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Average Price: $10

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$249

$700+

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High-end

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Description

The E-MU ESi-32 is a robust and versatile audio sampler that has become a staple in both professional and home studios. Known for its powerful E-MU synthesis engine, this sampler allows you to capture and manipulate audio with exceptional precision. The ESi-32 is designed for DJs and producers who crave flexibility and creativity in their workflow, offering a wide range of sound-shaping tools that can transform any sample into something uniquely yours.

With its intuitive interface, the ESi-32 is perfect for both beginners and seasoned professionals. It features an easy-to-read LCD screen and a well-organized control layout, making it simple to navigate through its extensive functions. The sampler supports MIDI connectivity, allowing seamless integration with other equipment, and offers multiple output options for versatile sound routing.

The E-MU ESi-32 is equipped with 32-voice polyphony and a comprehensive set of effects that can be applied to your samples, including reverb, chorus, and delay. This makes it an ideal choice for those looking to add depth and dimension to their tracks. Whether you're sampling live instruments, vocals, or other audio sources, the ESi-32 provides the tools you need to craft your sound with precision.

Key Features:

  • 32-voice polyphony for complex and layered soundscapes
  • Powerful E-MU synthesis engine for extensive sound manipulation
  • Intuitive interface with easy-to-read LCD screen
  • Comprehensive effects including reverb, chorus, and delay
  • MIDI connectivity for seamless integration with other gear
  • Multiple output options for flexible audio routing

Product specs

Brand E-MU Systems
Model ESI-32 Rackmount 32-Voice Sampler Workstation
Finish Black
Year 1994
Made In United States
Categories Digital Synthesizers, Samplers
Analog / Digital Digital
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Polyphony 32 Voices

FAQs

What are the main features of the E-MU ESi-32 sampler?

The E-MU ESi-32 is a 32-voice multitimbral sampler with a programmable digital low pass filter, LFO, and dedicated AHDSR envelopes. It includes a stereo effects loop and supports MIDI input, output, and through.

Is the E-MU ESi-32 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the E-MU ESi-32 is well-suited for live performances due to its rackmount design, 32-voice polyphony, and MIDI capabilities, allowing for versatile sound manipulation and integration with other equipment.

Does the E-MU ESi-32 support external storage options?

The E-MU ESi-32 originally comes with a floppy drive for storage, but it can be upgraded with external storage solutions such as a Zip drive for more convenience and capacity.

Can the E-MU ESi-32 be integrated with modern DAWs?

While the E-MU ESi-32 is an older model, its MIDI input and output capabilities allow it to be integrated with modern DAWs for sequencing and sample triggering, although additional interfaces may be needed for optimal connectivity.

What type of sounds can the E-MU ESi-32 produce?

The E-MU ESi-32 can produce a wide range of sounds thanks to its digital sampling capabilities, programmable filters, and envelopes, making it suitable for creating complex textures and dynamic soundscapes.

Dreamwebspace

Dreamwebspace

E-MU ESI-32: sampling & looping

Video thumbnail for E-MU ESI-32: sampling & looping by Dreamwebspace

E-MU ESI-32: sampling & looping

Dreamwebspace

Dreamwebspace

Video thumbnail for E-MU ESI-32 for Pure Lofi Sampler Bliss [Demo] by gstormelectro

E-MU ESI-32 for Pure Lofi Sampler Bliss [Demo]

gstormelectro

gstormelectro

Video thumbnail for E-MU ESI-32: digital processing by Dreamwebspace

E-MU ESI-32: digital processing

Dreamwebspace

Dreamwebspace

Video thumbnail for E-mu Esi 32 - Some sampled sounds by me - Riva Lima by Tecladista do Youtube

E-mu Esi 32 - Some sampled sounds by me - Riva Lima

Tecladista do Youtube

Tecladista do Youtube

Video thumbnail for E-MU ESI 32: lofi hip hop on hardware sampler by Dreamwebspace

E-MU ESI 32: lofi hip hop on hardware sampler

Dreamwebspace

Dreamwebspace

Video thumbnail for E-MU ESI-32: Doppler effect [STEREO] by Dreamwebspace

E-MU ESI-32: Doppler effect [STEREO]

Dreamwebspace

Dreamwebspace

Reviews

PROS

  • High-quality sound output

  • Upgradable RAM for extended functionality

  • Comes with a SCSI controller for external HDD connection

  • Features like time compression/stretching offer creative flexibility

  • Envelope filters are highly praised

CONS

  • Became obsolete with the advent of PCs/Macs

  • Floppy disk drive is outdated and limiting

  • Power supply issues when trying to upgrade (e.g., internal Zip drive)

  • Small screen makes detailed work challenging

  • Compatible SCSI drives hard to find today

  • Tedious file management with floppies or MIDI transfers

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about E-MU ESi-32.

