I actually got interested in player piano technology of the late 1800's. When I studied the mechanical components, I realized they had implemented electronic circuits, only using mechanical parts and pneumatic technology. The rolls were digital punch cards. I got so excited by it, I wrote a roll scanner in javascript that uses the phone's built in camera to play back various rolls. I obtained hundreds of original piano rolls of various manufacturers and painstakingly reverse engineered the roll formats. I sampled all the piano keys and I was shocked when my mobile device could actually play back the roles. Yes, your phone is able to play 88 notes simultaneously with pretty decent fidelity. Javascript executes fast enough to read the holes in real time. Amazing!
Now I have to build a roll transport system with a back light. Yes, I'm a bit crazy. But I've learned to live with it.
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