Page R - Song Mode editing - Fairlight - CMI

 There are two parts to the Fairlight's Page R

1. Pattern Editor

    --- Page R - Pattern Mode editing 

2. Song Editor

This post covers the later.

To swap between the Pattern and Song Editors , type:

E<return>

The SONG EDITOR is used to establish the playing order of the different patterns.

The SONG Editor has two Parts:

1. Song List

2. Sections List

Song List

This is basically a list of PATTERN numbers in the order in which they are to be played. 

It consists of 255 sequential STEPS, with each step containing two items: 

the number of the pattern ("play") and how many times it is to be played ("x's"). 

It can contain letters and numbers. 

Any letters will indicate a link to the "Sections List".

So in the example above, pattern C plays once. This is followed by pattern F which plays once.

Next pattern is G which plays twice.

To navigate left/right on the song list you can either use the light pen or your keyboard.

I think the keyboard is quicker. 

 TYPE: <add> Move window right by one: 

             <sub> Move window left by one. 

       255<add> Move to END. 

       255 <sub> Move to START. 

       nnn <set> Move window to step nnn (1 to 255).

Sections List

This allows you to break down the song into smaller sub-units called SECTIONS.

There are 26 SECTION LISTS identified by the letters of the alphabet: A - Z. 

These are just the same as the song list, except that each section consists -of EIGHT steps.

Five sections are displayed at a time.

The Arrows allow it to be be moved up or down to reveal the desired range of sections. 

You can imagine a section as a collection of patterns.

In the example above, "C" in the Song list & Section List are linked.

C = pattern 17 + pattern 18 + pattern 19 + pattern 20. Each of these patterns plays once.

Furthermore, the section lists themselves can also contain other SECTION LETTERS 

(though a section may not contain its own letter).

To navigate the Section list use the light pen or the keyboard.

Point to the Up/Down arrows or A-Z boxes on the right

Using the Alpha/numeric Keyboard, navigate to the letters on the left.

 TYPE:    X <set> This moves the window to step X (A to Z).

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There is one extra page which comes in handy when organising your song.... the pattern index.

Pattern Index

The Pattern Index shows which patterns out of the 255 possible pattern numbers are USED. 

This is useful when pattern numbers are not chosen sequentially.

Type :

X<return>

Here we have patterns 1 to 60 used and pattern 99 used.

To return to the previous display TYPE: <clear>

----------------

===============================================

Some common commands:

=================================================

Playing Songs

P,*<return> 

Play whole SONG. (start at bar 1, * = song)

P,*,0 <return> 

Play whole SONG forever. (start at bar 1, * = song, 0 = infinite loop)

To stop type:

S<return>

or hold down<ctrl> & press Escape. 

------------------

Playing Patterns

To display a specific pattern :

P=n<return>

To play a specific pattern:

P,n<return>   (where n= the pattern number)

To play a specific pattern a specific number of times (loop):

P,n,x<return>   

(where n= the pattern number)

(where x= the number of loops)

Note, if you want to pattern to loop infinitely , x=0

To play the past played pattern ,  type:

P<return>

Type S<return> to stop the loop.

Links

+ Basic commands (Initial Pics)
+ Page 1 --- The IIx index 
+ Page 2 --- Disk Control

               ---- Making custom disks + copy,save (on the Flash drive)
+ Page 3 --- Keyboard control (NPHONY)
+ Page 4 --- Harmonic Profiles 
+ Page 5 --- Harmonic Amplitude Profiles 
+ Page 6 --- Waveform Drawing
+ Page 7 --- Control parameters 
+ Page 8 --- Sampling
+ Page 9 --- Keyboard Sequencer
+ Page R --- Real Time Composer

                --- Page R - Pattern Mode editing 

                --- Page R - Song Mode editing - Fairlight - CMI

                --- Making a New file & setting the clock speed.