Mods and upgrades

  • The Gotek floppy emulator can store thousands of floppy images, surpassing the hard drive's 100 bank limit, with FlashFloppy firmware and an OLED screen improving navigation.

    Source
  • A ZuluSCSI V1.1 with a 3.5" mounting bracket is recommended as a replacement for the ESI-32's obsolete floppy drive.

    Source
  • Jumper pins on S0 and JC are essential for setting up the Gotek flash emulator on the ESI-32.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The sampler's LR outputs are reportedly out of phase, which might affect stereo imaging.

    Source
  • The ESI-32 manual is praised for its clarity, making it a valuable resource for understanding vintage gear.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • EMXP has added support for the ESI-32, aiding in bank organization and format conversion for the sampler.

    Source
  • The ESI-32 does not natively process WAV files; audio must be resampled or converted using software like Chicken Systems' Translator.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The ESI-32, when fully upgraded with SCSI2SD and Gotek, can function as a DIY rompler, perfect for creating custom oscillators from unique samples.

    Source
  • The ESI-32 organizes sounds into Banks, Presets, and Samples, allowing loading of entire banks or individual presets and samples.

    Source
  • Owners plan to use the ESI-32 similarly to Depeche Mode and New Order, emphasizing its potential for vintage sampling styles.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • The ESI-32 requires a FAT32/ExFAT formatted SD card with ISO images for compatibility with ZuluSCSI, allowing up to 4-5 disc images due to SCSI ID limitations.

    Source
  • The ESI-32 does not use a boot floppy; it boots from firmware. The latest OS version 3.02 includes essential bug fixes and Z-Plane filters.

    Source
  • Caution is advised with SCSI connections; they should not be hot-swapped to prevent data loss or hardware failure.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Emu ESi32

soundonsound.com

The E-MU ESi-32 is a powerhouse sampler, delivering impressive performance at a budget-friendly price. Packed with features akin to its more expensive siblings, it offers 32-voice polyphony and resonant filters, making it a standout for aspiring producers. Its modular expandability, Akai S1000 compatibility, and innovative trigger mode add to its appeal. However, it lacks internal effects, graphic waveform editing, and its floppy file management needs improvement. Despite these minor drawbacks, the ESi-32 sets a new standard for affordable samplers, offering unparalleled value and sound quality. An absolute bargain for those looking to explore sampling.

positive

Economy upgrade (MX Apr 95)

muzines.co.uk

The E-MU ESI-32 emerges as a compelling entry-level sampler, blending affordability with professional-grade sound quality. It features extensive filtering, processing options, and a user-friendly interface, making it a viable choice for both amateur and seasoned musicians. The inclusion of stereo ins/outs and SCSI connectivity for sample importation stands out as major pluses. However, the absence of a waveform display hinders its editing capabilities, potentially frustrating those accustomed to visual sample editing. Despite this, the ESI-32's bright sound and versatile modulation options make it a delightful tool for creating varied timbres. Its competitive pricing and upgrade potential ensure it remains a valuable studio asset over time.

positive
Add

4.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 22 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
emuemulator2

Good for it's time but completely obsolete in 2024

Programming with this thing is about as fun as getting an ingrown toenail removed. Sound quality is decent, better than most VSTs, but for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get the playback speed to stay the same across the keyboard. It's no surprise to me that E-MU went out of business once computer storage got better than floppy disks.

Edit - So I guess I'm just dumb and didn't understand how sampling chromatically works. Kinda wish I still had this as modern hardware samplers basically don't exist and the floppy can be changed for a zip or USB. Also I didn't realize I could load multiple banks at once.

engineeermusic

Not a bad sampler, though I regret that I bought it.

