A Very Broken Fairlight - Part #2 Fairlight CMI Restoration

Part 2 of the restoration of my very broken Fairlight CMI IIx. It seems to take a crazy amout of time to edit these videos so sorry about the delay in getting part 2 out.
I hope you enjoy and you are doing well
Mike.

[@BluffMunkey]

I am so glad there are people out there willing to preserve this old gear and not just the 'analogue classics'. Fairlight = Mystique!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Hey BM! Indeed, the best thing about the Fairlight is there are no custom chips! Keeping them alive while a challenge should be possible into the future :D

[@morbidmanmusic]

digital... right?

[@Elluvis72]

looking forward to the next episode. Such a cool instrument!

[@moogfooger]

Wow, I am almost as excited as you are watching this instrument come together. An amazing piece of modern technology! Thank you so much for sharing your fun. Cheers

[@100ThingsIDo]

A lifetime of lusting over them brings a special joy in brining one back to life :D

[@danniielle]

Great progress Mike! Very inspiring. 😎 You mentioning the Facebook group at the end kinda makes me want to come back. I stopped posting on Facebook a few months into last year because it is just too addictive for me. Very excited to see this project coming to life! 💖💖🎹💖💖

[@100ThingsIDo]

Indeed, best you stay away from Facebook as much as you can. Not only can it be a bit nasty but also uses up time non of us have! The Faitlight group is a very great place though. I'll have to ask you some CRT questions at some point.. If I remember correctly you used to be a service tech ?

[@elcasho]

So excited for this project! They mostly finally boot at night, mostly

[@tonygroenewoud-powell53]

The machine that created most of the soundtrack for my journey from boyhood to manhood. Can't wait to see the next installment! I also remember the Tomorrow's World episode.

[@100ThingsIDo]

It is just amazing how many places the Sarah.vc sound turns up :D

[@VickersDoorter]

I owned a Series IIx between 1987 and 1988 (when I traded up to the Series III) It was Alan Parson's and even came with original sequences and samples for his track Mamagamma, Close to the Edit by Art of Noise and Frankie's Two Tribes. Great to see you tackle this beast and follow your progress.

[@billcarson4601]

I remember watching the Fairlight on TW. I went on to work with computers and digital music a few years later for a brief period. The Fairlight inspired my career at that time before moving into computers and electronics. Fantastic finding your channel and restoration.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the future videos :D Indeed the Fairlights were things of such wonder at the time they came out :D

[@wjec1970]

This is a brilliant video, you have a lot of patience! I played a Series II once at a place that used to renovate and sell music gear. It was gritty, but had a wonderful bass end!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Yes, they do sound wonderful! Still very useful muscially :D

[@robinwilliams5348]

I'm loving watching these videos of yours about this legendary piece of hardware!! Thanks

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoy :D

[@shadowrogueilreoscuro]

Hi, you're great, I'm only happy with the Fair light case from the first series. I know more from Sinclaiver than I hope to have one day but for now I'm happy to see you restore these wonders, greetings from Italy

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks, indeed the original mainframe design by Alan Galt is a work of art :D

[@shadowrogueilreoscuro]

@100ThingsIDo Look, it's a shame that these samplers have crazy prices. In Italy I don't think there are any Fairlights. I hope I can find one to fix like yours at a humane price.

[@jaswingrove]

LOVING THIS. My brother and I used to save our pennies and go rent the CMI by the hour at Ryrie house in rushcutters bay in their practice studio. we achieved probably nothing, but at the time having hands on access to the beast was like drinking from the holy grail. Until the Ensoniq Mirage came out at least lol.

[@100ThingsIDo]

That would of been amazing! Was it in the room with the Neve console ? :D

[@jaswingrove]

@ no next door. it was very small room really, hardly anything else in it besides a cmi from memory. lol

[@gerrykavanagh]

Great progress. I’m curious to know about what looks to be a pdp11 in the background

[@WilliamAshleyOnline]

great to see someone taking the time to keep these things running. :) 45kg isn't the upper limit of what someone can lift but it may be a weight you don't want to carry indefinitely.

[@100ThingsIDo]

I should of said recomended weight for most people :D

[@lotus30com]

Very cool! Reseating the cards in my IIx makes me sweat every time. There is so much pressure to get them in! Looking forward to the next episode!

