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Description

The Fairlight CMI IIx stands as a legendary piece of music history, bridging the gap between analog and digital synthesis. This groundbreaking digital synthesizer and sampler was first introduced in the early 1980s and has since become an iconic tool for musicians and producers in search of innovative sound creation. Its unique ability to capture and manipulate audio samples has left a lasting impact on the music industry, making it a staple in studios around the world.

With the Fairlight CMI IIx, you gain access to an array of digital synthesis capabilities that were ahead of their time. It features a distinctive light pen interface, which allows for intuitive sound shaping and editing directly on the screen. The instrument is equipped with a flexible 8-bit sampling resolution, providing a vintage digital sound that continues to inspire modern artists. Its dual 8-channel audio outputs offer versatile connectivity for both live performances and studio setups.

Whether you're an electronic music pioneer or a studio professional, the Fairlight CMI IIx opens up a world of sonic possibilities. From its unique sampling techniques to its recognizable digital timbres, this synthesizer is more than just an instrument—it's a piece of music technology history.

Key Features:

  • 8-bit digital sampling and synthesis
  • Light pen interface for intuitive sound editing
  • Dual 8-channel audio outputs
  • Extensive library of pre-loaded sounds
  • Classic digital sound with vintage charm
  • Iconic tool used in numerous hit records from the 1980s
Perfect Circuit

Perfect Circuit

Some Fairlight CMI IIX Sounds

Video thumbnail for Some Fairlight CMI IIX Sounds by Perfect Circuit

Some Fairlight CMI IIX Sounds

Perfect Circuit

Perfect Circuit

Video thumbnail for Fairlight CMI IIX Page R demo and overview - The worlds most important sequencer? by David Morley

Fairlight CMI IIX Page R demo and overview - The worlds most important sequencer?

David Morley

David Morley

Video thumbnail for Fairlight IIx Page "R", and goodies... by Alkemiae Studio

Fairlight IIx Page "R", and goodies...

Alkemiae Studio

Alkemiae Studio

Video thumbnail for Fairlight CMI IIx (Demonstration) by AlobarMusic

Fairlight CMI IIx (Demonstration)

AlobarMusic

AlobarMusic

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fairlight CMI IIx.

Features and functionality

  • QuasarBeach offers a more authentic Fairlight CMI IIx experience but lacks practicality for music production compared to Arturia’s CMI V, which integrates seamlessly with DAWs.

    Source
  • The Fairlight CMI IIx has a sampling rate up to 32 kHz at 8-bit, and the Page R sequencer is noted for being rock solid despite its age.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • The Arturia CMI V is noted for easier usability and DAW compatibility, while QuasarBeach functions as a standalone application and is more complex.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Arturia's plugin is recommended for production, while QuasarBeach is preferred for exploring the nostalgic Fairlight experience, despite its limitations in music creation.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Users highlight that Arturia CMI V captures the sound and key workflow of the Fairlight better than QuasarBeach, which is more about the experience rather than sound accuracy.

    Source
  • UVI Darklight IIx library praised for offering robust Fairlight sounds and a retro interface, appealing for classic sound enthusiasts.

    Source
  • QuasarBeach is noted for recreating original Fairlight functionality, while Arturia's CMI V is favored for sound and vibe.

    Source

Build quality

  • The mechanical keyboard is praised for its delightful clicky feel, enhancing the intuitive interface experience despite the outdated light pen technology.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • The unit operates with two 6809 processors, and it’s noted for its surprisingly low latency of about 4-7ms, impressive for its era.

    Source

User experience

  • Users describe the bass sounds as warm and choral patches as impressive, highlighting the instrument's unique sound signature despite its limited specs.

    Source
  • Arturia CMI V's presets often come with built-in effects, which some users find limiting for creative flexibility.

    Source

Other

  • The CMI IIx’s cooling system is notably loud, contributing to an industrial tech vibe, which users find adds character to the experience.

    Source

Critic Reviews

AdamStrange: QasarBeach CMI IIz Fairlight CMI IIx desktop re-creation | Tape Op Magazine | Longform candid interviews with music producers and audio engineers covering mixing, mastering, recording and music production.

tapeop.com

Though the QasarBeach CMI IIz may feel like a relic from the past with its vintage interface, this desktop re-creation of the Fairlight CMI IIx offers a nostalgic, yet innovative twist on sound synthesis. The terminal-based emulation retains the charm of the original, while new features make it slightly more user-friendly. The "name your price" model makes this piece of history accessible to all, offering a refreshing alternative to modern sample libraries. While it may not boast the endless possibilities of contemporary tools, its limitations could inspire creativity, echoing the genius of artists like Peter Gabriel.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 3 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Al Jourgensen uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Al Jourgensen