                --- Page R- Locust Demo

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Click here for the main Fairlight index

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Fairlight - how to copy from a floppy to the SD card

I'm using a ancient Fairlight IIx with a new SD card reader.

I have a few old floppy disks which need to be backed up onto a SD card.

Here are some pics of the flash drive upgrade:

https://djjondent.blogspot.com/2019/04/fairlight-flash-drive-upgrade.html

If your IIx hasn't been upgraded, I highly recommend it.

 

Now before you do anything you'll need to pick a blank floppy disk image.

The card reader I purchased came with lots of software including a "virgin folder" which contains blank disc images. They are named 6800_1 to 6800_100

First, make a copy of one using a PC and transfer it to a new folder on your SD card. (I don't have a Mac, but I suspect it will work with Apples too).

I like to do place the file in its own folder so I don’t accidentally delete existing files on another disk image

Next

1. boot the CMI using combination 3

     + Fairlight - SD card switch combinations

(left switch is down, right is up)

2. Place the disk you want to copy in the 8-­‐inch drive.

    (on my machine, its on the left).

   Ignore the switches in the pic below. 

3. Start the CMI with OS version V4_C5_R1_20 on Flash Drive B

    (if you happen to already be in Drive A, you will need to change it to B).

4. Once the IIx has booted and is displaying Page 1, type "P2".

    You will enter Page 2 and should see the contents of the disk you wish to copy.

5. Type [T,*] <return>

     This will begin the process of copying the entire disk.

6. You’ll next see the following message appear: [PLACE FILE DISK IN LH DRIVE]. 

     

     This means that the IIx wants you to select a 6800 disk image on Flash Drive B.

      ....... instead of the OS image (V4_C5_R1_20)

7. Find the folder (still on drive B) that contains the blank disc image you picked earlier.

     Once you select the disk image on the flash drive, the transfer 

     process will start immediately. 

8. Once the transfer process has completed the following message will appear:
    [ERROR:REPLACE SYSTEM DISK]

9. The transfer process is now complete.

    Re boot the IIx using switch combination 2 (no floppies) .

    You should now be able to access these files from your SD card.

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Click here for the main Fairlight index

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Fairlight Page R - Making a New file & setting the clock speed

Before to can make a new pattern you need to set up your voices.

See page 3.

Next, you need to make a new RS file.

To make a new file type 

N,filename,<return>

(N=New)

Here I haven't allocated the number of patterns.

The max # of patterns is 255, which requires 3332 sectors of disc space.

(28 sectors for the first pattern then 16 sectors per pattern.)

The total number of patterns available (used and unused) can be seen in the top right-hand corner of the display.

To make a new pattern, move the cursor to the pattern number and type

number <set>

Once the RS file is saved 

you can set the tempo of the sequencer

TYPE; n <set> or n<add> or n<sub>

 _{where n is a number between 500 and 65535.} 

_{Default is 2618. (120 beats/minute)}

BPM:         60     70     80    90    100   110   120   130   140   150   170     175

SPeed :  5236 4488 3927 3491 3142 2856 2618 2417 2244 2094  1848  1795

To convert between CMI speed and beats/minute:

BPM= 314160/CMI speed

CMI speed = 314160/BPM

There is no need for a "save" command. Any changes are automatically saved.

---------------------

Page R - Pattern Mode editing - Fairlight - CMI

The Fairlight CMI IIx Page R has two settings.

1. Pattern Mode

2. Song Mode

    + Song Mode editing - Fairlight - CMI

This post covers the Pattern Mode.

The pic below is a pattern.

A PATTERN is a 1-bar SCORE for 8 monophonic keyboards.

It consists of eight individual sequences of musical notes

The sequences are numbered from 1 to 8, corresponding to the KEYBOARD MAPS

that are provided on PAGE 3 (below pic)

Your final musical piece is developed by creating up to 255 different patterns

and playing these patterns in different combinations.

The PATTERN EDITOR is used to display, create or modify

the musical patterns.

