Fairlight-CMI

I am trying to figure out the specifications of the MFX2 and MFX3. Specificaly the CMI 
similarities.

There isn't a lot of info available on the net cc. the MFX2 & 3. The only usefull site I found 
was http://members.tripod.com/kmi9000/kmi_cmi.htm (although most of the external 
links are dead).

If eventually I'll purchase a Fairlight in the future it will be at least a Series III. But if the 
MFX2 or 3 still offers the same functionality and sound as the Series III, I might seriously 
consider buying one of those.

So here goes:

1. The above mentioned site claims that the MFX3 still has full CMI functionality up untill 
Rev 11. Is this correct? At other placed I read that the MFX2 was the last model that 
supported CMI functionality.

2. Do all the MFX models, that offer the same functionality as the Series III, use the same 
voice cards with the same filters?

3. I understand that the MFX 2 & 3 are primarily hard disk recorder. If these units offer the 
same functionality as the Series III, how is it implemented? Can you use the sampler 
functions simultaneously with the HD recorder? Or do you have to switch modes so that 
only 1 mode is available at 1 time?

4. The MFX has a 24 voice routing card. What's the use of the 24 outputs when you've only 
got 16 voice cards? 

5. Are the HD tracks multiplexed or is it 1 voice card/track?

6. The MFX series uses a different hardware controller. They lose the pen tablet. Is it still 
possible to fully use the CMI capabilities with the MFX controller? Or does one have to 
purchase  the keyboard with the tablet to fully use the CMI functions?
 
Best,
David
http://dvdborn.blogspot.com

Fairlight added on the mfx2 a sample and hold card on every DA to 
improve dynamic and high frequencies.  Phase correlation has been 
improved for stereo cards too. 
More precise informations can be found in the service manual.
You have the turbo scsi card that speed sound loading and the dps96k 
( option ) that brings you Time Stretching.
There are many corrections of bugs between rev 9 and rev 11.38+.
Hardware and software were seriously revised
The mdr works with the cmi. When you press "play" on the Mfx2 remote, 
the pageR, caps and direct to disk ( mdr ) start together.
The mdr is very usefull to track your cmi voices when you lack of 
polyphony. 
About using cmi in a mfx3, you just need to find some place for cmi 
card voices / but you lose 2 voices ( as said by a member of 
fairlight' s staff ). But I never had more informations from 
fairlight . Theorically you have to add an external rack. 


--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, "dvdborn" <dvdborn@...> wrote:
>
> I am trying to figure out the specifications of the MFX2 and MFX3. 
Specificaly the CMI 
> similarities.
> 
> There isn't a lot of info available on the net cc. the MFX2 & 3. 
The only usefull site I found 
> was http://members.tripod.com/kmi9000/kmi_cmi.htm (although most of 
the external 
> links are dead).
> 
> If eventually I'll purchase a Fairlight in the future it will be at 
least a Series III. But if the 
> MFX2 or 3 still offers the same functionality and sound as the 
Series III, I might seriously 
> consider buying one of those.
> 
> So here goes:
> 
> 1. The above mentioned site claims that the MFX3 still has full CMI 
functionality up untill 
> Rev 11. Is this correct? At other placed I read that the MFX2 was 
the last model that 
> supported CMI functionality.
> 
> 2. Do all the MFX models, that offer the same functionality as the 
Series III, use the same 
> voice cards with the same filters?
> 
> 3. I understand that the MFX 2 & 3 are primarily hard disk 
recorder. If these units offer the 
> same functionality as the Series III, how is it implemented? Can 
you use the sampler 
> functions simultaneously with the HD recorder? Or do you have to 
switch modes so that 
> only 1 mode is available at 1 time?
> 
> 4. The MFX has a 24 voice routing card. What's the use of the 24 
outputs when you've only 
> got 16 voice cards? 
> 
> 5. Are the HD tracks multiplexed or is it 1 voice card/track?
> 
> 6. The MFX series uses a different hardware controller. They lose 
the pen tablet. Is it still 
> possible to fully use the CMI capabilities with the MFX controller? 
Or does one have to 
> purchase  the keyboard with the tablet to fully use the CMI 
functions?

