EP 019 Fairlight synthesizer – music making, two Australians and a barking dog.

May 12

2 min read

In Part One, Kim Ryrie tells us his personal story which is also the story of the Fairlight. The quirky story of the Fairlight’s first-ever sample is a reminder that great ideas often have humble beginnings.

Today, digital sampling is an integral part of music production, but its roots can be traced back to a humble workshop in Sydney and the bark of a loyal canine. It’s a story that highlights not only the ingenuity of Kim Ryrie and Peter Vogel but also the unforeseen reach that often accompanies groundbreaking innovation.

Close-up view of a high-quality speaker system — Fairlight Synthesizer - the History from designer Kim Ryrie

The technology of the Fairlight synthesizer was a defining moment for music. Kim Ryrie and Peter Vogel’s initial idea was to build the ultimate synthesizer “The world’s best synthesizer” — a machine that could faithfully reproduce any sound.

By incorporating the then cutting-edge microprocessor technology and leveraging the emerging power of digital memory, they envisioned a tool that could push the boundaries of music creation. Little did they know their first experiment would become a historic milestone. .

Kim Ryrie and Peter Vogler designers of the Fairlight CMI

QUOTE

"I said to the team at Electronics Today Magazine - Why don't we do a DIY synthesizer project so everyone can build their own at home. It took 10 months to publish - one month we did a voltage control oscillator, next month we'd do a transient generator...."Kim Ryrie

Thanks to these fine Global HiFi Brands for their Support.