The sampler sounded really good and I liked the features. In the late 90s, I bought a used ESI-32 for around 2000 German Marks at a Music Store, because everybody, who was seriously making music, was using hardware samplers, back in the days. Unfortunately, the PCs and Mac caught up and made units like these pretty much obsolete, shortly after.

I upgraded the RAM to the max. I also tried to replace the floppy disk drive with an internal Zip drive, but the power supply wasn't able to handle it. Thankfully, it came with the SCSI controller. So, I had an external SCSI HDD connected to it.

You can do a lot of cool things with this sampler. The filter is nice, also. As far as I remember, it even supported time compression/stretching. Back in the days, we did this all on the small screen. In today's world, it's hard to find a use case for old rack samplers like this. Modern DAWs are covering all sampling needs way better. They can handle bigger samples, are easier and more convenient to use, plus they can save all the samples right in the projects.

So, my rating of four stars is a rating I would have given it in the 90s.

pkennethk

I love the honesty here.

othiym23

I wish I had a hard drive

Dealing with this thing with floppies or sending over MIDI is sad and tedious, although it's been a few years since I tried. Gonna guess compatible SCSI drives are not super easy to find these days. The envelope filters on this thing are super clutch, though. I should really give this another try because I have a much better idea of what it can do that a DAW can't, or not as well.

spleentaste

for the nostalgics of hardware sampling

as a big fan and user of EMU samplers, I had to get back to it on my compact set !! Thank you Ebay for making my dreams come true...

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Danny Elfman uses E-MU ESi-32

Danny Elfman

Singer, Guitarist

Oingo Boingo

...
Verified via EMusician

"Typically, I'll bring a rig with an Apple Power Macintosh 9500 running Mark of the Unicorn's Performer, two Emulator EIV samplers with 128 MB of RAM, and two Roland S-760 samplers. Sometimes, I'll also bring my other Emulator samplers: two 3XPs and two ESI-32s. The S-760s are playing guide stuff — the orchestral string and horn mock-ups that I've sequenced at home — that I can refer to, but these tracks seldom end up as a part of the final score. The EIVs and the 3XPs are the machines actually laying down what will end up on the final score as the drums, percussion, and so on."

See how Roberto Burgos uses E-MU ESi-32

Roberto Burgos

Singer, Guitarist

Sweet Trip

...
Verified via Photo

"Sweet Trip supplies (aka my low tech unsophisticated equipt checklist for Halica, alura, VDC,live or recording)"

See how Jerry Harrison uses E-MU ESi-32

Jerry Harrison

Singer, Guitarist

Talking Heads

...
Verified via EMusician

This article states that Jerry's studio includes "Clavia Nord Electro 2, Clavia Nord Lead, E-mu ESI-32, E-mu Proteus 1, E-mu XP, Korg Wavestation, Roland D-550, Sequential Circuits Prophet T8, Voce V3, Waldorf Microwave, Yamaha DX7, and Yamaha TX-816."

See how Mike Paradinas uses E-MU ESi-32

Mike Paradinas

Music Producer

Mike & Rich

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Paradinas is pictured in-studio with both an ESI-32 an E5000 in the May 2002 edition of Sound on Sound

See how Ben Salisbury uses E-MU ESi-32

Ben Salisbury

Composer, Music Producer

...
Verified via Soundonsound

The main gear rack in Ben's studio (from top): Novation Supernova synth, Emu Proteus 2000 sound module and ESI4000 samplers (x2), Tascam DA20 DAT recorder and CD-RW700 CD burner, Emu ESI32 sampler, Lexicon MPX100 and Alesis Midiverb 4 reverbs, MOTU MIDI Timepiece AV.

See how Nathan McCree uses E-MU ESi-32

Nathan McCree

Composer, Music Producer

...
Verified via Twitter

"No the sampler was an Emu Esi-32 if I remember correctly" Confirming to use it in the 90s era.

See how Mark Hockings uses E-MU ESi-32

Mark Hockings

Singer, Composer

Mesh

...
Verified via Facebook

In a video posted by Blackcarburning on Facebook, Mark Hockings is seen using an E-MU ESi-32, prominently placed at the top of his gear setup.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use E-MU ESi-32, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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