards,
Alan
>
> From: Spencer Chase <spencer@...>
> Date: 2007/05/04 Fri PM 12:03:30 CDT
> To: Terry Smythe <E-Roll-Collectors@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [E-Roll-Collectors] Wireless MIDI
>
> Greetings Terry,
>
> Unfortunately, this does not work well with a notebook computer
> because of all the junk that needs to be on the transmit end. Too bad
> that M-audio doesn't make a USB direct connect version with the power
> provided by the USB port. M-Audio makes much better stuff than Belkin
> who makes the wireless USB that is garbage.
>
> Does anyone know if M-Audio plans to make such a device or if anyone
> else does? Also, the wireless USB chip has been out for a while so it
> is possible that someone else has a wireless USB device out or in the
> works.
>
>
> Friday, May 4, 2007, 9:00:37 AM, you wrote:
>
> TS> From: Alan Turner <awturner@...>
> TS> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 1:17 PM
> TS> To: Terry Smythe <smythe@...>
> TS> Subject: Wireless MIDI
>
> TS> Terry, this might be of interest to the group:
>
> TS> Alan
>
> TS> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> TS> For those who use e-valve equipped instruments.
>
> TS> This week I purchased and installed a wireless MIDI connection from my
> TS> computer to my e-valve equipped Duo-Art Piano. I think it will be of
> TS> interest to others in the group.
>
> TS> I purchased an off-the-shelf wireless MIDI transmitter and receiver from
> TS> M-Audio (http://www.m-audio.com) The model I purchased is called "MidAir"
>
> TS> This product is primarily designed to transmit MIDI signals from a
keyboard
> TS> or other device on stage to a mixer or computer. As such it was not quite
> TS> plug and play for application to send MIDI signals from the computer to
the
> TS> e-valve system. I basically had to configure the setup reverse to the
> TS> design configuration.
>
> TS> Here are the additional items I needed for the installation (with costs in
> TS> CDN $):
>
> TS> MidAir transmitter and receiver system $120.00
> TS> MIDI Coupler (female/female) $5.00
> TS> MIDI Cable (3 foot single lead male/male) $7.50
> TS> 9 volt 500 mA power supply $17.50 (only one was supplied with the kit and
> TS> two are required for our types of setup)
>
> TS> TOTAL $150.00 CDN ($130 USD +/-)
>
> TS> The configuration is as follows:
>
> TS> COMPUTER END
> TS> 1. Computer with MIDI files
> TS> 2. USB to MIDI male 5 pin connector (part of the original wired MIDI
> TS> interface with the e-valve system)
> TS> 3. MIDI Coupler (female/female)
> TS> 4. MidAir transmitter (powered by 9 volt 500mA transformer, normally
battery
> TS> power but I opted to use a power supply)
>
> TS> E-VALVE END
> TS> 1. MidAir receiver (powered by 9 volt 500mA transformer)
> TS> 2. MIDI Cable (3
> TS> foot single lead male/male)
> TS> 3. E-Valve System input
>
> TS> I have tested this out on my system and so far have not run into any
issues,
> TS> I installed it and everything worked flawlessly. The transmission range
for
> TS> this system is about 30 feet, I have tested it to about 25 feet and it
seems
> TS> to work well. The distance of 25 feet works well for me allowing me to
> TS> move the computer out of sight of the piano. I am very pleased.
>
> TS> If anyone has questions I'd be happy to answer them (if I can)
>
> TS> Alan Turner
>
> TS> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> TS> Terry Smythe (204) 832-3982
> TS> 55 Rowand Avenue (204) 981-3229(cell)
> TS> Winnipeg, MB smythe@...
> TS> Canada R3J 2N6 http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm
> TS> Preserving a unique slice of musical heritage.
>
> TS>
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
> 67550 Bell Springs Rd.
> Garberville,  CA 95542    Postal service only.
> Laytonville, CA 95454    UPS only.
> Spencer@...
> http://www.spencerserolls.com
> http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
> (707) 984-8356
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Greetings Terry,

Unfortunately, this does not work well with a notebook computer
because of all the junk that needs to be on the transmit end. Too bad
that M-audio doesn't make a USB direct connect version with the power
provided by the USB port. M-Audio makes much better stuff than Belkin
who makes the wireless USB that is garbage.

