Emulator IV, EMU 4XT Ultra, EMU 6400 Ultra, EMU Esi-2000 or

E IV / E 64 are slower ( in processing ) than the later ones but have better converters in my opinion ( the best 16 bit ones but i didn't try the E IIII though )

I've had an ESI-4000 Turbo for the last 5-6 years and just picked up an E6400 Ultra the last week. I dunno if I'll get rid of the ESI, might be nice to keep around for the hell of it...but I'm definitely hooked on the Ultra! Sooo much faster processing and the resampling alone puts it miles above the ESI and 2000XL. The Ultra seems much more intuitive and better lain out than the ESI. Honestly, my overall opinion of the ESI series is don't bother unless super cheap (I got mine $150, maxed out). I hate loading ZipDiscs on it, processing time may be annoying. The speed and navigation of the Ultras is so much better. I was fortunate to find one with maxed RAM, latest OS, 100 gig internal HD, upgraded backlight for $350. Everything saves and loads so easy. I have an SP-505 I had picked up for resampling properties, but obviously the Ultra's filters and modulation capabilities blow that little thing out of the water! Resampling's as easy as hitting a button and you get those sweet, sweet morphing z-plane filters. Sampled a couple wicked sounds off my Monotrons into it, looped 'em, patch 'em up in the 'Cords' section and let loose the modulations to yield some wall-shaking d&b reese basslines and lovely neurofunk squelches. Ran a couple dirtied up samples from the SP-202 into it as well for play back. All in all though, I'd say I'm mostly going to be using the E6400 more for it's synthesis capabilities and sound design; I've got enough samplers to do the other types of work and according to what I read on the dogsonacid forums, people have said E-mus aren't necessarily the tightest when it comes to MIDI, so that it excludes me from wanting to use it heavily for drum stuff. I would definitely recommend any of the Ultras running on the EOS platform.

The prices for any of the Ultra series are retarded right now. I'm beginning to think that there are a few squares out there that are colluding on "buy it now" on eBay to make the prices as high as they are.

The Jackal wrote: I've got enough samplers to do the other types of work and according to what I read on the dogsonacid forums, people have said E-mus aren't necessarily the tightest when it comes to MIDI, so that it excludes me from wanting to use it heavily for drum stuff. I would definitely recommend any of the Ultras running on the EOS platform.

Congrats to that sampler! For the MIDI perfomance: I once had an E64 and never run into timing issues but i can imagine that D'n'B producers with all that MIDI events for drums and CC for filter and other modulations on 170 Bpm and up make higher demands on a sampler.

peace

richie wrote:The prices for any of the Ultra series are retarded right now. I'm beginning to think that there are a few squares out there that are colluding on "buy it now" on eBay to make the prices as high as they are.

prices nuts on these, especially if you have the expansions. Seen ones with the rfx32 sell for couple grand. honestly though e4 ultras probably the most powerful hardware samplers ever followed by variphrase. I got the e4xt ultra w/ the rfx and all that and always contemplated selling but dont think i ever will.

with the models nothing wrong with the 5000, but try to at least cop the 6400 which you could make look like this joint if you lucky


cant do that with the 5000 iirc because of some limitations. but if you have the opportunity for the e4xt, buy that. then theres the platinum. cash you have to drop on that could probably get you a luxury sedan with decent mileage though.

this page got most of the necessary information: http://www.synthony.com/vintage/emuultracomp.html