To select  the PATTERN EDITOR either

type: E<return>

or use the lightpen: and touch <PATTERN>

All of the patterns and the playing order for a single piece are stored together on disk in one 

FILE with an " RS" suffix. 

-------------

Firstly, you can have up to 255 patterns saved in a .RS file

Choosing the PATTERN NUMBER:

There are 4 ways to select a pattern for display:

1) TYPE: P=n<return> where: n is any pattern number (1 to 255)

   

2) Move the CURSOR to the number opposite the word Pattern

(either press down-arrow key three times or use lightpen)

   Type n<set>       where: n is any pattern number (1 to 255)

3) Move the CURSOR to the number opposite the word Pattern

    (either press down-arrow key three times or use lightpen)

     use the <add> & <sub> keys to increment or decrement the pattern number by 1

4) Use the BAR command.

    This displays the bar number related to the linking of patterns in the Song Editor. (p42 of manual)

    

    Type:

    B(AR),n<return>

    n=1 to 65535

As an example, to look for & display the 9th bar in a song type:

    B,9<return>

--------------------------

Next, open a keyboard.

There are 8 virtual keyboards.

One of the 8 keyboards must be OPEN before notes can be

inserted or deleted or RECORDED.

When a keyboard is open, it is illuminated.

There are three ways to OPEN a keyboard ...

i) TYPE: Kn<return> where n = 1 to 8 as on all other CMI pages

e.g., K4<return> will open Keyboard 4.

2) Press the down arrow key repeatedly until the cursor

reaches the keyboard area.

3) Point the lightpen at the voice names or one of the big numbers 1 to 8 to the left of the actual note area.

Quantisation / Timing resolution

TIME RESOLUTION may be changed in two ways:

1) by pointing the light-pen at the collection of eight notes

in the bottom right-hand corner of tne screen.

Notes with triangles signify

"triplets" i.e., three notes played in the time of two.

2) by OPENING a keyboard and then repeatedly pressing

"+" or "-" on the alphanumeric keyboard to lower

or raise timing resolution.

--------------------

The NOTE Cursor.

This is the location on your editor timeline where you will enter the notes.

There are three ways to move the note cursor:

1) use the light-pen 

2) TYPE: > to shift the note cursor right 

    OR   < to shift the note cursor left

3) put the CMI in the RECORD mode. 

   The note cursor follows music keyboard performance in real time.

-------------------

VOICE display :

To the left of the screen is the voice display

showing whicn voices are loaded into the eight

sequencers. The voice display also contains

the NOTE EDITING TABLE.

The NOTE EDITING TABLE is "behind" the

Voice names. This shows

KEY (pitch) , VEL(ocity) , and DUR(ation) .

You can toggle between the two tables by

pointing the light-pen at any voicename or pressing the left/right -arrow

Keys

Use the <add> or <sub> keys to raise or lower

values for KEY, VEL and DUR by one.

--------------------------------------------------------

INSERT  (inserting notes into your patterns)

There are two modes of creating new patterns:

 record mode (real time) or  write mode. The same as in most modern drum machines.

There are three ways to insert notes into patterns:

1) type I <return>

2) point the light pen at the word "INSERT"

3) put the CMI into RECORD mode. 

    Insert is automatic while the music keyboard is played.

Note: The music keyboard can be used as a selection device for pitch and

key velocity of individual notes

Sequences can be COPIED from one or more patterns to others.

DELETE (removing notes from a pattern)

There are two ways to delete a note in a pattern after

positioning the note cursor:

1) TYPE: D<return>

2) point the light pen at the word "DELETE"

----------------

==================================

Basic Play/record commands:

TYPE: P[LAY] [, <thing>[,<count>] ] [,#<bar>] [;<options>] <Return> 

  or

REC[ORD] 

where: 

<thing> is one o£ these... 

