Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 10:42:08 +0000 From: To: emax%flobalob.hpl.hp.com@hplb.hpl.hp.com Subject: And Finally - the Official Word ! Okay, Here's the last bit of info. This is E-mu's announcement on the ESI-32. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* E-MU Systems ESI-32 Digital Sampling Instrument with Professional Quality Functionality at Entry Level Price-Point E-MU announced the ESI-32, a powerful 32 voice digital sampling instrumental featuring professional quality functionality and Emulator IIIx audio resolution at an entry level price-point. The ESI-32 digital sampling instrument's impressive feature set includes up to 32 megabytes of random access memory single in line memory modules, seamless compatibility with Emulator IIIx, Emax II and Akai S1000/1100 sound libraries, two channels of 128x oversampling sigma/delta analog-to digital conversion, 32 4-pole digital resonant filters, time compression/expansion, and virtually distortionless pitch transposition over a 10 octave range. ESI-32 also offers expandability via a number of upgrade options including alternative internal 3.5" Syquest removable media drive, RAM Memory, and the inclusion of a SCSI 50 pin port and S/PDIF digital I/O. ESI-32 units will be available in late November from authorized E-MU dealers for a suggested retail price of US $1495. ESI-32 DIGITAL SAMPLING INSTRUMENT E-MU's latest introduction into the digital sampling market, the ESI-32 offers high-end features and audio quality superior to any other similarly priced sampler on the market. ESI-32 units deliver functionality ideal for a variety of applications including composition, performance, recording and audio post productions. Upgrade options afford ESI-32 users the ability to customize units to their specific needs. ESI-32 STANDARD FEATURES 32 voice polyphony (16 Stereo) up to 32MB of standard RAM SIMMs Emulator IIIx, Emax II and Akai S1000/1100 sound library compatibility Time Compression/Expansion Powerful DSP functions Fast, Easy-to-use interface Audition sample from disk (SCSI device) 10 Front-panel sample playback keys distortionless pitch transposition overt a 10 octave range 32 4-pole digital resonant filters Discreet 18-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs) per channel 128x oversampling sigma/delta analog-to-digital conversion 4 polyphonic outputs ESI-32 UPGRADE OPTIONS RAM SIMMs (available in 8MB and 32MB blocks) Advanced SCSI links with 50-pin SCSI port S/PDIF digital I/O 3.5" Syquest 270MB removable hard drive ESI-32 INPUT/OUTPUT FEATURES ESI-32 features a variety of input/output capabilities including two 1/4"input ports for stereo 128x oversampling sigma/delta analog-to-digital conversion and two pair of polyphonic 1/4" output ports (sub outputs & main outputs) standard with each unit. The single pair of sub-outputs may also be used as inputs from external devices. MIDI input, output and Thru ports are standard elements of all models. Available as upgrade input/output options, advanced SCSI lines with a 5-pin SCSI port and/or S/PDIF digital I/O may be added to the ESI-32. ESI-32 STORAGE DEVICE ESI-32 units ship standard with an internal 3.5" floppy disc drive, accessible from the product's front panel, allowing for the loading and saving of samples and presets. As operating system software is stored in read only memory (ROM), ESI-32 "Boot-Up" is instantaneous and requires no manual loading of a system disc through the unit's floppy drive. A 3.5" Syquest 270MB removable media had drive may also be added to the ESI-32 replacing the on-board floppy drive - as an upgrade option. Units upgraded with the ESI-32 SCSI option may also access a variety of external mass storage SCSI devices ESI-32 MEMORY ESI-32 accepts standard RAM SIMMs. Basic models ship with 2MB of installed RAM and will facilitate up to 32 MB of factory or user-installable RAM SIMMs. ESI-32 FRONT PANEL PLAYBACK KEYS A new feature for E-MU products, ESI-32's unique Front Panel Sample Playback Keys allow up to ten independent, user-defined samples to be triggered from the front panel without use of an external MIDI Keyboard, making it an ideal tool for "house" or "hip-hop" music. ESI-32 SOUND LIBRARY ESI-32 features seamless compatibility with Emulator IIIx, Emax II and Akai S1000/1100 sound libraries. Combined, these libraries represent over 50 gigabytes of fully CD-Quality, 16-bit digital samples. any Emulator IIIx and Emax II bank, or Akai S1000/1100 volume (assuming memory compatibility), may be loaded directly into the ESI-32- Via SCSI mass storage device- complete with samples, key-mapping and all program parameters that have equivalents in ESI-32 voice architecture. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Date: Tue, 03 Jan 1995 11:35:09 +0000 From: To: emax%flobalob.hpl.hp.com@hplb.hpl.hp.com Subject: E-mu drops the ball a bit (ESI-32 woes) Hi all, Well, I suppose it had to happen. After all the excitement over the fabulous new ESI-32, there had to be a catch. Fortunately, I've found out about it before I actually plumped down any cash and bought one. Unfortunately for my friend who has one, he didn't. So what's the problem ? Well, it's basically all down to SCSI drive compatability. The ESI-32 has a very restrictive set of compatible drives - I got the list from E-mu, and it's a single page that covers all their samplers including the EIV. Looking down the list, the ESI has the most restrictive set of drives of any product that E-mu make. My friend bought an ESI-32 to work with a Sony 1.3GB magneto-optical drive. Having had no problems with Emax II SCSI in the past, I assumed that connecting the two would be trivial. How wrong - the ESI doesn't even acknowledge the drive is on the bus. No flashing 'drive access' lights, no helpful messages on the ESI - nothing. But here's the kicker. Being thorough, we decided to check out the hard drive I had been using with my Emax II, just to check that my friend's ESI SCSI wasn't dead. So, hooked up my 1GB Micropolis drive - and *nothing*. Similarly, hooked up a Fujitsu 128MB MO drive, which someone else has been using with an EIIIxs. Once more - *nothing*. If it wasn't for the CD300 CDROM drive working, we would have suspected a dead SCSI card. Looking on the drive compatability sheet, the 1GB drive is NOT TESTED for the Emax II (so I got lucky, folks) but is marked as 'WILL NOT WORK' for the ESI-32. Similarly for the 128MB MO drive. Now tell me, how can something that works with my poor old Emax II not work with the ESI, given that the ESI has been developed a few years down the road. Even more bizarre, the EIIxs reads my drive with no problems. We know the ESI is a cut down EIII, but why cut down on SCSI drive compatability ? Of course, this makes the ESI pretty useless to me as an Emax II replacement, given that I can't transfer my library easily, and can't copy files from my friends 128MB MO drive, which was going to be my choice of removable media. It also makes me slightly nervous, in that every drive purchase decision taken with the ESI in mind will have to refer back to their drive compatability table, which of course limits your choice. One silver lining - Dynatek, the maker of my friend's 1.3GB Sony MO drive, are very concerned that their drive doesn't work with the ESI - apparently, E-mu used to have some business relationship with Dynatek. So, Dynatek are working to try and at least identify the problem. Me, I'm going to get a book on SCSI, and try and understand what makes one drive work whilst another won't. I'll also start reading those Roland sampler reviews again. Maybe they have a bigger compatability table.... Cheers,