Fairlight

Also known as: Fairlight CMI, Fairlight Instruments, Fairlight Computer Musical Instrument

Founded 1975 Closed 1992

Fairlight was founded in Sydney, Australia in 1975 by Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, taking its name from a hydrofoil ferry that crossed Sydney Harbour. Building on a licensed design from Tony Furse's Qasar M8, the pair introduced the Fairlight CMI (Computer Musical Instrument) in 1979 — a digital synthesizer and sampler that combined dual microprocessors, a green CRT display, and a light pen inter...

7 Products · Used by 83 Artists

Fairlight Series III Synthesizers

$179.99

1 available store

5.0 (1)

14 artists using

Fairlight IIx Synthesizers

$149.00

1 available store

5.0 (1)

1 artist using

Fairlight CMI Synthesizers

$119.00

1 available store

5.0 (7)

62 artists using

Fairlight Mfx3+ Digital

5.0 (1)

^# 93

in Digital Rank

Fairlight Mfx2 Synthesizers

5.0 (1)

Fairlight Audio Accelerator Accessories

$1,265.00

2 available stores

5.0 (1)

Fairlight CMI IIx Synthesizers

5.0 (3)

12 artists using

The CMI was among the first commercially available digital sampling instruments, and its Series II, Series IIx, and Series III models became fixtures in high-end studios throughout the 1980s. The Page R sequencer and the distinctive factory sample library (including the famous ORCH2 and SARARR hits) helped define the sound of the decade's pop, film, and television productions. A wide range of artists — including Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Trevor Horn, and Jean-Michel Jarre — adopted the instrument during its heyday.

The original company wound down in the late 1980s, and successor ventures have continued the lineage in different forms: Peter Vogel Instruments offered a 30th-anniversary CMI-30A reissue, while the Fairlight name was later acquired by Blackmagic Design and applied to digital audio post-production consoles and the audio tools inside DaVinci Resolve.

Fairlight has 7 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Synthesizers, Digital, and Accessories. Their gear is featured by 83 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Electronic, and Pop. Notable users include Ryuichi Sakamoto, Al Jourgensen, and Peter Gabriel.