Misplaced Pages

E-mu Systems: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:55, 20 November 2008 edit169.204.229.202 (talk) →See also← Previous edit Latest revision as of 20:44, 4 September 2024 edit undoWiinterU (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users9,997 editsNo edit summaryTags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit 
(149 intermediate revisions by 79 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American music technology company}}
{{Unreferenced|date=April 2007}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox company
| name = E-MU Systems
| logo = E-MU Systems logo.svg
| caption =
| type = ]
| traded_as =
| industry = ]<br />]
| products = ]
| founder =
| foundation = {{start date and age|1971}}
| defunct = {{end date|2002}}
| fate = Acquired by ] in 1993 and <br />merged with ], now dissolved
| location_city = ], ]
| location_country = U.S.
| area_served =
| key_people =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| num_employees =
| parent = ]
| divisions =
| subsidiaries =
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.emu.com}}
}}


]]]
'''E-mu Systems''' is a ] maker and pioneer in the manufacture of low-cost digital ] ]s.

'''E-mu Systems''' was a ], ], ] interface, and ] keyboard manufacturer. Founded in 1971 as a ] maker, E-mu was a pioneer in ], sample-based ]s and low-cost digital ] ]s.

After its acquisition in 1993, E-mu Systems was a wholly owned subsidiary of ].<ref name="AboutEMU">, Creative.com</ref>
In 1998, E-mu was combined with ], another synthesizer and sampler manufacturer previously acquired by Creative Technology.<ref name="sosSep2002" />
E-mu was last based in ], on the outskirts of ].<ref name="AboutEMU" />


==History== ==History==
<!-- div style="clear:right;float:right;margin:0 0 -3.3ex 0;">
Founded in 1971 by Scott Wedge and Dave Rossum, E-mu began making ]. During this time they also created the digital scanning keyboard (1973) and with ] developed several synthesizer module ], that were used by both E-mu and many other synthesizer companies. In 1979 E-mu released the ], their first non-modular synthesizer. With a price of $69,200 (over $200,000 when adjusted for ]) only one machine was ever produced. In this same year, Wedge and Rossum saw the ] at a convention and set about making a less expensive sampler. The ] debuted in 1981 at a list price of $7,900, less than the $30,000 Fairlight.
]'s competitor, Curtis CEM]]</div -->


E-mu Systems was founded in ] by Dave Rossum, a ] student and two of his friends from ], Steve Gabriel and Jim Ketcham, with the goal to build their own ].<ref>{{cite web |title=E-mu Company History |url=http://www.creative.com/emu/company/history/ |website=Creative |publisher=Creative Technologies |access-date=13 February 2019}}</ref> Scott Wedge, who would ultimately become president, joined later that summer. In 1972, E-mu became a company, developing and patenting a digitally scanned polyphonic keyboard (1973), licensed for use by ] in the ] and 8-Voice synthesizers and by ] in the ]. E-mu, along with Solid State Micro Technology (SSM), also developed several synthesizer module ], that were used by both E-mu and many other synthesizer companies.
Following the ] and ], the company also began producing a line of ] modules called the ], containing pre-recorded samples in ]. At its introduction, the Proteus had a relatively large library of high-quality samples priced much lower than the competition. In 1988, E-mu's ] drum sampler offered an "all-in-one" box for sequencing not only drum sounds, but looping samples, and it quickly became the instrument of choice for ] producers. In 1993 E-mu was acquired by ] (the Singaporean parent company of Creative Labs) and began working on PC ] synthesis. Throughout the 1990s E-mu made many different ] keyboard-less synthesizers. In 1998, E-mu was combined with ], another Creative Technology acquisition.

In 2001 the Proteus line of modules was repackaged in the form of a line of tabletop units, the XL7 and MP7 Command Stations, which featured 128-voice polyphony, advanced synthesis features, and a versatile multitrack sequencer. A complementary line of keyboard synthesizers was also released using the same technology. Subsequent products from E-mu were exclusively in software form.
{{multiple image |direction=vertical |align=right |width=220
In 2004 E-mu released the ], a PC-based version of its hardware samplers with extended synthesis capabilities. While a ] card is used for audio input and output, the ] no longer run on dedicated hardware but in ] on the PC. ], a software-based sample player was released in 2005.
|image1=E-mu Audity.jpg |caption1=E-mu Audity (1979)
|image2=E-mu Emulator I.jpg |caption2=] (1982)
|image3=E-mu Emulator II - front.jpg|caption3=] (1984)
<!-- |image4=E-mu Emulator III.jpg |caption4=] (1987) -->
}}

