New England Digital Synclavier PSMT

The Synclavier PSMT Digital Audio System was a digital synthesizer, workstation and sampling system developed by New England Digital, released in 1984. The system consisted of a Velocity/Pressure-sensitive keyboard (VPK), Multi-channel Analog signal-routing distribution system, a computer screen and various racks. It was a competitor to the Fairlight CMI synthesizer.

Sting started off with a New England Digital Synclavier II, which he upgraded to the newer PSMT system in 1985, which offered polyphonic sampling (that the Synclavier II lacked). It's unclear when he upgraded, but he already had one by the time of the Paris concert in May 1985 (as seen in Bring On The Night documentary). He continued to use the Synclavier mainly as a compositional tool up until the mid-1990s. With the Synclavier, Sting did not need to have a home studio setup to realise his ideas, following the Synclavier's 'tapeless studio' concept.

Quotes on the Synclavier
"'I've had the machine for four years and every song I've every written, every tiny little musical doodle that I happen to have thought of during the day, every completed lyric, fragment of a lyric, all the information about my gear and travelling around the world is contained on this machine. It is basically my whole life; if I travel the machine comes with me, and if it doesn't, I feel I can't work.'"

"'The Synclavier makes communication with musicians much easier. We, as a band, have been together for three days and we learned the tunes by my having the parts written out. The Synclavier, at the push of a button, will write a bass line, will write a keyboard part. This is a far better basis for the musician to see something rather than me humming a tune to them saying, ‘that's a B flat, followed by an A flat.’ It makes it easier for the bandleader to transmit his ideas to the musicians.'"