Date: Wed, 16 Nov 1994 11:44:01 +0000 From: To: emax%flobalob.hpl.hp.com@hplb.hpl.hp.com Subject: More EIV News Well, well, well. Here's the E-mu press release on the Emulator IV. It looks like they have been very, very busy down there in Scotts Valley. Share and enjoy, folks. Cheers, *_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_ E-mu Systems Introduces Emulator IV Professional Digital Sampling System Featuring 128 Voice Polyphony And 128 Megabytes of RAM Featured at the 1994 San Francisco AES Convention, Newest Emulator Family Member to Ship in December 1994 SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., November 10, 1994 E-mu Systems, Inc. today announced the Emulator IV (EIV) professional digital sampling system - featuring 128 voice polyphony and up to 128 megabytes (MB) of sample memory - at the 1994 San Francisco AES Convention. Based on E-mu's latest generation very large scale integration (VLSI) technology, EIV delivers a new level of features and functionality to a dedicated digital sampler platform including 128 6th-order digital resonant filters, complete compatibility with Emulator IIIx, Emax II and Akai S1000/1100 sound libraries, re-sampling capabilities, load while play function, audition from disc ability, and graphic waveform editing on a new icon-based 240 x 64 graphic user interface. Emulator IV also offers expandability through expansion ports designed to accept a variety of optional upgrade cards also available from E-mu. The Emulator IV professional digital sampling system (8MB RAM) will be available from authorized E-mu dealers in December 1994 at a suggested retail price of US $5,995. E-mu Systems is a leading manufacturer of digital sample-based musical instruments and audio solutions for multimedia. E-mu audio products are used extensively by professional musicians, sound designers and audio engineers globally. "Over the years, E-mu has a long history of developing powerful digital sampling tools while redefining standards along the way," said Tom McLoughlin, E-mu Systems general manager. "Now with the introduction of our latest generation samplers, we have again set new standards in sampler functionality and price/performance. Emulator IV represents E-mu's next step towards a series of powerful and revolutionary new products to come." Emulator IV Professional Digital Sampling System The latest iteration of renowned Emulator platform samplers, the Emulator IV represents a marriage of 15 years of digital sampling experience and latest-generation, proprietary VLSI technology. Emulator IV carries on its namesake's tradition of delivering superb audio resolution and powerful, innovative features. A new icon-based graphic user interface provides a level of ease-of-use and speed previously available only on computer platforms and, hence, maximizes productivity for professionals in a variety of audio production environments. As a musical instrument, Emulator IV is a powerful stand-alone digital sampler for both studio and live use. EIV's enormous polyphony virtually eliminates voice "rip-off" limitations while the unit's memory capacity allows for an immense number of instantly accessible on-board samples, banks and presets. Ideal for audio engineers, sound designers and audio post production professionals, EIV's 24 minutes of sampling time allows for the creation of "reel-long" sound effects sequences or individual, complex ambiance, dialog and sound effect samples. Powerful, easy-to-use audio processing features, including distortionless pitch transposition over a 10 octave range, optimizes EIV for sound design environments. By adding mass storage peripherals, computer-based sample editing, Remote Controller/Librarian software, and a direct-to-disk recording system, the EIV becomes the central sound engine of a sophisticated modular digital audio system. Emulator IV Sound Library Emulator IV features seamless compatibility with Emulator IIIx, Emax II and Akai S1000/S1100 sound libraries. Assuming memory compatibility, any of these banks and/or volumes may be loaded directly into the Emulator IV - via SCSI mass storage device - complete with samples, key-mapping and all program parameters that have equivalents in Emulator IV voice architecture. The Emulator IIIx library encompasses samples of virtually every musical instrument on earth, as well as a staggering selection of sound effects. Combined with Emax II and Akai S1000/1100 libraries, Emulator IV compatible sound libraries represent over 50 gigabytes of CD-quality, 16-bit digital samples. Emulator IV Standard Features