Does anyone know if M-Audio plans to make such a device or if anyone
else does? Also, the wireless USB chip has been out for a while so it
is possible that someone else has a wireless USB device out or in the
works.


Friday, May 4, 2007, 9:00:37 AM, you wrote:

TS> From: Alan Turner <awturner@...>
TS> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 1:17 PM
TS> To: Terry Smythe <smythe@...>
TS> Subject: Wireless MIDI

TS> Terry, this might be of interest to the group:

TS> Alan

TS> ----------------------------------------------------------

TS> For those who use e-valve equipped instruments.

TS> This week I purchased and installed a wireless MIDI connection from my
TS> computer to my e-valve equipped Duo-Art Piano. I think it will be of
TS> interest to others in the group.

TS> I purchased an off-the-shelf wireless MIDI transmitter and receiver from
TS> M-Audio (http://www.m-audio.com) The model I purchased is called "MidAir"

TS> This product is primarily designed to transmit MIDI signals from a keyboard
TS> or other device on stage to a mixer or computer. As such it was not quite
TS> plug and play for application to send MIDI signals from the computer to the
TS> e-valve system. I basically had to configure the setup reverse to the
TS> design configuration.

TS> Here are the additional items I needed for the installation (with costs in
TS> CDN $):

TS> MidAir transmitter and receiver system $120.00
TS> MIDI Coupler (female/female) $5.00
TS> MIDI Cable (3 foot single lead male/male) $7.50
TS> 9 volt 500 mA power supply $17.50 (only one was supplied with the kit and
TS> two are required for our types of setup)

TS> TOTAL $150.00 CDN ($130 USD +/-)

TS> The configuration is as follows:

TS> COMPUTER END
TS> 1. Computer with MIDI files
TS> 2. USB to MIDI male 5 pin connector (part of the original wired MIDI
TS> interface with the e-valve system)
TS> 3. MIDI Coupler (female/female)
TS> 4. MidAir transmitter (powered by 9 volt 500mA transformer, normally battery
TS> power but I opted to use a power supply)

TS> E-VALVE END
TS> 1. MidAir receiver (powered by 9 volt 500mA transformer)
TS> 2. MIDI Cable (3
TS> foot single lead male/male)
TS> 3. E-Valve System input

TS> I have tested this out on my system and so far have not run into any issues,
TS> I installed it and everything worked flawlessly. The transmission range for
TS> this system is about 30 feet, I have tested it to about 25 feet and it seems
TS> to work well. The distance of 25 feet works well for me allowing me to
TS> move the computer out of sight of the piano. I am very pleased.

TS> If anyone has questions I'd be happy to answer them (if I can)

TS> Alan Turner

TS> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TS> Terry Smythe (204) 832-3982
TS> 55 Rowand Avenue (204) 981-3229(cell)
TS> Winnipeg, MB smythe@...
TS> Canada R3J 2N6 http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm
TS> Preserving a unique slice of musical heritage.

TS>

--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville,  CA 95542    Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454    UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

From: Alan Turner <awturner@...>
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 1:17 PM
To: Terry Smythe <smythe@...>
Subject: Wireless MIDI

Terry, this might be of interest to the group:

Alan

----------------------------------------------------------

For those who use e-valve equipped instruments.

This week I purchased and installed a wireless MIDI connection from my
computer to my e-valve equipped Duo-Art Piano. I think it will be of
interest to others in the group.

I purchased an off-the-shelf wireless MIDI transmitter and receiver from
M-Audio (http://www.m-audio.com) The model I purchased is called "MidAir"

This product is primarily designed to transmit MIDI signals from a keyboard
or other device on stage to a mixer or computer. As such it was not quite
plug and play for application to send MIDI signals from the computer to the
e-valve system. I basically had to configure the setup reverse to the
design configuration.