                       *                            - SONG 

                        A or B or ... or Z  - SECTION 

                        !                           - CURRENTLY DISPLAYED PATTERN 

                        1 or 2 or ... 255    - PATTERN NUMBER 

<count> is a number from 0 to 127. 0 signifies infinity. 

#<bar> is the start bar number from 1 to 65535 of <things>

;<options>  w - wait for any key on the alphanumeric keyboard to 

                          be hit before starting. 

                    F - free-run mode - maximum timing accuracy. 

                          Used when finally recording onto tape. 

                          Use when EXT ernal syncing. 

At least 3 letters of the word RECORD need to be typed. ie REC

If using the lightpen point to "PLAY" or "RECORD".

------------------

To display a specific pattern :

P=n<return>

To play a specific pattern:

P,n<return>   (where n= the pattern number)

To play a specific pattern a specific number of times (loop):

P,n,x<return>   

(where n= the pattern number)

(where x= the number of loops)

Note, if you want to pattern to loop infinitely , x=0

To play the past played pattern ,  type:

P<return>

Type S<return> to stop the loop.

---------------

copying patterns

1. Go to the pattern you want to copy to.

2. Type: C,<number> RETURN

    C=copy

    <number> = the pattern number you want to copy

Thus to copy pattern 1 to pattern 2, 

you need to go to pattern 2 and then type:

 C,1 (return)

----------------------------------------------

Playing Songs

P,*<return> 

Play whole SONG. (start at bar 1, * = song)

P,*,0 <return> 

Play whole SONG forever. (start at bar 1, * = song, 0 = infinite loop)

To stop type:

S<return>

or hold down<ctrl> & press Escape. 

-----------------

Index

+ Basic commands (Initial Pics)
+ Page 1 --- The IIx index 
+ Page 2 --- Disk Control
+ Page 3 --- Keyboard control (NPHONY)
+ Page 4 --- Harmonic Profiles 
+ Page 5 --- Harmonic Amplitude Profiles 
+ Page 6 --- Waveform Drawing
+ Page 7 --- Control parameters 
+ Page 8 --- Sampling
+ Page 9 --- Keyboard Sequencer
+ Page R --- Real Time Composer

               --- Page R - Pattern Mode editing 

               --- Page R- Locust Demo

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Click here for the main Fairlight index

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Fairlight - making custom disks (on the Flash drive)

Some first steps in making your own virtual discs.

This is a great way to create some "favourites" or personal folders

using your own or the stock sounds.

I'm using a CMI IIx with a Mustudio flash kit.

I simply copied an existing folder on the SD card supplied with the CMI flash Kit using a PC,

renamed it then, copied it back onto the SD card.

In this case, I called the new file 666.

I didn't have to modify it at all. I just copied it using a PC into folder 1.3.

Now it's simply a process of searching for voice files you like,

& then loading them into the IIx memory using the command:

L,A,<file name> return

Once they are in memory, return to file 666

using the left/right buttons on the flash card reader.

and save into this file using the command:

S,<file name> return

If it doesn't work the first time, refresh the 6800 file using the command 

P2 (page 2)

Then try saving again.

-------------

Renaming the disk & user name

Use the <down-arrow> keys to move the illuminated cursor to 

DISK or USER .

Type : your new name <SET>

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Click here for the main Fairlight index

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Fairlight - SD card switch combinations

The original CMI uses two floppy drives (Drive 0 & Drive 1)

Drive 0 handled the operating system.

Drive 1 handles the sounds.

My CMI IIx has been upgraded with a SD card reader.

https://mustudio.fr/fairlight-2/kit-flash-for-fairlight-cmi/

This is very useful as the original 8" floppy drives are getting really old.

To install the SD card reader you need to remove one of the floppy drives.

The card reader has 2 toggle switches (S1 & S2) that let you choose how the CMI picks 

which drive to use.

S2 is sometimes referred to as QFC9. It's connected to the QFC9 card which is positioned 

in the 19th slot in the C.M.I.

