PlaySK Piano Roll Reader Ver3.6

Optically reading a piano roll image, emulates expression and output midi signal in real-time.

The "Virtual Tracker Bar" optically picks up roll holes then emulates note, pedal and expression code. The expression code is decoded to vacuum level (in inches of water) in real-time, then convert to MIDI velocity.

Currently, 9 virtual tracker bars are available.

• Aeolian 176-note Duo-Art Pipe Organ (MIDI output assignment)
• Standard 88-note
• Ampico B
• Duo-Art
• Welte-Mignon T-100 (Red) / T-98 (Green) / Licensee
• Philipps Duca (no expression. experimental)
• Recordo version A / B
• Artecho
• Themodist
  • Themodist e-Valve supports e-valve midi note output. (18 for sustain, 19 for bass snakebite, 109 for treble snakebite)

In the future, Ampico A will be supported.

Support image formats are .CIS, .jpg, .tif, .png, .bmp. The .CIS supports various scanners such as stepper, wheel/shaft encoder, bi-color, twin-array.

Demo

• Reading an Ampico B roll with Yamaha Disklavier
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f9J4TRmr5Y

• Reading a Red Welte T-100 roll with Software Synthesizer
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMEPW-UWhSU

• Reading an Aeolian 176-note Pipe Organ roll with virtual organ
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1P6m5cLBtM

Donation

I personally pay near $100 a year to codesign and notarize software for distribution. Your support greatly contributes to the continuous development and improvement of the Software. Please consider donating.

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/KatzSasaki

Usage

1. Download the software and sample scans https://github.com/nai-kon/PlaySK-Piano-Roll-Reader/releases/
2. Launch the program and Select MIDI output port and Virtual tracker bar
3. Select scan image from sample_scans folder
4. Enjoy!

Manual Expression

If you check ☑ Manual Expression, you can express dynamics using the keyboard.

• J, K, L: intensity level (can be combined)
• A, S: bass and treble accent

Tips

• The program picks up lighted holes of image.
• The vacuum level is emulated in inches of water and later converted to MIDI velocity.
• The roll acceleration is emulated by spool diameter and roll thickness.
• The roll tempo is automatically set.
  • CIS images... from CIS header.
  • Other images... from .ANN file if exists. Or from filename such as Ampico 52305 Clair de Lune tempoXX.jpg.
• Associate the program with .CIS on right-click menu, you can run app by double-clicking .CIS file.
• The roll scrolling direction is always downward. So the Welte T-100 image should be inverted.

For developers

Requirements

• Python 3.11.6
• Poetry

Quick Start

$ poetry install
$ poetry shell
$ cd src/
$ python main.py

Build binary locally

• Windows (x64)
  • poetry run ./build_win.bat
  • tested on Windows10
• macOS (x64/ARM)
  • poetry run ./build_mac.sh
  • tested on macOS Venture (both Intel and M1 cpu)

CI/CD

There are test and release pipelines on Github Actions.

• PR or merge into main repository triggers unit tests.
• Push a tag triggers build binary and create a draft of the release.
  • On Mac app, codesign, notarization, dmg installer creation are also triggered. (This uses my personal Apple Developer ID)

Sequence diagram

sequenceDiagram
    participant user
    participant appmain
    participant update check thread
    participant image scroll thread
    participant emulator as roll view &<br>player emulation
    participant midi port

    user->>+appmain: start app
    appmain->>appmain: load last config
    appmain->>+update check thread: start update check thread
    update check thread->>appmain: 
    update check thread->>-update check thread: check update
    user->>appmain: open file
    appmain->>+image scroll thread: start image scroll thread
    image scroll thread->>appmain: 
    image scroll thread->>image scroll thread: load file
    loop over 100hz
        image scroll thread->>+emulator: roll image
        emulator->>+midi port: migi signal
        midi port->>-emulator: 
        emulator->>-image scroll thread: 
        image scroll thread->>+emulator: roll image
        emulator->>+midi port: migi signal
        midi port->>-emulator: 
        emulator->>-image scroll thread: 
    end
    user->>appmain: change tempo
    appmain->>image scroll thread: 
    image scroll thread->>image scroll thread: change scroll speed
    user->>appmain: change tracker bar
    appmain->>emulator: 
    emulator->>emulator: change tracker bar
    
    
    user->>appmain: open file
    appmain->>image scroll thread: end request
    image scroll thread->>-appmain: 
    appmain->>+image scroll thread: start image scroll thread
    image scroll thread->>image scroll thread: load file
    loop over 100hz
        image scroll thread->>+emulator: roll image
        emulator->>+midi port: migi signal
        midi port->>-emulator: 
        emulator->>-image scroll thread: 
        image scroll thread->>+emulator: roll image
        emulator->>+midi port: migi signal
        midi port->>-emulator: 
        emulator->>-image scroll thread: 
    end
    user->>appmain: select close button
    appmain->>image scroll thread: end request
    image scroll thread->>-appmain: 
    appmain->>-user: end app

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