•With the recent activity and interest in the state of the art regarding USB and MIDI, here is some of my experience to share. USB has two modes of operation, Host Mode and Device Mode. Until recently it has been difficult to implement Host mode onto a small processor, and my work has been with the ...

•[ I asked Spencer if he could suggest a really simple method for [ wireless MIDI. -- Robbie Greetings Robbie, In terms of wireless MIDI that would work for a notebook to piano interface, there is only one affordable device: the "MidAir" made by M-Audio. It uses a battery powered transmitter and the...

•Hello, I wrote previously about the Belkin Cable Free USB hub and the hope of using it to implement wireless MIDI. After spending hours with Belkin technical support I have concluded that the device is worthless. Some day it might be developed into a useful product but the limited range, incompatib...

•I was told that using a light dimmer to control a vacuum motor could burn out the motor and/or switch. The proper control device would be a ceiling fan controller which is designed for motors, not light bulbs. Regards, Jon Page [ A universal motor (with brushes) as typically found in a vacuum [ cle...

•Art -- I think you mean a 7/32" elbow (for 3/16" tubing). This is intended to provide a constant supply to the automatic tracking device so it will center during reroll. There was normally a cutout pouch block that supplied suction only during play, to disable the tracker ear valves during reroll, ...

•I'd be interested to know what brand and model of electronic tuner any of you who tune a band organ find is the best for the job. I've read about guitar tuners that have a clip-on device that can take a reading directly from the vibration of the wood body of the guitar. Something like that would se...

•Wanted: DC electric motor for restoration of early Welte-Mignon T-100 upright piano. Also needed is the "Widerstand" or speed shifter device. New or original. Thanks. Mike Kukral tel.: 1-812-238-9656 email: Kukral@rose-hulman.edu

•With regard to a timer on MIDI files, please note that that won't work on Windows Vista. At present, there is no way to direct a MIDI file played on Windows Media Player or some other similar program to an MPU401 MIDI device. This is an external MIDI driver such as would be used to control a MIDI k...

•Hello, Windows Media Player is terrible for most jobs, and I rarely use it. I hope that VanBasco's [player] still works on Windows Vista to an external device. I would like to hear from those who are suffering with Vista. I have heard that my Virtual Keyboard program works on Vista; that program us...

•Player Piano Co. has discontinued the Simplex valve tester (catalog #1680). Does anyone have one for sale or have plans on how to build such a device? Thanks, Duaine Hechler

•I am helping with the restoration of a Simplex player action. Several parts are missing and needed for the tracking device. Could anyone send a close-up picture of the left side showing the string hook up and parts? It would appear the pinion centering plate and pinion where lower end of string att...

•After doing a rather comprehensive search on the web I have failed to find evidence that anyone has converted a old reed organ to a solenoid operated MIDI device. Does anyone know of links to a conversion of this nature? I have an old reed organ that is in a really dreadful case and has major damag...

•This certainly is a new one on me. Are the long slits above and to the right hand side of the note holes, a kind of tracking device (the bar does not seem to have the usual holes) and since there are no tube nipples, was there a plate which mated with the back of the bar as shown which had connecti...

•First of all, you must realize that it is normal for the foot-operated sustaining pedal to lift the dampers higher than the pneumatic device. In most players, the sustaining pneumatic is slower to close and slower to open. If it lifts the dampers too high, the dampers may not have time to do their ...

•I had a similar problem in getting MIDI jukeboxes to select my synth rather than the Windows MIDI player, which is poor as usual. I use a small program called "Vista MIDI Picker" that allows you to switch the MIDI output to any available device. You can also modify the Windows registry if you're mo...

•The "suction box" vacuum cleaner pumps have been in the discussion quite a bit lately which has prompted me to venture the following. I've always wondered about the practicality of quieting these devices with an electronic noise cancellation device. You should be able to get near 100% of the pump n...

•I have enjoyed the recent comments on mandolin rails. I have seen a variety of rail materials on old player pianos, the most common being a clip-on metal device, followed by a glued-on wood piece. Also, material for the individual notes has been comprised of various materials, with leather being mo...

•Hi All, I once saw a music roll hole punch made by adding a tubular punch to the body of an automatic center punch. This is a device that has an internal spring that cocks as you push down on the barrel and then releases the spring with a snap to drive the punch. That way, it is not necessary to hi...

•I have a 24-1/2" Polyphon music box that is in a cabinet that sits on the floor. There seems to have been some kind of device that sat on top of the cabinet, like a clock, but that is missing. There is a hole that goes through the case from the mechanism up through the top similar to what would be ...

•It is correct that some motors do not like "modified sine wave" power. This is also true of some power supplies in other equipment. Without looking at the specific device, it is difficult to know if it will work on a small cheap inverter. The best way is to try it. With a motor, be sure to run it f...