The Fairlight CMI: The Instrument That Changed Music Forever
Release Date: 12/16/2025
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info_outlineIn this episode, Ian is joined by Rob Puricelli from the ProSynth Network for a deep dive into one of the most important and influential instruments in music history — the Fairlight CMI.
Often described as the world’s first music computer, the Fairlight didn’t just introduce digital sampling — it completely changed how music was created, performed, and produced throughout the 1980s and beyond.
Together, we explore:
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What the Fairlight CMI was and how it worked
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How digital sampling was discovered almost by accident
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The inventors behind the Fairlight — and why they deserve more recognition
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Iconic artists who used it, including Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Jean-Michel Jarre, Pet Shop Boys, and more
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Page R sequencing and the origins of modern DAWs
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Why the Fairlight eventually disappeared — and where its legacy lives on today
We also discuss modern ways to experience the Fairlight sound, from software recreations to sample libraries, and reflect on how the Fairlight’s arrival mirrors today’s conversations around AI and creativity.
If you love synth history, music technology, or the sounds of the 1980s, this episode is essential listening.
🔗 Links & Mentions
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ProSynth Network (weekly live show)
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FairlightMuso.com
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Arturia CMI V
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Quasar Beach Fairlight emulator
🎙️ Subscribe, follow, and leave a review if you enjoyed the episode.
00:00 – Introduction
00:05 – Why the Fairlight CMI Matters
01:00 – What Is the Fairlight CMI?
02:12 – From Additive Synthesis to Sampling
03:16 – The Fairlight Hardware Explained
03:27 – Who Invented the Fairlight?
05:12 – Tony Furse and the Missing Chapter in Fairlight History
07:34 – Why Sampling Was the Breakthrough
08:07 – The Quest to Recreate Acoustic Instruments
09:04 – The Birth of Digital Sampling
11:15 – Filters, Aliasing, and the Fairlight Sound
12:22 – Public Debut and “Computer-Generated” Sounds
13:26 – Computers and Music in the Early 80s
15:11 – Sequencing Before DAWs
16:48 – When Was the Fairlight Released?
18:03 – Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, and Early Adopters
19:51 – Creative Sampling: Breaking the Rules
21:49 – Kate Bush and Early Hit Records
22:53 – Page R Sequencing Explained
25:55 – Building Full Tracks with Page R
26:47 – Jan Hammer and Miami Vice
27:06 – Pet Shop Boys and Fairlight Pop
29:36 – Layered Drum Sampling in the 80s
31:36 – Orchestral Sounds and “It Couldn’t Happen Here”
33:45 – How Much Did a Fairlight Cost?
35:34 – Art of Noise, Trevor Horn, and YES
36:53 – Competition from Emulator and Akai
38:58 – The End of Fairlight as a Company
39:54 – From Fairlight to Romplers (D-50, M1)
41:06 – Rob’s Personal Fairlight Journey
42:53 – Restoring Vintage Fairlights
45:48 – Letting People Play a Fairlight
48:55 – How to Get the Fairlight Sound Today
49:13 – Arturia CMI V and Software Alternatives
50:27 – Quasar Beach Explained
52:42 – Recreating Classic Performances
54:20 – “Computer Music” Then vs AI Now
56:24 – Why the Fairlight Changed Music Forever
58:15 – Why the Inventors Deserve More Credit
58:43 – ProSynth Network and Where to Find Rob
1:00:28 – Closing Thoughts