Everything, including the music file had to fit into 64KB of memory
Each disk has a total capacity of 360KB
 
Photos — Ampico-Apple and PA erolls
 
The Phillips Ampico-Apple system was developed in the early 1980s, with most of those produced still in use.
Apple II computer playing one of the 1500 items recorded for the system into a 1923 5'3" Knabe Ampico A, shown here with its roll drawer open.
The roll scans were stored on 5.25" floppy disks: 109 in total.
We now use CDs and a standard CD player to play the Ampico.
For more information, download file "About the erolls"
Peter in 1979 operating the roll recording machine.
The system included a test program for the Ampico. As shown on the left, the piano keys are listed by name (A, B etc to A#). When selected, that note repeats on the piano. The expression system can also be fully tested.
This is one screen of many in the Ampico test program
MIDI adaptors cost less than $50
The PA-eroll system requires a computer, a midi adaptor and a midi piano.

Our midi adaptor is on the left. It uses the computer parallel port, others use a USB port.

For the computer, we use a Compaq Armada 100S laptop, shown here running the "Easy Play" system, with WindPlay playing an eroll.
Midi adaptor (Altech MidiDock)
 
The PA-eroll system
The PA-eroll system
Phillips Ampico-Apple system
Phillips Ampico-Apple system
We use these CDs to play the Ampico from a standard CD player
We believe this is the world's first computerised piano
550MHz laptop that runs WindPlay to play into a MIDI piano
At 7'8", the piano has a big sound
Our old PianoDisc, now much loved by its new owner
The PianoDisc we used to own, fitted to a G5 Yamaha 6'6" piano.
Our C7 MKII XG Disklavier. The set up includes a PianoDisc control box, laptop computer, an MU80 MIDI sound generator, two Disklavier control boxes and switches for audio and MIDI.
Click for excerpt of Alice, a transcription by Ascher, played by Howard Brockway
Click to stop music
Alice Transcription
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A life time project
Is this the world's first computerised piano?