The SD card can behave as two virtual drives, or act as just one virtual drive allowing you to

still use the remaining floppy drive.

So my CMI can now boot or load sounds from the SD card alone 

or a combo of the SD card & the single remaining 8" floppy drive.

When I first installed the reader I was confused by S2 being left of S1.

(but that's how it is, so get used to it).

Just remember that drive 0 always handles the operating system, and drive 1 takes care of the sounds, sequences, etc.

There are 3 possible switch combinations:

1. S2 up, S1 up

2. S2 up , S1 down

3. S2 down, S1 up.

99% of the time I use Combination 2:

S2 up , S1 down.

This inactivates the unreliable original 8" floppy drive.

You now have two virtual SD card drives: Flash Drive A & B

Flash Drive A  is drive 0 « Boot system »

Flash Drive B is drive 1 « Sounds »

However, if you want to use the original floppy, the other settings are important.

One combination lets you boot from the floppy and write & read from the SD card

The other is the reverse.

Combination 1

S2 up, S1 up 

This activates the original 8" floppy drive.

You also have one virtual SD card drive: 

Flash Drive B

To clarify the setup:

The 8'' floppy is now active as drive 0 « Boot system »

The Flash Drive A  is inactive

Flash Drive B is active as drive 1 « Sounds »

Use this if you wish to boot from the 8" drive, and read and write sounds to the SD card.

After you have booted the IIx from the floppy (page 1 is seen on the monitor), 

type P2 to see the contents of your disc.

Remember that the SD card has two virtual drives - A & B.

You need to change the drive to B.

Then enter the "sounds" folder.

Toggling the left & right buttons on the SD card drive should show the contents of the various virtual disks

The contents will be refreshed on the monitor as you press the left/right buttons.

Combination 3

S2 down, S1 up

This activates the original 8" floppy drive.

You also have one virtual SD card drive: 

Flash Drive B

To clarify the setup:

The 8'' is now active as drive 1. It holds the  « Sounds »

Flash Drive A Inactive

The Flash Drive B is active as drive 0 . It holds the « Boot system »

Use this if you wish to boot from the flash drive, and read and write sounds to the 8" floppy

Do let me know if there are any errors or omissions. Cheers J

Links:

+ Main fairlight index

+ The 8 inch Floppy Drives
+ Floppy Disc Controller Card 
+ Flash Card upgrade. 
+ Instructions for using the HxC SD Flash card reader

Many thanks to Peter of Horizontal Productions for the many many hours of help.

He is the authority on all things Fairlight.

https://www.horizontalproductions.com.au/about-us/

Fairlight IIx - instructions for using the HxC SD reader

The  HxC SD card reader is an excellent addition to your old Fairlight.

The HxC is a Floppy drive emulator.

The Floppy disk drives are 40 years old and hard to maintain, repair & replace.

I highly recommend you email Jean-Bernard of MUSTUDIO for one.

https://mustudio.fr/fairlight-2/kit-flash-for-fairlight-cmi/

I purchased the kit from mustudio.fr

Many thanks also to Peter W for his help in it's installation.

The Flash player uses a SD card to emulate 2 virtual drives. (A & B).

Compatable cards are SDHC up to 32MB.

Formated in FAT 32.... use a PC (not a MAC) to format the card.

I found navigation of the file structure in the SD card a bit confusing at first.

The left and right black buttons allow you to scroll through the choices. 

The RED validation button is to confirm your choice. 

In order to enter the MENU (configuration mode), press and hold the RED validation button for a few seconds, till a  menu item (System, Sound or QDOS) appears on the LCD display.

This is how it seems to be set up:

You only need to use the "Systems" and the "sounds" sections.

The original CMI uses two floppy drives (Drive 0 & Drive 1)

One handled the operating system, and the other handled the sounds.

To install the SD card reader you need to remove one of the floppy drives.

The card reader has 2 toggle switches that let you choose how the CMI picks which drive to use.

