From the long forgotten dance phase of Ministry. Before the agro drug punk and subsequent sampler based blast metal they are often remembered for!
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Archives for the month of: October, 2013
Old school pitch tracking. The Fairlight CMI Voicetracker:
I found some background on this device on the web.
“The Voicetracker can be used to “double” parts, either live or from tape. The original sound can be either enhanced with the doubling sound, or replaced completely by it. The Voicetracker can follow the original pitch exactly, or quantize it to semitone steps.
Like other Fairlight products, the Voicetracker was continually updated, so not all Voicetrackers have the same features. Within a year after its introduction, Fairlight added the capability to perform “intelligent harmonization” — up to seven note harmony in a designated scale. You can create six harmony setups and switch between them in real time. This capability allows one singer to provide the sound of an entire choir. This is particulary effective if the synthesizer is patched through a vocoder, which imposes the singer’s vocal characteristics on the synthesized sound.
Either microphone- or line-level sound sources can be fed into the Voicetracker. These signals are fed right back out unaltered, so that they can be sent to a mixing console. Also, an audio source can be fed into the Voicetracker’s voltage controlled amplifier.
The digital inputs and outputs include MIDI in, out, and through. The Voicetracker can send MIDI note messages, along with key velocity, pitch bend, and other controls. There are also patchable footswitch jacks and a serial port for connection to a computer.
The analog outputs (pitch, gate, envelope, brightness, and purity) run from 0 to +5V, with the pitch output at 1 volt per octave. The Voicetracker also contains a built-in synthesizer, with dual DCO and DCF, which is used primarily for practice.”
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Pretty cool
Sources:
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This is going to be a large quote of a post. I love the band Yello. So much so as to have all of their records on vinyl!
Apparently Boris Blank’s Fairlight III is for sale.
Totally refurbished to boot!
Here you go:
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“Every Fairlight Computer Musical Instrument has a story behind it. Hugely expensive when new, their unique sounds and legendary user interface were used by music pioneers who changed the sound of music forever.
At a cost around $65,000 in 1985 (which could have bought you a very nice house) the list of Fairlight III owners reads like a who’s who of musical innovation of the time. Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, Kate Bush, Thomas Dolby, Hans Zimmer and Pet Shop Boys were owners in the UK, with many studios catering for those who didn’t own one. For a complete list take a look at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairlight_CMI
The particular system being offered here belongs to Boris Blank, the musical part of Swiss band Yello. One could argue that during the 1980’s Yello used the Fairlight more, and more interestingly than virtually anyone else. Every hit single they had (and there were quite a few) used the Fairlight CMI extensively..
So, if you ever lusted after one of these legendary instruments, here’s a chance to acquire one with some serious street cred!
Yello Fairlight III. Signed front panel. There will be Boris’s sounds included, as well as all the libraries listed below, in 4 x hard drives. Boris is on holiday at the moment, however his assistant has promised some more photos and goodies when he returns!
Offered for sale is a very rare, vintage classic Fairlight CMI III computer musical instrument workstation in excellent condition. The system is a late model, in three rack units which are 8U, 8U and 5U for the hard drive enclosure. It has the latest and best in technical innovations, whilst still retaining the classic legendary sound of the CMI. The system is switchable for 110, 220 or 240V so will work ANYWHERE in the world.
The system has the latest 9.34 music software, has 16 voices, mono graphics card and monitor, and 24 output router. Instead of the usual 14 Mbytes RAM memory fitted as standard from the factory, this unit has a brand new 32 Mbyte card, which is the maximum possible in these systems. It also has a digital sampler module and a Turbo-SCSI card: It is therefore fully optioned with the last and best revisions of both hardware and software. There is no music keyboard, however any MIDI keyboard or external computer/sequencer will work brilliantly. I can supply a colour graphics card at additional cost if desired, to enable the system to run with many flat LCD screens. If required, the original mono graphics can be re-installed in minutes..
