MATRIXSYNTH: PHILIPS PMC100 MUSIC COMPOSER


Monday, June 28, 2010

PHILIPS PMC100 MUSIC COMPOSER

via this auction
Interesting bit in the details for this one. According to the descriptions, this one is listed by someone that was involved in the development of the PMC100.

"Here's the spec:
2 Octave membrane keyboard with safe-note feature and real-time digital recording
4-octave steptime composer with single step editing
100 FM Voices
2000 event memory
6 music and 5 rhythm tracks
12 accompaniment styles with 4 play modes
Playback music control
Recording personal stereo
Package contains:
PMC100 Composer
Personal Earphones
Shoulder Strap
Stereo Lead for connection to audio system
User Guide
Music Guide
Demo Data Cassette

It can work on either 6 AA batteries, or a 9 volt multi adapter, neither of which are included.

It has a tape recorder built into it, that enables you to save your compositions as data. The tape recorder also allows you to play and record audio.

Connection wise it has a headphone/line out socket, a microphone socket and the external power input socket.

The PMC100 has 100 instrument or "melody" voices, and another 15 "melody and accompaniment" voices.

The keyboard is a membrane similar to the EDP Wasp.

Its based on the Yamaha FM sound chip, was launched in 1986, it had a nine-channel FM synth with a 100 presets, a membrane keyboard, 8k of ram, a built in cassette recorder, and buttons for a strap. It was designed in part by British PC music pioneer Lyndsay Williams, who designed the first ever PC soundcard, for an Olivetti in 1987

I was personally involved in the design and marketing of this product when it was first produced and actually made the mock-up model that was the basis of the layout and design of it. I also co-wrote the user guide at the last minute after the guy who was originally commissioned to do it came up with a load of crap!

Although it may seem pretty basic now, it was extremely innovative at the time and gave rise to similar 'music notebook' type products from Yamaha. The great advantage that the Yamaha products had of course was MIDI which I fought hard to be included on this product but Philips didn't want to pay the extra!"

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