Fairlight-CMI

--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, "Peter Connelly \(Core Design
Ltd.\)" <PeterC@C...> wrote:
> > I also heard a rumour that you can actually link fairlights 
> > together to have more voices as if they were one, is this true ?
>
> I believe the Pet Shop Boys used to run more than one Fairlight at a 
> time... I may be wrong

ISTR, it's possible to use a 'note overspill' feature whereby if two
Series III's are linked by MIDI one can send note data to voices on
the second Series III (this is similar to the Matrix 1000 for example)
- but I may be wrong.  Of course, two sequences could be 'sync'd'
together to increase the polyphony of a sequence :-)


> Is it safe to connect two or more series III CMi's using SCSI cables 

Most SCSI based systems work by the host being SCSI ID0 - if this can
be changed on one of the Series III hosts then in theory, any volume
mounted on the other Series III would be mountable on the second
system - but this is theory only and would rely on the Series III
suporting locking of volumes etc. - I've no idea how to change the
host SCSI ID on a Series III


> And again I would like to see a verified list of serial numbers and
> (previous) owners so we can verify ownership claims.

This is a good idea - I'm a member of a list for a small run sports
car and the database has enabled people to check the history of their
car when it changes hands - a similar idea for Fairlights would be
neat IMO. Good suggestion Harald :-)

Philip

--- In Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com, feldmann@x wrote:
> > ISTR,
> 
> [ISTR = I Seem To Recall ] for those who, just like me, did not 
> know...

Sorry - I've been using email for far too long :-)


> > I've no idea how to change the host SCSI ID on a Series III
> 
> Possibly on the SCSI adapter card.

It's more subtle than that - when SCSI was introduced it was a radical
concept to actually have a bus that could be re-configured - on many
Flex / OS9 / other embedded systems, developers at that time didn't
have the vision that users may want to re-configure their systems - so
it's entirely possible (probable!) that the SCSI ID for the host is
hard coded into the software - but I may be wrong.

*If* it's possible to change the host ID and *if* the operating system
supports volumes being mounted by different hosts on the bus then in
theory it should be possible.

My apologies for the number of caveat statements in there but a) I
don't know for sure and b) ten years of working with these kind of
systems when they were new (os9 and Flex - not Fairlight) taught me
that people didn't envisage changes being part of the way the system
would be used!


> Having such a list public would definitely help in identifying bogus
> material being offered on e-bay or elsewhere.

I'm not so sure - the spoofers are getting *very* sophisticated - they
would find a way of getting this database if it meant there was value
in it for them :-(


I would also suggest some of the documentation that's around the net -
like on Herman Seib's website - the Series II service and page R
manuals - if all that could be compiled to one source it would be
excellent.

Philip

> ISTR,

[ISTR = I Seem To Recall ] for those who, just like me, did not know...

> it's possible to use a 'note overspill' feature whereby if two
> Series III's are linked by MIDI one can send note data to voices on
> the second Series III (this is similar to the Matrix 1000 for example)

I would assume they can be linked via MIDI, but I recall reading an
article that mentioned the systems being able to be linked (not implying
MIDI).

> - but I may be wrong.  Of course, two sequences could be 'sync'd'
> together to increase the polyphony of a sequence :-)

Obviously :)

>> Is it safe to connect two or more series III CMi's using SCSI cables
>
> Most SCSI based systems work by the host being SCSI ID0 - if this can
> be changed on one of the Series III hosts then in theory, any volume
> mounted on the other Series III would be mountable on the second
> system - but this is theory only and would rely on the Series III
> suporting locking of volumes etc. - I've no idea how to change the
> host SCSI ID on a Series III

Possibly on the SCSI adapter card.

>> And again I would like to see a verified list of serial numbers and
>> (previous) owners so we can verify ownership claims.
>
> This is a good idea - I'm a member of a list for a small run sports
> car and the database has enabled people to check the history of their
> car when it changes hands - a similar idea for Fairlights would be
> neat IMO. Good suggestion Harald :-)

Thank you :)
Having such a list public would definitely help in identifying bogus
material being offered on e-bay or elsewhere.

I would also like to propose buying tips for newcomers. These could
include instructions how to approach positive identification of offered
units (serial numbers being photographed with specific names and words on
a piece of paper next to it for instance). I have done so in the past with
success.

This also ensures you get *recent* pictures, rather than stock photos or
old photos before a unit became damaged (which should influence price).

If there is a need, I volunteer to write these instructions, everyone's
input is welcome.


All this (and more) should help reduce fraudulent sellers being succesful.
With units as costly and rare as the Fairlight it does pay to be cautious.

> Philip

Best regards,
Harald.