I'm Building a Fairlight CMI: Episode 17

Cris Blyth is a brave man. He has a dream of taking a Fairlight MFX and upgrading it to a Fairlight CMI Series III. In this episode, Cris tidies up the shop, and sets the Fairlight rack up nicely, updates the USB, syncs the CMI and MFX machines, and then makes yet more faces. His handmade faceplate gets replaced by a proper one, which has a bit of a problem. So he replaces it with another, which has a bit of a problem. So he replaces it...
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[@albeckwall]

I sit in a state of unreasonable anticipation over every inch of progress and setback. Your approach to learning through trial and error, coupled with your giddiness at each new discovery is hypnotic! Can't wait to see what happens next. For you (and us), the journey is just as important as the destination.

[@ZapAndersson]

"I spotted a mistake" he says. *A* mistake? It's the mistakes that makes your journey so enjoyable to watch. And that you upload them. Imagine how dull tihs would be if you cut out all the mistakes. :)

[@JayKaufman]

You're still as mad as a box of badgers, Chris. I'm still loving it!

[@FelixDegenaar]

This has to be my favourite series by now! I love your stick-to-it-iveness, the very human way you make mistakes and own up to them, and then finally making it all work anyway. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and you are an example to all us tinkerers. Can't wait for the next episode, and thanks again!

[@daz4627]

Keep plugging away at it Cris... we're all in there with you!! Good luck

[@paul_ward_music]

So glad to see you back. Don't keep us waiting for long!

[@someonesusingmyname]

Made my day to see this notification!

[@alexmcallister492]

I’ve recently rescued a series 3 from going into landfill ! It needs restoring so now following this series of videos !

[@John3.16saves]

Wow. Who would commit such a crime?!! Good luck with it 🍀

[@bank8489]

this is genuinely absolutely incredible. the CMI has long been one of my favorite pieces of hardware. awesome to see this project move forward.

[@StupidTuberDude]

You're actually getting giddy! Awesome job again!

[@SlapShotts]

Watching this series has been awesome

[@PeterTechn]

Welcome back 😊

[@atomaalatonal]

so you really made it. wow, must be the greatest feeling. now you have the most unique machine without having a unique machine haha. big thx for sharing that story.

[@CUPUK61]

JINGS! PRAISE BE TO THE GREAT MAGNET! Cris is still alive ❤

[@frankdogau]

Hooray Chris is back!😁

[@tekvax01]

Cris!! So glad you posted again! Did you hear the Ontario Government wants to move the Ontario Science Centre from its current location to a new location near the waterfront, as a smaller stripped-down version of the original OSC?! I am upset about this and wish they would just leave it where it is... Those beautiful brass and copper-plated walls and convention classrooms will all be gone... :(

[@CrisBlyth]

why on earth would they move it ? does it still have the baseball speed thing where you throw a ball and it calculates your throwing speed ? I really liked that !

[@tekvax01]

@@CrisBlyth so many of the exhibits have been moved, destroyed or mothballed, that it is not the same place we remember as kids!

[@TheKeyboardChronicles]

Another amazing instalment, keep it going!

[@bobule]

Ooooh! It's been a while.. thanks!

[@KeirMurphy]

Is it Christmas? Is it my birthday? No it's another video from Cris!

[@kevinhartnell2075]

Fantastic, as usual! Thank you for continuing to share your adventure with us.

[@colinedwards1163]

Keep up the great work Cris, I really look forward to your videos.

[@toi_techno]

Cool project Someone should make a single large jogwheel midi controller, not sure what you'd use it for but it looks super satisfying

[@benleman649]

Great episode. See you in 2024!

[@CrisBlyth]

hehehe oh wow, you’re so right..

[@FLH3official]

Seeing the lights of the harbour after a long journey! 😁

[@thebiggerbyte5991]

Excellent!

[@williambrasky3891]

The Motorola 6809 is the greatest 8-bit processor ever made, unless you count the Hitachi 6309. Wonder if they ever put one in a Magic Wand? A true connoisseur’s climax.

