E-Mu

Also known as: EMU, E-mu Systems, Emu Systems

Founded 1971 Closed 2002

E-mu Systems was founded in 1971 in Santa Cruz, California by Dave Rossum, Steve Gabriel, Jim Ketcham, and Scott Wedge, initially with the goal of building custom modular synthesizers. Through the 1970s the company produced highly regarded modular systems for universities and studios, and derived significant income from patent licensing — most notably a keyboard scanning patent licensed to Sequ...

105 Products · Used by 488 Artists

E-mu SP-1200 Production & Groove

$1,194.15

1 available store

5.0 (33)

^# 20

in Production & Groove Rank

116 artists using

E-Mu Proteus 1 Sound Modules

$75.00

1 available store

4.0 (12)

^# 17

in Sound Modules Rank

33 artists using

E-Mu Proteus 2000 Sound Modules

$49.99

1 available store

4.5 (26)

^# 19

in Sound Modules Rank

21 artists using

E-mu Morpheus Sound Modules

$626.93

1 available store

4.5 (12)

^# 27

in Sound Modules Rank

20 artists using

E-mu Vintage Keys Sound Modules

$41.20

1 available store

4.0 (11)

^# 29

in Sound Modules Rank

31 artists using

E-mu SP-12 Production & Groove

$3,000.00

1 available store

5.0 (6)

^# 49

in Production & Groove Rank

34 artists using

E-mu Emax Synthesizers

$1,432.98

1 available store

4.5 (17)

36 artists using

E-Mu Emulator II Synthesizers

$5,495.00

1 available store

4.5 (17)

87 artists using

E-mu Drumulator Drum Machines

$1,140.48

1 available store

4.5 (2)

^# 56

in Drum Machines Rank

23 artists using

E-Mu Emulator III Synthesizers

$5,400.00

1 available store

5.0 (11)

18 artists using

E-mu Pro/Cussion Controllers

$226.89

1 available store

4.0 (7)

^# 4

in Controllers Rank

16 artists using

E-Mu Emax II Turbo Keyboard Synthesizers

$800.00

1 available store

4.5 (14)

9 artists using

E-Mu Planet Phatt Sound Modules

$399.00

1 available store

4.5 (6)

^# 49

in Sound Modules Rank

15 artists using

E-mu Mo'Phatt Sound Modules

$556.31

1 available store

4.0 (8)

^# 50

in Sound Modules Rank

6 artists using

E-MU ESi-32 Audio Samplers

$143.30

1 available store

4.0 (22)

^# 45

in Audio Samplers Rank

7 artists using

E-Mu E5000 Ultra Audio Samplers

$537.37

1 available store

4.5 (11)

^# 46

in Audio Samplers Rank

7 artists using

E-Mu UltraProteus Sound Modules

$1,671.81

1 available store

4.5 (5)

^# 56

in Sound Modules Rank

11 artists using

E-Mu Emulator 2 Synthesizers

$14.99 - $5,495.00

2 available stores

4.5 (2)

5 artists using

E-mu E6400 Ultra Audio Samplers

$750.00

1 available store

4.5 (9)

^# 47

in Audio Samplers Rank

7 artists using

E-mu MP-7 Command Station Production & Groove

$520.00

1 available store

4.0 (7)

^# 72

in Production & Groove Rank

2 artists using

E-Mu PROTEUS FX Synthesizers

$716.49

1 available store

4.0 (3)

5 artists using

E-Mu Emax II 16-bit Digital Sound System Sampler Keyboard Workstation Synthesizers

$800.00

1 available store

4.0 (1)

10 artists using

E-mu XL-7 Command Station Production & Groove

$600.00

1 available store

5.0 (5)

^# 85

in Production & Groove Rank

2 artists using

E-MU 6400 Ultra Audio Samplers

$750.00

1 available store

4.5 (3)

^# 56

in Audio Samplers Rank

2 artists using

E-mu Proteus 2500 Sound Modules

$766.84

1 available store

4.5 (2)

^# 83

in Sound Modules Rank

Emu Proteus FX Digital Expander Module Modular Synthesizers

$716.49

1 available store

3.0 (1)

