As we release and launch E-MU’s next generation Emulator X3 Streaming Sampling Synthesizer software, E-MU celebrates and is pleased to announce that we will be providing the full version of our Proteus VX Software Sound Module software which includes the enhanced v2.0.1 Proteus X Composer Bank. (a special E-MU tweaked version of the Composer bank) that can be used in all versions of our Proteus X or Emulator X software.

Proteus VX is not copy protected or card locked like other versions of our instrument and sampling software, and can be used either as a VSTi or in stand alone mode.

Note: It’s a free download, but you have to subscribe to the E-Mu newsletter.

Description:

Famous for its remarkable stability, E-MU’s Modular System was sturdier and would stay in tune much longer than the synthesizers offered by Moog and ARP at the time. The E-MU Modular featured the world’s first microprocessor-controlled polyphonic keyboard and sequencer (control voltage, of course, as this was years before MIDI), which was also one of E-MU’s first patents.

The E-MU Modular SoundFont weighs 64 MB and includes 141 instruments. It is available for purchase now for $59.95 USD.

The E-mu Emulator II was E-mu’s second sampler, released in 1984. Like the Emulator I, it was an 8-bit sampler, however it had superior fidelity, and allowed more flexibility in editing sounds.

It was priced similarly to the Emulator I, at US $7,995 for a regular model, and $9,995 for a “plus” model featuring extra sample memory. Several upgrades, including extra disk drives and a 20 MB hard drive, were available as well.

Notable users include: Depeche Mode, Enya, badass keytar player Herbie Hancock, Jean Michel Jarre, Orbital, Paul n-n-nine-nine-nineteen Hardcastle, Tangerine Dream & Ferris Bueler.

If you’ve used the Emu Emulator II, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Specifications:

• 8 voice polyphony
• Sampler – 27kHz; 8-bits; 512 KB to 1 MB storage
• 8 parts (8 midi channels) multitimbral
• 8 sequencer tracks
• 61 keys w/ velocity & aftertouch sensitive keyboard
• 24 dB/oct 4-pole lowpass filter with resonance

Resources:

• Wikipedia entry for the Emu Emulator II
• Emu Emulator II at VintageSynth
• The Emulator Archive
• Video of the Emu Emulator II via JMPSynth

Proteus VX is not copy-protected or card-locked like other versions of E-MU’s instrument and sampling software, and can be used either as a VSTi or in stand alone mode on Windows (Proteus VX will install and function for most users on Windows Vista but is only officially tested and supported for Windows XP).

Proteus VX was previously only available as part of the “E-MU Production Tools Software Bundle” which is included with various E-MU hardware products.

Emulator X3 features E-MU’s Xstream streaming sound engine with up to 192kHz sampling and playback and an arsenal of automated sampling/beat analysis/editing tools. Emulator X3 will ship in late March 2008 at an estimated street price of £349.99/ €499.99 (including VAT). US estimated street price is $499.99.

Emulator X3 ships with:

• 32-bit Emulator X3 Application (Windows® XP/Vista)
• 64-bit Emulator X3 Application (Windows® x64/Vista)

New Features:

Xstream

New improved and Vista compatible Xstream 24-bit/129kHz Streaming Engine-32-bit and native 64-bit applications optimized for Multi-core and Multi-threaded processors. Xstream intelligently balances the processing load across all available resources for exceptional performance.

Region Xplode Beat Slicer

This great new feature translates recorded drum parts into MIDI files. The Xplode function generates new voices from the selected Region, then creates a MIDI file that maps the new regions to MIDI notes. Just import the Standard MIDI File into your favorite MIDI sequencer and have authentic drum grooves under your control.

Tempo Map Export

TwistaLoop can now analyze and export the Tempo Map of a song. This indispensable tool allows you to synchronize a rhythm track to a performance that was recorded without a metronome. You sequencer will “groove” with you instead of marching to its own beat.

Xtractor

The Xtractor is a new audio manipulation tool that can cut or boost audio levels based on stereo position and frequency. If a song was mixed using stereo panning, this tool allows specific instruments or vocals to be removed, isolated, or pitch shifted. You can remove or isolate vocals, basses, or other instruments, process them and then return them to the mix if you like. The Xtractor is also a powerful analysis tool, since it visually displays the location of each instrument in a stereo mix.

