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Emax II 16-bit Digital Sound System Sampler Keyboard Workstation

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

Emax II is a true 16-bit sampler with more polyphony, it also uses digital filters and components.

The Emax II which was released in 1989 brought the Emax series up to modern specs with 16-bit sampling, 16-voice polyphony, 16 MIDI channels, stereo samples, 1MB RAM expandable to 8MB, SCSI, 8 assignable outputs and the SE's synthesis functions.

The E-Mu Emax II is a 1MB mono 16-bit sampler. Its maximum sample rate is 39kHz but it can play back samples created at 44.1kHz. The filter is 24dB/oct and, while digital, sounds as good as analog. It is also controllable in real-time, which at the time was a major breakthrough. The Emax II also has very robust SCSI implementation that makes it compatible with many external drives (Syquest removable media, MO drives, CD drives, and hard drives with a maximum partition of 540MB). It can send and receive clock signals. When slaved, it accepts 24, 48, or 96 ppq with pulses at least 1ms wide and 1 to 5 volts. When sending clock, it sends 24 ppq at 5 volts and 6ms wide.

The sample time on the Emax II with 1MB is 26.1 seconds (20.000kHz), 23.7 seconds (22.050kHz), 18.9 seconds (27.778kHz), 16.8 seconds (31.250kHz), & 13.4 seconds (39.0625kHz).

There are also some undocumented, hidden features on this keyboard, available by selecting the master module. Select it and then choose option 9. Then choose 9 again even though only 1-8 are offered as selections. When prompted for a password, enter 3629 (EMAX on the touchpad). Here are the undocumented functions:

Features: Polyphony: 16 voices (or 16 mono voices with stereo chorus) Sampler: 16-bit Memory: 1MB (expandable to 8MB) LFO: Yes Arpeg/Seq - 16-track sequencer; arpeggiator Keyboard: 61 notes (with velocity and poly pressure messages) Effects: Chorus Control: 16 MIDI channels 5 Octave velocity sensitive keyboard 14 Velocity curves Velocity control over Volume, Amplitude Attack, Filter Cutoff, Filter Q, and Filter Attack 3.5" Floppy disk drive (double sided, double density disks) Internal and external SCSI connection (internal HD power supply) 32 Character Backlit LCD RS-422 Computer Interface port MIDI In MIDI Out/Thru Programmable Arpeggiator 16 Track Sequencer 1/4" Clock In 1/4" Clock Out 2 Programmable wheels (real-time pitch, cutoff, attack, level, and LFO modulation control) 2 1/4" Footswitch Ins 1 1/4" Foot pedal In 1 1/4" Audio In 1 Stereo 1/4" Headphone Out 1 1/4" Mono Mix Out 2 1/4" (1 stereo pair) Outs 6 1/4" (3 stereo pair) Sub Outs: L and R stereo or Tip-output and Ring-effect return Date Produced: 1989