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Sampling Sounds: Fairlight CMI
Title:
Sampling Sounds: Fairlight CMI
Year
1979
The Fairlight CMI was the world’s first polyphonic digital sampling synthesizer, invented in 1979 by Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, based on a dual-6800 microprocessor created by Tony Furse in Sydney. The Fairlight grew to become one of the most widely-used synthesizers in music, being used by musicians from Kate Bush to Brian Eno, and film and television composers such as Peter Best.
The four sounds featured in this clip, with examples of 1980s hits in which they were used, are:
- SARARR (AKA ARR1) as featured in 'Shout’ (Tears for Fears, 1985)
- ORCH5 (AKA ORCH2) as featured in 'Owner of a Lonely Heart’ (Yes, 1983)
- GLASMASH as featured in ‘Babooshka’ (Kate Bush, 1980)
- LOWSTR2 as featured in ‘The Unforgettable Fire’ (U2, 1984).
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.