[@bassvibasics479]

I was only wondering t'other day how the progress was going... thank you for your fascinating brilliance!

[@nachom1971]

I'm so glad for Cris. Passion driven awesomeness

[@marcpinion]

Fantastic you have come a long way.

[@keiths-teeth]

Does look like it might have ventilation problems. Imo better to put that last interface outside the unit somehow

[@RichardNyeMusic]

I love these videos Cris - thanks for posting - it is amazing to see it all coming together 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@williamtell1477]

So good I could watch this all day!

[@tecnos-uk]

lol My Alexa started playing It couldn't happen here by the Pet Shop Boys 😅

[@theaudioeng]

🙏

[@ToTheGAMES]

Love it Cris, coming along nicely!

[@geraldbeck8644]

Awsome job....what your doing is a HUGE undertaking ...most people would go in a looney bin...great job...

[@TheRadiantSoap_]

looney bin is derogatory

[@garycitro1674]

When I watched the first one of these I figured it would be a four -- video series. Now I'm way behind. I admire your quest for adventure and your tenacity, but I have to figure Peter Gabriel has a CMI or two in his warehouse somewhere that you could have for a couple of hundred bucks. 🙂

[@CrisBlyth]

I believe they are definitely not in a warehouse .. Indiana Jones style :)

[@garycitro1674]

@@CrisBlyth okay, but do you *really* want to thank Steve at this point? 🙂 And how much will it cost me to fly you over here and clean up the racks that I have set up in the basement? 🙂

[@williambrasky3891]

If you ever find a CMI for a couple hundred bucks do not hesitate! Pick it up. Call me. I will double your money, toss another $20 on top, plus I'll bequeath to you my collection of loose change because I like you. You deserve to be rewarded for your hard work. I’ll also throw in a dozen or so “Large 3 toppings for $13.99!” coupons, from Domino’s™ because you're a shrewd businessman; a connoisseur of opportunities with an eye for the finer things. I appreciate that.

[@garycitro1674]

@@williambrasky3891 And I am a connoisseur of fine sarcasm. Clearly I have misread the market value of Fairlight CMI's and I appreciate the education. I just assumed that my $300 Casio with some decent DAW software can do much of what the Fairlight did and more. But we all know assumptions can be dangerous.

[@CrisBlyth]

@@garycitro1674 Oh the CMI is outdone by most iPhone apps, but it’s such a great fun beast to work with .. Historic !

[@6581punk]

Resin printed parts are probably more detailed. But an FDM doing ABS would be stronger.

[@russellyoung6498]

Love this series, keep going Cris!

[@temporoboto]

💙

[@erazor5234]

Might be a good idea to replace the drive with a SSD if possible.

[@6581punk]

Probably more reliable than an SD card long term. But it's SCSI which makes things fiddly. SD is used because of the SD2SCSI board. If it was using IDE then there are some IDE SSDs around, I have one in my Alesis Fusion. If only there was a SCSI2SD RAID device, use two identical SD cards so if one fails the other still has a copy of the data.

[@poofygoof]

@@6581punk there were hardware SCSI RAID devices made, which transparently mirrored or striped between two SCSI devices, but the host only saw a single SCSI device. I imagine the current SCSI2SD or blueSCSI targets could possibly be updated to do something similar, but probably more practical to periodically backup a single SD card. :)

[@delskioffskinov]

Another great video Cris and to be honest it's the failures that make these videos worth watching! because in the end it's going to be worth everything lol!

[@ReneKnuvers74rk]

I am really curious how far the build is now!

[@colourbasscolourbassweapon2135]

nice

[@LeeFiero]

Whats that keyboard? I bought a M-Audio Ozon and its really is look the same but yhe logo on yours is not there..

[@LeeFiero]

Oh its a Oxygen..

[@The-Weekend-Warrior]

When you're showing "When I usually press control left-right", you're actually pressing SHIFT. If that matters in any way :D