Title link takes you to the post on Failed Muso.I thought the following summed up why many of us still go after vintage synths and why we appreciate different synths from different manufacturers. They all have their own character. You can usually get close approximations between synths, but rarely can you capture the unique character that makes any given synth shine.
"However, after listening to this and yearning to own one more than ever, I found myself thinking about why I really wanted one as I could get sounds like these from any number of newer, more advanced and able machines. Heck, my Alesis Fusion is 100 times more powerful and can produce many similar tones. A Kawai K5000 could do very good additive as can Camel Audio's Cameleon 5000, but there is something in the Fairlight sound that tends to be lacking from many modern day instruments and that is character. The Fairlight has it in bucket loads, like many other synths of it's era. Nowadays, we seem to accept power and bloatware as the way forward. This is a big mistake."
I had a CMI Series III that I got when I worked for Fairlight, I've also played several Series IIx's and I can tell you the Fairlight sound is not worth the Fairlight pain in the arse! Its a slow and extremely tedious process to use one of these things, so if you are anything like me your attention span will well and truly be lapsed before it even boots let alone loaded some sounds into it!
ReplyDeleteOFF TOPIC:
ReplyDeleteWaldorf stuff is available in the USA again:
http://www.novamusik.com/search.aspx?click=WeeklySpecials&clickid=84&type=Manufacturer&keyword=21
I have a strange desire to acquire a second Q+ :(
What is your email btw, so I dont have to make these OT posts again?
It's like every patch has white noise as part of sound in some way. Maybe that's the "secret"?
ReplyDeletefairlights have always sounded like complete ass IMO
ReplyDeletethe best use of these is in experimental and industrial shit and things where people pushed it past its limits
Ask yourself this question,
ReplyDelete"Do you want to be an Antique
dealer or a keyboard player?"...
aka.
"You Line in the Past, you Die in the Past"
Oh dear, some people have issues....;o)
ReplyDeleteI give it 20 years and you lot will probably be pining over Kontakt or Ableton Live, and the youth of the future will be coming out with stuff like, "Oh man that sounds so crap. Who ever thought anyone could get anything that used a mouse over mind control !" LOL
If you could all pick up a Fairlight as cheap as you could other vintage gear, you'd all have one in a shot and don't even dare to deny it ;o) Sadly, most of you will probably never see one, let alone use one, so you will never be able to gain an informed opinion, and they're the only kind to have :o)
"You Line in the Past, you Die in the Past"
ReplyDeleteI don't Line Dance myself. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Well maybe... : )
Hi Roberto and Matrix and everyone else!
ReplyDeleteYes the Fairlight is just a glorified tracker but it is its limitations that make force you to be more creative. How many times do we drown in infinite possiblities when we turn on our gear...and then produce a load of sh1te!
Here's a clip of the Fairlight Series II in action in this YouTube clip I uploaded:
Fairlight on YouTube
The clip is from this DVD:
Synth History
You can download my Trevor Horn/Fairlight Homage here Voynich.
The track's called "The Dreams We Make Real".
Cheers
Chris
P.S. Great blogs you guys - you're in my links page :)
Synclaviers sound like silk.
ReplyDeleteFairlights sound like farts.
Im very happy to finally see that im not the only one who thinks the Fairlight sound like it must feel to pour down urine mixed with wipped cream down your own throat!
ReplyDeleteOh dear Mr Yeti, did your boyfriend say no to you last night ?? ;o)
ReplyDeleteLook, you're entitled to your opinion, so long as it's an informed one. By that I mean, have you ever actually (be honest) used or played a Fairlight ? Were you around at the time the Fairlight was actually the most ground breaking device in the music industry ? Do you have any technical knowledge of how it works and what it is capable of ?
I'm betting the answer to most of those questions is no, but that's not your fault, really, it isn't. You were probably not even born when the Fairlight was at it's peak. You say that Fairlights are best when "pushed past their peak". Trust me, with an instrument that cost more than a few houses back in the day, those lucky enough to own one, or be employed to program one, certainly pushed it beyond it's perceived limits. And many still do.
To say a Fairlight sounds like, in your words, "complete ass" is a pretty worthless comment. Sure, say it had a very lo-fi, gritty quality that compared to today's pristine audio specs was shameful, but at least try and back your "IMO" with some intelligent argument. There are plenty of instruments out there that I'm none to fond of, but these opinions are totally subjective. I, and countless others, don't feel the need to just offer up a "sounds like shit" comment. Rustle up the few brain cells you possess and come up with an intelligent response, an informed opinion and back it up with knowledge, otherwise no one will ever take on board what you say and your boyfriend will still have the hump with you !! ;o)
So, before calling me, or anyone else, a fucking moron or a smug asshole, just consider that abuse is the last defence of the uneducated and illiterate, unable to converse and argue with anyone who offers an intelligent debate.
i love the fairlight and there is really no need for a rustic war over it!!.
ReplyDeleteinformed opinions are the ones that count most .
maybe me and roberto could sample you lot saying shite!!.
and play it to the disgruntled rustic masses dearys!!
oh yeah i forgot to say i have a11x and it bites in the ass lol it is a great sampler i would not part with it..
ReplyDeletebut to all the dickheads from bint land i would part with a fart in your house and stink you out.
go play with your cakewalk under a bus lol....
Well, a lot of comments are funny as they come from people who never worked with a fairlight.
ReplyDeleteI use all sort of gear from Yamaha to Neve or SSL miser, from EMU to apogee or protools HD. The best sounding is the Fairlight MFX2. It has just the best sound presence and clarity
James