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Average Price: $5,495

High-end/Boutique

$500

$1501+

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Description

Released commercially in 1984 to huge acclaim, the Emulator II (or EII) was E-mu's second sampler. Like the original Emulator, it was an 8-bit sampler, however it had superior fidelity to the Emulator due to the use of digital companding and a 27.7 kHz sample rate. It also allowed more flexibility in editing and shaping sounds, as resonant analog filters were added. The EII also had vastly better real time control. It was priced similarly to the original Emulator, at US$7,995 for a regular model, and $9,995 for a 'plus' model featuring extra sample memory. Several upgrades, including a second floppy drive, a 20 MB hard drive, and a 512K memory upgrade were also available. Despite its price tag it was still considered very good value compared to the Fairlight CMI Series II, which, when first released, was priced at $30,000.

Product specs

Brand E-MU Systems
Model Emulator II 61-Key 8-Voice Sampler Workstation
Finish Black
Year 1984 - 1988
Made In United States
Categories Samplers, Workstation Keyboards
Analog / Digital Digital
Key Size Full Size
Keyboard Action Synth Action
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output
Number of Keys 61 Keys
Polyphony 8 Voices

FAQs

Is the E-Mu Emulator II polyphonic, and how many voices does it support?

The E-Mu Emulator II is polyphonic and supports up to 8 voices, allowing you to play multiple notes simultaneously for richer, more complex sounds.

What type of sampling capabilities does the E-Mu Emulator II offer?

The E-Mu Emulator II is an 8-bit sampler workstation that allows you to sample and manipulate sounds, providing flexibility for creative sound design.

Does the E-Mu Emulator II have MIDI connectivity?

Yes, the E-Mu Emulator II features both MIDI input and output, enabling it to connect with other MIDI-compatible devices for expanded performance and recording options.

What is the keyboard action like on the E-Mu Emulator II?

The E-Mu Emulator II features a synth action keyboard, offering a responsive and smooth playing experience suitable for various styles and techniques.

Can the E-Mu Emulator II be used for live performances?

Yes, the E-Mu Emulator II is designed for both studio and live performance settings, with its robust sampling capabilities and MIDI connectivity making it versatile for different musical applications.

Alex Ball

Alex Ball

FERRIS BUELLER'S SYNTHESIZER

Video thumbnail for FERRIS BUELLER'S SYNTHESIZER by Alex Ball

FERRIS BUELLER'S SYNTHESIZER

Alex Ball

Alex Ball

Video thumbnail for EMU Emulator II - Shining Moments 80's (Pt. 1) by Jason Mysteria

EMU Emulator II - Shining Moments 80's (Pt. 1)

Jason Mysteria

Jason Mysteria

Video thumbnail for E-mu Emulator II sound demos by SynthMania

E-mu Emulator II sound demos

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for More great E-mu Emulator II sounds by SynthMania

More great E-mu Emulator II sounds

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for E-Mu Emulator II Classic Sounds Demo (Part 1) by Perfect Circuit

E-Mu Emulator II Classic Sounds Demo (Part 1)

Perfect Circuit

Perfect Circuit

Video thumbnail for Emu Emulator II - Shining Moments 80's (Pt. 2) by Jason Mysteria

Emu Emulator II - Shining Moments 80's (Pt. 2)

Jason Mysteria

Jason Mysteria

Video thumbnail for E-mu Emulator II - a few cool sounds by SynthMania

E-mu Emulator II - a few cool sounds

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for The Sound of Depeche Mode - E-MU Emulator II by RetroSound

The Sound of Depeche Mode - E-MU Emulator II

RetroSound

RetroSound

Video thumbnail for EMU Emulator II - Shining Moments 80's (Pt. 3) by Jason Mysteria

EMU Emulator II - Shining Moments 80's (Pt. 3)

Jason Mysteria

Jason Mysteria

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about E-Mu Emulator II.

Comparisons

  • The Emulator 6400 Ultra offers classic EII and EIII sounds with more memory, polyphony, and support for modern hard drives.

    Source
  • The Emulator III offers more memory and features but lacks the distinctive sound texture of the Emulator II.

