MMD > Archives > August 1996 > 1996.08.05 > 05Prev  Next


Re: Optical Scanner for Music Box Discs
By Larry Smith

> I will scrounge around for a small Stella;  I am assuming the disc
> needs to be no larger than standard paper width (8.5").  I have
> numerous 17" discs but the image would take up 2 pieces of legal size
> paper.

Now _this_ stuff is exciting!

From Robbie's description, it is the relationship of the holes that
convey the information we need, the size should be irrelevant.  The
suggested algorithm should work even on a photo-reduced image, so long
as the holes were still distinct.

Porter Music Box company, the last surviving disk music box maker in
the US, uses computers to punch their disks.  I imagine they would be
very interested in this type of system, it would provide them with a
way to scale disks from many machines - even transpose notes and per-
form other such machinations to adapt them to their Regina-compatible
format.  They might be keen to help, if anyone contacts them with the
idea.

The idea could also give us a way to experiment with disks that have
survived all the machines that could play them.  It would be a chore
to figure out the notes, percussion, and whatever, but certainly far
easier than rigging up an actual machine and trying to get a disk to
sound like something!

regards,ΒΆ
Larry Smith

(Message sent Mon, 05 Aug 96 10:55:50 -0400 , from time zone -0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Box, Discs, Music, Optical, Scanner