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								Department of Music
								Stanford University
								Stanford, CA. 94305
Arnold Broido, President					August 26, 1976
Theodore Presser Company
Presser Place
Bryn Mawr, PA.

Dear Mr. Broido,

	Thank you for your interest in my computer music printing system.

I have enclosed a copy of my 1972 article on the process which appeared in the

Journal of Music Theory.  Since the article was written, there have been very

many improvements in the system, making it easier and faster to use.

	I have also enclosed a few examples of the output of my system.  The

largest sheet (the Ligeti page) was produced on a Calcomp plotter at four times

the final size.  Then it was reduced for standard photolithography printing.

The Inventio Septima was plotted with a size factor of 2.5.  While the results

are acceptable I think a factor of 4 is needed to approach engraving quality.

The resolution of the plotter in use is 1/200 inch.  There are various devices

available which can give better accuracy but I have not yet had access to them.

	All the other sheets were produced directly by a XEROX device which

is connected to our computer.  Again the resolution is 1/200 inch.  I consider

these as first proof copies, but the results are quite adequate for performance

purposes.  The great advantage here is speed.  The data is  processed and

printed in under 30 seconds and multiple copies add only the time it takes to

move the paper through the machine.

	The unlabled orchestral page is from Elliot Carter's Double Concerto, 

page 144.  I did this as a test of my automatic rhythmic spacing and justifying

routines.  This would be much more clear in a non-XEROX printing.

	I am quite convinced that some process such as mine will become the norm

for music publishers.  There are a few other people working on this around

the country but as far as I can tell no one else has produced anything more

than very simple and rather primative examples.  My system allows for great

flexibility.  Any number of different styles of clefs, rests, etc. could be

used on the same page.  Also any object can appear in any size or rotation.
	
	I have had discussions with a few publishers about the use of my

system but the only stumbling block seems to be the cost of the hardware.

My cost estimate is $150,000. for a complete, stand-alone computer system

that could run all my programs.  This is a rather conservative figure as

I am told by people who keep up on the newest technology that the costs

could be below $100,000.  However my costs are based upon equipment that

has been on the market for at least 4 years.

	I  fully realize that sums such as these are considerable.  It seems to

me that the practical way to approach this would be through a cooperative

effort of a group of publishers.  In this way the individual risks would be 

minimized.  After a first center were astablished, further ones could be

developed at a lower cost.

	I have not gone into the details of how my process works from the

operator's point of view.  This has to be seen "live" to be appreciated.

If this is of interest to you it would be best if you could come here for

demonstration.  This would be possible most any time just as long as I

could have a few days notice.

					Very sincerely,



					Leland Smith
					Professor of Music