website/content/museum/yamaha-c1.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Yamaha C1	Computers	Portable	Japan	1987	Intel 80286	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos docs oc_id source C1 /media/museum/photos/yamaha_c1_system_s1.jpg /companies/yamaha Yamaha label value NAME C1 label value MANUFACTURER Yamaha label value TYPE Portable label value ORIGIN Japan label value YEAR 1987 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD 88 keys with numeric keypad and arrow keys label value CPU Intel 80286 label value SPEED switchable clock 10/8 MHz label value RAM 640 Kbytes main, 512 Kbytes extension label value ROM 64 Kbytes label value TEXT MODES 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES CGA, 640 x 400 label value COLORS Monochrome blueish LCD display label value SOUND Buzzer label value SIZE / WEIGHT 394(W) x 382(D) x 82(H) mm / 8.2 kg (18 lb 2 oz) label value I/O PORTS Time Code In, Time Code Out (both via RCA ports), 2 x serial ports, Expansion Card Slot, 8 x MIDI OUT ports, 2 x MIDI IN ports, 1 x MIDI THRU port, Digital RGB out port, CGA or Monochrome (Hercules compatible) mode label value BUILT IN MEDIA 3.5'' Floppy disc drive (1.44 MB) + 20 MB hard disk label value OS MS-DOS 3.3 label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply label value PRICE Unknown photos docs 1144 title subtitle text image LARGE VIEW /media/museum/photos/yamaha_c1_system_s2.jpg title subtitle text image C1 BAG & ORIGINAL DISKETTES /media/museum/photos/yamaha_c1_bag_s1.jpg title url cover text USER'S MANUAL http://www.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/index.php /media/museum/docs/couvs/yamaha_c1_usersmanual_s1.jpg [**USER'S MANUAL**](http://www.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/index.php)written by Yamaha  compiled/archived by Yamaha\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Yamaha C1](http://www.yamaha.co.jp) 1176 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230306003717/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1176 2023-03-06

The Yamaha C1 was released in 1987 and is basically a 80286 processor based PC with 8 built in MIDI ports for use in applications where there are many MIDI instruments to address.

By 1987 some machines which were capable of responding on multiple MIDI channels were appearing, and some earlier machines could only function in "omni" mode which meant that they needed a whole 16 channel port to themselves or they would play every time a note intended for another instrument was sent.

Since MIDI information is fairly 'slow' in respect to what even a about 10Mhz computer can handle 8 output ports with buffers wasn't a difficult thing to pull off for even an old 286 apparently.

Various DOS applications were included, among them the Voyetra Sequencer which was set up to run all 8 ports.

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Contributors : Bob Weigel (picture, info), Gareth Qually (info, specs)

Javier Z. reports:
Yamaha C1 Music Computer was used by Kraftwerk in "Electric Cafe".

We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.