> [ "Digital Watermark" could be used to identify its source. For instance, > [ variations in spacing, or some weird punctuation could be used. It will more likely be a true digital signature via a one-way hash function such as MD5. Search for "RSA Data Encryption Systems" for particulars on one-way...

Ron Yost wrote: > Especially onerous are Macintosh sequencer programs. Most of them > PREpend a 128-byte 'Mac Binary Header' to the file, thus making > it incompatible with PC's. Ron, I've been exchanging Mac MIDI files for a long time and haven't encounted this problem. It sounds to me like a carel...

Greetings folks. I just obtained the paper roll reader, rolls and keyboard for a set of old Schulmerich "Carillonic Bells". The actual electromechanical bells are still in use, but will be replaced in the future. =)¶¶ Briefly: Continuous-loop paper rolls, 9-3/4" width. 30 holes, spaced 5/16" apart. ...

Thank you for your mail encouraging me to study more about automatic musical instruments. It is so nice to hear from another music lover. Beside Music boxes and organettes, I play simple pieces on piano whenever I have time. Since Yamaha is a large group with over 20 companies, I have little chance ...

[ Editor's Note: [ [ Playtime Music's Web Page has been "shut off", and has [ been replaced with the following web page. Note that [ the Marketing Manager of Kreative Web Solutions includes [ a disclaimer of responsibility, but also invites phone [ or e-mail contact from concerned parties. Tom Suns...

> Larry Smith: could you kindly contact Porter Music Box Company and ask > their thoughts on these topics? I wonder if Rouge is working on this > problem... I have some deadlines coming up but I will try to get to it. I've been getting busy signals all morning. I would be surprised if Reuge is doing...

Following up on Jim Canavan's comments in MMD 96.09.20 on Gulbransen Instruction rolls. Last night I got out the set I bought to go with my Gulbransen player and found the following. The rolls are in QRS embossed black boxes. They have blue on white QRS tabs and gold colored metal flanges. The set s...

Jody Kravitz wrote: > Martin's question, above, about "New Players" as a teaching aid struck > me. I can't help but wonder if a MIDI editing system, a keyboard, and > access to some digitized roll libraries might not be a better learning > tool for this student. I have to agree with Jody. Over the p...

In regards to Wayne Stahnke's offer to make available 500 Ampico roll images in MIDI format- sure, I'd love to see this collection available, and I am personally interested in a copy. Some technical information on how the recordings were made and at what sample rate, etc. would be appreciated. > (2)...

Damon Atchison asks about a design for a lock-and-cancel valve. Durrell Armstrong's Player Piano Company sells one, which looks from the illustration like it is made out of two Wurlitzer unit blocks and some channeling of no great complexity. Anyone who understands pneumatic valve operation could de...

I'll do my best to make a suggestion that seems to be working for me. The truth is that the Harry Fox Agency is only interested in mass market music although they will say otherwise. An example are the CD's that are recorded by ragtime artists and pressed and distributed either by micro-labels or th...

In the last Digest, Doug Rhodes wrote: > The royalties that are _legally_ due on the songs we perform, > all of which were written more than 65 years ago, will increase > the raw production cost of the CD by nearly 30%. I cannot understand this. In the three CDs I did for Stomp Off Records, the prod...

The royalty collection agency in Canada, equivalent to the Harry Fox Agency in the US, is Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA). The royalty they charge for mechanical licensing is "6.6 cents [CDN] per song per copy sold or otherwise distributed, where the playing time is five min...

The message in Digest 960107 explains 'why' I didn't get a card or annual Yuletime message from pianist Wally Rose (born Walter Lewis Rosa) this year. I am happy to learn that my friend and pianist-musicologist Peter Mintun is assisting with Wally's affairs, and my association with Peter goes back t...

Dave Miller inquired (MMDigest 970303): 1. What do people use their catalog for? I use it to confirm that _somewhere_ at home I have given roll, and also as an inventory of my collection for insurance purposes. 2. What fields are most useful? accession_number -- Your own inventory number scale -- th...

According to Frederick Fried's book, "A Pictorial History of the Carousel", Parker's company, C. W. Parker Amusement Enterprise, billed itself as the world's largest manufacturer of amusement devices. Their line-up included "jumping horse carousels, Ferris wheels, carved wagon fronts and monkey spee...

I have a question for MMD readers with experience in music licensing. (This is a little off the topic of mechanical music, but it is kind of peripherally related, as you'll see below.) As a graduate student at Ohio State, I have been working with some friends on a short film in which a computer-anim...

•Hi Nathan, I'm forwarding your letters to the Mechanical Music Digest. Maybe one of their 550+ members can help you. If they can, they will respond directly to you. Musically, John A. Tuttle --- forwarded message, please reply to sender & MMD --- At 10:15 5/26/97 -0700, you wrote: > Hi John, > > Th...

•This is a response to your June 2 MMD inquiry regarding the Ampico B. Randy, You will need much greater than average luck to find the missing parts you need for your Knabe Ampico "B". First, be aware that the front piece on the drawer is not readily interchangable from one Model B piano to another...

•Hello Robbie, Here's one of the Portland (Maine) Press-Herald newspaper reports on the current Theremin Festival. The instruments are receiving front page coverage right now, plus some local television spots as well; it's a well-organized and multi-faceted event! Tomorrow I'll return for the "all-d...