E-mu - Definition and Overview

E-mu Systems was a synthesizer maker and pioneer in the manufacture of low-cost digital sampling music workstations.

History

Founded in the early 1970s by Scott Wedge and Dave Rossum, E-mu began making modular synthesizers. During this time they also created the digital scanning keyboard (1973) and with Solid State Microtechnologies developed several synthesizer module IC chips, that were used by both E-mu and many other synthesizer companies. In 1979 E-mu released the Audity, their first non-modular synthesizer. With a price of $70,000 only one machine was ever produced. In this same year, Wedge and Rossum saw the Fairlight CMI at a convention and set about making a less expensive sampler. The Emulator debuted in 1981 at a list price of $7,900, less than the $30,000 Fairlight.

Following the Emulator II and III, the company also began producing a line of rackmount modules called the E-mu Proteus, 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. In 1993 E-mu was acquired by Creative Labs and began working on PC soundcard synthesis. Throughout the 1990s E-mu made many different rackmount keyboard-less synthesizers. In 1998, E-mu was combined with Ensoniq, another Creative Labs acquisition.

Timeline of major products

• 1979 - Audity
• 1981 - Emulator
• 1983 - Drumulator
• 1984 - Emulator II
• 1986 - Emax
• 1987 - Emulator III
• 1989 - Proteus 1

See also

• Sampler
• Music sequencer

External links

• E-MU Systems (http://www.emu.com/)