Emulator III digital sampler keyboard
Items 029 :
Emulator III digital sampler keyboard
Set of 75 x 3.5-inch floppy discs containing factory samples
Serial number : (Hard drive model ST – 251N) 00685414
Condition : Cosmetically excellent, in need of repair and service
Includes : Power supply cable, hard drive (separated)
Manufactured by Emu systems Inc, USA
| General information : |
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The Emulator III was introduced after the discontinuation of the Emulator II in 1987, and was manufactured until 1990. A rack-mountable version was introduced in 1988.
It featured 4 or 8 Megabytes of memory, depending on the model, and it could store samples in 16-bit, 44 kHz stereo, which at the time, was equivalent to the most advanced, professional equipment available. The sound quality was also improved greatly over its predecessors, with quieter outputs and more reliable filter chips.
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| Technical spec : |
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It features a standard 3.25” floppy disk drive, a 16-channel sequencer, a fast processor, an internal 40 Mb hard disk, 16-voice polyphony and a SCSI interface to allow the connection of an external hard disk or CD-ROM player. The filters are still analogue filters, hence the sampler’s ‘warm’ sound. The keyboard has aftertouch too.
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| Alan's comments : |
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“What can one say about the Emulator range? Used so much on DM recordings and on stage between 1983 and 1994, they were probably the most versatile of samplers from the 1980s. From the very first Emulator 1, I have used them all and been captivated by sampling technology ever since. I remember when we first inserted the huge floppy disc into the Emu 1 and listened to the ‘Motorbike Idling’ sound (which later became the mainstay rhythm behind the song ‘Stripped’), I was hooked. All over ‘Construction Time Again’ you can hear the Emulator with it’s grainy 8bit samples (later improved on other models of course). Think of the intro to ‘Everything Counts’ for example, and then most of the other sounds within the song as well, such as the main riff. Of course, I couldn’t list all the songs the Emulators have been used on suffice it to say that, compared to the vastly complicated Synclavier (which did sound amazing), the Emulator was almost always the sampler of choice. We continued to use them extensively on ‘Some Great Reward’, ‘Black Celebration’, ‘Music For the Masses’,‘Violator’ and ‘SOFAD’. As each model appeared, we acquired one (or several) right up to the E111 and the Emax for live use. They could prove troublesome on stage, the Emax being by far the only fairly reliable model for that purpose. My machines are all cosmetically in excellent condition but some, like this, need parts and repair. What they do have is HISTORY. The Emulator 11 is the sampler on which the very first Recoil recording ‘1+2’ was entirely composed. I even used it’s internal sequencer for that EP. The Emax was featured in the D.A Pennebaker film ‘101‘ for the sequence where I describe how it works. The one for sale is the actual machine used on the ‘Devotional’ tour. It still has the live sounds internally programmed and a laminated set list attached to it.”
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Details :
Included with this item are approximately 75 floppy discs, each containing library samples. These are comprehensive and will function in any working Emulator 111.
