The First MIDI Computer

You will sometimes read that the Atari ST was the first MIDI capable computer. However despite popular belief this statement is not true!

Allegedly it was the NEC PC-8800 (PC-88) series which adopted support for the MIDI protocol first in 1982 if Wikipedia is to be believed. Fact or fiction? This is fiction I am afraid as the MIDI protocol wasn't released to the public in earnest until December 1982 with Sequential's Prophet 600. The MIDI protocol however, wasn't fully debuted to the public until January 1983, and later still around August 1983 to be officially adopted as a standard. The PC-88 however could not support MIDI as standard, but required an add on, the first of which did not get released until 1984!

The pivotal computers in the emergence of the MIDI protocol were the Atari 800, Commodore 64, Apple II, MSX, IBM compatibles, Yamaha CX5M and of course the Atari ST. Not forgetting the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and the BBC Micro.

Atari 800

Hybrid Arts, Inc. MIDIMate - 1983 / 1984

One of, if not the first computer to ever use MIDI and was demonstrated to a wide audience was the Atari 800, using what appears to be the first commercial computer MIDI hardware peripheral from Hybrid Arts which also had syncing capability, the MIDIMate. It was first demonstrated in October 1983 and again at Winter NAMM in January 1984. To quote the founder of Hybrid Arts, 'we were the first company in the world to offer MIDI software and hardware for personal computers (using the Atari 800, 8bit computers)'.

Commodore 64

Sequential Circuits Model 64 - 1983 / 1984

Another very early MIDI device with built in sequencer, this time from of course Sequential Circuits of Dave Smith fame. Dave Smith being credited as the father of MIDI, with initial collaboration from Tom Oberheim and Ikutaro Kakehashi of Roland. The Model 64 was launched around about the same time as MIDIMate, and also offered MIDI as well as syncing options but for the Commodore 64. The 64, the computer which was being embraced as the MIDI computer during 1984, and when the first MIDI peripherals were beginning to take hold for some of the computers of the time.

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Steinberg Research MIDI Interface - 1984

The Steinberg Research MIDI Interface, of which there was the version pictured to the left, and a more involved version with sync connections which came later. It was intended to be used with Steinberg's own Pro-16 MIDI sequencer for the C64, one of the very first sequencers around the same time as MIDITrack from Hybrid Arts, and the Model 64 from Sequential.

Passport Designs MIDI Interface - 1984

Passport Designs' MIDI interfaces were also released in 1984, the MIDI/2 and MIDI/4. Passport were a well respected company, and again early adopters and innovators of the emerging MIDI protocol. Their MIDI interface for both the Commodore 64 and Apple II, was an early hardware peripheral, allowing both aforementioned computers to enter the world of MIDI.

Jellinghaus / Siel MIDI Computer Interface - 1984

Another MIDI interface from German early adopters Jellinghaus (JMS). The JMS MIDI Computer Interface was available for the Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum and a little later the Apple II. It could be used to with Jellinghaus' own propriety MIDI software titles, such as the JMS MIDI Recording Studio, a 12 track MIDI sequencer. It offered 3 MIDI outs, 2 MIDI ins and a MIDI Thru, and was identical to the MIDI interface from Siel. Like the Steinberg Research MIDI Interface, a cut down version was also available, offering 1 MIDI in and 1 MIDI out.

There were a host of MIDI software and hardware options for the Commodore 64 which followed in 1985 and beyond. More offerings from Steinberg in the shape of their Steinberg Research MIDI / Sync interface as mentioned above, their Card 32 which included Pro-16 in ROM, and offerings from C-Lab, Syntech, Moog and Sonus etc...

Universal MIDI Peripheral

Roland MPU-401 - 1984

The Roland MPU-401 deserves a mention, a MIDI Processing Unit released in 1984 which gave early computers the ability to support MIDI. The MPU-401 could be fitted to a host of computers which pre date the Atari ST, including the Apple II, the oldest of the computers the MPU-401 could connect to, and the alleged NEC PC-88, which concludes that the PC-88 was not the first computer to support MIDI given it required this module. The Roland MPU-401 was the first MIDI interface for the PC platform.

Yamaha

Yamaha CX5M - 1984

The rather tasty MSX based Yamaha CX5M was the first computer which had MIDI capability out of the box via its accompanying 'plug in' module. A computer purely aimed at the musician which, with its Yamaha SFG-01 module had the ability of FM synthesis as well as MIDI, albeit restricted to sending and receiving MIDI data to the Yamaha DX7 only. It could be upgraded with the later Yamaha SFG-05 module, offering less restriction. The inbuilt FM synth could be controlled via the optional propriety keyboard.

The CX5MII released circa late 1985 improved on the restrictiveness of its predecessor, with the Yamaha SFG-01 having undergone an upgrade to the SFG-05, allowing MIDI support for any MIDI based synthesiser. Somewhat sadly the Yamaha CX5M series were not adorned with a multitude of propriety music and MIDI based software, nevertheless glorious machines they were, and still are!

Atari

Atari ST - 1985

The Atari ST launched mid 1985 rounds off the list. It was indeed the first computer to have built in MIDI integrated directly to its motherboard, something which some say contributes to the ST's tight MIDI timing. Arguably it was less restricted via MIDI than the aforementioned, due to the sheer amount of MIDI software that became available for it, Commodore 64 aside.

However why were MIDI ports integral to its architecture? There are various speculative answers to this question, ranging from a last minute change in design, due to the inclusion of the Yamaha YM2149F from the intended AMY sound chip, to a request from instrument manufactures. Another reason according to Werner Kracht and Karl Steinberg, is that it was Sam Tramiel who pushed for MIDI ports to be included. Maybe some of this is due to the emerging success of MIDI software and hardware on the Commodore 64, another of Tramiel's legendary home computers. However Leonard Tramiel has since stated that Shiraz Shivji was ultimately responsible for the inclusion of MIDI ports.

Whatever the explicit reason, due to the Atari's built in MIDI ports musicians readily adopted the ST, and a whole host of companies decided to develop MIDI software and hardware for it. It took over from the Commodore 64 as the dominant home computer for the musician, and of course became a significant MIDI milestone gracing most studios during its heyday. It changed the game, not only for being the platform which gave birth to both Cubase and Notator, but for being a pioneer in affordable audio recording and professional sampling.

Bibliography: Sources not already linked include Electronics & Music Maker - Mar 1984, Electronic Soundmaker - Jul 1984, Electronics & Music Maker - Sep 1984 and Network World - Sept 1986.