So what you’re talking about really ~isn’t~ a recreation.
I guess that it just really gets to me when people talk about “recreations”, be they plug ins or whatever.
FWIW, I’m very familiar with the C1, used it extensively in the studio, and it’s fine, but is absolutely NOT indistinguishable from the real thing. Through a good monitoring system, in a good room, the differences are very apparent.
It’s the same thing as the convolutions that someone mentioned earlier. They sound fine, but I’ve never heard anything that truly sounds real, and believe me, I’ve used a LOT of them. It’s never going to be a “recreation”.
What we’re actually talking about here is us trying to get something “close”. That’s fine, but it’s NOT a recreation, anymore than there are “recreations” of Stradivarius violins, vintage Stratocasters, or AC Cobras.
And the term “clone” is even more annoying. A clone would be an exact copy.
And yes, I know of a lot of people (okay, so they’re recording professionals, so it’s a bit unusual) who DO listen and hear when someone’s using a plug in, clone, whatever. The really crappy Mellotron samples come to mind. (They really can’t fool anyone with an ear…)
I don’t mean to be argumentative, but we’re not talking about a clone, we’re talking about something similar. And if that’s the case it becomes a matter of HOW similar. You may as well just use samples of the sounds.
Tim
From: Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Puricelli
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 7:57
AM
To: Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Fairlight-CMI] Re:
Recreating the Fairlight
Hi Tim,
I couldn't disagree more. Let me explain why.
There are countless clones of countless items out there. If all of them had
said the same as you, we wouldn't have half the products we do today.
I agree that whilst the uniqueness of the components and circuitry would
indeed make an original Fairlight the only thing to sound like an original
Fairlight, to say it's impossible to recreate is a very blinkered view. I
could reel off numerous examples of where clones do indeed match the
original. Take a look at the Nord C1. Even the most hardened Hammond fans
gasp in awe at how exact a match it is for the real thing.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lAqjAcSvxzE
That guy in the video above has built, rebuilt and restored more Hammonds
than I've had hot dinners and he positively wets himself at how good the C1
is.
And the C1 shares none of the original circuits, components or software of
the original (not that the original had any software !) ;o)
But ultimately, in isolation, I'm sure a Fairlight clone would certainly not
match an original, but how often do we play and record any of our
instruments in isolation ? Once they're buried in a mix, no one could tell
the difference. I'd place good money on that. Do you sit there and listen to
a tune and say, "You know what ? That's not a real XYZ instrument, it's a
poor clone." Of course not. All we are searching for is a way to access
the
library and possibly to recreate the sampling environment in a modern and
convenient method. Whilst this recreation may not pass muster against a real
one, it would be as close as dammit and until I have a spare £5000 burning a
hole in my pocket, that will do for me :o)
Regards,
Rob.
-----Original Message-----
From: Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Tim Curtis
Sent: 14 July 2008 05:48
To: Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Fairlight-CMI] Re: Recreating the Fairlight
There is ONE way to recreate the Fairlight.
-Clone the circuits using identical components
-Use the same software
Anything else simply won’t do it.
Sorry.
-Tim
________________________________
From: Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of antonyp69
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 10:12 PM
To: Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Fairlight-CMI] Re: Recreating the Fairlight
Like the original poster of this thread, I too would be interested
in a recreated Fairlight CMI.
The idea that has been floated is a VST type virtual Fairlight CMI.
However due to major advances in microtechnology and processing
power and mega storage capacities, I believe the best solution would
be to rereate the Fairlight CMI as a computer soundcard. A software
package with all the Fairlight CMI functions such for example, Page
6 Waveform Drawing, Page 7 Control Parameters etc.. should also
be included. To enable waveform drawing, an input device such as a
usb optical mouse or usb optical pen could be used. Of course the
soundcard would have a microphone input for sampling.
A modern day personal computer with dual/quad core processors,
gigabytes of memory and storage would be ample to host a "Fairlight
soundcard".
I am not a computer board designer or electrical engineer, however I
have assembled many computer systems and owned dozens of soundcards
over the last 17 years.
In previous posts to this thread, the posters have stated that the
goal is to obtain the "Fairlight" sound. Peter Vogel stated there
were various nuances such as "birdies" and other quirks that gave the
Fairlight its sound.
As mentioned there have been major advances in computer technology
over the last 30 years since the Fairlight CMI has been around. I am
pretty sure there are modern day components that could mimic the
circuitry of the CMI. Probably even software could emulate the
circuitry as well, however a hardware soundcard version of the
Fairlight CMI would do it justice.
How would I design a Fairlight CMI soundcard?
I would look at the Creative Labs Soundblaster cards that support
Soundfonts as a starting point. The Soundfont is similar in that it
spans the sound sample along the music keyboard. However although
the Soundfont sounds great, it is not a Fairlight. The Creative Labs
Soundblaster cards do not have the processing filters of the CMI.
A CMI soundcard would ideally have sampling and processing qualities
like a the original Fairlight CMI.
I would even put the original factory libraries of the Series IIx
and Series III on a rom chip on the soundcard.
What I would love to see....
Because he knows the Fairlight back to front, he is very clever, and
on a patriotic note, Australian, it would be great if Peter Vogel
designed and produced this card. Maybe a 'Vogelight CSCI (Computer
Soud Card Instrument)' ?????
This maybe a pipe-dream, but it maybe a thing that will keep the
Fairlight legacy going a lot longer and introduce a new generation
to the wonders of the CMI.
Antony
Melbourne, Australia
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