With the financial benefit of the royalties that came from working with these other synthesizer manufacturers, E-mu designed the ], their first non-modular synthesizer, showing it at the 1980 ] Convention. With a price of $69,200 (over $200,000 in 2009 terms when adjusted for ]), only one machine was ever produced. At that same convention, Wedge and Rossum saw the ] and the ]. Recognizing the trend of ], they realized that E-mu had the technology to bring a lower-priced sampler to market. The ] debuted in 1981 at a list price of $7,900, significantly less than the $30,000 Fairlight.<ref>Julian Colbeck, '''<u>Keyfax Omnibus Edition</u>''', MixBooks (1996), p. 25</ref><ref>Mark Jenkins, <u>'''Analog Synthesizers'''</u>, Focal Press (2007), p. 125</ref><ref>Mark Vail, <u>'''Vintage Synthesizers'''</u>, Miller Freeman (1993), p. 198</ref> Following the Emulator, E-mu released the first programmable ] with samples built-in priced below $1,000, the E-mu Drumulator. The Drumulator's success was followed by the ] and ], the ] drum sampler, and the ] series of samplers.<ref>Mark Vail, '''<u>Vintage Synthesizers</u>''', Miller Freeman (1993), p. 24</ref>

<div style="clear:right;float:right;margin:0 0 0 0;">
]]]</div>
<div style="float:right;margin:0 -2.5ex 0 0;">
]]]</div>

In 1990, E-mu introduced the ], a ] ], containing pre-recorded samples in ]. At its introduction, the Proteus had a relatively large library of high-quality samples priced much lower than the competition. The success of the Proteus spurred the development of several additional versions, including the Proteus XR, an orchestral version, and a world music version.<ref>Julian Colbeck, <u>'''Keyfax Omnibus Edition'''</u>, MixBooks (1996), p. 32</ref> In 1987, E-mu's ] drum sampler offered an "all-in-one" box for sequencing not only drum sounds, but looping samples, and it quickly became the instrument of choice for ] producers.

In 1993, E-mu was acquired by ] (the Singaporean parent company of Creative Labs) and began working on PC ] synthesis. ] and ] used EMU8000 effect processor. Throughout the 1990s, E-mu made many different sound modules along the lines of the Proteus series. E-mu also made unsuccessful attempts at breaking into the ] ] with the Darwin hard-disk recording system. In 1998, E-mu was combined with ], another synthesizer and sampler manufacturer previously acquired by Creative Technology.<ref name=sosSep2002>Rob Keeble, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314023837/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Sep02/articles/emuanniversary.asp?print=yes |date=2012-03-14 }}, ''Sound On Sound'', Sep 2002</ref>

In 2001 E-mu's sound modules were repackaged in the form of a line of tabletop units, the XL7 and MP7 Command Stations, each featuring 128-voice polyphony, advanced synthesis features, and a versatile multitrack sequencer. A complementary line of keyboard synthesizers was also released using the same technology.

Subsequent products from E-mu were exclusively in software form. In 2004 E-mu released the ], a PC-based version of its hardware samplers with extended synthesis capabilities. While a ] card is used for audio input and output, the ] no longer run on dedicated hardware but in ] on the PC. ], a software-based sample player, was released in 2005.


==Non-Creative sound cards== ==Non-Creative sound cards==
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal
During 2003-2005, E-mu designed and published a series of high-fidelity "Digital Audio Systems" (computer sound cards), intended for semi-professional / computer audio enthusiast use. They were released under the name E-mu, however bearing a "Creative Professional" label. The card names are number-coded: 0404, 1212m, 1616, 1616m, 1820 and 1820m, where 1616 is a ] version and the rest for PCI, while "m" denotes extra high - quality analogue outputs and inputs. The 1820m is touted as the series' ] product. All of the cards have drivers for ] ] and up (32- and 64-bit). ] support appeared to be pending, but may have been affected by Apple's migration towards ].
|image1 =E-mu 1212m PCI Digital Augio System.jpg |width1=105
|caption1=E-mu 1212m PCI <br/>Digital Audio System
|image2 =E-MU 0404 USB 2.0 White.jpg |width2=142
|caption2=E-mu 0404 USB 2.0 White
}}


