"pianoman1984" pianoman1984@... asks:

> I'll go on looking on ebay.
> I understood that the USB scanners are no use? is that correct?

The most common source of the CIS sensor is a Mustek A3 flat bed
scanner. They can be found on eBay for a decent price,
particularly if it is no longer working. Over the past couple
years, I have acquired 8 of them, all USB models, all not
working. All their innards found their way into roll scanners
somewhere.

The critical ingredient is finding out if the scanner is a "CIS"
type. What you do not want is one that is a "CCD" type.

I made that mistake once, and ended up acquiring a Mustek A3
scanner, fully functional, fortunately for a decent price because
it was alleged to no longer be working. It turned out to be a
"CCD" type, and in fact worked normally. So I simply kept it
and used it for couple years to scan oversize music magazines
such as Etude, Musical America, The Musician, etc.

Vast majority of eBay vendors do not know if the unit they are
selling is a "CIS" or "CCD" type. Best to ask the vendor to
specify the exact model number on its ID plate, then visit the
Mustek web site to determine the specs. If the vendor still
has the original manual, its specifications will be printed
within it.

As you are in Europe, you can find one of these in the USA, but
do not have the entire scanner shipped to you in Europe.
Arrange to have it shipped to someone on this discussion group in
the USA for disassembly. All you really need out of it is the
CIS sensor which is easily removed. It can be shipped
separately at dramatically less cost than the whole scanner.
eBay in various European countries also has these scanners
appearing from time to time.

If you plan to build a MK4 scanner based on Larry Doe's plans on
his web site, you will also need the scanner's electronics,
easily included within the shipping parcel. Have a look at one
of his scanners at:

http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/MK4.htm

The dominant advantage of Larry's design is the high quality scan
files that emerge from it, quite suitable for archival purposes,
and eventual recuts, as a consequence of its precision paper
transport mechanism.

The MK4 scanner will also capture printed data throughout the
length of the roll, such as lyrics or organ stop instructions,
etc. Unfortunately, there is still no way to migrate this
printed data from the archive file onto recut rolls, or even into
the midi files that emerge from the scanning process.

To get a feeling for how other people have designed and built
roll scanners, have a look at:

http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/scanners.htm

Hope all this helps a little. Let us know how you make out.

Regards,

Terry Smythe


Terry Smythe (204) 832-3982
55 Rowand Avenue smythe@...
Winnipeg, MB
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm
Canada R3J2N6