The Bitley™ Showcase
Patrick Fridh showing off his immense programming and playing skills….
All of these sounds are available from the Bitley™ website 
BREAKING NEWS!! Fairlight Supremacy 1.4 Update released!
Just as I was posting about his new Prophet & Da Beat ReFills, Patrick was busy releasing yet MORE material in the form of v1.4 of his Fairlight Supremacy add on for the Fairlight Legacy ReFill!!
One Point Four [Fairlight CMI Refill major update - Supremacy 1.4] by Bitley™
Fairlight Supremacy 1.4
Fairlight CMI Supremacy 1.4 is the first major update to Fairlight CMI Legacy. It contains a multitude of new patches and new samples. Not only is the entire factory complete with this release; it also contains staggering Combinator patches covering a fantastic range of sounds, from screaming guitars to fresh drums to marvellous arpeggiating patterns.
Fairlight CMI Supremacy 1.4 contentThe entire Fairlight IIx sound library
620 NNXT patches
200 Combinator patches
65 ReDrum kits
150 Mb of new samples
Bonus material38 demo tracks & famous Fairlight sound examples
Hundreds of original Bitley™ patches for Subtractor
Patches for Thor & MalströmBonus refills
Patrick Fridh’s D-50 ReFill
Classix Noveaux Les Synthesis [Special edition]
Dreams Of Robots
I don’t need to tell you to get this now, do I?? 
When Patrick says, “it’s probably one of the best refills ever made”, he really isn’t wrong!
Fairlight Supremacy ReFill updates to v1.3
Fairlight Supremacy 1.3
It’s been quiet on the Fairlight front of late but this emerged yesterday….
Fairlight CMI Legacy / Supremacy Update 1.3
The original, complete Fairlight CMI II sound library refill for Propellerhead’s Reason now gets a large update, for registered (and new) users only. The update contains 130 Mb of new samples as well as 55 new Combinator patches and about 25 meticously crafted NNXT patches. For users of the original Fairlight CMI Legacy ReFill this means the refill has been updated with over 200 Mb of brand new sample material (in 24 bit resolution) since its release. Fairlight CMI Supremacy 1.3 will no longer be a free download for all, but the 1.2 release still functions as a free demo refill, freely available from www.powerfx.com. The new release is only available for registered users and new customers buying the refill directly from Bitley™.New instruments in the 1.3 release includes some brand new, unbelievable sound creations programmed in 2010 using a vintage Roland D-50 synthesizer. A poll was recently made on Sweden’s largest music forum, 99musik (.se) where users were asked to guess which synthesizer was used. No one figured out it was a D-50; the correct reply was given by a user knowing Patrick Fridh always liked it and just mentioned the D-50 without really believing it could be that synth.
Supremacy 1.3 - For Registered Users Only
Fairlight CMI Legacy still only costs $69 but now contains almost twice as much sample material and over three times as many patches as the original release, now covering the entire Fairlight series II factory preset library as well as sounds taken from live audio sources. The library also contains synthesizer sounds from the same era as the Fairlight – such as Yamaha TX816, Roland JX10, Roland D-50, many drum machines, odd digital synthesizers and more. The amazing thing about the library is that it collects all of this for Reason, giving the Reason user access to sounds never before achievable within the software’s environment. The Fairlight cost over $70,000 in the 80s and was an untouchable dream synthesizer/sampler workstation for all keyboard players. Quite amazingly all of this is now available for $69 running on a Mac or PC computer. Fairlight is a registered trademark and the library is officially approved by Peter Vogel, founder of the Fairlight CMI.
Patrick Fridh has previously programmed factory sounds for Clavia and Propellerhead Software, as well as many libraries for PowerFX.
I’m off to play with it now!
More Improved Kontakt Libraries from Hollow Sun
Hollow Sun Newtron Bomb
Blimey, when Steve get’s stuck in, he gets stuck in! Hot on the heels of the String Synth package comes updated Kontakt versions of two of my all time favourite HS libraries, Vintage Samplers & Newtron Bomb.