E-MU Systems SP-1200 8-Voice Drum Sampler Audio Samplers

$1,194.15

1 available store

^# 71

in Audio Samplers Rank

E-MU Carnaval Synthesizers

$0.89 - $556.31

2 available stores

2.0 (1)

4 artists using

E-Mu Emulator I Synthesizers

$5,731.93

1 available store

5.0 (4)

39 artists using

E-mu PX-7 Command Station Production & Groove

$900.00

1 available store

3.0 (1)

E-MU Systems Drumulator 8-Voice Drum Sampler Drum Machines

$1,140.48

1 available store

E-mu Orbit 9090 Synthesizers

$416.88

1 available store

4.5 (24)

11 artists using

E-Mu E4XT Ultra Audio Samplers

4.5 (15)

^# 75

in Audio Samplers Rank

15 artists using

E-MU Systems Orbit 9090 V2 'The Dance Planet' Rackmount 32-Voice Synthesizer Synthesizers

1 artist using

E-MU Systems B-3 Rackmount 64-Voice Tone Wheel Organ Sound Modules

$390.00

1 available store

^# 99

in Sound Modules Rank

2 artists using

E-MU Systems Mo'Phatt Rackmount 64-Voice Expandable Synthesizer Synthesizers

$556.31

1 available store

E-Mu Proteus 2 Orchestral module Sound Modules

$199.00

1 available store

4.0 (5)

25 artists using

E-MU Systems Proteus 2500 Rackmount 128-Voice Sampler Module Sound Modules

$766.84

1 available store

E-mu Xtreme Lead-1 Sound Modules

$399.00

1 available store

4.5 (12)

8 artists using

E-MU Systems SP-12 8-Voice Drum Sampler Drum Machines

$3,000.00

1 available store

E-MU Systems Emulator III 61-Key 16-Voice Sampler Workstation Synthesizers

$5,400.00

1 available store

E-Mu 6400 Audio Samplers

$250.00

1 available store

4.5 (4)

^# 84

in Audio Samplers Rank

9 artists using

E-MU Systems Planet Phatt Rackmount 32-Voice Synthesizer Synthesizers

$399.00

1 available store

E-mu Emax Rack SE Synthesizers

5.0 (11)

3 artists using

E-mu Planet Earth Synthesizers

$1,432.98

1 available store

4.5 (8)

5 artists using

E-Mu E64 Audio Samplers

$478.21

1 available store

4.5 (5)

^# 89

in Audio Samplers Rank

6 artists using

E-MU Virtuoso 2000 Sound Modules

$349.00

1 available store

5.0 (3)

6 artists using

E-Mu Xboard 61 USB MIDI Controller MIDI Keyboard Controllers

4.5 (8)

4 artists using

The company's trajectory shifted dramatically in 1981 with the introduction of the Emulator, one of the first commercially available samplers, priced at $7,900 compared to the $30,000 Fairlight CMI it competed against. E-mu followed with the Drumulator (1983), a sub-$1,000 sample-based drum machine, and the SP-12 and SP-1200 drum samplers (1985 and 1987 respectively). The SP-1200 became a defining instrument of the golden age of hip-hop, favored by producers including Marley Marl, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Public Enemy's Bomb Squad, and Dr. Dre for its distinctive gritty, warm sound. The Emax sampler series extended E-mu's reach into professional studio use.

In 1989–1990, E-mu introduced the Proteus, a rackmount ROM-based sound module that offered a large library of high-quality samples at an accessible price, spawning numerous variants including orchestral and world music editions. The company was acquired by Creative Technology (parent of Creative Labs) in 1993 and later merged with Ensoniq in 1998. Hardware instrument production was discontinued in 2002, though E-mu subsequently released software products including the Emulator X and Proteus X software samplers, and a line of professional audio interfaces and sound cards.

E-Mu has 105 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Synthesizers, Sound Modules, and Audio Samplers. Their gear is featured by 488 artists, with the strongest followings in Electronic, Rock, and Pop. Notable users include Martin O’Donnell, Kenji Kawai, and Josh Mancell. E-Mu's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.