Here are the additional items I needed for the installation (with costs in
CDN $):

MidAir transmitter and receiver system $120.00
MIDI Coupler (female/female) $5.00
MIDI Cable (3 foot single lead male/male) $7.50
9 volt 500 mA power supply $17.50 (only one was supplied with the kit and
two are required for our types of setup)

TOTAL $150.00 CDN ($130 USD +/-)

The configuration is as follows:

COMPUTER END
1. Computer with MIDI files
2. USB to MIDI male 5 pin connector (part of the original wired MIDI
interface with the e-valve system)
3. MIDI Coupler (female/female)
4. MidAir transmitter (powered by 9 volt 500mA transformer, normally battery
power but I opted to use a power supply)

E-VALVE END
1. MidAir receiver (powered by 9 volt 500mA transformer)
2. MIDI Cable (3
foot single lead male/male)
3. E-Valve System input

I have tested this out on my system and so far have not run into any issues,
I installed it and everything worked flawlessly. The transmission range for
this system is about 30 feet, I have tested it to about 25 feet and it seems
to work well. The distance of 25 feet works well for me allowing me to
move the computer out of sight of the piano. I am very pleased.

If anyone has questions I'd be happy to answer them (if I can)

Alan Turner

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Terry Smythe        (204) 832-3982
55 Rowand Avenue    (204) 981-3229(cell)
Winnipeg, MB        smythe@...
Canada   R3J 2N6    http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm
Preserving a unique slice of musical heritage.

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

The various stages of E-Roll Player assembly are progressing without
big surprises. Going a little slower than hoped, partly due to my
insistence on testing at every stage.

I have notified all prospective customers who have not placed a
deposit, that I will hold their systems for only one more week. If you
are interested in a system and have not paid a deposit (or made other
arrangements)please let me know. I am writing to the group just in
case I have old e-mail addresses. This is the final notice.

--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

I am sending this to the list in case there is any problem with the
bulk e-mailing I just sent. If you should have received this at your
individual e-mail address and didn't, please let me know. If you
receive duplicate copies, please accept my apologies.

I am making progress assembling E-Roll Players for those who have
ordered them. I will be able to start shipping them within a week to
those who have been waiting the longest and who have paid deposits or
have made other arrangements. If you have not paid a deposit or made
other arrangements, now is the time to do so as I will not hold
systems much longer without such arrangements. I will be selling to
those on the waiting list instead.

In order to prepare systems for shipment, I need some information
about how they are going to be used. If you have a system on order,
please contact me by e-mail or phone with the following information
and or any questions. Please download and read the manual which is
very thorough. You will find high and low resolution versions of the
manual on this page. If you plan to print the manual, the high
resolution version is recommended. The low resolution version is only
recommended if you have a slow dialup connection.
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm

1 Type of piano, player or reproducing piano or other, brand and model
such as grand or upright.

2 Do you want a standard note map installed or plan a custom note map.

3 Do you want standard data cables and if so, will the controller be
mounted in the middle or the end of the block run? If you want custom
cables, I can ship them with the rest of the system or separately. I
can also supply bulk cable and connectors if you want to assemble them
yourself. I have cable testers and parallel jaw pliers that can be
borrowed for cable assembly. These are not production tools but can be
used for occasional cable assembly. Instruction for cable assembly
will be provided with these tools.

4 Do you want any accessories such as a motor relay ($50), grand piano
installation mounting kit ($50), motor overheat protector ($35), extra
valve for Ampico ($35)? Please call or write to discuss the relevance
of these options to your installation. None of these is required for
operation but may be convenient or important options for certain
installation

--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

A customer in Litchfield County Connecticut is interested in having an
E-Roll Player installed in his Steinway Duo-Art. Please contact me if
you might be able to do this. It is quite easy for anyone who is
familiar with player pianos.

--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings,

This is being sent to the E-Roll Collectors list and also to people
who have ordered or reserved an E-Roll Player. Therefore you may
receive duplicate copies.

I have finally received the completed circuit boards for the current
batch of E-Roll Players. Everything seems to be in order so I will be
returning to California to complete these systems. There is still a
fair amount of work to be done but I hope to be able to make time
available and finish them over the next month. I will be shipping
first to those who have been waiting the longest and to those who have
given deposits.

