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From: fritz@hpfclp.UUCP (fritz)
Newsgroups: net.music.synth
Subject: Yamaha music computer?
Message-ID: <33200001@hpfclp.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-May-85 03:00:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpfclp.33200001
Posted: Tue May 28 03:00:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Jun-85 03:14:20 EDT
Lines: 30
Nf-ID: #N:hpfclp:33200001:000:1376
Nf-From: hpfclp!fritz    May 27 23:00:00 1985

My brother is the band director for a small high school, and would like
to add some electronic sound to his ensemble.  He would also like a
computer that would be useful in numerous ways, e.g.  enter (via
keyboard)/edit/print?/play back music, do normal "computer" things like
word processing and simple database operations (to keep track of sheet
music & instruments, etc).

He recently saw a too-short demo of some new music-oriented computer
from Yamaha.  He couldn't remember a model number or much detail about
it, but some of the relevant info included:
	- standard computer interface, incl. ASCII keyboard
	- built-in DX-5  (must buy outboard keyboard to play manually)
	- MIDI for controlling DX-7
	- 32k RAM built-in, expandable to 64k
	- plug-in data cartridges, supposedly new standard format (see below)
	- ~$600, plus about $200 for a keyboard

The system apparently uses some type of solid-state data cartridge for
programs/patches/whatever.  The salesman told him this was some new
standard that would be compatible with all the new Japanese music systems
(Sony, Casio, whatnot).  I told him I would be impressed (and amazed) if
it was actually compatible between rival systems.

Is anyone familiar with this unit, and if so, could you tell me about it?
Please MAIL any responses.  Thanks!

Gary Fritz
Hewlett Packard
Ft Collins, CO
{ihnp4,hplabs}!hpfcla!fritz