Hollow Sun Vintage Samplers
Vintage Samplers
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Tron Boys Choir
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Tron Brass
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Tron Choir
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Tron Flute
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Tron Mixed Strings
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Tron Violins
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Tron Watcher
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Featuring the same seamlessly looped samples as the originals, Steve has created some really great programs in Kontakt, utilising it’s scripting features and powerful FX. These samples have never sounded better!
But don’t just take my word for it, try listening to the demos and then go buy these babies at next to nothing prices
The ultimate Fairlight CMI?
Yes, yes, I know…. another Fairlight post, but feck me, this one’s a doozy!!
Up for sale on eBay in Australia now is this rare beauty. A Fairlight CMI III in a rackmount, loaded with pretty much everything you can think of, including some awesome library content from the likes of Pet
Shop Boys, Trevor Horn, Hans Zimmer, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Art of Noise and many, many others. The complete Fairlight IIx library is also included. There is no keyboard included but the description states that any MIDI controller will do the trick. A slight shame, but not a deal breaker by any stretch of the imagination.
Fairlight CMI III Rack Mount System
The blurb reads….
Offered for sale is a very rare, fully functional, vintage classic Fairlight CMI III computer musical instrument workstation in excellent condition. The system is a late model, in a rack case and as such has the latest and best in technical innovations, whilst still retaining the classic legendary sound of the CMI.
CMI III Rackmount
The system has the latest 9.34 software, has 16 voices, colour graphics card, and 24 output router. It also comes with the later MFX alpha-numeric keyboard, a beautiful golden mouse, and a 15” LCD screen is included (not the one shown in the pictures). Instead of the usual 14 Mbytes RAM memory fitted as standard from the factory, this unit has a brand new 32 Mbyte card, which is the maximum possible in these systems. There is no music keyboard, however any MIDI keyboard or external computer/sequencer will work brilliantly. The only “non-standard” aspect of this system is the MIDI module, which is from a later MFX3, and has 2 ports in, and 2 out. However, since all the cards and modules of a series III are plug-in, it would only take two minutes to retro-fit an original module, should one become available. This aspect of the design also makes servicing a breeze. In the unlikely event of a board failure, this can simply be swapped out for a replacement from me. I have a huge amount of other systems and spares, since I bought most of the factories old stock and spare parts. I have been supporting these incredible systems for many years, and hope to continue this for many more…
CMI III Internals
The libraries supplied with this system are as follows:
Complete Fairlight library, Prosonus Strings, Brass, Percussion, Sound Genesis strings, plus many libraries collected over the last 20 years dealing with top producers and musicians. These include libraries from: Pet Shop Boys, Trevor Horn, Hans Zimmer, Frankie goes to Hollywood, Art of Noise and many, many others. The complete Fairlight IIX library is also included.An external empty 4 Gbyte hard disc, with spare system softwares can also be supplied for a minimal additional cost.
The system will be serviced, have a full set of manuals, all leads, latest firmware, and come with 3 months warranty.
Please note you’ll see other Fairlight systems advertised, and some might be less expensive. However, do some research before you buy. What may look like a bargain might not look so appealing when its obsolete parts finally give up. This applies specially to earlier systems. This system is complete, fully functional, and will work straight out of the box. I worked as product specialist and studio manager at Fairlight in Sydney during most of the 1980s, and have been involved in re-building Fairlight CMIs for over 25 years. I have sold and supported well over 35 of these classic samplers. If you are in any doubt, please type “Peter Wielk Fairlight” into the worlds favourite search engine and see what comes out.
CMI III Screen & Keyboard
I have tried to describe this system as accurately as possible. However, please feel free to ask any questions, or if you’re passing through Sydney, you would be very welcome to have an extensive demonstration. Lastly, these systems were designed and built with no compromises, reflected by their US$75,000 price tag when new. The sound is completely awesome. You might buy a sample CD of the Fairlight sounds, it will sound NOTHING like the real thing.
CMI III System Info Screen
Also, only about 200 systems were built, and they were sold to the most influental musicians and producers in the world. The sounds of the Fairlight CMI formed the soundtrack of the 1980s. So, if you’ve always lusted after one, here’s your chance to own a part of music history!
The pictures in the sequence were taken in my demo studio, which includes an old sign from the factory.