I have more people who want these than I have in the current batch.
For this reason, I need firm commitments and deposits from anyone who
is to receive a system from this batch. I also need to know if you
have changed your mind so I can make systems available to others.

Please contact me directly to make a deposit or to cancel an existing
order.



--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings Craig and E-Roll Collectors,

I did talk about some of the details in the newsletter and just wrote
another letter restating some of these. The specification sheet from M
audio is not completely clear about the built in MIDI interface in the
MidiAir but my interpretation is that it is not useful for "our"
applications. The MIDI 1x1 interface is in the receiver, not the
transmitter. This allows you to connect the receiver to a USB device,
not the transmitter. So you can only connect a MIDI device to the
transmitter. This means another device connected to the computer and
then plugged into the MidiAir. To me, that is just too much junk
dangling around. I would rather have a wire to the piano. There is
also the fact that the transmitter needs a battery or external power
source. The last time I had checked, I thought that it used a 9 volt
battery and could not use an external power supply. Now it looks like
it uses either 2 AA batteries which last only 20 hours or a 9 volt
external source. Too bad that it doesn't have a USB connection that
could provide the power. 20 hours sounds like a lot and it is no big
deal for a wireless guitar or keyboard in performance because you
would put in new batteries before a performance to make sure. You can
just about guarantee that the batteries will run out at the worst
possible time especially if you forget to turn the thing off when you
are not using it.

It is possible that my interpretation of the specifications of the
MidiAir is completely wrong. There is not a lot of detail and there
does not seem to be an online manual. It would be interesting to hear
from someone who actually has one. It does not look  useful enough to
me to bother buying one. I am saving my money for the wireless hub.

If it were not for the fact that I will be traveling, I would order
the hub right now. Amazon can surprise you with different shipping
methods at the last minute. Belkin has promised the thing for well
over a year and keeps changing the target ship date. I just called
Amazon and they suggested that the hub will actually be in stock
tomorrow and will show as in stock on the web site if this does
happen. I'll be sure to get one if it does show up in a day or two and
will report to the group.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007, 9:22:57 AM, you wrote:
CB> Hi Spencer,

CB> What is the make and model of the hub, and why do you feel it would
CB> be the best solution? Or better than the MidiAir? Do you then need a
CB> MidiMan, or one of those interposed devices, too? What would it look
CB> like with a laptop connected to it? It seems to me that if the
CB> MidiAir device is connected, alone, it would do the job, since it's
CB> actually designed for midi, and it wouldn't need a midiman, since
CB> that's what it does. So, what's your take on this? Could we discuss
CB> it in the newsletter?

CB> Craig


CB> At 10:49 AM 2/14/2007, you wrote:
>>Greetings Craig,
>>
>>The new E-Roll Player is going to be $2500 for the current batch. I
>>got a very good price on some major components and this might not hold
>>true for the next batch. However I might be using the newer design for
>>the next batch (if it proves to be as good in testing next month) and
>>this may allow me to keep the price and even make a few pennies.
>>
>>If it is the wireless USB interface you are asking about, it is $209
>>from Amazon which seems to be the best price from a reliable supplier.
>>I really hope that someone can get and test one before I do as this
>>seems like a much better solution than the wireless MIDI devices.
>>
>>
>>Wednesday, February 14, 2007, 4:36:41 AM, you wrote:
>>CB> Spencer,
>>
>>CB> Could we get some prices? Thanks. I have my first customer whose
>>CB> piano here is almost finished, who has a piano she wants retrofitted,
>>CB> if she can afford it.
>>
>>CB> Craig
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>Best regards,
>>Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
>>67550 Bell Springs Rd.
>>Garberville,  CA 95542    Postal service only.
>>Laytonville, CA 95454    UPS only.
>>Spencer@...
>>http://www.spencerserolls.com
>>http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
>>(707) 984-8356




--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville,  CA 95542    Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454    UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

The wireless hub is a little more than the wireless MIDI devices
however it seems to have major advantages. The major one is the mass
of junk you don't need at the source computer. Just a tiny dongle
plugged into the USB port instead of two interfaces and a pile of
wire.