o 128 voice polyphony o Up to 128 MB sample memory o 128 6th-order digital resonant filters/EQ o Emulator IIIx, Emax II and Akai S1000/1100 sound library compatibility o On-board library "search" function o Re-sample while play o Load while play o Audition sample from disk o 240 x 64 icon-based graphic user interface o Fast, intuitive operating system o Flexible, adaptive voice architecture with plug-in expandability o Virtually distortionless pitch transposition over a 10 octave range o Discreet 18-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs) per channel o 128x oversampling sigma/delta analog-to-digital conversion o 8 balanced polyphonic outputs (2 XLR & 1/4" TRS parallel mains, 6 1/4" TRS subs) o >90 dB signal-to-noise ratio o Switchable 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz output sample rate o 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 24 kHz and 22.05 kHz input sample rate o Advanced SCSI links with dual 50-pin SCSI ports o Expansion ports (3 rear panel and 1 internal) o AES/EBU & S/PDIF digital I/O o ASCII alpha-numeric keyboard interface o Operating system stored in Flash RAM for Instantaneous "boot-up" and future software upgrades... Emulator IV Optional Features o Front Panel Remote Controller/Librarian for Macintosh o RAM SIMMs sample memory o Flash RAM sample memory capability (up to 32 MB) o Additional In and Thru MIDI ports for 32-MIDI channel multi- timbrality o Internal hard drive o 8 channel multitrack digital interface o Digital effects processor Emulator IV Input/Output Features Emulator IV features two balanced 1/4" input ports for stereo 128x oversampling sigma/delta analog-to-digital conversion. Each unit also includes four pair of balanced polyphonic output ports (2 XLR & 1/4" tip ring sleeve (TRS) parallel mains, 6 1/4" TRS subs). AES/EBU & S/PDIF compatible digital I/O and a single MIDI interface with input, output and thru ports are standard Emulator IV elements. Available as an upgrade option, additional MIDI In and Thru ports may be added to EIV increasing multi-timbral capabilities to 32 MIDI channels. 8 channels of multitrack digital output may also be added as an EIV option. Emulator IV Storage Devices Emulator IV units ship standard with an internal 3.5" high density floppy disc drive, accessible from the product's front panel, allowing for the loading and saving of samples and presets, as well as operating system upgrades. As operating system software is stored in Flash RAM, EIV "boot-up" is instantaneous and requires no manual loading of a system disc through the unit's floppy drive. An optional internal hard drive may also be added to EIV units as an enhancement. Emulator IV Memory Emulator IV units will accommodate up to 128 MB of sample memory. Basic models ship with 8 MB of standard RAM SIMMs and will facilitate up to 128 MB of factory or user-installable RAM SIMMs. A new element of E-mu sample memory schemes, up to 32 MB of Flash RAM may also be accessed by Emulator IV as an option. A non-volatile and writable memory type, Flash RAM allows instant access to any user-defined sound complement. Introduction of Flash RAM into the EIV, however, decreases the amount of potential RAM SIMMs that may be installed in the EIV by that same amount. Emulator IV Remote Controller/Librarian EIV "Remote Controller" functions offer the power and convenience of complete control of up to seven EIV units at the same time through a front-panel emulation on the screen of a Macintosh. Pop-up menus allow for direct navigation to the user's desired function while on-screen virtual musical keyboard, pitch wheel, and modulation wheel allow for preset auditioning without the need for an external controller. "Librarian" functions allow for entire sound libraries, including sounds on internal and external hard drives, CD ROMs and M/O cartridges, to be cataloged for fast browsing and searching regardless of whether or not mass storage peripherals are on-line. The "Browser" provides users the ability to view contents of entire libraries including banks, presets and samples while "Find" will quickly locate banks, presets or samples containing selected keywords. Additionally, the librarian allows for the creation of custom banks with a simple click of a mouse. E-mu Systems, Inc. Founded in 1972, E-mu Systems, Inc. is the leading developer of innovative digital audio products based on digital sampling technology for the musical instrument and multimedia markets. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Technology, LTD. and is headquartered in Scotts Valley, CA.