[@100ThingsIDo]

I foudn the trick to to pop the top of the CMI and use the frame to give you something to hold on to while pressing with your thunbs. Works a charm :D

[@velonaut303]

I love watching the project unfold. Thank you for sharing.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Glad you are enjoying it :D

[@AndrewAHayes]

I also watched the Tommorows World edition when they showed off the Fairlight CMI, I was amazed, it put my analogue synths to shame, I realised straightaway that I could sample my analogue patches and even play them as a poly sound, when I heard how much they cost my heart sunk, 5 years later I was working in a studio that used to hire one, and with an operator, then 2 years after that they bought one and I used it as often as possible during down time, I still have my disks to this day, most of my stuff was converted to be used on my Akai samplers. I loved that original keyboard that the CMI used, they were built like a tank!

[@ReneKnuvers74rk]

2:07 you might find video’s about ‘reforming capacitors’ informative. This simple process restores the way these electrolytic caps get their polarization.

[@ednasdiscomachine6049]

I feel your pain with the cards in the chassis. I have a Series III, and getting the cards in is a pain, but much worse is getting them out! Always stressed with those black plastic tabs. 😬Great video. Looking forward to more. 😊

[@100ThingsIDo]

I found a trick that makes them a lot easier to insert. Remove the top cover of the CMI , grasp the frame with your hand and then do simiar at the bottom and then use your thumbs to push the cards in. You will find some how the seat a lot easier :D I'll show it in a later video!

[@artprojectsnz]

You are a complete legend! Love your commitment and skills…and the videos….having spent a lot of time with Fairlights in the past I find this mind boggling! JPMusic

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks, they are still just as creative as they were in their day! Such great music making instruments :D

[@jonathanredman8497]

Michael, Great to see your dedication to this project. I don’t think I’ve got enough mental stamina left to accept such a mission but I’m enjoying watching you breathe life into this historic beast. ❤

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks Jonathan, I was telling Quentin Goldfinch only the other week there were some dark moments of deep frustration while trying to get things to work, he said it was pretty much the same when he was designing the voice cards haha :D

[@intheblink]

Oh wow! Super excited to follow your journey getting this thing up and running!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks, and thanks for checking out the clip :D

[@thealanholdingcompany]

Thanks for the video. Glad it's going well. 👍

[@DuncanFindlater]

What a fascinating project this is turning into. I remember the same Tomorrow’s World episode vividly, it was an astonishing demo. I worked in the computing industry not long afterwards, but computing and music only occasionally converged for me. Thank you and best of luck.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Computers and technology was so much more about the hardware than software at that time. Amazing what peope were able to do :D

[@johnsaunders6510]

This was simply awesome. Good luck with the rest of your restoration.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@robh7671]

Good one Mike, Fairlight CMI Restoration, Just shows back in the good old days An amazing piece of modern technology. Look forward to part 3 :) ( Rob H

[@100ThingsIDo]

As you know they still sound amazing and the workflow is like nothing else :D

[@DavidMorley]

I’ve been looking forwards to this! Brilliant.

[@100ThingsIDo]

I can never be thankful enough David :D Glad you are getting some entertainment in return for all the stress :D

[@DavidMorley]

@ Cheers! Actually fascinating to see you do this. As you say, what great machines in terms of build quality. You see it when they are apart!

[@Dan-zr5em]

Superb content, been looking forward to part 2, keep up the great work!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@hbhmhbhm]

Good progress, good luck with the project, can't wait to see the floppy drives up and runnung!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Floppy drives will be a while away, the project takes some inetersting and unexpected turns as it progresses :D

[@ianbrown3304]

Best show of the holidays.

[@darkwinter6028]

Regular plastic tubs hold quite a strong static field; but cardboard boxes - especially if there’s normal humidity levels in the ambient air - don’t (they’re just conductive enough for the static charge to dissipate). In addition to the anti static bags, I would suggest switching to cardboard or wooden crates for storage & handling.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Fortunatly no damage done, but thanks.. I will try and do better :D

[@chriswareham]

Great progress! I'm now going to have to play around with Qasar Beach, the entirely software emulated Fairlight recreation. I installed it ages ago, but haven't found the time to actually use it.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Qasar Beach is really great! Even Blue Weaver has had a play with it! :D

[@AlisonCassidy]

Fantastic work - well done indeed. These are a nightmare to work on!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Fortunatly its designed well to allow easy servicing of most things.... D

[@rot_studios]

Crazy to think you could fit it all on a $3,= MCU nowadays and have better specs to boot haha This is a really cool project! Always been fascinated with the CMI's, even if they were "just" samplers. It was quite the revolution in how music was made back in the day!

[@100ThingsIDo]

You could, hopefully one day someone will do just that :D You would need to keep the analog sections to keep the sound!