During 2003-2007, E-mu designed and published a series of high-fidelity "Digital Audio Systems" (computer sound cards), intended for professional, semi-professional and computer audio enthusiast use. They were released under the name E-MU, however bearing a "Creative Professional" label. The card names are number-coded for the number of physical inputs and outputs: 0404, 1212m, 1616, 1616m, 1820 and 1820m, where 1616 is a ] version and the rest for PCI, while "m" denotes extra high-quality analogue outputs and inputs. The 1820m was touted as the series' ] product until the 1616 and 1616M were released (A PCI version of the 1616/M later followed). All of the cards had drivers for ] ] and later versions that were current at time of the respective products' release. (32- and 64-bit). Only a beta version driver was released for Windows 7. ] support appeared to be pending, but may have been affected by Apple's migration towards ].
While the core DSP of the cards is the same as used in Creative's ] Audigy2 cards (and hence capable of 24-bit 192 kHz ] sound), official press releases for the E-mu sound cards have emphasized Creative's lack of input on the design, and the in-house development of the cards and drivers &mdash; that is, they wanted to distinguish their "own" series from Creative's signature Sound Blasters. Notably, the cards and drivers entirely omit internal ] MIDI synthesis, Creative's proprietary ] sound routines and basically anything commonly associated with the parent company. Although the cards were rushed into market and originally came bundled with fairly raw drivers (which have subsequently received periodical major improvements and even additions beyond the advertised specifications), they have generally met with rather favourable reviews.

While the core DSP chip (EMU10K2) of the cards is the same one designed by E-MU and used in Creative's ] Audigy2 cards (and hence capable of 24-bit 192&nbsp;kHz ] sound), official press releases for the E-MU sound cards have emphasized Creative's lack of input on the design, and the in-house development of the cards and drivers &mdash; that is, they wanted to distinguish their "own" series from Creative's signature Sound Blasters. Notably, the cards and drivers entirely omit internal ']' ] MIDI synthesis, Creative's proprietary ] sound routines and basically anything commonly associated with the parent company. Although the cards were rushed into market and originally came bundled with fairly raw drivers (which have subsequently received periodical major improvements and even additions beyond the advertised specifications), they have generally met with rather favourable reviews.


== Timeline of major products == == Timeline of major products ==
{|class="wikitable" style="float:right;border:0;backgroung:RGBA(255,255,255,0);padding:0;font-size:85%;line-height:2ex;"
* 1979 - ]
|-
|] ||1979 - Audity
|-
|] ||1982 - Emulator
|-
|] ||1984 - Emulator II
|-
|] ||1985 - ]
|-
|] ||1987 - ]
|-
|] ||1987 - Emulator III
|-
|] ||1988 - Emax SE
|-
|] ||1990 - Proteus 1 (Pop/Rock)
|-
|] ||1993 - Emulator IIIXP
|-
|] ||1994 - ProteusFX
|- style="line-height:3ex;"
|]
|1997 - Planet Phatt (Hip-Hop)<br/>1996 - Orbit (Techno/Electronica)
|- style="line-height:3ex;"
|]
|1996 - Launch-Pad controller <br/>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ''for Orbit''
|-
|]||1998 - E-mu Proteus 2000
|-
|] ||1999 - E4XT Ultra
|- style="line-height:3ex;"
|<br/>]
|2000 - Xtreme Lead-1 <br/>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (Techno/Electronica)<br/>2000 - Mo'Phatt (Hip-Hop)&nbsp;<br/>2002 - Turbo Phatt (Hip-Hop)
|-
|] ||2001 - E-mu PK-6 (Pop/Rock)
|}

* 1973 - ]
* 1980 - ]
* 1981 - ] * 1981 - ]
* 1983 - ] * 1983 - ]
* 1984 - ] * 1984 - ]
* 1985 - ] * 1985 - ]
* 1986 - ] * 1986 - ]
* 1987 - ] * 1987 - ]
* 1988 - ] * 1987 - ]
* 1989 - ] * 1990 - ]
* 1990 - ]
* 1993 - Morpheus
* 1994 - ] * 1991 - ]
* 1998 - ] * 1991 - ]
* 1993 - Morpheus<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Quality Control|magazine=Music Technology|date=November 1993|issue=85|issn=0957-6606|oclc=24835173}}</ref>
* 1998 - ]
* 1999 - ] * 1994 - ]
* 1996 - Orbit 9090
* 2001- XL7/MP7 Command Stations
* 1997 - Planet Phatt
* 1997 - Carnaval
* 1997 - Orbit 9090 V2
* 1998 - ]
* 1998 - ]
* 1999 - ]
* 2001 - XL7/MP7 Command Stations
* 2003 - PCI Digital Audio Systems * 2003 - PCI Digital Audio Systems
* 2004 - ] * 2004 - ]
* 2005 - CardBus Digital Audio Systems * 2005 - CardBus Digital Audio Systems
* 2006 - Emulator X2 * 2006 - ]
* 2006 - ] * 2006 - Xboard 25, 49, 61
* 2006 - ] * 2006 - ]
* 2007 - ] acquires Proteus and Emulator sound library licenses * 2007 - ] licenses and remasters original Proteus and Emulator sound libraries
* 2009 - ] Digital Wireless Transmitter and Receiver System
* 2007 - ] remasters original Proteus and Emulator sound libraries
* 2009 - ], the final incarnation of E-MU's flagship software sampler

