# What is this 1985 computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155 "2021-08-19T15:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/1 "2021-08-19T15:25:42Z")
I noticed this in the keyboard area of The Cars performance at Live Aid 1985. He’s got some sort of computer back there, but I don’t recognize it, nor have I had any luck in google image search. Does anyone know what this machine is? It’s a form of computer I’ve never encountered before. (eta, the keyboard is visible, if you click the first image. ) It’s very stylish, for 1985. Almost Mac-like. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/b9sGUCZrCpu-L6HWIKgc9Pn1qZfgsWo2GnTezfzGYai7p-KeBQzJmIhgwzgFAlKTgUs_Dm8oZFdlaibKQIupjBV5hC3IC1n4l9KbBC_ouxMFC5HHvKGHfFGy7JAuGv3vEcYEieyTQQ=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Joe Wentworth") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/eugVrdixR27A4YRb7) [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NunmBpPNeFMe_5v4tZ2sz-oyHUHOE7R-M-0E1obVwAZDgg2QsMnjaxH4PI21nQNUaC-MQoV1ezp2QG52ECE-FrqgdAABUmCg-PTK9343fL2dN8AUVNoxXZrabZ3EZVnn6I5F1xANGA=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Joe Wentworth") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/98FjotZ1dkgUmTjQ7) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/2 "2021-08-19T15:31:40Z")
A [DEC VT100](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT100)? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/3 "2021-08-19T15:32:18Z")
Yes, It looks blurry—but what makes you think it is a computer rather than a VT100 (or very similar)? ETA it does not resemble a Fairlight CMI; what would it have been hooked up to? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/4 "2021-08-19T15:34:07Z")
The OP may be too young to be aware of the existence of computer terminals such as the VT100. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/5 "2021-08-19T15:34:33Z")
That’s a [Synclavier II](https://www.joness.com/gr300/dartmouthengineer.htm). Less a standalone computer and more the terminal the operates the interface of the keyboard he’s playing. It was a truly revolutionary, pioneering sampling keyboard/workstation of the 70s and 80s. [The Fairlight CMI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairlight_CMI) was its main competitor. That was an expensive, delicate item to take on tour. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/6 "2021-08-19T15:35:56Z")
It’s not a computer, it’s a CMI (Computer Musical Instrument), in this case a Synclavier (the preview doesn’t show the correct image, scroll down.) [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synclavier#/media/File:Terminal-dec-vt100.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synclavier#/media/File:Terminal-dec-vt100.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/7 "2021-08-19T15:39:33Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > ETA it does not resemble a Fairlight CMI; what would it have been hooked up to? > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > That’s a [Synclavier II](https://www.joness.com/gr300/dartmouthengineer.htm). That must be it, not too many possibilities… > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > That was an expensive, delicate item to take on tour. For sure, but I wonder what were the cheaper/less delicate alternatives? Assuming you did not want to go without an advanced digital synthesizer… ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/8 "2021-08-19T15:45:59Z")
As compared to the other equipment which wasn’t expensive? It’s a monitor, keyboardx2 (playing and typing) and the actual computer. The price wasn’t due to it’s fragile nature, it was because so few existed and was often programmed by on an individual basis to be able to do what they did, if the owner didn’t know how to do it. Of course, being careful with it was important, but so was being careful with the other gear. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/9 "2021-08-19T16:00:56Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I wonder what were the cheaper/less delicate alternatives? Assuming you did not want to go without an advanced digital synthesizer… I don’t think there would have been real alternatives if the goal was to recreate the exact sounds from the album version of the songs. But as the reviews of the time described it, it cost as much as a house back then, and just looking at the numbers of cards and connections it required, I would imagine it took a lot of careful handling and fine tuning on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/10 "2021-08-19T16:04:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The OP may be too young to be aware of the existence of computer terminals such as the VT100. Young? I was there dude! But I was not a cutting edge new wave musician. I can’t even play bongos. But thanks! I looked up “80s music computers” and the Synclavier did turn up in a period article, but the linked picture was missing. I was that close! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/11 "2021-08-19T16:44:34Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > That’s a [Synclavier II](https://www.joness.com/gr300/dartmouthengineer.htm). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/12 "2021-08-19T18:12:04Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > But as the reviews of the time described it, it cost as much as a house back then I think it cost more! [This article](https://www.joness.com/gr300/dartmouthengineer.htm) mentions this fact: > price tags ranging from $75,000 to $500,000 The median home price in the US in 1985 was around $70,000 according to what I’m reading. (Some places say as high as $80,000 but that seems to be an outlier.) So on the low end, it was still more expensive than a house. On the high end, it’s still far more than the median price for a house even today. That is crazy expensive! (Though surely affordable for a highly-successful musician.) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/13 "2021-08-19T19:05:22Z")
But @Dewey_Finn was [correct](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/2) also. That particular Synclavier II used a DEC VT100 for its control terminal. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/14 "2021-08-19T20:08:08Z")
I thought they looked eerily similar… As in identical. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/15 "2021-08-19T20:27:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > A [DEC VT100](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT100)? > [@gnoitall](#): > > But @Dewey_Finn was [correct](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/2) also. You are correct! I thought I thanked everyone, but I guess I missed. Quite the machine! Woulkd be fascinating to have that setup, but it was probably beyond my computer skills back then. (or my musical talent) ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/16 "2021-08-19T20:34:00Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Quite the machine! Woulkd be fascinating to have that setup, but it was probably beyond my computer skills back then. (or my musical talent) I have, among other vintage synths, very accurate reproductions of the Synclavier and the Fairlight on my laptop, to be used in conjunction with a MIDI controller. It’s a relatively cheap way to play with classics that I have never seen in person, much less that I could afford them. The particular recreation I have was developed in conjunction with the original software guy behind the Synclavier, and the [videos of how they managed the simulated version](https://www.arturia.com/synclavier-v/overview) are pretty cool if you are interested ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-1985-computer/949155/17 "2021-08-24T02:44:52Z")
By 1985 there were quite a range of VT series terminals, mostly based on the VT-100. This was likely a VT640, one of the higher end graphics capable versions. Where higher end graphics meant any sort of graphics at all. The music department at my old uni had a Synclavier. I remember seeing it used. It was bought by Tristram Cary, who was still teaching there. Tristram was somewhat famous in the world of early synthetic music. He liked the Synclavier as he had grown bored with the mainstream subtractive synthesis sound palate. As a bunch of Aussie geeks we were of course somewhat outraged that an Australian uni had not bought a CMI. I have seen an Australian rock band tour with a CMI. I was impressed that they took the risk. The case is somewhat reminiscent of the Apple Lisa as well. So that is probably a source of confusion.