Translator Convertor

The Translator Emulator X Convertor, by Chicken Systems, enables you to convert many popular sampler formats into the Emulator X’s .exb file format. The bundled Translator Emulator X Convertor application can convert the following types of files:

• Akai S-1000/3000
• Akai MPC
• Emu EIII/ESi/Emax
• Tascam GigaStudio 1 + 2
• SoundFont
• Native Instruments Kontakt 1 + 2
• Steinberg HALion I and I

Over 3.3 GB of sounds (over 2500 Presets) from E-MU’s premier sound library are included:

• X Producer …………… Four classic Emulator banks: Proteus X Composer, Hip Hop Producer, E-MU General MIDI, Saint Thomas Strings
•  Studio Grand …………… A stunning 1.4 GB grand piano bank
•  Beat Shop 1 …………… Contains nine great drum kits with beats and grooves
• Xperience …………… Examples of TwistaLoop, morphing filters and more
• Xtreme Lead-1 …………… An inspiring Techno/Industrial with clock-synchronization
• LoopMasters …………… Top quality, copyright-free samples from the masters of loops

The E-MU Emulator products represent twenty years of cutting edge sound content that has been used on numerous music recordings and film scores including Marcato Strings, the Shakuhachi from Sledgehammer, the X-files flute, and many others.

Digital Sound Factory has available a massive library of over 10,000 instruments and growing. Prices range from $14.95 to $69.95.

Emulator X2 Platinum features E-MU’s Xstream streaming sound engine with up to 192kHz sampling and playback, an arsenal of automated sampling/beat analysis/editing tools and almost unlimited sound manipulation that builds on E-MU’s 35 years of synthesis experience.

Emulator X2 Platinum will ship in late Spring 2007 at an estimated street price of $499.99. A 64-bit upgrade will also be available to all current Emulator X2 owners direct from E-MU for $79.99.

Emulator X2 Platinum ships with:

• 32-bit Emulator X2 Application (Windows XP/Vista)
• 64-bit Emulator X2 Application (Windows x64/Vista)
• Over 20GB of Sounds
• Xmidi 2×2 USB MIDI Interface

Emulator X2 Platinum features

Streaming:

• Xstream™ 24-bit/192kHz Streaming Engine, featuring E-MU’s patented pitch interpolation and precision 32-bit floating point processing for unmatched sound quality
• 32-bit and native 64-bit applications included (32-bit: Windows XP and Vista; 64-bit: Windows x64 and Vista)
• Optimized for Multi-core and Multi-Threaded processors to intelligently balance the processing load across all available resources for exceptional performance
• Standalone (64 MIDI Channels) or VSTi (16 MIDI channels per instantiation) operation

Sampling:

• ASAP™ Automated Sampling and Placement

• Sample, Chop and Place
• Load, Chop and Place
• SynthSwipe™ automated hardware and software instrument sampling

• Integrated Sample Editor
• Auto-Correlation Looping
• Crossfade Looping
• Comprehensive DSP Tools including Transform Multiply
• External Editor Link
• Beat/Loop Tools
• Beat Analysis and Markup
• TwistaLoop™ non-destructive audio manipulator
• Xplode™ beat slicer with MIDI and Tempo Map Export

Synthesizer

• Advanced Modular Synthesis and FX Engine (from your initial sample’s tempo through Emulator X2’s entire synthesis and FX architecture, all time-based parameters syncable to BPM clock)
• 12th Order Z-Plane™ Morphing Filters (over 50 types) including the Morph Filter Designer
• Multi-Function Generators/Arpeggiators (can be programmed to modulate pitch, filters, volume, retrigger samples or LFOs, change tempo or trigger other events)
• Virtual PatchCord Modulation Matrix (over 100 modules)
• Integrated Modulation FX engine (23 core effects), including SP12ulator, Tremulator, Reverbs, Delays, and many more
• Over 20GB of sounds (over 5,500 instruments) from E-MU’s premier sound library, including:
• Platinum 88 and Studio Grand piano libraries
• Vintage X Pro Library – three volumes of classic keyboards and synths (over 10GB)
• Every last sample from E-MU’s legendary Proteus 2000, Xtreme Lead-1, Mo’Phatt, Planet Earth, and Virtuoso 2000 sound modules and PX-7 Command Station – everything from Hip-Hop and Dance genres to comprehensive orchestral and world instrument collections
• Comprehensive sound format support, including EOS, EIII, GigaSampler, MP3, REX2, .AIFF, SoundFont 2.1, .WAV and more

Xmidi 2×2 USB MIDI Interface

The Xtreme Lead X has been meticulously programmed to the powerful integrated synthesis and effects parameters of E-MU’s Emulator X and Proteus X, offering real-time control over a host of morphing filters, tempo-based synth parameters, effects and much more.

Xtreme Lead X will ship March 2007 at an estimated street price of $49.99.

