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Subject: Pianocorder updated -- Winamp can now play your Pianocorder!

Author:
Tom Lear

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Date Posted: 18:44:55 11/21/03 Fri

Hello fellow Pianocorder owners,

Mark Fontana has created a new windows based computer program that will allow you to play midi files of piano roll scans through your Pianocorder directly from your computer and/or you can also make new tapes as desired.

The new program utilizes the popular WINAMP player. Mark Fontana has created a truly fantastic PLUGIN for the winamp to allow it to play the Pianocorder, and includes all the necessary features so as to have complete control over playback, plus some neat extras too!

First and foremost in the features list is the all important TEMPO control. The huge tempo range of the plugin can slow the fastest midi file to a listenable tempo. This is welcome relief for Pianocorder owners, who for years have been restricted to using tapes which had many selections recorded at such fast tempos, that it was impossible to slow them to a reasonable pace.

In addition to the all important TEMPO control, a VOLUME control, even a TRANSPOSITION control is included in the program control screen. This is very handy if you play another instrument along with the piano, but have the music in another key and are not adept at transposing yourself.

One of the other totally fun features of the new player is a really cool spool box display showing the piano roll traveling over the tracker bar in sync with the music!
Winamp allows setting various sizes for its control screens, so you may pick as small or large a display of the spool box as you wish.

There are even more features included in the program; see http://dp70.dyndns.org/pianocorder/

There are over a thousand excellent quality free midi files from piano roll scans available. Many more are available for a modest fee. (see links on the site listed above).

The physical connection between the computer and Pianocorder requires only the addition of an inexpensive drop-in cassette tape adapter and a stereo patch cable. Everything needed to upgrade your Pianocorder to a computerized point and click jukebox player, including the new Winamp plugin costs less than $200.

The new Mark Fontana Winamp Plugin will do for your Pianocorder what the Gerety-Chase valve system is doing for pneumatic reproducers, and then some.

You will now be able to play your Pianocorder from your computer for hours of nonstop music at the touch of a mouse. No more problematic tapes to fool with or change. Then again, if you wish to make new tapes for your Pianocorder, the program can do that also.

Even if your tape deck's tape transport is no longer working, you can use the new plugin to bring your Pianocorder back to life. Using the cassette adapter removes the necessity of trying to capture the signal off old worn tapes that may not track well. The cassette adapter delivers the signal directly to the tape head in the tape deck thru physical/magnetic contact, so no more tracking/transport problems.

Used correctly (read - push the pause button), there is no mechanical sound associated with using a cassette adapter with the Pianocorder, so the deck remains a silent partner in reproducing the music.

Because I have written before of special editing I found necessary with the previous DOS based program for translating midi to Pianocorder data, I should mention that with the new program NO editing of midi files is necessary.
Just load them into the Winamp player and enjoy!

You may immediately download a fully functional copy of the new Winamp Pianocorder Plugin from the site to install on your computer and try out on your Pianocorder.

Though the player is fully functional, it will only play the first 60 seconds of a file for trial purposes. The purchase of a license will remove the 60 second restriction. The price for the license at $150 is extremely reasonable for all the great features, convenience and wonderful music this player will bring to you through your newly upgraded Pianocorder system.

Once you have your new system set up and fully functional, you may also, upon proof of ownership, acquire PC data files of original Pianocorder tapes in your possession, which you can also play through the winamp player, so NO MORE TAPES to deal with. Also, you will finally be able to slow the overly fast taped selections to a reasonable tempo.

The player can also translate other file types used for solenoid pianos. See information about the various formats at the site.

I would like to thank Mark for all his work to upgrade Pianocorder access, including the earlier DOS program, which I used for the last couple of years until the new windows program was perfected. I have had countless hours of enjoyment from my Pianocorder because of his interest in creating these programs for our use.

The old DOS program tremendously expanded the possibilities of the Pianocorder system and now the new windows program has taken that about a light year ahead in quality of reproduction, efficiency and ease of use. It's a truly great feat of programming, guaranteed to markedly increase the fun quotient and enjoyment of owning/operating a Pianocorder. Thanks Mark!!

Unlike the previous system which required making and storing gigantic wave files, the plugin needs only midi files to operate, so requires only a fraction of hard disk space for thousands of midi files. With that in mind, and because my Pianocorder keytop player is portable, I have acquired an older Pent II 332 Mhz laptop to go with it.

Even adding the laptop, the plugin, laptop, adapter, and cord came to a total of only $430, to totally upgrade and make totally portable my Pianocorder Obensetzer.

You will find that the Pianocorder site is extremely well done and contains many sources of information related to the Pianocorder, including but not limited to, Pianocorder history, links to thousands of excellent quality midi files, an extensive step by step guide with pictures for installing winamp and the plugin, FAQs page, links to the Pianocorder Forum and other Pianocorder resources, etc. http://dp70.dyndns.org/pianocorder/

Enjoy!

Tom Lear
San Francisco, Ca.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: Pianocorder updated -- Winamp can now play your Pianocorder!	Roger Dalziel	09:05:31 11/22/03 Sat