The technology of the Fairlight synthesizer was a defining moment for music. Kim Ryrie and Peter Vogel’s initial idea was to build the ultimate synthesizer “The world’s best synthesizer” — a machine that could faithfully reproduce any sound. By incorporating the then cutting-edge microprocessor technology and leveraging the emerging power of digital memory, they envisioned a tool that could push the boundaries of music creation. Little did they know their first experiment would become a historic milestone.
In Part One, Kim Ryrie tells us his personal story which is also the story of the Fairlight. The quirky story of the Fairlight’s first-ever sample is a reminder that great ideas often have humble beginnings. Today, digital sampling is an integral part of music production, but its roots can be traced back to a humble workshop in Sydney and the bark of a loyal canine. It’s a story that highlights not only the ingenuity of Kim Ryrie and Peter Vogel but also the unforeseen reach that often accompanies groundbreaking innovation.
YouTube BBC Archives The Sound of the Future Fairlight CMI
YouTube Sydney Morning Herald and The Age How the Fairlight CMI changed the course of music.
YouTube The Today Show Peter Vogel demonstrates the Fairlight CMI
EP019 Kim Ryrie episodes, transcripts, history and pics on Not An Audiophile.
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THIS EPISODE
“I called Peter Vogel and asked him if he wanted to build the world’s greatest synthesizer….”
“Remington, Office Machines had heard that we were the only manufacturer of a computer in Australia. So they came to us and said, could we build them, an office computer?“
“he had a dog that you could say speak and the dog would go woof. So I said, get your dog to speak. Right. so we got the mic out, got the dog sample, which was a bark. And this was the first ever sample on the Fairlight”
“Fleetwood Mac. Okay. 25 grand. Sign here. No questions asked, no discussion about price. Geordie said, now we’ll go and see Stevie, ie Wonder.“
“So we had the first digital audio workstation, effectively, and we just instantly routed to one of 24 output channels depending on what track something was happening on. . And we were selling those for $100,000 to Hollywood. They were buying every machine we could make. We had Sony Pictures, Tyler and Glenn, Glen, Paramount, they were all buying these things because it was so fast to use compared to what they were used to. And So that was Fairlight number two in effect….”
THIS EPISODE SPONSORED BY STEREONET
People mentioned on this episode –
Kim Ryrie Fairlight CMI & DEQX
Peter Vogel Fairlight CMI
Brad Serhan Orpheus & Serhan Swift
Andrew Hutchison Dellichord Loudspeakers, Stereotech Audio furniture, HiFi and Stereo Audio Repairs
Tony Furse Motorola
Michael Carlos (Director)
Bruce Storey
Fleetwood Mac Tusk
Peter Gabriel
Carly Simon
Bruce Springsteen
Elvis Presley
Stevie Wonder
Clair Bros
Rory O’Donoghue (Aunty Jack Show)
Lawrence Hargrave
Brands mentioned on this episode –
Fairlight CMI Series 1 Series 2 Series 3
Motorola 6800
Moog Synthesizer
Altec A7
Businesses mentioned on this episode –
Stereonet
HeyNow HiFi
Waxx Lyrical Club
DEQX
Dellichord
Serhan Swift
Mac
JayCar
Tully (band)
JANDS (Jackson and Story)
Village Recorder (Studio)
Remington
IBM
YE Data
Windows
Magazines – Modern Motor; REVS; Rugby LeagUe Week; Australian Cricket; Electronics Australia; Electronics Today
Music courtesy of –
Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/please-listen-carefully
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/GGVFRIgP7uc
CREDITS –
Guest management, regular co-hosting – Brad Serhan
Host, audio production – Andrew Hutchison