The Xboard Control software provides an intuitive desktop interface that lets you effortlessly create custom templates for all of your favorite hardware and software instruments. The Xboard 61 also allows you to set discrete MIDI channels for each knob and offer unrivalled real-time control and performance features, including Snap Shot that lets you send multiple program changes and controller values by pressing a single button, and Latch Mode that enables you to define a section of the keyboard as on/off triggers – perfect for drum loops.

The Xboard 61 is priced at $249.99 and now available at authorized E-MU Dealers.

More information is available at the E-MU site.

Emulator X2 builds on the unmatched sound quality of E-MU’s pristine 24-bit/192kHz sound engine and patented pitch interpolation, and can be run either standalone (64 MIDI channels) or as a VST instrument (16 MIDI channels per instantiation). Emulator X2 ships May 2006 with a 2in/2out USB MIDI interface and over 3GB of sounds at an estimated street price of $299.99. Emulator X2 will also be available as an add-on for any E-MU Digital Audio System or Xboard USB/MIDI controller ($249.99), or as an upgrade for existing Emulator X owners ($79.99).

SynthSwipe

SynthSwipe is a sampling tool that will automatically sample and create presets from any hardware or software MIDI instrument and create a playable preset. Simply set the initial sampling parameters (i.e. key range, how many notes, how many velocities per note, velocity range) and SynthSwipe does the rest with the utmost precision. SynthSwipe is an invaluable tool for sound designers and anyone who wants to bring their old synth and sound module soundsets into the computer.

TwistaLoop

TwistaLoop is a tool that automatically analyzes any audio by dissecting it into its rhythmic components, allows the editing of this audio with multiple loop points and regions, and offers total control over tempo with real-time audio time expansion/compression — all with E-MU’s patented pitch interpolation for unmatched audio fidelity.

Morph Filter Designer

The Morph Filter Designer provides users with filter creation tools that E-MU’s sound designers have been using for years to create the legendary morphing Z-Plane filters. The Morph Filter Designer now allows the construction of all-new exotic filter types that can be morphed from one type to another in real-time.

Multi-Function Generator

The Multi-Function Generator offers advanced LFO/envelope/arpeggiator programming, providing three function generators per voice that are directly tied into Emulator X2’s powerful synthesis architecture (over 100 parameters). These Function Generators have several key sync and direction modes that enable complex levels of control, and can be programmed to modulate pitch, filters, volume, retrigger samples or LFO’s, change tempo or trigger other events.

Transform Multiply

Transform Multiply is a convolution DSP tool that creates new sounds by combining the timbral and time elements of two signals in a way that reinforces frequencies common to both sources and discards frequencies not present in both. This powerful tool is applicable to everything from adding a custom reverb (by adding a reverb impulse to another sound) to full blown voice articulation of musical instruments (combining speech with an instrument).

More information is available at the E-Mu site.

The Xboard Control software provides an intuitive desktop interface that lets you create custom templates for hardware and software instruments.

The Xboard 61 also allows you to set discrete MIDI channels for each knob and offer unrivalled real-time control and performance features, including Snap Shot that lets you send multiple program changes and controller values by pressing a single button, and Latch Mode that enables you to define a section of the keyboard as on/off triggers — perfect for drum loops.

The Xboard 61 is designed for studio and stage (USB, battery, or AC power) and will ship in Spring 2006.

More information is available at the E-Mu site.

The Programming Emulator X Video Tutorial covers:

• Quick and easy sampling, looping and preset creation: How to make the most of Emulator X’s automatic preset creation features including auto-looping.
• Programming amplitude envelopes and filter sweeps.
• Using patch cords to setup complex modulation routings from LFOs, key position, realtime MIDI controllers and more. Advanced techniques are also presented, such as using the lag processor for special effects.
• Tips and techniques for creating presets that behave in dynamic and interesting ways, just like acoustic “real world” instruments.
• How to work with multiple voices (different sounds) in a single preset, working on individual parts of complex sounds separately, then combining them into one preset.
• Programming effects in PatchMix DSP.
• Working with the sample editor and using auto-correlate to make perfect sample loops.

This master class in Emulator X programming contains more than an hour and a half of practical examples that touch on almost every part of the Emulator X sampler. The video itself is delivered in downloadable and streaming Windows Media Video format and plays in Windows Media Player without any additional software or hardware.

Programming Emulator X is now available for immediate purchase and download at EmulatorXone.com. Introductory pricing of $14.95 lasts until February 15th, 2005.

EmulatorXone.com also features a variety of soundbanks for E-mu Emulator X samplers, available for free download.