The item has a starting price of $6999 USD and a Buy It Now price of $11999 USD, so it won’t be making it to the Failed Muso studios anytime soon, I’m sad to say, but if you have a spare $12k kicking about, you won’t find a more advanced and complete CMI III anywhere else, I’d wager!
New Look Hollow Sun!!
I’m strangely excited by this, mainly because Steve is a great friend of mine and his website has been the source of great inspiration for me over the years, as has Steve himself. I was shown the new website design last week and thought it awesome and a marked improvement over the old design, and I think you will all agree.
Launching at the same time as this new look website is the inclusion of Patrick Fridh’s Fairlight Legacy Refill collection (including Supremacy and De Light) in the Hollow Sun shop. I acted as a bit of a middle man to try and get Patrick’s product out to more people and to ensure he got the best possible distribution deal and a fair chunk of the proceeds. His refill fits perfectly into the portfolio of Hollow Sun products which invariably focus on vintage synthesis, something for which they have become quite legendary over the years.
Take a look for yourself and check out the amazing deals in the shop.
The new look Hollow Sun website
More Fairlight goodness?? That would be De-Light-Fill!!
Tempted by the Fairlight Legacy ReFill? Tried the Fairlight Supremacy ReFill but want more? Finding cash a bit tight before pay day?
Well fear ye not! Patrick has released the De Light ReFill for the miserly sum of two of your American dollars. That’s right, 2 bucks, 2 George Washington’s, dos dolares!!
Bitley presents the De Light Refill for Reason 4
Imagine having a bite size chew of the massive and fantastic Fairlight CMI Legacy Refill. Not just some of the same sounds either, just about fifty great Fairlight & Fairlight-inspired sounds for Reason, some neat combinators and some drum sounds. Fairlight CMI Legacy gives you the entire Fairlight IIx library and it is a fantastic, very successful refill production. It is continuously updated free of charge and will keep on growing. But if you are very curious but feel the $69 for Legacy is a bit much, here’s just the right refill for you.
Fairlight CMI Legacy is like the three dish menu. De Light is like your fast cheeseburger on the fly.
Click here to go on with ordering De Light for only $2!
There is no excuse to not buy this, even if you already have the other ReFills! More “QDOS” to Patrick for consistently going that extra mile to get these sounds out there
Famous Fairlight Sounds Part II
Another mini promo and quiz from Patrick, creator of the Fairlight Legacy ReFill…
Can you identify the famous sounds and the tracks & artists from whence they came?
Fairlight Supremacy Update
Just a quick note to announce an impending update for the Fairlight Supremacy ReFill to version 1.2.
Changes include…
Should be available from the PowerFX website now.
http://powerfx.com/ProductInfo.aspx?prod_id=1721
New video too… play the guessing game!
Malcolm McLaren 22 January 1946 – 8 April 2010
It was with great, great sadness that I learned today of the passing of Malcolm McLaren.
Malcolm was behind, involved with or created much of the music that formed my early youth in the late 70′s and early 80′s.
I will be honest and say that I didn’t always have good words to say about him. As a fiercely loyal Adam Ant fan, the fact that he stole the original Ants so blatantly to form Bow Wow Wow made me hate him with a passion, but the fact that he introduced Adam to Burundi drumming made me love him. For it was that inspiration to Adam that then inspired me to take up the drums.
A few years later, his seminal album, Duck Rock, changed the music we all listened to forever. We in the UK had barely heard of Hip Hop & Rap or the music from the townships of Soweto. Yet this piece of sublime yet extreme fusion, constructed by Trevor Horn under Malcolm’s guidance and using the Fairlight for a lot of it, was to open our ears to some of the finest world music has to offer. And in classic McLaren style, he then went on to influence the Hip Hop scene himself, after having plagiarised it so obviously.
His sheer and utter belligerence in getting the Pistols out there was instrumental in inspiring the rest of the new wave scene. With Vivienne Westwood, he took fashion in the 70′s and set it alight, influencing, if not creating the whole image of the punk movement. The clientèle in SEX on the Kings Road read like the who’s who of punk.
His influence in the music industry has been nothing short of legendary. He may have never received the full credit for his impact but we sure haven’t seen his like since and I fear we never will.
Put simply, he mattered.
Rest In Peace, Malcolm.
