In this episode, Ian is joined by Rob Puricelli from the ProSynth Network for a deep dive into one of the most important and influential instruments in music history — the Fairlight CMI.

Often described as the world's first music computer, the Fairlight didn't just introduce digital sampling — it completely changed how music was created, performed, and produced throughout the 1980s and beyond.

Together, we explore:

• What the Fairlight CMI was and how it worked

• How digital sampling was discovered almost by accident

• The inventors behind the Fairlight — and why they deserve more recognition

• Iconic artists who used it, including Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Jean-Michel Jarre, Pet Shop Boys, and more

• Page R sequencing and the origins of modern DAWs

• Why the Fairlight eventually disappeared — and where its legacy lives on today

We also discuss modern ways to experience the Fairlight sound, from software recreations to sample libraries, and reflect on how the Fairlight's arrival mirrors today's conversations around AI and creativity.

If you love synth history, music technology, or the sounds of the 1980s, this episode is essential listening.

🔗 Links & Mentions

• ProSynth Network (weekly live show)

• FairlightMuso.com

• Arturia CMI V

• Quasar Beach Fairlight emulator

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00:00 – Introduction 00:05 – Why the Fairlight CMI Matters 01:00 – What Is the Fairlight CMI? 02:12 – From Additive Synthesis to Sampling 03:16 – The Fairlight Hardware Explained 03:27 – Who Invented the Fairlight? 05:12 – Tony Furse and the Missing Chapter in Fairlight History 07:34 – Why Sampling Was the Breakthrough 08:07 – The Quest to Recreate Acoustic Instruments 09:04 – The Birth of Digital Sampling 11:15 – Filters, Aliasing, and the Fairlight Sound 12:22 – Public Debut and "Computer-Generated" Sounds 13:26 – Computers and Music in the Early 80s 15:11 – Sequencing Before DAWs 16:48 – When Was the Fairlight Released? 18:03 – Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, and Early Adopters 19:51 – Creative Sampling: Breaking the Rules 21:49 – Kate Bush and Early Hit Records 22:53 – Page R Sequencing Explained 25:55 – Building Full Tracks with Page R 26:47 – Jan Hammer and Miami Vice 27:06 – Pet Shop Boys and Fairlight Pop 29:36 – Layered Drum Sampling in the 80s 31:36 – Orchestral Sounds and "It Couldn't Happen Here" 33:45 – How Much Did a Fairlight Cost? 35:34 – Art of Noise, Trevor Horn, and YES 36:53 – Competition from Emulator and Akai 38:58 – The End of Fairlight as a Company 39:54 – From Fairlight to Romplers (D-50, M1) 41:06 – Rob's Personal Fairlight Journey 42:53 – Restoring Vintage Fairlights 45:48 – Letting People Play a Fairlight 48:55 – How to Get the Fairlight Sound Today 49:13 – Arturia CMI V and Software Alternatives 50:27 – Quasar Beach Explained 52:42 – Recreating Classic Performances 54:20 – "Computer Music" Then vs AI Now 56:24 – Why the Fairlight Changed Music Forever 58:15 – Why the Inventors Deserve More Credit 58:43 – ProSynth Network and Where to Find Rob 1:00:28 – Closing Thoughts