There is no reason that a MIDI file can not be sent to two MIDI
devices at the same time (not exactly the same time but close enough
that you could not tell the difference) It is a matter of how you set
things up. I can offer suggestions to someone who is ready to do this.
There are many possible way depending on exactly what you are trying
to do.

Tempo glitches are usually not caused by buffering in the playing
application. Although MIDI is fast enough for music applications when
properly implemented, it is very slow by modern computer standards.
Even the very inefficient MIDI playing programs that I write are fast
enough to provide accurate musical timing. The problems are generally
caused by Windowz. The worst culprit is Windows XP although Vista
might be even worse. Multimedia is supposed to have a very high
process priority and should take precedence over other applications
but too much is going on in XP. There are a number of things you can
do to improve musical performance in XP but the best solution is to
use Win 98 or a Mac.

If someone is seriously interested in the best performance under XP,
here are a few things to try. If you want to use XP for playing MIDI
well, it is really best to dedicate the machine to music.

1 eliminate any unnecessary applications such as web browsers,
software that might start automatic updates and really anything else
that might compete with playing the music.

2 if you are using Windplay you will probably not be able to make it
play perfectly. it does not seem to use the windows multimedia
interface (there are actually 3 different windows multimedia
approaches and some are better than others) and receives a lower
priority than other processes. you can try changing the process
priority to high in the task manager as this might be all that is
needed depending on what other applications are running. it would be
possible to write an application to do this automatically and run it
and WindPlay from a batch file. when i run WindPlay it shows a normal
priority which is not good for a MIDI application.

3 check the process priority of the MIDI playing application and all
other applications with a task manager. Windowz will have a couple of
processes that are high and one that is realtime. these can not be
changed. if the priority of the MIDI application is not high or if
there are several other high processes running, the MIDI player will
lag when other processes take precedence.

4 eliminate any unnecessary "services" It is amazing how much junk is
loaded, when XP boots,that no one needs clogging up the works. XP pro
is even worse than XP home. on a dedicated MIDI playing computer, you
can eliminate dozens of services. google for Black Adder XP services
and try to find an archived mirror of his Windows XP Services page for
recommendations. The last time I checked his site was under
construction but there were a couple of copies of the relevant page.

5 do not run any other applications while playing MIDI. check the task
manager to see what is actually running.

6 do not use the mouse while playing.

7 my Virtual Keyboard program is a good test to see how much is
competing for the computer. it is written in Perl and is interpreted,
not compiled. it is surprising fast for an interpreted application but
it is doing much more than a compiled application and will lag if
other windows processes get in the way. the application automatically
sets its process priority high but this is not enough to insure smooth
playing. if you set a note to repeat at a fast rate, you can hear the
pauses caused by other processes. moving the mouse will show just how
much variation there is.

--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

to answer some of Craig's questions:

The new E-Roll Player is going to be $2500 for the current batch. I
got a very good price on some major components and this might not hold
true for the next batch. However I might be using the newer design for
the next batch (if it proves to be as good in testing next month) and
this may allow me to keep the price and even make a few pennies.

If it is the wireless USB interface you are asking about, it is $209
from Amazon which seems to be the best price from a reliable supplier.
I really hope that someone can get and test one before I do as this
seems like a much better solution than the wireless MIDI devices.

--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings All,

Yes, this is indeed good news.  My local music supply store will be stocking the
wireless MIDI controller very soon (and at a reasonable price I'm told)  The
primary use for these is the wireless hookup of various MIDI devices on stage so
there are fewer wires for the performers to trip on.

I plan to get one as soon as they have them on the shelf and I will report the
performance.

