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E-Mu E5000 Ultra

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$540.46 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (11)

1 Critic Review

2 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using E-Mu E5000 Ultra

2 community setups

1 wishlisted

21 saved

Page last updated Jun 19, 2026

Pricing and availability

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5.0 (1)

$540.46 8 available Used

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Average Price: $540

Standard/Professional

$249

$700+

Price Tier

In the Audio Samplers category, E-Mu E5000 Ultra is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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High-end

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Description

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Elevate your sound production with the E-Mu E5000 Ultra, a powerhouse in the realm of audio samplers. This unit is revered among DJs and music producers for its powerful sound processing capabilities and extensive customization options. Designed for serious audio enthusiasts, the E5000 Ultra comes packed with features that allow for seamless integration into any studio setup.

With its advanced sampling technology, the E5000 Ultra offers a rich palette of sounds and textures, making it ideal for creating unique tracks or enhancing live performances. The sampler is equipped with a wide array of filters and effects, ensuring that users can sculpt their sound precisely to their liking. The Z-Plane filters are particularly notable, offering an impressive range of sonic possibilities that can transform even the simplest samples into complex audio experiences.

Whether you’re remixing existing tracks or crafting entirely new compositions, the E-Mu E5000 Ultra provides the tools you need to push your creative boundaries. Its intuitive interface and robust build quality ensure that this sampler remains a reliable companion in the studio or on stage.

Key Features:

Advanced sampling technology with extensive customization options
Notable Z-Plane filters for versatile sound shaping
Intuitive user interface for easy navigation and control
Comprehensive set of onboard effects for dynamic audio manipulation
Seamless integration into both studio and live performance setups
High-quality sound processing for professional-grade audio production

Product specs

Brand	E-MU Systems
Model	E5000 Ultra Rackmount 64-Voice Sampler Workstation
Finish	Black
Year	1999
Made In	United States
Categories	Rackmount Synths, Samplers
Analog / Digital	Digital
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Polyphony	64 Voices

FAQs

What type of connectivity options does the E-Mu E5000 Ultra offer?: The E-Mu E5000 Ultra features MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and MIDI Through, allowing for comprehensive integration with other MIDI devices and controllers.
How many voices of polyphony does the E-Mu E5000 Ultra support?: The E-Mu E5000 Ultra supports 64 voices of polyphony, enabling complex and layered sampling performances.
Is the E-Mu E5000 Ultra suitable for live performances?: Yes, the E-Mu E5000 Ultra is suitable for live performances due to its robust MIDI capabilities and 64-voice polyphony, allowing for dynamic and versatile sound manipulation on stage.
What is the primary function of the E-Mu E5000 Ultra?: The E-Mu E5000 Ultra is a digital rackmount sampler workstation designed for sampling, editing, and playing back audio with high-quality sound and extensive MIDI integration.
Can the E-Mu E5000 Ultra be used in a modern digital audio workstation setup?: Yes, the E-Mu E5000 Ultra can be integrated into a modern DAW setup via its MIDI connections, allowing it to function seamlessly with contemporary digital audio workflows.

Videos

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TheBizzyBScience

EMU E5000 HARDWARE SAMPLER: An amazing Piece of Kit!

TheBizzyBScience

E-MU E5000 Ultra Samples

IntrepidErie

Internal Sequencer Test Emu E5000 Ultra - Smack My Bitch Up

Tecladista do Youtube

E-mu E5000 Ultra , updating firmware via MIDI

Angelo Coelho Tech

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about E-Mu E5000 Ultra.

Features and functionality

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E-Mu's digital filters offer a unique sound, difficult to replicate with modern software.
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The E5000 Ultra supports extensive modulation via "patch cords," allowing real-time control similar to modulation matrices in modern synths.
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The sampler includes unique "Z-Plane Filters," enabling smooth morphing between response curves, notably used in late '90s drum and bass.
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Value and pricing

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These samplers are widely available and generally affordable, making them a cost-effective option for vintage gear enthusiasts.
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Comparisons

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While software can mimic the functionality, E-Mu's AD and DA converters contribute to its distinctive tone.
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Users highlight the E5000 Ultra's warm sound compared to other brands: Ensoniq has a sweet tone, Roland a warm digital sound, and Akai a clean, punchy profile.
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Use cases and applications

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Highly appreciated in classic drum and bass setups for its characteristic sound.
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E5000 Ultra's built-in synth parameters allow any sampled sound to become a base for synthesis, offering flexibility not commonly found in software samplers.
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Loading sounds via SCSI CD drives remains a functional option, though modern computers can't read the E5000's formatted drives.
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User experience

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Owners note a significant tonal difference when creating drum tracks, describing the sound as "night and day" compared to digital-only setups.
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Setup and maintenance

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Broken floppy drives can be a non-issue due to the internal hard drive's ability to load samples, although CD changers can also be used.
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Mods and upgrades

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IDE-compatible SSD adapters work well for storage upgrades, but the E5000's OS may not recognize very large drives beyond typical maximums like 16GB.
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Software and compatibility

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FAT16 IDE format is compatible for sample storage, aligning with the E5000’s file system requirements.
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Driver updates must be installed via floppy disks, which can be a limitation for modern users.
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Other

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Emusonacid.com forum is a recommended resource for troubleshooting and advice on E-Mu samplers.
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Critic Reviews

Emu E5000 Ultra

soundonsound.com

The E-Mu E5000 Ultra stands out as a powerful and affordable sampler, offering a robust suite of DSP tools, Emu's famed Z-plane morphing filters, and compatibility with a wide array of sound formats. Its intuitive EOS 4.01 operating system makes it accessible, even for those new to hardware samplers. While it impresses with its creative capabilities, such as Beat Munging for loop manipulation, the limited standard RAM and fewer outputs compared to higher models may deter those seeking more from the get-go. Nonetheless, its expandability and comprehensive features make it a compelling choice for serious musicians looking to grow their studio setup.

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Full Review

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 11 Ratings

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4 star

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1 star

ro5

3582

about 10 years ago

Hardware sampler with good synth engine with character sound but inconvenient and unintuitive to use

At the time I was doubting between an Akai S-Series (which was the industry standard at the time) and the E-mu Ultra-Series which does have a better synth engine and has it's own sound and character thanks to the build-in filters and FX.

I was hoping to prepare and maintain my sample library on my computer and transfer it to my hardware sampler to be able to perform without a computer. Unfortunately I did not yet find a convenient way to achieve this. Dumping samples over MIDI is just too slow and over SCSI is not an option anymore nowadays.

Additionally navigating through the menus is not very intuitive. I must admit, I never did actually read the manual but on the other hand, my car costs 100x more and is at least 10x more complex and I never had to read its manual. So not really intuitive to use. I did try to find an easy editor but never found one that was actually any good.

I'm still holding on to it for the moment (as selling it would not be worth it) and might look into buying one of these SD kits one day and hope someone will build an editor (or I might have to find the time to read the exhaustive manual).

Roles:

Keyboardist Composer Music Producer

Genres:

Stage & Screen Techno Dub

skulpture

251

over 11 years ago

Filters, effects and DAC are all have a unique signature that has yet to be done in the plugin world

I have an upgrade one of these with a usb caddy drive for fast transfer of sounds - It is nice to work away from the computer screen now and then. It has a sound of its own that has yet to be done in the plugin world.