Philips Brother PMC 100 Personal Media Composer FM-Synthesizer Sequencer, 1986, made in China

Link: vintagesynth | encyclotronic | manual PDF | service manual

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!"

It can work on either 6 AA batteries, or a 9 volt multi adapter.

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.

• 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

Architecture

Type: Digital

Synthesis: Frequency Modulation

Oscillators

Oscillators: 2

Waveforms: Sine

ROM Size: 32 kb

Osc Modulation: Envelope, Oscillator, Sequencer

Oscillator Notes:
+ 2-OP FM Snythesizer

Envelopes

Envelopes: 1

LFO

LFO: 1

Polyphony & Tuning

Polyphony: 4

Timbrality: 4

Tuning: Standard

Modes: Polyphonic

Patches

Patches RAM: 100

Storage: Internal, 6

Percussion

+ 15 rhythm patterns 

Sequencer

+ 8 kb RAM

Chips and Operating System

Yamaha OPL YM3526 chip.

Case

Case: Desktop

Keyboard: 25 keys, Touch Plates, Plastic

Controls: Buttons

Display Type: LCD, LED

Dimensions (WxDxH): 220 x 190 x 40 mm

Weight: 715 grams

Connections

Audio Output Connections: 1/4" Phone Jack, Stereo Main

Audio Output Count: 2

Power: 9V DC 500 mA

Production

Year Released: 1986

Year Discontinued: 1988

Design Notes:

Designed by Lindsey Williams