I was interested in the articles from Scott Currier, Andy Taylor, Larry
Kellogg and others about the need for a portable and affordable roll
reader.  One of my clients has been bugging me for such a device for a
year now...

We have the converter which can generate MIDI from the infrared photo-
transistors or switches, and the internal software could be made to
convert reproducing piano data into MIDI.  But how difficult/expensive
would be the mechanical system?  Tracker bars should be interchangeable
to accommodate a few different standards?

This approach seems to be less costly than the elegant universal roll
reader based on a CCD line sensor or laser scanner.

Andy Taylor's suggestion, "Maybe it could read the roll with wire brushes
like the old Mills Violano machines", is interesting, but I wonder if
this pickup system would be reliable enough.

Could those courageous and experienced ones who have built roll readers
comment?

Laurent Coray