Multikey 1822 Better

Critics of the multikey system often point to the loss of the "pure" baroque sound, arguing that the metal keys and larger tone holes degrade the wooden resonance of the instrument. However, this view overlooks the fact that musical taste was shifting away from the intimate salon and toward the public concert hall. The 1822 flute produced a sound that was more penetrating and projecting. It was an instrument built for the acoustics of the Romantic era, designed to cut through the texture of an expanding orchestra. In this context, "better" is defined by utility and projection; the 1822 model succeeded in making the flute a viable solo voice in larger ensembles, whereas the earlier flute would have been drowned out.

Some historical analyses refer to the difficulty of breaking these messages because they use a book cipher (a type of multi-key system where different words in a text like the Declaration of Independence serve as keys for different letters).