    Source
  • The MicroGranny sampler and Isla S2400 are potential hardware alternatives for the 8-bit sampling approach, though they may not fully replicate the Emulator II.

    Source
  • The Mirage and AKAI samplers can sample in 8-bit but lack the distinct "thing" of the Emulator II.

    Source
  • Several users prefer modern samplers like the Waldorf Quantum MK2 and Nord Wave 2 for better technology and ease of use.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • Despite its iconic status, modern software like Arturia Emulator V struggles to replicate the Emulator II's unique sound characteristics accurately.

    Source
  • The Arturia Emulator II VST lacks some original disc sounds but attempts to replicate the original's iconic tones.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners note that the Emulator II's sound is favored by dark industrial bands for its gritty texture.

    Source
  • The Emulator II weighs 55lbs/25kg, making it cumbersome to transport and setup.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Emulator II's 12-bit playback of 8-bit samples adds grain and texture, particularly noticeable in lower-pitched samples.

    Source
  • The Amigo Sampler plugin automatically downsamples to 8-bit and 22kHz, offering a digital approximation of the Emulator II's sound.

    Source
  • The Emulator II utilized 8-bit companding sampling with SSM analog filters, crucial for its unique sound quality.

    Source
  • The Emulator II has slow load times and relies on a library of floppy disks.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • For Depeche Mode-inspired projects, layer DM notes in a transparent sampler or use an 8-bit AKAI or Mirage for more affordable options.

    Source
  • Ideal for those seeking exact 80s sound profiles, though not practical for modern music production due to technological limitations.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Collectors may find value due to its iconic status and sounds reminiscent of 80s bands like OMD and Depeche Mode.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Owners report frequent backlight burnout on the screen, necessitating a flashlight for visibility.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Emu Systems Emulator II

soundonsound.com

The E-Mu Emulator II is hailed as a revolutionary leap in sampling technology, bringing features like velocity-sensitive keyboards and real-time sample control that set the standard for modern samplers. Its integration of filters, envelopes, and MIDI marked a significant evolution from previous models, allowing for more expressive musical performances. The inclusion of onboard hard drives and CD-ROM libraries further cemented its legacy. However, while its sequencer was limited and syncing to tape was cumbersome, the Emulator II's groundbreaking innovations far outweighed these shortcomings, making it a pivotal piece of music technology history.

positive

Emulator II (EMM Nov 84)

muzines.co.uk

The E-Mu Emulator II impresses with its superior sound quality, sample manipulation prowess, and performance features. The addition of dynamic keyboard control and comprehensive sound shaping tools make it a standout in the sampling keyboard market. However, the disk-based loading time is a notable inconvenience for live performers, and the keyboard quality is underwhelming considering the high price tag. Despite these drawbacks, its flexibility and sound fidelity make it a revolutionary tool for both studio and stage, appealing to performers and experimenters alike.

positive

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 17 Ratings

5 star
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cfeijao

Sampler

The legend of the samplers! Digital but with analog circuits, it processes the sampled sounds in a different way.

This review has been translated automatically into English. See original

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Enya uses E-Mu Emulator II

Enya

Singer, Keyboardist

Clannad

...
Verified via 45worlds

The instrument is credited in the cover album Enya - The Celts (1986 and remastered 1992).

Enya : Vocals, Pianos, Juno 60, DX7, Emulator II and Kurtzweil.

See how Colin Newman uses E-Mu Emulator II

Colin Newman

Singer, Guitarist

Wire

...
Verified via Muzines

"Combinations of the same sound also work very well - six synthesisers all playing the same thing can sound great. If you track a part you can never match the two parts perfectly. Something I did a while ago used an Emulator II cello preset which I tracked about five times, and it acquired a totally different character to the original patch. If you track a sequencer and alter the varispeed, the timecode will keep it in sync but the pitch will vary. You can do that as many times as you want and get massive sounds."

See how Jerry Harrison uses E-Mu Emulator II

Jerry Harrison

Singer, Guitarist

Talking Heads

...
Verified via Muzines

The sampler Harrison has chosen to stay with is the Emulator II with the Optical Media CD-ROM and CRM3 remote. (He also finds the Emulator's on-board sequencer incredibly easy to use, even though he does use Performer software on the Macintosh.) But he's not so struck on it that he isn't considering upgrading to the Mark III.