* 2010 - longboard 61, shortboard 49 wireless performance keyboards
<!-- added by Hot Pancakes -->


==See also== ==See also==
* ] (company)
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
fagget loser haha uhg...
* ]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=E-mu ProteusFX sound module|page=32|magazine=]|issue=20|date=June 1994|publisher=Future Publishing|issn=09670378|oclc=1032779031}}
*{{cite magazine|title=E-mu UltraProteus|page=27|magazine=]|issue=22|date=August 1994|publisher=Future Publishing|issn=09670378|oclc=1032779031}}
*{{cite magazine|title=E-mu Planet Phatt|page=32|magazine=]|issue=56|date=May 1997|publisher=Future Publishing|issn=09670378|oclc=1032779031}}
*{{cite magazine|title=E-mu Carnaval|page=48|magazine=]|issue=59|date=August 1997|publisher=Future Publishing|issn=09670378|oclc=1032779031}}


==External links== ==External links==
* {{Commons category|E-mu Systems}}
*
]
*
]
* at ] (2007)
]
* at NAMM Oral History Library (2007)
* (archive.org)
* (archive.org)
* (archive.org)
* (archive.org)


]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 20:44, 4 September 2024

American music technology company
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "E-mu Systems" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
E-MU Systems
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryComputer software
Computer hardware
Founded1971; 53 years ago (1971)
Defunct2002 (2002)
FateAcquired by Creative Technology in 1993 and
merged with Ensoniq, now dissolved
HeadquartersScotts Valley, California, U.S.
ProductsDSPs
ParentCreative Technology
Websitewww.emu.com
E-mu Modular System

E-mu Systems was a software synthesizer, audio interface, MIDI interface, and MIDI keyboard manufacturer. Founded in 1971 as a synthesizer maker, E-mu was a pioneer in samplers, sample-based drum machines and low-cost digital sampling music workstations.

After its acquisition in 1993, E-mu Systems was a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Technology, Ltd. In 1998, E-mu was combined with Ensoniq, another synthesizer and sampler manufacturer previously acquired by Creative Technology. E-mu was last based in Scotts Valley, California, on the outskirts of Silicon Valley.

History

E-mu Systems was founded in Santa Cruz, CA by Dave Rossum, a UCSC student and two of his friends from Caltech, Steve Gabriel and Jim Ketcham, with the goal to build their own modular synthesizers. Scott Wedge, who would ultimately become president, joined later that summer. In 1972, E-mu became a company, developing and patenting a digitally scanned polyphonic keyboard (1973), licensed for use by Oberheim Electronics in the 4-Voice and 8-Voice synthesizers and by Dave Smith in the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5. E-mu, along with Solid State Micro Technology (SSM), also developed several synthesizer module IC chips, that were used by both E-mu and many other synthesizer companies.

E-mu Audity (1979)The Emulator I (1982)E-mu Emulator II (1984)

With the financial benefit of the royalties that came from working with these other synthesizer manufacturers, E-mu designed the Audity, their first non-modular synthesizer, showing it at the 1980 AES Convention. With a price of $69,200 (over $200,000 in 2009 terms when adjusted for inflation), only one machine was ever produced. At that same convention, Wedge and Rossum saw the Fairlight CMI and the Linn LM-1. Recognizing the trend of digital samplers, they realized that E-mu had the technology to bring a lower-priced sampler to market. The Emulator debuted in 1981 at a list price of $7,900, significantly less than the $30,000 Fairlight. Following the Emulator, E-mu released the first programmable drum machine with samples built-in priced below $1,000, the E-mu Drumulator. The Drumulator's success was followed by the Emulator II and III, the SP-12 drum sampler, and the Emax series of samplers.

E-mu SP-1200
E-mu SP-12

In 1990, E-mu introduced the Proteus, a rackmount sound module, containing pre-recorded samples in ROM. At its introduction, the Proteus had a relatively large library of high-quality samples priced much lower than the competition. The success of the Proteus spurred the development of several additional versions, including the Proteus XR, an orchestral version, and a world music version. In 1987, E-mu's SP-1200 drum sampler offered an "all-in-one" box for sequencing not only drum sounds, but looping samples, and it quickly became the instrument of choice for hip hop producers.

