E-MU Releases DSP Recording Cards

Zhoo · Post by **Zhoo** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:22 pm

mmm %(...
itz NOT scope,even duznt lie nearly...
only IOz and some fxz but where THE MIXERz,
third party pluginz,TIMEWORX,DADEV,CELMO???
something like SFP???
i never buy another cardz exept scope clonez
or like as scope or new scope(XX)

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:59 pm

This thing looked kind of cool at NAMM but I was rather disappointed that the synthesis part (the voice structure and filtering) does not run on the DSP, only the effects. IMHO this seems to make the cards more like a dongle.

Post by **hubird** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:23 am

nice guess I guess

Lemke · Post by **Lemke** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 6:51 am

On 2004-01-20 19:59, dArKr3zIn wrote:
This thing looked kind of cool at NAMM but I was rather disappointed that the synthesis part (the voice structure and filtering) does not run on the DSP, only the effects. IMHO this seems to make the cards more like a dongle.

To me it totally destroys the whole thing.

huffcw · Post by **huffcw** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:55 am

My understanding is that the synthesis enginve does run off of the DSP when used in standalone mode. However, if you use the sampler as a VST instrument, then it runs off your CPU.

Overall, the details from E-MU are not real clear.

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:12 pm

The guy at the Emu booth at NAMM assured me that the synthesis and filtering runs on the CPU, while the DSP is only used for FX.. he was pretty clear about this point.

huffcw · Post by **huffcw** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:53 pm

If that's the case, than I have to agree that this looks much less attractive (although, you are still getting a software sampler and hardware in/out card with DSP effect for the price you would pay for just a software sampler such as Kontakt - so it could still be a good deal if it is what you are looking for - of course, it all depends how good the sampler is and the quality of the DSP effects).

valis · Post by **valis** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:15 am

I think the REAL question is, can the sampler be run without the emu cards?

I've already got a Pulsar2, Pulsar1 and an RME Hammerfall. Even if the cards DID work with my system I'd probably want the ADAT and I have to wonder what that would do to my irq's and PCI bandwidth at that point. Also, while the sampler has some features that would be nice (sample start mod etc) I'd have to say that Emu should have released the vsti 2 years ago and just upgraded it with Z-planes and perhaps this hardware option along the way...

All in all perhaps a nice system for a smaller setup where the cards would be needed but for a more advanced DAW this thing looks like it should be housed in a second pc...which means another $600-900 (depending on spare parts on hand) and factoring in even the low end model that's about $1000. A 'real' emu can be had for that price, e6400 with rfx even. (the E-chip on the pci cards doing fx is based on the rfx, at least in part).

The only advantages to having that on a dedicated pc would be 192khz support before the d/a conversion and the ease of which you can maintain your sample library (Giga users understand this I'm sure.)

Incidentally Akai still hasn't released their software sampler...

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:30 am

imho you're right with your assumption of the 'next generation of consumer cards', like the EMU Production Studio once was for the SBLive series.
The highend converters only make sense if coupled with a high end analog circuitry, otherwise they're nothing but expensive noise samplers

But they'll do the job for advertizing pretty well...

cheers, Tom

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 9:56 am

But if you are using the ADAT out to connect to another computer you aren't even using the D/A converter so this is a mute point and besides as many have pointed out, it isn't fair to judge the quality of the converters before we hear them.

Using a proprietary format instead of the standard ADAT on the Luna was a mistake. My Pulsar has ADAT built in. I would like to have an affordable option to connect to another computer with multiple audio channels. Creamware doesn't cater to my needs in this situation.

valis · Post by **valis** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:53 am

Yes its unfortunate that where Creamware's "entry level" system is, so sits the "professional" Creative Labs products.

Also, I believe its not uncommon to use 'proprietary' datastreams via a firewire connection with midrange ad/da's (RME does it, MOTU does it, Creamware does it etc etc).

While great for people who don't intend to install much more in that machine, its unfortunate for higher end users that their system packs in that many cards & features because you must take them all to get one.

Neutron · Post by **Neutron** » Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:00 pm

I wonder if creative/EMU managed to make it work with dual CPU yet without causing problems.

If they do make a consumer card based on it I am sure someone will hax a way to make the pro software work on the consumer card

Eric Dahlberg · Post by **Eric Dahlberg** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 4:38 am

Pros:

1) Easily the best on-board converters available in the price range. Remember, even the $199 non-breakout box model has the PT HD 192khz converters.

2) More features than any other card in its price range. If all the i/o's weren't enough (would you choose a MiaMIDI over this???), it's got built-in dsp effects that I'm told can be loaded up as vst plug-ins. I also doubt that they're on the same level as the kinds of dsp plug-ins that we're all used to but, hell, it's almost like they're a free extra since the card is already a good without them.

3) The long-awaited E-mu softsampler. Not ever having been a hardcore E-mu user myself, I'm perfectly content with the Sampletank 2/Interpole combination I'm using now, but for anybody that is/was this could be an absolute godsend (depending on how good its filters are). Sampling is the one area where the software versions have always had the upper hand over the hardware versions IMO.

Cons:

1) The pci card is a dongle. Those are the exact words my E-mu rep told me.

2) The $199 version doesn't have word clock i/o so there's no way to help those gorgeous converters out if the internal clock stinks.

3) It's a Creative card.

As others have said, I see this card as complementing my Pulsar setup but in no way replacing it. I'm hoping E-mu will release the sync plate for the $199 version eventually, that's the thing that will make it irresistable in my eyes.

kimgr · Post by **kimgr** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:00 am

If the sampler software is any good, you can count me in, wordclock and all.
I need a second asio card on my system anyway, so it's a no-brainer...

Kim.

next to nothing · Post by **next to nothing** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 2:49 pm

if u didnt see this allready, here's a litlle emu promo vid showing the sampler soft:
http://trio.harmony-central.com/ramgen/ ... lator-X.rm

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:19 pm

Exactly, I'm not ditching my CW stuff, no way but for 2 computers the high end emu sounds perfect. I wonder if it supports the gigasampler though. I didn't see anything about that. I wonder if they feel the gigasampler is their competition and won't have a driver for them. That would really suck. I hate it when companies do that to me.

[ This Message was edited by: braincell on 2004-01-25 15:24 ]

huffcw · Post by **huffcw** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:52 pm

Take a look on their web page... it can load gigasampler files - but I think it only has ASIO and WDM drivers.

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp ... 1&nav=over

[ This Message was edited by: huffcw on 2004-01-25 15:57 ]

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 4:02 pm

I wonder if it supports the same level of velocity switching and if there is any degradation in sound when loading gigasampler samples.

It the samples sound identical I am sold on the emu for sure!

[ This Message was edited by: braincell on 2004-01-25 16:03 ]

spacef · Post by **spacef** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:14 pm

On 2004-01-25 11:00, kimgr wrote:
If the sampler software is any good, you can count me in, wordclock and all.
I need a second asio card on my system anyway, so it's a no-brainer...
Kim.

not to say how it integrate with the cw cards. I'm sold if it has portamento and good sound, it will certainly end in the same computer as my board, for hard disk recording and sampling, and the scope for all the rest, as a rack thru midi/adat... it needs to be heard though.

huffcw · Post by **huffcw** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:41 pm

Yes - I will be curious to hear from the first person who tries to integrate this board in the same computer as a Pulsar - to see if any conflicts or problems occur.