The Xboard Control software provides a desktop interface that lets you create custom templates for all of your favorite hardware and software instruments. The Xboards also allow you to set discrete MIDI channels for each controller and offer real-time control and performance features, including Snap Shot that lets you send multiple program changes and controller values by pressing a single button, and Xboard Latch Mode that enables you to define a section of the keyboard as on/off triggers — perfect for drum loops.

Both Xboard models are ultra-portable and can run on USB, battery, or AC power. The Xboard 25 and Xboard 49 Professional USB/MIDI Controllers will ship April 2005.

For more information, visit the E-MU site.

E-MU’s Production Tools bundle includes:

• E-MU’s new Proteus X LE with over 1000 sounds
• Steinberg’s Cubase LE and WaveLab Lite
• Ableton Live 4 Lite for E-MU
• IK Multimedia AmpliTube LE and T-RackS EQ
• Minnetonka diskWelder BRONZE TE
• SFX Machine LT

The Production Tools bundle will ship with every E-MU Digital Audio System starting April 2005, and will be available to current E-MU Digital Audio Systems owners for a limited time on a CD-ROM at a nominal cost.

For more information, visit the E-MU site.

These sound libraries have been programmed to the powerful integrated synthesis and effects parameters of E-MU’s Proteus X and Emulator X, offering over 50 patented Z-Plane filters and 100 tempo-based parameters per preset, as well as two discrete effects processors per preset with comprehensive MIDI modulation.

Mo’Phatt X and Planet Earth X will have an estimated street price of $49.99 each, and Virtuoso X will have an estimated street price of $69.99 — all three sound libraries ship in January 2005.

For more information, visit the E-MU site.

The E-MU 1616M and 1616 include a PCMCIA card and compact MicroDock audio/MIDI interface that deliver the same DSP effects, zero-latency monitoring and pristine 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters of E-MU’s PCI Digital Audio Systems.

The E-MU PCMCIA card can be used standalone for its DSP power and studio-quality headphone amp, or plugged into the MicroDock for a total of 16 inputs and 16 outputs plus MIDI I/O, including two custom preamps with Neutrik connectors, 48V phantom power, and analog soft limiting circuit for clip protection.

E-MU’s CardBus Digital Audio Systems ship with ASIO2 and WDM drivers for Windows XP and 2000, as well as the new Production Tools software bundle that includes E-MU’s Proteus X LE, as well as software by Steinberg, Ableton, IK Multimedia, and many more — everything you need to create, record, edit, master and burn your music.

The E-MU CardBus Digital Audio Systems will ship in April 2005 with an estimated street price of $499.99 for the 1616M and $399.99 for the 1616.

For more information, visit the E-MU site.

E-MU

The E-MU 0404 works with all major PC audio and sequencer applications, offering analog and digital I/O and all the hardware-accelerated effects, mixing and monitoring of E-MU’s 1820M, 1820 and 1212M Digital Audio Systems.

Features

• 2 Stereo 1/4″ analog inputs and outputs, optical and coaxial S/PDIF, MIDI I/O.
• 24-bit/96kHz A/D and D/A converters with 111dB (A/D) and 116dB (D/A) dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratios, guaranteeing you maximum headroom, ultra-low noise
• Same powerful E-DSP hardware acceleration as E-MU’s more expensive Digital Audio Systems,
• 16 simultaneous hardware-accelerated effects.
• Over 500 effects presets
• Zero-latency, hardware-based mixing and monitoring via the included PatchMix DSP mixer,
• ASIO 2.0 and WDM drivers,

0404 is expected to ship in late June 2004, selling for $99. Details are available at the E-MU site.

In the early 70’s, E-MU competed in the market pioneered by Moog, custom-built modular synthesizers. While E-MU’s designs derived from the work of Moog, they were also innovative in their own right. Their oscillators were much more stable than Moog’s, and they had a huge number of unique modules. Their shiny metal panels were a colorful alternative to the plain black panels of other systems, too.

The E-MU Emulator is one of the first great keyboard samplers. The Emulator was inspired by the Fairlight, but was much more affordable. Unfortunately, early digital synthesizers have not aged as gracefully as analog ones. The Emulator is very big, has a whopping 128k of memory and uses funky old technology like large floppy diskettes. While it seems primitive by today’s standards, the Emulator offered 8 voices of sampled polyphony.

The Drumulator was a sample-based drum machine built with much of the same technology as the Emulator. It tried to be a Linn LM-1 at a price that musicians could afford. The drumulator had eight drum sounds that were sampled and stored on ROM chips. These lo-fi samples were gritty and distorted, but had a great sound nevertheless.

More recently, E-MU has created several lines of products that continue to be popular with musicians. These include the Proteus rackmount synth modules, and synth modules designed for specific styles of music.