Fairlight-CMI

To Peter:

> Ah, that one :-)
>
> Does it work ok? I recall the listing saying it hadn't been tested but the
> monitors (although slightly damaged) switch on, etc///

The system tried to boot, but it had empty disks loaded. By the time I had
inserted the boot disks, a fuse had blown due to power spikes probably in
the man's garage. The IIx is arguably more mint than my series III. The
serialnumber is 333 from 1985 or 1986. Amazingly clean keyboard. The
monitors are early models, one, I think, even from 1981.

You also asked about that MFX mini, it is a stripped down version with 8
channels only. It seemingly cannot be upgraded to 24 channels. Keep that
in mind. How much did that MFX3+ from australia go for ? Must have been a
killer deal as last I saw it it was at USD 1500.


To David:

> From: David J. Wilson [mailto:jeepcherokee_10@yahoo.com]
>
> oh,  you bought that one.  looked like it came with a lot of
> parts & 2 monitors as I recall.

It came with more than 100 disks, and indeed some spare parts. I still
have to check the pen and see which monitor is working. The one with the
bubbles did not show a legible screen as I tried to boot, we didn't check
the other monitor. The flight cases are great.

> I'm curious as to how it
> works out for you,

I'll let you all know. At least is is indeed a very good condition machine
and one of the last built.

> also wonder what happened to Talk Talk's old
> IIx, that a guy on this list was restoring.  he sent me e-mail
> a while back, but never heard how the restoration was going.

Probably halted ?

> interesting comparison on the III and the K2600.
> I have a III and a K2500S with KDFX effects board in it.
> but I haven't even switched on the K2500S since I got my III
> back in Feb-March time frame  :-)

:-) I find the K2600 has expression capabilities that I cannot easily
reproduce on the III, like the ribbons. If you have the demo video with
Jordan Rudess you can see the harp demo which is really intuitive.. Great
to use with MIDI on the III. Also the pressure and pitchbend sensitive
ribbon is great for string sounds like a violin. The fully weighted keys
of the 2600 are also different from the III, much heavier and more like a
real piano. The IIx keyboard is quite synth like but still more gentle
than the 360 Systems keyboard that came along with it, which in turn is
harsh compared to a yamaha keyboard for instance.

Lots of choices to choose from...

Regards,
Harald.

--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, feldmann@x wrote:
> To David:
> 
> > From: David J. Wilson [mailto:jeepcherokee_10@y...]
> >
> > oh,  you bought that one.  looked like it came with a lot of
> > parts & 2 monitors as I recall.
> 
> It came with more than 100 disks, and indeed some spare parts. I 
still
> have to check the pen and see which monitor is working. The one 
with the
> bubbles did not show a legible screen as I tried to boot, we didn't 
check
> the other monitor. The flight cases are great.


yes, I remember drooling when I saw the Ebay photos of that IIx.
it looked in very good physical condition.  who and what was it
used for in Florida, if I may ask ?  But being a computer/electrical 
engineer, I also had to face reality when I could imagine that IIx 
and all its cards stored in a hot, humid Florida garage for some 
time.  

I'm very curious as to the 360 systems keyboard and special card
and software disk from 360 systems for the IIx.  This is news to me.
What was the 360 systems keyboard used for with the IIx ?

best of luck with the IIx, I hope you get it up and running.
send some photos to the list when she's all happy and whirring away.

David

> --- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, feldmann@x wrote:
>> To David:

>> the other monitor. The flight cases are great.

> yes, I remember drooling

Drooling ? ;-) my,my.
I was cautious, I will say.

> when I saw the Ebay photos of that IIx.
> it looked in very good physical condition.  who and what was it
> used for in Florida, if I may ask ?

I was told it had been used by a studio to develop various TV commercials
and themes.

> But being a computer/electrical
> engineer, I also had to face reality when I could imagine that IIx
> and all its cards stored in a hot, humid Florida garage for some
> time.

It seemingly was in the garage for only about two weeks, and it really
does look well taken care of.

> I'm very curious as to the 360 systems keyboard and special card
> and software disk from 360 systems for the IIx.  This is news to me.
> What was the 360 systems keyboard used for with the IIx ?

It is not related to the IIx, it came as a bonus. The unit is a sample
player with ROM chips only. (Hence the extra printed circuit boards with
wave roms) However, the ROMS can be exchanged for Eproms so I could
theoretically burn wave roms containing whatever and have a vintage sample
player. It's 8 voice I believe. No MIDI.

> best of luck with the IIx, I hope you get it up and running.

Thank you !

> send some photos to the list when she's all happy and whirring away.

I'll post some photos of the studio when all the equipment is settled.

> David

Best regards,
Harald.