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RMI Keyboard Computer KCI

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RMI Keyboard Computer KCII

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Page last updated Aug 10, 2025

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Kirk Slinkard

RMI Keyboard Computer (KC1) combo organ

Kirk Slinkard

RMI KC-1 Keyboard Computer ... Demo Tracks

The Organ Jukebox

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Critic Reviews

RMI Keyboards [Retrozone]

soundonsound.com

While the RMI Keyboard Computer KCI's innovative hybrid digital-analog design was groundbreaking, offering early digital synthesis capabilities and a range of preset sounds, its lack of touch sensitivity and dated punch card programming system are significant drawbacks. Despite being ahead of its time, the KCI's poor marketing and the confusing positioning of its capabilities limited its appeal, making it a commercial failure. However, for vintage synth enthusiasts, it remains an intriguing piece of history that prefigures later digital instruments.

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Jean Michel Jarre

Keyboardist, Music Producer

The Dustbins

Verified via Wordpress

On the back of the album cover of Equinoxe it says in that Jean-Michel Jarre used a RMI Keyboard Computer.

Link to page with album covers. Click the back of the Equinoxe album : https://lpcover.wordpress.com/tag/jean-michel-jarre/

Another link that contains information about this keyboard and there is a photo where the RMI is behind Jean-Michel Jarre : http://www.jarrography.free.fr/details_equipement_audio.php?id_equip=8

Yanni

Composer

Verified via Photo

In a throwback post on Facebook, Yanni reflects on his mid-1980s tenure with the band Chameleon, where his extensive keyboard setup included the RMI Keyboard Computer KCI.

Garth Hudson

Keyboardist, Saxophonist

The Band

Verified via reverb.com

" To his right hand side is an RMI KC-1 synth."

Roger Powell

Singer, Keyboardist

Verified via Photo

Roger began using KCIs in 1975, if not earlier. A stock KCI can be seen in Roger's keyboard rig in this video from 1977: https://youtu.be/5_IAo9ehBvM

Roger stopped using the KCI in 1978, when he acquired a KCII. However, he can be seen with a KCI (unsure if it's the same one) in Utopia shows on the "Camouflage" tour in 1981. This KCI appears to have been modded with a pitch bend wheel and two additional red buttons (or knobs?) on the left hand side, and it can be seen in the attached photo. The "Swing to the Right" album was being recorded during this time, so it is likely that Roger used this KCI on that album.

This KCI appears to be one of the early prototype models; it has the flat wooden body used on the older Rock-si-Chords and Electra-pianos. The production model introduced a molded plastic body that would be used on RMI products from 1974 onward. It also has illuminated "stops" that were changed in the production version because Stevie Wonder, being blind, could not tell which ones were on or off when he was invited to play a prototype. A shot of the front panel of Roger's KCI where the buttons are visible can be seen in this video: https://youtu.be/NSzeIEI7gPY