Regards,
Alan Turner
>
> From: Spencer Chase <spencer@...>
> Date: 2007/02/14 Wed AM 02:37:18 CST
> To: "E-Roll-Collectors@yahoogroups.com" <E-Roll-Collectors@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [E-Roll-Collectors] e-Roll Player update
>
> Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,
>
> Good news!!!!!!!!!!  The parts I have been waiting for for 9 months
> have arrived in Reno Nevada and should be in my hands tomorrow or the
> next day. Then they go to Alabama for circuit board assembly. In 7 to
> 10 days from their arrival in Alabama I should have boards to build 20
> systems. I will start on this right away and should be able to start
> shipping new systems in March. As soon as I have working boards in
> hand, I will start taking deposits and will deliver systems first to
> those who have been waiting the longest. There are just a few system
> still unspoken for from the current batch, so let me know ASAP if you
> are interested. It may be 6 months before I can build another batch.
>
> More good news! The wireless USB hub that Belkin has been promising
> for over a year is supposed to be available in just two days. Amazon
> says so??? This will allow wireless operation of an E-Roll Player
> system or other MIDI device with just a USB dongle (similar in size to
> the wireless receiver for a wireless USB mouse or a USB flash drive.)
> plugged into the host computer. A wireless hub can be located at the
> piano and a USB MIDI interface plugged into this. As many as 4 devices
> may be plugged into the hub so 4 pianos in close proximity could be
> operated from a single computer. Until now, the only way to do this
> was with a wireless LAN setup and a remote desktop program and second
> computer or using a wireless MIDI device. The problem with a wireless
> MIDI device is that it requires a MIDI interface at the computer as
> well as the wireless MIDI device. Adding all this hardware to a
> notebook computer is not better than a wire between the computer and
> piano.
>
> Since I will be leaving for California as soon as I have boards for
> the E-Roll Player system, I can not order one of these wireless USB
> systems as I don't know where I will be when they are shipped. If
> anyone does get one, please let the group know how it works.
>
> -- Best regards, Spencer Chase mailto:spencer@... 67550
> Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
> Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only. Spencer@...
> http://www.spencerserolls.com
> http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm (707) 984-8356
>
>
>

Spencer and everyone,

I for one know that wireless is definitely the way to go, and when it gets simple, lots of people are going to want one. Phil Dayson wrote of a commercial wireless midi box called MidAir that's sold over the counter at Best Buy and hundreds of stores across the country for around $150. It appears that it might be infrared, just looking at those two black circles on the ends of the send/receive units. I have also spoken to a customer who wants wireless and duet capabilities. I do know however that midi is a different animal than just ordinary wireless computing because it is handled in real time, so the buffering and switching has to be much faster.

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

Good news!!!!!!!!!! The parts I have been waiting for for 9 months
have arrived in Reno Nevada and should be in my hands tomorrow or the
next day. Then they go to Alabama for circuit board assembly. In 7 to
10 days from their arrival in Alabama I should have boards to build 20
systems. I will start on this right away and should be able to start
shipping new systems in March. As soon as I have working boards in
hand, I will start taking deposits and will deliver systems first to
those who have been waiting the longest. There are just a few system
still unspoken for from the current batch, so let me know ASAP if you
are interested. It may be 6 months before I can build another batch.

More good news! The wireless USB hub that Belkin has been promising
for over a year is supposed to be available in just two days. Amazon
says so??? This will allow wireless operation of an E-Roll Player
system or other MIDI device with just a USB dongle (similar in size to
the wireless receiver for a wireless USB mouse or a USB flash drive.)
plugged into the host computer. A wireless hub can be located at the
piano and a USB MIDI interface plugged into this. As many as 4 devices
may be plugged into the hub so 4 pianos in close proximity could be
operated from a single computer. Until now, the only way to do this
was with a wireless LAN setup and a remote desktop program and second
computer or using a wireless MIDI device. The problem with a wireless
MIDI device is that it requires a MIDI interface at the computer as
well as the wireless MIDI device. Adding all this hardware to a
notebook computer is not better than a wire between the computer and
piano.

Since I will be leaving for California as soon as I have boards for
the E-Roll Player system, I can not order one of these wireless USB
systems as I don't know where I will be when they are shipped. If
anyone does get one, please let the group know how it works.