In 1993, E-mu was acquired by Creative Technology (the Singaporean parent company of Creative Labs) and began working on PC sound card synthesis. Creative Wave Blaster II and Sound Blaster AWE32 used EMU8000 effect processor. Throughout the 1990s, E-mu made many different sound modules along the lines of the Proteus series. E-mu also made unsuccessful attempts at breaking into the digital multitrack recorder with the Darwin hard-disk recording system. In 1998, E-mu was combined with Ensoniq, another synthesizer and sampler manufacturer previously acquired by Creative Technology.

In 2001 E-mu's sound modules were repackaged in the form of a line of tabletop units, the XL7 and MP7 Command Stations, each featuring 128-voice polyphony, advanced synthesis features, and a versatile multitrack sequencer. A complementary line of keyboard synthesizers was also released using the same technology.

Subsequent products from E-mu were exclusively in software form. In 2004 E-mu released the Emulator X, a PC-based version of its hardware samplers with extended synthesis capabilities. While a PCI card is used for audio input and output, the algorithms no longer run on dedicated hardware but in software on the PC. Proteus X, a software-based sample player, was released in 2005.

Non-Creative sound cards

E-mu 1212m PCI
Digital Audio SystemE-mu 0404 USB 2.0 White

During 2003-2007, E-mu designed and published a series of high-fidelity "Digital Audio Systems" (computer sound cards), intended for professional, semi-professional and computer audio enthusiast use. They were released under the name E-MU, however bearing a "Creative Professional" label. The card names are number-coded for the number of physical inputs and outputs: 0404, 1212m, 1616, 1616m, 1820 and 1820m, where 1616 is a CardBus version and the rest for PCI, while "m" denotes extra high-quality analogue outputs and inputs. The 1820m was touted as the series' flagship product until the 1616 and 1616M were released (A PCI version of the 1616/M later followed). All of the cards had drivers for Microsoft Windows 2000 and later versions that were current at time of the respective products' release. (32- and 64-bit). Only a beta version driver was released for Windows 7. Apple Macintosh support appeared to be pending, but may have been affected by Apple's migration towards Intel.

While the core DSP chip (EMU10K2) of the cards is the same one designed by E-MU and used in Creative's Sound Blaster Audigy2 cards (and hence capable of 24-bit 192 kHz PCM sound), official press releases for the E-MU sound cards have emphasized Creative's lack of input on the design, and the in-house development of the cards and drivers — that is, they wanted to distinguish their "own" series from Creative's signature Sound Blasters. Notably, the cards and drivers entirely omit internal 'wavetable' sample-based MIDI synthesis, Creative's proprietary EAX sound routines and basically anything commonly associated with the parent company. Although the cards were rushed into market and originally came bundled with fairly raw drivers (which have subsequently received periodical major improvements and even additions beyond the advertised specifications), they have generally met with rather favourable reviews.

Timeline of major products

1979 - Audity
1982 - Emulator
1984 - Emulator II
1985 - SP-12
1987 - SP-1200
1987 - Emulator III
1988 - Emax SE
1990 - Proteus 1 (Pop/Rock)
1993 - Emulator IIIXP
1994 - ProteusFX
1997 - Planet Phatt (Hip-Hop)
1996 - Orbit (Techno/Electronica)
1996 - Launch-Pad controller
            for Orbit
1998 - E-mu Proteus 2000
1999 - E4XT Ultra

2000 - Xtreme Lead-1
            (Techno/Electronica)
2000 - Mo'Phatt (Hip-Hop) 
2002 - Turbo Phatt (Hip-Hop)
2001 - E-mu PK-6 (Pop/Rock)

See also

References

  1. ^ About E-MU, Creative.com
  2. ^ Rob Keeble, "30 Years of EMU" Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Sound On Sound, Sep 2002
  3. "E-mu Company History". Creative. Creative Technologies. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  4. Julian Colbeck, Keyfax Omnibus Edition, MixBooks (1996), p. 25
  5. Mark Jenkins, Analog Synthesizers, Focal Press (2007), p. 125
  6. Mark Vail, Vintage Synthesizers, Miller Freeman (1993), p. 198
  7. Mark Vail, Vintage Synthesizers, Miller Freeman (1993), p. 24
  8. Julian Colbeck, Keyfax Omnibus Edition, MixBooks (1996), p. 32
  9. "Quality Control". Music Technology. No. 85. November 1993. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 24835173.

Further reading

External links

Categories: