1983 was a big year for Herbie Hancock. Not only did he release the hit song "Rockit," a foundational track for early breakdance and hip-hop, he also visited Sesame Street to showcase the CMI Fairlight synthesizer, the device that first inspired the term "sampling". #BlackHistoryMonth | Sesame Street

Herbie Hancock playing his Fairlight CMI on Sesame Street in 1983. | Computer Love Records

Known as the mother of all samplers, and a groundbreaking additive synth, the #Fairlight #CMI truly redefined pop music production following its release in 1979. ARTURIA’s recreation builds on the features of the original by providing 10 multitimbral, polyphonic slots to design your sound, real-time waveform shaping, effects, a sequencer, and even a brand new “Spectral” synth that can scan and mix sections of audio, letting you create your own wavetable synth sounds. More info: https://www.artur

Fairlight CMI