Emulator I: The Legendary E-mu Sound Revived
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the classic 80s with the Emulator I plugin from Digital Systemic Emulations. This rompler reproduces the authentic, warm sound of the legendary E-mu Emulator I sampler, an instrument that left a significant mark on music history. Now, its unique character is available in your digital studio, ready to inspire you to create new music with a vintage charm.
The original E-mu Emulator I was one of the first widely available polyphonic digital samplers, shaping the sound of many hits of its era. Its characteristic timbre, warm and somewhat lo-fi, remains highly sought after. The Emulator I plugin was created with the goal of most accurately recreating this sound, using high-quality recordings from the real equipment.
Sound Collection from 58 Original Floppy Disks
At the heart of Emulator I is a massive sound library based on 58 original floppy disks from the E-mu Emulator I. This collection encompasses a variety of instruments and timbres that have become classics:
- Classic keyboard and synthesizer sounds.
- Strings, brass, and other orchestral instruments with a unique sampler character.
- Experimental sounds and textures.
- A complete drum set.
All samples were meticulously recorded from the real Emulator I, and then manually re-cut and looped to ensure the most authentic behavior and smoothness.
Key Features and Controls
The plugin provides an intuitive interface for controlling the main sound parameters:
Main Parameters:
- ADSR Envelope: Full control over Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release.
- Filter: Cutoff and Emphasis parameters, complemented by their own ADR envelope. Allows shaping the timbre, reproducing classic filtered effects.
- LFO: One sinusoidal LFO that can affect the pitch (Tune) and filter frequency (Filter) to create modulation effects.
Additional Functions:
- Chorus: Built-in chorus effect for adding width and richness.
- Mono/Poly Modes: Switching between monophonic and polyphonic playback.
- Master Tune: Precise adjustment of the overall pitch.
Compatibility and Important Information
The Emulator I plugin is compatible with most DAWs thanks to its support for VST and AU formats on Windows (Win64) and macOS (OSX) platforms.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR WINDOWS: For correct operation, you may need to install the Visual C++ redistributable components for Visual Studio 2015 (VC runtimes c++ 2015). They can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website. If the plugin does not start, try installing these components.
Conclusion
Emulator I from Digital Systemic Emulations is a great tool for those seeking the authentic sound of a classic digital sampler. It’s ideal for creating music in genres where vintage timbre and the character of the 80s are valued. Add the legendary E-mu sound to your tracks!