See how Lol Tolhurst uses E-Mu Emulator II

Lol Tolhurst

Drummer, Keyboardist

The Cure

...
Verified via Musicfanclubs

"Where we used keyboards as sampling devices, we'd sample a bit of guitar, say, and turn it 'round the other way, or sample a bit of noise and do something with it on the [E-mu] Emulator II, then just play it in a rhythmic fashion in the song."

See how Jon Carin uses E-Mu Emulator II

Jon Carin

Keyboardist, Composer

Pink Floyd

...
Verified via Facebook

According to this Facebook post by him, he used it during Live Aid

See how Midge Ure uses E-Mu Emulator II

Midge Ure

Singer, Guitarist

Ultravox

...
Verified via YouTube

Midge Ure plays an E-mu Emulator II during Ultravox's performance of "Vienna" at Live Aid (beginning at 2:50).

See how Isao Tomita uses E-Mu Emulator II

Isao Tomita

Keyboardist, Music Producer

...
Verified via AMAZONA.de

Interview German Synth Mag Amazona.de: Neben dem Moog Modular System, das nahezu vollständig Snowflakes are Dancing dominierte und später durch das 55er ergänzt wurde, besaß er zu jener Zeit einiges von Roland, etwa die Systeme 700 und 100, Jupiter-4, VP-330 und Strings RS-202. Weitere Instrumente: Fender Rhodes, Hohner Clavinet, Korg MS50, Korg Vocoder VC-10, Mellotron M-400, Moog Polymoog, Yamaha CS-80, Yamaha String Ensemble SS-30. Ab den frühen 80ern landete bei ihm dann auch digitales Equipment, darunter das Synclavier, E-mu Systems Emulator, Fairlight CMI III und auf manchen Fotos ist auch der legendäre Yamaha VP1 zu sehen.

See how Paul Humphreys uses E-Mu Emulator II

Paul Humphreys

Keyboardist

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

...
Verified via YouTube

in the 4:55 time you see that Paul Humphreys uses the E - Mu EMULATOR II

See how The Residents uses E-Mu Emulator II

The Residents

Guitarist, Keyboardist

...
Verified via YouTube

Here it is used by the band during the 13th Anniversary Show tour Oslo on October 5th, 1986. It can be seen starting 0:20 and more prominently 2:15.

See how Neil Tennant uses E-Mu Emulator II

Neil Tennant

Singer

Pet Shop Boys

...
Verified via YouTube

At 0:40, Neil is playing an Emulator II.

See how Tom Lord-Alge uses E-Mu Emulator II

Tom Lord-Alge

Music Producer

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Tom Lord-Alge utilizes the E-Mu Emulator II, as noted in the gear list featured in Sound on Sound.

See how Michael MacNeil uses E-Mu Emulator II

Michael MacNeil

Keyboardist, Composer

Simple Minds

...
Verified via Muzines

On stage, Mick uses an old Yamaha CP70 piano, converted to MIDI, as his master keyboard. Behind him is a Kurzweil with the Macintosh on top (the computer saves Mick's Kurzweil sounds — amazing, he says, that an £18,000 keyboard won't save your programs when you turn it off). Then there's an Emulator II, an Oberheim OB8, and a Roland JP8 which he uses MIDI'd together off the CP70 as his main 'block' of sound: the JP8 and OB8 panned around, and the Emulator padding out things with cellos and voices. He also uses the Emulator for one sequence in the current set, a cello intro on the re-arranged 'Book Of Brilliant Things'. On top of the CP70 at front is the inevitable Yamaha DX7. Not that Mick counts himself as a big FM expert — he uses the presets, like most users, and was put off any further exploration by early and complete confusion at FM's seeming illogicality.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use E-Mu Emulator II, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

Show yours
mirko_bostic

mirko_bostic

Gear IQ 94

mirko_bostic

mirko_bostic

Gear IQ 94

lunatic_77

lunatic_77

Gear IQ 60

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