-- Best regards, Spencer Chase mailto:spencer@... 67550
Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm (707) 984-8356

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

Good news!!!!!!!!!!  The parts I have been waiting for for 9 months
have arrived in Reno Nevada and should be in my hands tomorrow or the
next day. Then they go to Alabama for circuit board assembly. In 7 to
10 days from their arrival in Alabama I should have boards to build 20
systems. I will start on this right away and should be able to start
shipping new systems in March. As soon as I have working boards in
hand, I will start taking deposits and will deliver systems first to
those who have been waiting the longest. There are just a few system
still unspoken for from the current batch, so let me know ASAP if you
are interested. It may be 6 months before I can build another batch.

More good news! The wireless USB hub that Belkin has been promising
for over a year is supposed to be available in just two days. Amazon
says so??? This will allow wireless operation of an E-Roll Player
system or other MIDI device with just a USB dongle (similar in size to
the wireless receiver for a wireless USB mouse or a USB flash drive.)
plugged into the host computer. A wireless hub can be located at the
piano and a USB MIDI interface plugged into this. As many as 4 devices
may be plugged into the hub so 4 pianos in close proximity could be
operated from a single computer. Until now, the only way to do this
was with a wireless LAN setup and a remote desktop program and second
computer or using a wireless MIDI device. The problem with a wireless
MIDI device is that it requires a MIDI interface at the computer as
well as the wireless MIDI device. Adding all this hardware to a
notebook computer is not better than a wire between the computer and
piano.

Since I will be leaving for California as soon as I have boards for
the E-Roll Player system, I can not order one of these wireless USB
systems as I don't know where I will be when they are shipped. If
anyone does get one, please let the group know how it works.

-- Best regards, Spencer Chase mailto:spencer@... 67550
Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only. Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm (707) 984-8356

Greetings Terry,

I have a scan of a recut of that roll. She is welcome to it. I don't
know who did the recut but it was a T100 roll so not playable on a
licensee Welte. I can provide the CIS or any format she might want.


Friday, February 9, 2007, 10:15:25 AM, you wrote: TS>         TS>
TS>    TS>     TS>    TS> Off my web site, I have received the
following inquiry.  TS>  Hopefully, a midi file (not e-roll) of this
roll she seeks might  TS>  be available.   In the meantime, I have OCR
scanned for her the  TS>  Scriabin data in the Smith-Howe book. T


Best regards, Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd. Garberville,  CA 95542    Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454    UPS only. Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm (707) 984-8356

Off my web site, I have received the following inquiry.
Hopefully, a midi file (not e-roll) of this roll she seeks might
be available.   In the meantime, I have OCR scanned for her the
Scriabin data in the Smith-Howe book.

Regards,

Terry

------- Forwarded message follows -------

Date sent:       Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:55:46 +0000 (GMT)
From:            anna kounadi <akounadi@...>
Subject:         Scriabin 2nd sonata piano roll
To:              smythe@...

Dear Mr Smythe, I am a PhD student at University of London,
Goldsmiths College, researching on the recorded performances of
Scriabin 2nd and 5th sonatas. From my knowledge, there is a
Scriabin piano roll of the 2nd sonata, and I wondered if you
could help me locate the piano roll, or if you know of any
reproductions made from that roll.

All the best,

Anna Kounadi


------- End of forwarded message -------


Terry Smythe                           204-832-3982 (land line)
55 Rowand Avenue                   204-981-3229 (cell)
Winnipeg, MB, Canada   R3J 2N6           smythe@...
Preserving a unique slice of our Musical Heritage
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

I received the prototype board for the new valve driver yesterday and
have been testing it. So far it looks very good although I have more
testing to do. It seems that this was all that was necessary to get
the parts that I ordered 9 months ago. They are finally on their way
from Malaysia and should be here in about a week. Then I need to have
the boards assembled and I can finally start the final assembly of the
current batch of E-Roll Players. I will also be testing the new design
in my pianos so as to always have a design for which I can get parts.

If all goes well and the parts are not lost in a shipwreck or by UPS
once they get to the US, and if the board assembly goes well, I should
be able to start shipping E-Roll Players in March. Everything else has
been ready for over 9 months.

If you have any interest in buying an E-Roll Player it would be good
to contact me, if you haven't already. I expect that this batch will
be gone pretty quickly as it is already over half sold. I will be
making more if these sell but can not tell exactly when that will be.
If I build the current design again, the lead time on the parts will
be 6 months. If the new design passes the piano test, that will be an
attractive option as the parts are readily available.