>  
> Best,
> David
> http://dvdborn.blogspot.com
>

On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:08:31 -0000, you wrote:

>1. The above mentioned site claims that the MFX3 still has full CMI functionality up untill 
>Rev 11. Is this correct? At other placed I read that the MFX2 was the last model that 
>supported CMI functionality.

MFX3 is a different machine alltogether. It probably was a typo and it
should have read MFX2. 11.40 machines can still be used as a normal
fairlight series III.


>2. Do all the MFX models, that offer the same functionality as the Series III, use the same 
>voice cards with the same filters?

MFX2 is equal to a series III. An MFX2 usually has a router card that
can connect the 16 internal voice cards to 24 outputs via software.
only 16 of those outs are active at any given time simultaneously. 
A rev 9.34 machine can also have a router without being an MFX.


>3. I understand that the MFX 2 & 3 are primarily hard disk recorder. If these units offer the 
>same functionality as the Series III, how is it implemented? Can you use the sampler 
>functions simultaneously with the HD recorder? 

yes. Only MFX2.


>4. The MFX has a 24 voice routing card. What's the use of the 24 outputs when you've only 
>got 16 voice cards? 

Oh, you knew that already ? see above.

>5. Are the HD tracks multiplexed or is it 1 voice card/track?

It's probably somewhere in the manual. 

>6. The MFX series uses a different hardware controller. 

I think you are referring to the alpha keyboard with jog dial ? Yes.

> They lose the pen tablet. Is it still 
>possible to fully use the CMI capabilities with the MFX controller? 

You attach a mouse. I think it should even be possible to use a series
III tablet.

>Or does one have to 
>purchase  the keyboard with the tablet to fully use the CMI functions?

No, you use the mouse. You might even use a pen tablet for a PC if it
emulates a microsoft mouse without having to load software.


>Best,
>David

Regards,
Harald.

Harald & James, 

Thanks for clearing this out.
Much appreciated.

Cheers,
David
http://dvdborn.blogspot.com

--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, Harald Feldmann <feldmann@...> wrote:
>
> On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:08:31 -0000, you wrote:
> 
> >1. The above mentioned site claims that the MFX3 still has full CMI functionality up 
untill 
> >Rev 11. Is this correct? At other placed I read that the MFX2 was the last model that 
> >supported CMI functionality.
> 
> MFX3 is a different machine alltogether. It probably was a typo and it
> should have read MFX2. 11.40 machines can still be used as a normal
> fairlight series III.
> 
> 
> >2. Do all the MFX models, that offer the same functionality as the Series III, use the 
same 
> >voice cards with the same filters?
> 
> MFX2 is equal to a series III. An MFX2 usually has a router card that
> can connect the 16 internal voice cards to 24 outputs via software.
> only 16 of those outs are active at any given time simultaneously. 
> A rev 9.34 machine can also have a router without being an MFX.
> 
> 
> >3. I understand that the MFX 2 & 3 are primarily hard disk recorder. If these units offer 
the 
> >same functionality as the Series III, how is it implemented? Can you use the sampler 
> >functions simultaneously with the HD recorder? 
> 
> yes. Only MFX2.
> 
> 
> >4. The MFX has a 24 voice routing card. What's the use of the 24 outputs when you've 
only 

> >got 16 voice cards? 
> 
> Oh, you knew that already ? see above.
> 
> >5. Are the HD tracks multiplexed or is it 1 voice card/track?
> 
> It's probably somewhere in the manual. 
> 
> >6. The MFX series uses a different hardware controller. 
> 
> I think you are referring to the alpha keyboard with jog dial ? Yes.
> 
> > They lose the pen tablet. Is it still 
> >possible to fully use the CMI capabilities with the MFX controller? 
> 
> You attach a mouse. I think it should even be possible to use a series
> III tablet.
> 
> >Or does one have to 
> >purchase  the keyboard with the tablet to fully use the CMI functions?
> 
> No, you use the mouse. You might even use a pen tablet for a PC if it
> emulates a microsoft mouse without having to load software.
> 
> 
> >Best,
> >David
> 
> Regards,
> Harald.
>