Dear MMDs,  Does anyone knows about a successful realization of machine
or system allowing to read *any* pinned cylinder, and transform this
reading in a usable computer file (in midi or other standard) ?

I know several trials have been made (some in France, others by
Leonardo Perretti, by the Utrecht museum, and I remember in a past
Digest someone mentioned transcribing "cobs" for the Gem roller organ,
etc.), but usually to read and transcript only _one_ particular cylinder,
where the number of tunes and the scale are known (or at least
guessed), these data seeming actually essential.

After some e-mail conversation with Robbie, I launch this question to
the MMD.  A good answer would be very useful to read the many "orphan"
musical box or barrel organ cylinders.

For the moment, I am afraid it is some kind of "serpent de mer" (Robbie
suggested "chasing the will-o'-the wisp", chasser le feu follet), like
transcribing actual audio music directly into a MIDI file, which seems
almost impossible as soon as several instruments play together.

With best regards,

Philippe Rouille  (Paris, France)
http://www.musicamecanica.org/