Bottom line. The good news is that the wonderful design I am so
excited about is really going to happen and maybe another one too.

finally finally finally finally finally (just in case finally was not
used enough in paragraph one)

--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,

I have been waiting for about 9 months for some critical parts for the
new E-Roll Player. I have a great design but it requires a part that
suddenly became available. I was assured when I designed this system
that supply would be no problem. The manufacturer (Texas Instruments)
has been jerking me around, giving me ship dates and then not meeting
the commitment. This has happened 4 times so far. I have pretty much
given up on them and will probably never use their parts again. I am
working on a new design which I hope will be finished soon. The two
systems that I did build, with the new design, worked very well. The
new design should perform the same as it works on the same principles
but with different components.

I should have the new design finished in a couple of weeks and will
then build a full prototype for testing. I hope to be able to ship
systems in a couple of months if this design does work out. The first
few systems shipped will have to be hand built and will be sold to
those who have waited the longest. The rest of the current batch will
be machine assembled. This may take a couple more months to
coordinate. I have 20 systems ready with the exception of the valve
driver boards. These can not be assembled without the missing
components unless I switch to a new design. I have a considerable
amount of money invested in the design for which parts are not
currently available but am going to sacrifice it in order to resume
production.

Please let me know if you are interested as this will influence my
decisions with respect to various aspects of production.


--
Best regards,
Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542  Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454  UPS only.
Spencer@...
http://www.spencerserolls.com
http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
(707) 984-8356

I apologize, know I have asked this before, but who has, either for
sharing or for sale, Organ Rolls that may have been in use in residence
organs?


noel jones, aago
noeljones@...
www.frogmusic.com
athens, tennessee
877 249-5251

Special thanks to Richard Stibbons and Anthony Robinson in the
UK.     Richard scanned an original 1927 UK Supplement to the
1925 Ampico roll catalog.    Anthony edited the TIF files to
give them a final "polish".    I in turn converted the TIF files
to PDF.

This original document was scanned in the UK, converted to PDF
in Canada, and made freely available to the world.   Yet another
good example of the internet at its finest!    This 4.7 meg file
may be downloaded off my web site by clicking on:

http://members.shaw.ca/paud122/AMPICO_1927_Supplement.pdf

Enjoy!

Regards,

Terry



Terry Smythe                           204-832-3982 (land line)
55 Rowand Avenue                   204-981-3229 (cell)
Winnipeg, MB, Canada   R3J 2N6           smythe@...
Preserving a unique slice of our Musical Heritage
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm

Greetings David,

I have added about 625 Welte files and 725 Ampico files to the previous 

Duo-Art Emulations to make the new set. I have the Welte and Ampico files 

E-Rolls but have not assembled these as sets for sale yet nor have I assembled

them as separate sets of emulations. I plan to do both when time permits.

I have more Ampicos arriving and plan to offer an Ampico CD once they are all scanned. 

The total will be 1400 to 1500. I will add these as emulations and some additional Duo-Arts 

at that time. The price for the complete emulation CD will be increased a bit and the 

extra files will also be available as a separate purchase.

I compared Peter's list to mine and it looks like I have 357 files that are not in his 

collection.

The new file names contain a letter prefix A for Ampico D for Duo-Art W for Welte 

licensee and R for Welte Red. Therefore, the new Duo-Art files will not overwrite the

old ones unless you remove the prefix first. 

You can create a master database with either my keyword lister program or the keyword2excel

program. Both my files and Peter's have keyworded text which will be listed to the file.

The files can be edited in excel and merged.

The new files have all been emulated with the same velocity range to make them more consistent on the DKV. The velocity ranges of the older Duo-Art files should not be very different from the new ones.

Saturday, June 17, 2006, 5:51:16 AM, you wrote:

-- 

Best regards,

Spencer Chase        mailto:spencer@...

67550 Bell Springs Rd.

Garberville,  CA 95542    Postal service only.

Laytonville, CA 95454    UPS only.

Spencer@...

http://www.spencerserolls.com

http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm

(707) 984-8356