Love the sound of this era, the sampled sound of virtual analogs from mid to late 90's just before vst calls back to a time that was unique and often not recollected.
Love this demo. P2K modules are so underrated. These are 64-128 voice virtual synths, not just ROMplers. The problem being it's all buried in a 1U module with few knobs to make it edit friendly. Very powerful modular-like matrix modulation. Plagued by a faulty main rotary encoder (fortunately fixable). Still very relevent since most synths after that era are just repackaged technology with new buzzwords. Finally knobs have made a comeback. Lot of older synths never exploited to their potential since folks seem to want the shiny new instant gratification of "push one button and it plays itself". Thanks for sharing your passion with us. R
E-mu stuff used to be really cheap. You could buy command stations for 200 bucks. Roms for $90. These sound modules could be picked up for $50-$120 any day of the week. Fast forward 15 yrs and boy how things have changed. I guess they are more popular now than they were when you could buy the stuff brand new
Most digital modules became software, and analog modules tended to become Eurorack modules. Outside of third-party rack solutions, seems most modules ignore the 19" rack. For sure, the old 2U Roland format is mostly dead. I'm out of keyboard / desk space here. Would definitely like to see more 19" modules :)
@@tsevetgestoorde Yes. Most folks know this. Doesn't stop if from happening, though. Although I do prefer VSTs for effects, usually, because I can have a number of instances of them going.
These things where hidden powerhouses, if you look at the architecture of this, it was a complete beast. But the plastic front buttons and lcd screen front panels of the era just didnt inspire the tweaking sound sculpting madness they where absolutely capable of. It was a *full blown modular* synth. But ultimately, who has the time to try and patch something with a tiny front panel. Alas.
the E-MU co-founder Dave Rossum, started a company called Rossum electro-music, they are selling euro rack modules, such as the morpheus filter. www.rossum-electro.com/products/morpheus/
EMU's stuff always sounds so great! I always wanted the Vintage Keys module. Although my friend had a Kurzweil K2500 with some great disks that rivaled that analog sound.
At the time I explore my Audity 2000 intensely, and it's worth the tries- "deep edit" brings the magic of Audity sound to the ear ;) . Unfortunately, like in many modules of that time, the lack of INC/DEC buttons can be frustrating when all value changes has to be made with the faulty data wheels. The Ultra-line has that INC/DEC. Now I'm searching for a solution for the Audity/Proteus line. THAT module is worth a good care for it- its sound is capable for unheard E-MU sound :)
Only one E-mu Audity has ever been built, which had been exhibited at the May 1980 A.E.S. (Audio Engineering Society) convention. This unit was first manufactured in 1978 and it was intended to compete with Sequential Circuits' Prophet-5 which also came out that year. If it had been mass-produced it would have sold for $70,000 (in 1980 U.S. dollars), but Sequential Circuits told E-mu it would stop funding for further production of the Audity, thus sealing its ultimate fate. Despite the Audity not being put into mass production, it did inspire E-mu to develop its more successful Emulator sampling keyboard, the first of which came out in January 1981.
I remember the days of the late 90’s-early 2000’s: my K2500s, Yamaha An1x (should NEVER have sold that...great sound, dual timbral midi, fantastic key feel, great midi controller to boot), Emu Proteus 2000, Alesis Quadraverb...and the Seil Expander-80 for shits and giggles The Proteus 2000 was feature laden. 32 midi channel, multiple outs, great effects bus routing, crisp sounds that sat just right in the mix. This crappy thing about it was the two line screen...good luck programming it...painful. Happy Thanksgiving SynthMania
I remember having some poor sound libraries on PC about these modules but I don't remember it to sound so good (aside the fact this is actual hardware), and 2000 patches. A whole world of possibilities with only one module.
Man, I miss my E-mu modules. I had the entire Proteus range and the Orbit. I wish E-mu would release these in a software plugin version, like all the other big brands are doing these days. Yeah, yeah, I know nothing beats the actual hardware, but my budget and space won't allow for all the actual synths in my room.
I discovered that Mixcraft's Acoustica instruments VST used a few of Emu's samples and quite a few Alesis samples. DSK Music used some Emu Proteus 2 samples in the Virtuoso and Overture VSTs plus Synthway used some Emu Proteus 1/2 samples in their various VST instruments but Synthway VST instruments are not free ( I recently bought Drumwave because it includes the Proteus 1 marimba ).
What made these modules value was the famous emu filter. I had an emu orbit v2 and still have an emu sampler (esi32). I'm wondering if I'm not gonna collect some of these modules which are very cheap nowadays.
I'm jealous that you somehow managed to get one of those... I've been trying to find one for months and no dice. I ended up pulling the trigger today on an Xtreme Lead keyboard (XK-6) and Composer ROM to go with it (P2K sounds) but still, the Orbit eludes me x_x
Hi Paulo great video once again. i have a sincere question. I would like all of Jan hammers sounds he used. Mostly his Miami vice era. How is that possible? If its possible. I know he used different maschines, especially the Fairlight, but is it possible to get all of them collected. Thanks
Hammer used a Minimoog extensively. I think the signature sound you're looking for might be in this article: www.keyboardmag.com/lessons/get-jan-hammers-synth-lead-sound
SynthMania ooh im sorry i didnt express myself clear enough. Im using Reason studios in my production, so i was looking for plugin instances or sample librarys.
Hi Paolo this is a nice module i have the chance to trade my Yamaha TX81Z for a Emu XL-1 original so no expansions etc, i am in need of some dance sounds and i also have the Yamaha DX 7 so i see the TX as an overlap but on the other side TX is a pure synth, multitibral and has more waveforms than the DX line of synth, however i may consider the trade cause in these old emu boxes there are some really nice record - ready sounds. Audity comes from the prototype i guess that never made it to a mass production.
Peter, thank you - I'm fond of obscure / less talked about gear rather than the newest machines - so I tend to show the interesting bits from yesteryear
@@SynthManiaDotCom Wow, crazy timing. I just picked up an Audity 2000 about a week ago, it sounds great. I have a soft spot for these funky romplers. Great video as always!
I love these old EMU racks. What's the name of the patch at 4:56 - I love this patch. Would it be too much to ask if you could sample it? Would love to use it in a song.
"Toxic Vox" is the name of it, was able to just barely make it out on the screen! This synth has a lot of really great sounds on it, just like the other E-MU racks. I already have most of the Audity waveforms because of my XK6 but I'm tempted to get the Audity just for the patches... the Xtreme-Lead/XK6 has a few of them but not all
It's funny, I've been debating on forums that i just don't think any software VA synths sound like real analog to me and I've been getting so much rediculous flak for that. This thing sounds so much more analog to me than Diva or any of em. It's just good samples through good filters. It's still not confuseable for one because of the behavior but the tone is alot more there. I have an E4xt ultra, It's pretty much just like all the other proteus 2k series except some different arpeggiators and it's sample set right?
It’s the converters that make hardware synths sound better than software. I have lots of synths and I love the way they sound. I also have a few software synths like Omnisphere and Diva. While they give me lots of options, nothing sound better than turning on a real piece of gear. Software sounds very flat to me.
Now folks this vid is so short of what this instrument is sure the factory sounds are general midish but if your lucky to have VER.2 w/ extra card lead extreme3 then the A 2000 can do some serious layers, this guy is just a factory player a time waster no justice for what it can really do, if I don’t will someone do an in depth programming vid? Special attention to that nice arpeggiator