[@AnalogueInTheUK]

Simply awesome.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@breakfasthotdog]

You beauty! Very excited to see how this journey develops. Keen to see anything about that CVI Compact in the background too 👀 Been trying to get mine in good order on and off for a few years, just about everything but the frame hold works so suspect a dud memory chip somewhere. Always a fun process!

[@100ThingsIDo]

I have started working on it and made some video, hopefully once the CMI is done :D

[@paulhorsley8922]

Really interesting project ,good luck 🤞 ❤

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thank you :D

[@deantiquisetnovis]

Wow, that is a huge linear power supply 😱

[@100ThingsIDo]

Massive! :D You will see more of it soon!

[@WesslansFilmprod]

Awesome progress! Keep up the good work! Cheers Daniel, host of Eat and Listen channel

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks man! hope things are well :D

[@michael4591]

This machine is the 80s ❤

[@100ThingsIDo]

and 2024 :D People seem to love them even more now!

[@laserharpevents]

Really great work; my laser harp is sending you good vibrations...All the best from France (Burgundy)...

[@100ThingsIDo]

I had a really nice chat with Jo Hammer about Jean Michel's laser Harp last year and the Houston & Lyon concerts :D

[@laserharpevents]

@@100ThingsIDo Oh yes...I met Jo Hammer when he worked for Simmons Drums...The friend who made my laser harp is a friend of Michel Geiss...I'm a music teacher (conservatories in the area of Paris) and during my studies, I had a teacher (Normal school of music of Paris) who was the piano teacher of Jean-Michel Jarre...(they didn't like them together !) But your restoration project is amazing...A question: How does your fairlight cost ? Before restoration ? All the best...

[@100ThingsIDo]

@@laserharpevents Wonderful, Paris is such a great city. I paid about half of what a fully restored system sells for these days (check the current auction on eBay). I was very lucky that the person selling the Fairlight was also a member of our Fairlight group on facebook so he gave me a very good deal. Michel Geiss is an amazing person. DIGISEQUENCER :D Indeed, Jo was very passionate about Simmons still, he still thought the SD-X was amazing :D

[@piynubbunyip]

nice seeing your patience working with these machines. MPC60 was excellent and this seems to be most promising.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks! MPC is still working like a charm :D

[@betomanske477]

Thanks for share the progress ...

[@100ThingsIDo]

My Pleasure :D

[@colindavis8242]

Aaagh!!!! Can't wait for part 3 😂😂😂😂

[@compu85]

If you take the key out of the back of the cabinet, you can likely separate the plug and tumblers from the the barrel. Then just take the tumblers out and it can be turned with a screwdriver

[@100ThingsIDo]

Possibly, I will need to take a look :D

[@artistschoice2009]

Wow! great job!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@offgridertv]

Felicidades es usted un hombre afortunado por tener un pedazo de historia en su casa. Feliz 2025

[@100ThingsIDo]

Cracias y espero que tengas un gran 2025 :D

[@guidoseifert5679]

Fantastic.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks Guido :D

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

awesome, gonna pour a pinot gris and watch this part 2 (look at those caps!)

[@ThatSockmonkey]

Awesome. I cant wait till you get into the guts some more.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Hopefully next week :D

[@ThatSockmonkey]

@100ThingsIDo oh, no hurry on my end. I have 800 unfinished projects that I won't work on in the meantime 😂

[@JonTheBrush]

Love the evblog dmm ;)

[@ghostexits]

Lovey video, thanks for posting this; I can't help wondering why you didn't turn in on and try it out before disassembling, unseating all the boards, cleaning, etc.

[@100ThingsIDo]

The damage that could of been done was not worth the risk. As is its months of work to get it functional. Lets just say my fears play out in a coming episode ! ! ! ! ! ! :D

[@martin_emrich]

10:11 that EEVBlog multimeter 👍🏼

[@100ThingsIDo]

Dave Jones is Ledgend :D

[@Robguitarjarvis]

Brilliant !

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thank you :D

[@NoPegs]

WoopWoop! It's only broken for the moment. Soooooon.

[@100ThingsIDo]

hehehe ....tooo right.. Its only not fixed yet :D

[@ToTheGAMES]

I was waiting for this :)

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thank you :D Glad you enjoyed!

[@teutorider]

Cool 😊✌️👍

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@pablopicaro7649]

On ebay is a Fairlight IIx for only USD33,000 so that is an incredible find

[@100ThingsIDo]

Restored by Peter Wielk, well worth the money :D The monitor with it is the 'spare' one on the floor during my early restoration videos!

[@rowanjones3476]

They don’t make ‘em like they used to. Far out… paint it gunmetal grey and it wouldn’t look out of place on a navy ship! Bonus feature, I imagine it’ll keep your house warm during winter. Any idea how much power this thing draws? For the key, I imagine any locksmith could cut a key for that keyway if you take the cylinder to them, if you want to have the switch functional as-built.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Indeed, its built like a battle ship... I will (not by choice) be doing a complete tear down within the next episode or 2 :D

[@kins749]

Can't wait for Part 3, better still Part x where it's fully working and playing music

[@100ThingsIDo]

Hopefully Part 3 will be out in a few weeks :D

[@FLH3official]

No need of TV series when you can have a Fairlight restoration by Mr. 100 Things!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D hehe I should release a bingable box set when I'm finished haha! :D Hope you are doing well

[@dragonheadthing]

: D More progress! Could that be mini-computer related equipment I see in the back?

[@100ThingsIDo]

In my dining room as I do this you will see my Northstar S100 system, Synclavier mainrame, PDP-11/23 mini computer (with two working RL02 drives) and my trusty Apple IIe and IIgs :D

[@nativeVS]

Looking forward to seeing a wooden rule being used to push in all the cards in the future. Also what is that lovely DEC tower in the background?

[@100ThingsIDo]

LOL at Cris's wooden Rule! I later found a trick to save my thumbs a little (after the first day of trying to put the cards in I was in pain for about 2 days). DEC PDP 11/23 with two RL02 drives! Fully working. The exploded cap you see in the clip is from the PDP power distribution system. :D

[@CrisBlyth]

oh getting the cards back in.. I know the pain

[@100ThingsIDo]

My thumbs hurt for 2 days! Serious haha!

[@tekvax01]

Hey! Cris!!!

[@baritonfelix]

05:15 - anyone else reminded of Bowman shutting down HAL 9000?

[@100ThingsIDo]

My mind is going... I can feel it ... I can feel it....... :D

[@ChipGuy]

I am confused: The wiring on the switch is modern with brown and blue. However, in Australia wiring was red and black until 2018. That would mean this has been rewired at some point. This could have happend in Europe since the wiring in the UK is brown and blue since somewhere around 2006.

[@rossthompson1635]

UK wiring for appliances (flexible cables) has been blue / brown since the early 70s. It was only fixed wiring (in building walls etc) that changed much later in 2006.

[@ChipGuy]

@@rossthompson1635 OK, but this was built in Australia. It must have been the same in Australia back then.

[@rossthompson1635]

​@@ChipGuyAh ok, I don't know when appliances in Australia changed to the blue / brown code but I would imagine, like in the UK, it was earlier than fixed wiring just because of the practicalities for import / export.... someone from Australia will tell us :-)

[@100ThingsIDo]

100% looks like original loomed cables, Kim was right at the heart of Eletronics in Australia at the time so possibly they were aiming for the 'modern' spec! :D

[@michaelturner4457]

You can probably just rake the lock open.

[@100ThingsIDo]

I thought of that but I had nothing at hand to do it and turn it at the same time :D

[@morph-the-cat]

My Christmas present arrived late!

[@dougjane64]

So you are so cheap you wont buy a variac? Also, the way to check power supplies is by removing them from what they are powering.

[@100ThingsIDo]

It's more I don't have much use for one as most of the work I do is low voltage or has PSU's that don't go well when undervolted. And yes I am cheap ... thats why the Fairlight is so broken and I did not purchase a fully restored one haha! :D Yes, I ran the Fairlight PSU for a while with only a very light load to allow the Caps to 'reform' :D

[@TaralgaBushAdventure]

when does Kate Bush want it back...?

[@100ThingsIDo]

Shhhhh I dont want to get on her bad side :D haha!

[@timden5431]

Hahahaha! :)

[@ingmarm8858]

I'm twitching, almost zero real ESD precautions on such a precious beast.... sigh.... no straps, walking around handling cards. Sitting the cards inside a giant static generator (big plastic tub!) on top of ESD shielding bags is a nice idea but.. I remember dreaming about what it would be like to own a CMI when they came out. Be great to see it running.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Sorry! The Fairlight is huge and yes I should be more ESD aware. Limited equipment and (as you can see) no workshop to set up correctly is the biggest challenge :D

[@CrisBlyth]

you don’t sound very Scottish to me :)

[@100ThingsIDo]

How is that music Keyboard going ? :D

[@CrisBlyth]

@@100ThingsIDo oh jeez… well I need to be IN. the country .. been a tad busy !