The SD card can behave as two virtual drives, or act as just one virtual drive allowing you to

still use the remaining floppy drive.

So my CMI can now boot or load sounds from the SD card alone 

or a combo of the SD card & the single remaining floppy drive.

There are 3 possible switch combinations:

1. S2 up, S1 up

2. S2 up , S1 down

3. S2 down, S1 up.

The 2 toggle switches (S2 & S1) must be in the correct position.

I like to configure the system to use two virtual drives (setting number 2).
That is, I'll bypass the use of the Floppy Drives completely.
Left switch (QFC9 or S2) : up

Right switch (Flash or S1): Down

1. Turn on the Fairlight.

    The monitor will as is usual display "Load System disk in drive"

  

2. "Systems" should be shown on the display.

  

      If not, use the left/right buttons to rectify till you find "systems".

      (pressing the left/right buttons will move you between Systems, Sounds & QDOS)

3. Hit enter when you see "Systems" (the centre red button)

    You should see two dots "  ..  "
4. Using the right button, step through till the desired software is shown.

    (Revision 20).  V4 C5 R1 20

    Hit enter.

    The Fairlight will now load the operating system

    It bleeps as it steps through sectors. The monitor should eventually show Page 1

5. Hold down "Enter" (middle red button) for a few seconds.

    The LCD will change... You are entering the "Function Menu" Mode.

6. Toggle through options till "change drive" appears.

     Hit "Enter"

7. Toggle until "B" appears.

    Hit Enter

8.  The LCD display will show the software revision.

 

Toggle left until only dots appear.

Hit enter

9. Systems should reappear.   

10.  Toggle left till "sounds" shows.

       Hit enter

(You are now in the sounds folder)

You will see those two dots ".." reappear

 

8. Step through till the desired library is found. (I normally use 1.3)

    Hit enter

(You are now in the 1.3 folder)

You will see those two dots ".." reappear

 

8a. Now to load one of the folders within folder 1.3

     you need to press the right button.  Each press will take you to a new folder.

     The first folder is called 1. The next one is 10.

     I've set up folder 10 to start things off. Use this.

     Note: once you have found folder 10, press the red button on the card reader.

   

9.   Now use the native Fairlight alpha/numeric keyboard itself.

     On the Fairlight go to page 2.

     (Type P2)

      You should see displayed the contents of the virtual disk.

10. Toggling left & right  on the SD card reader should show the contents of each virtual disk.

This is library (or virtual disk) 15

Test by loading a file.

EG:

Type L,A,filename<return> to load a file.

eg to load a file named GONG1.VC
type L,A,GONG1 <return>
You don't need to add the .VC after the file name. 

Fairlight Index

Fairlight IIx Synthesizer Index

 

 Software 
+ Basic commands (Initial Pics)
+ Page 1 --- The IIx index 
+ Page 2 --- Disk Control

               ---- Making custom disks + copy,save (on the Flash drive)
+ Page 3 --- Keyboard control (NPHONY)
+ Page 4 --- Harmonic Profiles 
+ Page 5 --- Harmonic Amplitude Profiles 
+ Page 6 --- Waveform Drawing
+ Page 7 --- Control parameters 
+ Page 8 --- Sampling
+ Page 9 --- Keyboard Sequencer
+ Page R --- Real Time Composer

                --- Page R - Pattern Mode editing 

                --- Page R - Song Mode editing - Fairlight - CMI

                --- Making a New file & setting the clock speed.

                --- Page R- Locust Demo

 Hardware
+ The 8 inch Floppy Drives
+ Floppy Disc Controller Card 

+ Flash Card upgrade. 

+ Instructions for using the HxC SD Flash card reader

+ Fairlight - SD card switch combinations

+ Fairlight - how to copy from a floppy to the SD card
+ Series III Fairlight - Ex Police (Stewart Copeland)  

Misc

+ Kate Bush and the Fairlight CMI