There are four hard drives installed. Three are original, with Boris’s sounds, and the forth is “My” collection of libraries I normally include with my systems for sale. These are as follows: Complete Fairlight library, Prosonus Strings, Brass, Percussion, Sound Genesis strings, plus many libraries collected over the last 25 years dealing with top producers and musicians. These include libraries from: Pet Shop Boys, Trevor Horn, Hans Zimmer, Frankie goes to Hollywood, Art of Noise and many, many others. The complete Fairlight IIX library is also included.
The floppy and WORM drive work intemittantly, however these were only used in the 1980’s before more reliable and cost-effective storage emerged. Therefore there is no warranty on these parts. The only other points of note are that some of the keys on the alpha-numeric keyboard are beginning to lose their legends (see picture), and the graphics pad is worn in places. I have however adjusted the keyboard so that the worn spots on the pad doesn’t cause problems.
The system has been serviced, will have a full set of manuals on CD, all leads, latest firmware, and come with 3 months warranty (apart from the two drives mentioned above).
Please note you’ll see other Fairlight systems advertised, and some might be less expensive. However, do some research before you buy. What may look like a bargain might not look so appealing when its obsolete parts finally give up. This applies specially to earlier systems. This system is complete, fully functional, and will work straight out of the box. I worked as product specialist and studio manager at Fairlight in Sydney during most of the 1980s, and have been involved in re-building Fairlight CMIs for over 25 years. I have sold and supported well over 45 of these classic samplers. If you are in any doubt, please type “Peter Wielk Fairlight” into the worlds favourite search engine and see what comes out.
You might be apprehensive about owning a big piece of technology, however the Fairlight CMIs were designed to last – no new technology comes near it for build quality. All the cards and modules of a series III are plug-in which makes servicing a breeze (and also helped push the original price up). In the unlikely event of a board failure, this can simply be swapped out for a replacement from me, to either repair or replace. I have a huge amount of spares, since I bought most of the factories old stock and spare parts. I also do repairs at board level, and re-manufacture parts when unavailable. I have been supporting these incredible systems for many years, and hope to continue this for many more…
I have tried to describe this system as accurately as possible. However, please feel free to ask any questions, or if you’re passing through Sydney, you would be very welcome to have an extensive demonstration. Lastly, these systems were designed and built with no compromises, reflected by their US$75,000 price tag when new. The sound is completely awesome. You might buy a sample CD of the Fairlight sounds, it will sound NOTHING like the real thing.
Also, only about 200 systems were built, and they were sold to the most influental musicians and producers in the world. The sounds of the Fairlight CMI formed the soundtrack of the 1980s. So, if you’ve always lusted after one, here’s your chance to own a part of music history!
Please note price is in Australian dollars, and excludes freight. I have an account with TNT couriers here in Sydney and ship many systems every year. I will ship for my cost. Please mail for more exact figures to your location. All shipments can be tracked through TNTs own site. IGNORE EBAYS SHIPPING PRICE CALCULATORS: THEY ARE WORSE THAN USELESS !!!!!!!
There are many currency conversion sites online. Australian residents please add 10% GST.
Lastly, due to the number of frauds and scams on ebay, please contact me if you have less than 10 positive transactions. I won’t even consider shipping until funds have cleared this end, so please don’t ask. I am sure any honest bidder will not resent this precaution.
Extra information:
This system is multi-timbral, in that it can produce 16 different sounds at any given time. It also has dynamic voice allocation, meaning that although the device is 16 channels, one could play for example, 16 voices of piano in one bar of music, 16 voices of brass in the next, 16 of vibraphone in the next, and so on. Each sound is output through it’s own dedicated router output, of which there are 24. A loom will be provided to interface the first 8 “routputs” with your mixer. This differs from the earlier CMI IIIs, as they had only one monophonic output per XLR. As producer and Fairlight programmer extrordinaire Andy Richards (look him up for credentials) once said: “Having a router is like having a Fairlight and a half
Horizontal Productions in sunny Sydney”
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I had fun making this one. I’ve been experimenting with generating arpeggios from an analog gate signal and routing it via midi to various instruments. I often do this for synth arpeggios but it’s fun to map it to the mirage sampler as well.
