{"product_id":"rmi-keyboard-computer-model-kc-ii-clark-ferguson-1980-1lp-vinyl","title":"RMI Keyboard Computer - Model KC-II - Clark Ferguson (1980) (1LP Vinyl)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"vinyl-record-details\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sealed (New)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr style=\"margin: 15px 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid #ccc;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRMI Keyboard Computer - Model KC-II\u003c\/strong\u003e by \u003cstrong\u003eClark Ferguson\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew records capture a moment of technological transition quite like this 1980 release from Rocky Mount Instruments, the Macungie, Pennsylvania subsidiary of the Allen Organ Company. It exists as much as a demonstration as an album: nearly every performance here was recorded live in real time, played by one person on the RMI Keyboard Computer Model KC-II, an early polyphonic instrument that generated its pitches, envelopes, and waveforms by exclusively digital means. That makes it a genuine artifact of the dawn of digital synthesis, a document of what a five-octave keyboard could do on its own in a single take.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClark Ferguson handles the keyboards and wrote the original music, guiding the KC-II through its twelve factory presets and a range of memory and tone-card set-ups. Jerry Fillman adds drums, giving the electronic textures a human pulse and grounding the more elaborate configurations. Steve Cooper's sound design and Pete Helffrich's lacquer cut round out a production that clearly aimed to showcase the instrument's full range, from the simple to the genuinely complex.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded through dual RMI amplifier systems with microphones placed to put you in the room, this is a warm, immersive listen rather than a dry technical exercise. For collectors drawn to early electronic music and the machines that made it, it's a rare and characterful piece of synthesizer history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePressing Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrack Listing:\u003cbr\u003eA1. Strings 8'\u003cbr\u003eA2. Strings 16'\u003cbr\u003eA3. Electric Organ, Organ \u0026amp; Bells\u003cbr\u003eA4. Organ \u0026amp; Guitar\u003cbr\u003eA5. Horn\u003cbr\u003eA6. Piano 8'\u003cbr\u003eA7. Piano 16'\u003cbr\u003eA8. Clav\u003cbr\u003eA9. Jazz Flute \u0026amp; Clav\u003cbr\u003eA10. Alto Recorder \u0026amp; Harpsichord\u003cbr\u003eA11. Bells 8', 16'\u003cbr\u003eA12. Pipe Organ\u003cbr\u003eA13. Echo\u003cbr\u003eB1. Reed\u003cbr\u003eB2. Banjo\u003cbr\u003eB3. Steel Drum\u003cbr\u003eB4. Marimba\u003cbr\u003eB5. Vibes\u003cbr\u003eB6. Steam Calliope\u003cbr\u003eB7. Choir \u0026amp; Bells\u003cbr\u003eB8. Multi-Track\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003cbr\u003eJerry Fillman - Drums\u003cbr\u003eClark Ferguson - Keyboards [RMI Keyboard Computer, Model KC-II], Music By [Original]\u003cbr\u003ePete Helffrich - Lacquer Cut By\u003cbr\u003eSteve Cooper (9) - Sound Designer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotes:\u003cbr\u003e(c) 1977 Rocky Mount Instruments, Inc.\u003cbr\u003eMacungie, Pa. 18062\u003cbr\u003e(Subsidiary of Allen Organ Company)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen KC-II is played from its standard five-octave keyboard in real time it generates pitches, envelopes, and waveforms (a myriad from simple to complex) polyphonically by exclusively digital means.\u003cbr\u003eKC-II is a highly versitile live performance Polyphonic instrument.\u003cbr\u003eThis entire album, with the exception of the last cut on Side Two (Multi-Track), was recorded live in real time on the RMI Keyboard Computer, Model KC-II, by one person.\u003cbr\u003eOutputs from KC audio channels One and Two were fed to two RMI model 360K amplifier systems each emplying five-speaker three-way cabinets (a combination recomended for KC-II).\u003cbr\u003eMicrophones were used in addition to some direct feed in order to give the sensation of being in the room with the instruments.\u003cbr\u003eSide One is essentially the 12 presets in order from right to left.\u003cbr\u003eSide Two contains some popular set-ups employing both permanent memory and tone card waveforms, finishing with a Multi-Track cut to illustrate KC-II petential in a studio enviroment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clark Ferguson\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1LP\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jazz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rocky Mount Instruments, Inc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog Number:\u003c\/strong\u003e RMI KC-II\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Year:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1980\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e United States\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Rocky Mount Instruments, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52260828938536,"sku":null,"price":12.57,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/2339\/3320\/files\/1787074491652-181326054.jpg?v=1787074542","url":"https:\/\/mileswaxey.com\/products\/rmi-keyboard-computer-model-kc-ii-clark-ferguson-1980-1lp-vinyl","provider":"Miles Waxey","version":"1.0","type":"link"}