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Ministry

...
Verified via Musicthing

Listed there and here https://www.matrixsynth.com/2005/07/ministry-for-sale.html

Al selling his equipment

There is written following in the book "Behind the Boards: The Making of Rock 'n' Roll's Greatest Records Revealed" by Jake Brown

"Jourgensen recalled that “we had the Fairlight, but that was very limited in sense that it had a 1.6 second sampling time, so we used some Fairlight, but on a lot of those early Ministry albums, I used a Roland Juno 60 and Roland Jupiter 8, and I also had a Prophet 5 I used for some strings, but it was mainly Roland with a little bit of Fairlight thrown in"

See how Todd Rundgren uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Todd Rundgren

Singer, Guitarist

Utopia

...
Verified via Photo

Fairlight CMI IIx is in this photo. He had it in his personal studio.

See how Mark Mothersbaugh uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Mark Mothersbaugh

Singer, Guitarist

Devo

...
Verified via YouTube

Mark and Jerry Casale are sitting in front of their Fairlight IIx in this video from 1984. The Fairlight IIx was used all over DEVO's 1984 album Shout (the album is almost completely composed of the factory sounds that came with the Fairlight), as well as TotalDevo from 1988 (although its use isn't near as prominent as it is on Shout; it was mainly used for sequencing). It can be heard on Mark's solo album Muzik for Insomniaks, released in 1988. The IIx sound "SWANEE" was used by Mothersbaugh in the theme song to the long-running Nickelodeon series Rugrats.

See how Peter Christopherson uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Peter Christopherson

Keyboardist, Music Producer

Coil

...
Verified via Brainwashed

Sleazy mentions this sampler in the Keyboard Magazine interview from July 1987.

See how Paul Humphreys uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Paul Humphreys

Keyboardist

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

...
Verified via Muzines

"We've had it updated to a Series IIX, says Humphreys. "That's been really helpful because, although the sampling on the Fairlight isn't too hot, it's a fantastic writing tool. Now we can get really crisp samples by MIDIing it to the Emulator. We still use it a lot, but there are still certain things, like sampling voices, that it can't handle."

See how Gregg Giuffria uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Gregg Giuffria

Keyboardist

House of Lords

...
Verified via YouTube

In the music video for Giuffria's "Lonely In Love," you can see the Fairlight CMI IIx monitor at the 2-minute and 18-second mark. The CMI IIx keyboard is visible at the 1-minute and 49-second mark on Gregg Giuffria's left-hand side, positioned on the middle tier of his keyboard stand. This is confirmed by the video on YouTube, provided by Metaldog38's Home Of Metal.

See how Petra uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Petra

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

Fairlight CMI IIx was used on John Lawry Solo on the live album Petra - Captured In Time and Space in 1985.

P

Pete Namlook

Music Producer

Pete Namlook & Richie Hawtin

...
Verified via YouTube

Fairlight CMI IIx can be seen in 9:09.

See how Ramon Zenker uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Ramon Zenker

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video at 1:03 we can see Fairlight CMI IIx

S

S Paul Wilson

Keyboardist

Classix Nouveaux

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video titled "classix nouveaux..the end or the beginning.studio rehearsal...(take 1)," posted by robbos44, S Paul Wilson can be seen using a Fairlight CMI IIx synthesizer during a studio rehearsal.

See how Thomas Leer uses Fairlight CMI IIx

Thomas Leer

Singer, Keyboardist

...
Verified via Muzines

At this time, Leer had his own Fairlight Series II on which had built up a considerable sound library. But that comfortable situation was to come to an untimely end when the Fairlight was reclaimed by Arista on his leaving the label. Leer retains a great deal of sentimentality for his old Fairlight but he's not so enthusiastic about the Series III, however, preferring the older model's grainy, eight-bit sound quality.

See how David Van Tieghem uses Fairlight CMI IIx

David Van Tieghem

Drummer, Keyboardist

Talking Heads

...
Verified via Photo

David Van Tieghem is credited with using the Fairlight CMI IIx on his album Safety in Numbers, as evidenced by an image showing the album credits.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fairlight CMI IIx, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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2
E-Mu Emulator II
E-Mu Emulator II Synthesizers
1
Roland SH-101
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1
Yamaha NS-10M
Yamaha NS-10M Active & Passive Monitors
1
Roland TB-303
Roland TB-303 Synthesizers
1
PPG Wave 2.2
PPG Wave 2.2 Synthesizers
1
Yamaha DX100
Yamaha DX100 Synthesizers
1

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Community setups

Gear Guides

  • Added to Equipboard on by

    shok
    shok

    Gear IQ 1493