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The usual suspects:
Arp 2600
Linndrum LM2
Simmons SDS V
Roland Jupiter 6 Europa
Oberheim DPX 1 ( mirage )
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I don’t often quote but here is a quote worth reprinting.
It’s from here:
MILES DAVIS
Used to call Nile Rodgers on the phone every night, saying “Write me a ‘Good Times.’” Nile’s point being we all want mass success.
Nile used to be a jazzer, but then his mentor said “You’re too good for pop?” If millions love it, it can’t be bad. And Nile went home and wrote “Everybody Dance,” mashing up jazz and dance.
DRUGS
Nile gave them up because he heard a recording of a live show where he thought he was killing it, and found out he sucked. He loves drugs, but he loves music more.
DAVID SMITH
You probably don’t know him, I certainly didn’t. But I know his products and so do you, the Juno! He’s one of the original synthesizer innovators. When asked for advice, Smith said you have to have fun doing it. Too many people focus on the end goal, mass acceptance, fame and riches. But if the journey there is gonna bore you, do something different.
TIESTO
Said they were trying to turn Ibiza into St. Tropez, that there’s been no innovation and the prices are too high, that’s why he skipped the season and went to Vegas instead, where everybody can get in and have a good time.
CURIOSITY
It’s the key to Giorgio Moroder’s success. He’s always wanted to try new things.
BLACK PANTHERS
Nile was one. He’s friends with Bobby Seale to this day. He said the black panther was actually the Esso tiger! Just painted black! His section leader’s dad had created the mascot for the oil company and the Panthers repurposed it!
BURNING MAN
That’s where Mikhail takes all his potential investors. To bond as people before he pitches them. Because humanity comes first.
SALESMANSHIP
It’s the hustler’s currency. It’s the essence of the entrepreneur. You’ve got to learn how to tell a good story. I was sold by some of the best today.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC
Is about the beat, not the words, and therefore it’s international. Shailendra said it was booming in India, where you reach your audience via social media on mobiles.
BICYCLES
Have their own special lane in Amsterdam. Keep your eyes and ears open, otherwise you’ll get mowed down, cyclists brake for no one, and wear no helmets.
BAKED GOODS
Are better here than at home. Or maybe it’s just the weather, everything tastes better on a gray autumn day.
TALL PEOPLE
They say it’s the milk and cheese. It builds better bodies.
ROXY MUSIC
Was the inspiration for both Nile Rodgers and Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire. Nile was playing in a soul band but after seeing Roxy Music in London, he went home and started Chic. You think you want to imitate, but really you want to innovate.
PRODUCING
Musicians are generous, when it comes to skills. See something you admire and its propagator will tell you how he did it. Nile learned to be a producer by picking up tips in the studio. Luther Vandross taught him how to record vocals, Quincy Jones instructed him. To the point where when he was in the studio and somebody was doing something wrong, he’d speak up and say “No, this is how you do it…” Do that enough, and they put you in charge.
HITS
Are outnumbered by Nile’s failures. People only remember the hits. And if you’ve got the chops, you know the failures are only momentary blips.
HEARING
Is not easy for Giorgio Moroder. Too much loud music or old age, I don’t know. Protect your ears.
TWEETING
Tiesto does most of his own, because the public can tell the difference.
MOANING
Donna Summer said she couldn’t, didn’t wanna try. But Moroder sent her husband out of the studio, turned down the lights, and she got into it for ten minutes, which Giorgio cut up and inserted into “Love To Love You Baby.”
THE OHIO EXPRESS
Inspired Giorgio Moroder, he sang a few bars of “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.”
COCAINE
Made Giorgio’s studio musicians blow out the monitors on a regular basis, not when they were recording, but when they were playing back after hours, when they were high and Giorgio was home eating and sleeping.
COCAINE 2
Refused to allow Nile Rodgers’s heart to keep beating. They had to restart it eight times in the hospital before it would keep going. Nile swore off the marching powder…for two weeks.
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