Description
Technical
Specifications
Processing
| Bit depth | 16 bits |
|---|---|
| Frame | 6U mainframe: master processor, clock, timecode, I/O cards, master hard drive, removable MO and/or Exabyte backups. |
Surface
| Touchscreen | No |
|---|---|
| Ergonomics | Dedicated user console: assignable-key keyboard + jog/shuttle wheel, colour monitor. |
Recording
| Onboard recording | No |
|---|---|
| Recording | Up to 24 tracks in real-time record/replay, locked to timecode. MFX3 Mini version: 4 or 8 playback tracks. |
Networking
| Networking & protocols | AES/EBU |
|---|---|
| Redundant PSU | No |
| Redundant networking | No |
Other
| Applications | Non-destructive editing; archiving, ADR, Foley, effects creation. FAME technology. |
|---|---|
| Year / dates | Lineage: MFX (1987, CMI III based), MFX1 (1990), MFX2 (1992), MFX3 (1994). Intro year set to 1990 (first dedicated Fairlight ESP MFX). The backlog listed 1989 (Fairlight ESP founding), to be verified. Exact sample rate to be verified. |
Strip & details
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Software
Other screenshots
Accessories
Surface / module
- MFX user console
Dedicated-key keyboard and jog/shuttle wheel driving all editing functions.
Other
- MO / Exabyte backup
Removable backup drives (magneto-optical and/or Exabyte tape) integrated in the mainframe.
Editorial & artists
Our take
History & design
The Fairlight MFX (Music and Effects) is an integrated digital audio post-production workstation: it combines, in a single system, a hard-disk recorder of up to 24 tracks, a non-destructive audio editor and an automated digital mixer, built around Fairlight's FAME technology. Born in 1987 as a CMI III fitted with a new control keyboard adapted to the Cue List sequencer, it was then developed by Fairlight ESP into the MFX1 (1990), MFX2 (1992) and MFX3 (1994).
The core of the system is a 6U mainframe housing the master processor, clock, timecode and I/O cards, plus the master hard drive and removable backups (MO and/or Exabyte). It is driven by a dedicated user console (a keyboard of assignable keys and a jog/shuttle wheel) and a colour monitor. Its tracks (up to 24 in real-time record/replay, locked to timecode) support sound archiving, ADR, non-destructive multitrack editing, Foley and effects creation. An 'MFX3 Mini' version offers 4 or 8 playback tracks. The system is 16-bit up to the MFX3.
- Kim Ryrie, Co-founder / president and product lead (Fairlight ESP)
- Peter Vogel, Co-founder / computer systems designer
Notable users
- NHK
Adoption of MFX systems in broadcast post-production.
Links
- Press article Out of Phase: Fairlight history (MFX section) outofphase.fr
- Archive Wikipedia : Fairlight (company) en.wikipedia.org
- Press article MIX : Fairlight MFX3 (review) mediaandmarketing.com
- Archive MATRIXSYNTH : Fairlight Series III MFX Hard Disk Recording System matrixsynth.com
- Forum MOD WIGGLER : Fairlight MFX3 modwiggler.com
Related consoles
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