RMI KCII Keyboard Computer demonstration

[@mhlevy]

In 1980, I graduated high school, and as a graduation gift from my father, I got to go to a "music recording technology" class, offered by The New School in NYC, and it was conducted at DownTown Sound, a recording studio in Greenwich Village, NY. They had one of the RMI Computer Keyboards, and it was absolutely amazing. The Hammond Organ sound was amazing, especially when using a pedal for pitch bend! Lots of amazing sounds were available from that keyboard, and that class was awesome.

[@marcodavoli4334]

The first digital keyboard on the market ( Ten Years before Yamaha DX7 )

[@jakemccoy233]

Excellent overview of this incredible machine. Big fan of Rundgren & Powell, and always loved the unique pallet of sounds created by the RMI. Thanks again for your time making this video!

[@Gazdatronik]

This thing is cool. you can hear it also has digital envelopes with horrendous stepping. This was the cutting edge for sure at the time

[@aliensporebomb]

Between Todd's "Initiation", Roger Powell's "Air Pocket", Steve Hillage's "L" and Terje Rypdal's "Waves" this was the keyboard to have in the mid to late 1970s. Still sounds great.

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

Wakeman too

[@demian964]

This must be a Revolution for that Time.

[@SanderAnderon]

Todd's Initiation brought me here. Thanks for the great demo!

[@TONY_FEZ]

Spot on! I came here to hear that bell sound from "Real Man" :)

[@PhilDonaldson]

The "Initiation" album is where I learned of the RMI as well! I'd wanted one for such a long time.

[@SanderAnderon]

@@PhilDonaldson right the hell on Phil, such a one-of-a-kind album incl. being first ever 60-minute LP. Remember first reading those "RMI computer keyboard" liner notes and thinking wait, now what the heck is a computer keyboard, right?! Todd and Moogy (rip), that whole lineup in fact always embraced the bleeding edge of futuristic gear, tech issues and all. cheers

[@audiodood]

Hermit of mink hollow also features a lot of KC tones, he experimented more with other sounds on it

[@SanderAnderon]

@@audiodood I didn't know that, thanks will listen for it on Hermit again, cheers

[@routinehead2481]

that has got to be the coolest looking thing ever! Great sounding too!

[@FOCtv]

Proper demo! Excellent. I've been waiting decades to hear this instrument. Thanks.

[@stevehofer3482]

Thanks for posting an interesting video. According to Synthmuseum.com, a KCII originally listed for $4,750 in 1975. That would come out to over $21,000 in 2016 dollars.

[@supercompooper]

Sensational sound and playing!

[@gilesl]

love the card reader!

[@frk75]

Basically the church irgan sounds amazing but for the rest, just like the electra, its the phaser/chorus/delay effects that tony banks added on that made the instrument sounds outstanding

[@audiodood]

tony banks never had one of these

[@deleteable.]

@@audiodoodbut i bet it would sound amazing if he did

[@ME-ru4hv]

LOL 3:11 Fearless Vampire Killers!! This is my new favorite.. wow! I probably heard this on a record and mistaken it for a Mellotron in some settings

[@horowizard]

A rather bombastic instrument by today's standards. There doesn't seem to be a way to alter the Envelopes for subtleties in the articulation.

[@9KznfiS87f7]

The independent attack, percussion, and sustain features are time adjusted by a common controller over a wide range. Percussion can be used on some voices at the same time as voices without percussion. Although not done exactly the same as on an analog synthesizer, there is a lot of envelope variation range.

[@StarfieldBound]

What a treat. 1975(ish). This thing is a wonder. Great demo!

[@MRSHORTFUSE100]

This is a great demo.As others have said the great Roger Powell used this alot.It sounds like the bells preset was used on the beginning of Mr Powells great song Mister Triscuits if my facts are right.

[@nigelgwennap5276]

That thing sounds amazing Morgan!

[@keyhoarder]

For 1975 - wow - it sounds so ahead of its time, much more versatility compared to the analog synths of the time

[@mlm6915841]

Really ahead of its time. I remember seeing Roger Powell playing one with Todd Rundgren If I remember right (it was long ago ) this and a MiniMoog were his rig!

[@BlackMan614]

I think he (Roger Powell) did some of the presets and the voice "cards" as well - it was "programmable" via IBM punch cards.

[@aliensporebomb]

Roger also had two Moog 55 modulars. All this amazing gear was lost in the warehouse fire that also destroyed Willie's customized drumkit that was installed on a motorcycle frame. It also destroyed Todd and Kasim's Valeno guitars and basses.

[@xtra8dj]

The sound is amazing!

[@softdrive9244]

Robert John Godfrey (Barclay James Harvest & later The Enid) used to use one.

[@baward]

Wow that's amazing, someone's going to end up a really happy person! :-)

[@rumpelstilskenmimisiku7263]

Really dope

[@analogsynthesizer]

How many notes of polyphonia?

[@audiodood]

12 but it’s fewer if you layer tones for chorusing

[@t55a2]

Nice!!!!!

[@rembrandvandooren8027]

SOUNDS AWESOME!!! is the RMI KC2 exensive?

[@morganfisherart]

You mean "expensive?" It was sold in October 2016 on Yahoo Auctions Japan for ¥260,000.

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

The Wakeman's one is for sales for about €7600 on Reverb. Rather expensive knowing it's a digital synth so you can get this and much more from any DAW

[@jaggass]

I wonder if ABBA used this on Money, Money, Money

[@stugreen7937]

Rick wakeman used to play one of these in YES in 70s.

[@morganfisherart]

Funniest man in all of rock - see his acceptance speech when Yes were inducted into the R'n'R Hall of Fame hahahaaaa!!!

[@horowizard]

Are you certain? I know Wakeman played the RMI Electra Piano with Yes, but I don't recall ever seeing one of these in his live rig.

[@torbjornandersson5997]

He used a RMI KC during the GFTO session, but I don't know if it ended up on the record. However, he did bring the RMI KC along for the GFTO tour. It was placed beneath a stack of two Birotrons to the right of the Hammond organ, making it hard to spot on photos. He also used a Mander portable pipe organ on the GFTO tour for Awaken. On the 1978 "In the round" tour both the RMI KC and the Mander organ had been replaced with a single RMI KCII, placed on top of the grand piano.@@horowizard​

[@rembrandvandooren8027]

is he sold? wich price?

[@morganfisherart]

Sold in October 2016 on Yahoo Auctions Japan for ¥260,000 .