A Route To Pneumatic/Digital Players?

Hi Robbie,  An ad in this month's AMICA really sparked my interest, and I
wondered if you or anyone on the MMD circuit had any practical experience
or information related to it.  The ad is from "Ragtime Automated Music"
in Ceres, CA, and the subject product is "In-line miniature MIDI air
valves for any pneumatic instrument.  Complete interface kits available."

If I understand this idea correctly, one would be able to "tee" into the
tracker lines on just about any player, and insert a set of these in-line
MIDI valves.   Then, when an old roll was played normally through the
instrument, the in-line valves would convert the on/offs into a digital
MIDI output for (I presume) recording upon a 3 1/2" floppy.

Well, that would be nice!  If this works, all the paper rolls could be
(a) compactly stored on disk, (b) easily recut by sending disk to the
Tonnesen's instead of original rolls,  (c) played back through a digital
piano, Disklavier or whatever, and (d) played back and recorded with high
piano fidelity using a good MIDI keyboard with a selection of different
grand piano sounds.

Also, I'd assume this system would work in "reverse," i.e., allowing play
of standard MIDI files through a pneumatic player system, actuated by the
in-line air valves.  Guess you'd have to tape over the tracker bar, start
pumping the pedals, and then turn on MIDI playback.

Paints a pretty picture in my mind.  Anyone know if it works, and if so,
how well?  I'm sure there will be compromises on sensitivity, i.e., how
well fast-repeated notes are recorded, etc.  Choice of tempo is another
thing -- I'd guess you'd be set on the tempo used for the original
pneumatic-to-MIDI recording, (unless the file was subsequently taken into
a more sophisticated MIDI editing program so as to change tempo).

In the meantime, I've written the owner and ordered a copy of the
catalog.  For strictly pneumatic guys with digital dreams (like me) this
might be a way in, who knows.

All Best,¶
Frank Himpsl