pg 1
fairlight cmi by peanut
pg 2-3
the fairlight cmi (computer musical instrument) is an early music workstation with sampling ability. it was initially released in austrailia in 1979, with an asking price of ~60,000 dollars, about the same as a house. its technology was revolutionary for the time. digital sampling just wasn't a thing before. the fairlight used floppy disks which held packs of samples, each being 0.5 seconds long and in 8-bit. before long they had spread everywhere, but particularly the uk music scene. the fairlight dominated pop music until the mid-80's when newer technologies emerged.
fairlight cmi 1979 anatomy
1. keyboard
2. floppy disks which contain samples
3. monitor
4. light pen used to draw waveforms on screen
5. computer
6. floppy disk drive
7. piano keyboard. this is where the magic happens.
I, II,IIx, III
pg 4-5
who's afraid of the art of noise is an album by english group the art of noise, released in 1984. it is one of the firstalbums to ever be composed near entirely with the fairlight. its influence has been far reaching in the decades since.
01 a time to fear (who's afraid?) 02 beat box (diversion one) 03 snapshot 04 close (to the edit) 05 who's afraid (of the art of noise) 06 moments in love 07 momento 08 how to kill 09 realization
a. dudley g.langan. j.j. jeczalik p. morley t. horn
pg 6-7
other sampling machines had existed, namely the sinclavier, which used physical tapes. fairlight was unique in that it was all digital. it was made famous by peter gabriel, and soon after, kate bush - two british artists who were known too innovate with their music. bush particulary used her fairlight extensivley. the most frequently used samples on the fairlight are ARR1, ORCH5, and GTRO2CHD5. these are very ubiquitous, and can even be heard in some music today, (replicated with modern technology, however). the fairlight is famously difficult to navigate.
index: a few popular songs
command: using the fairlight
1... running up that hill - kate bush
2... shout - tears for fears
3... west end girls - pet shop boys
4... owner of a lonely heart - yes
5... relax - frankie goes to hollywood
6... sledgehammer - peter gabriel
pg 8
scented with mango pineapple and limeade glue sticks
