Emu E64 vs E4K: too good to be true?
Yves Rosseel
This is what I would like to know: is there anything the E64 can do,
the E4K can not? The ads suggest the E4K is (almost) identical to
the E64 (except for e.g. SPDIF instead of AES/EBU, only two Simms slots...),
BUT plus some goodies:
- SMF playback/SoundSprint (Ok, OMS 2.0 will bring the same
to the E64)
- comes standard with 4MB
- 18 bit Fx processor
- 76 notes keyboard + controllers
This is alot for the extra money you pay for the E4K. Am I missing
something?
Yves.
Jeff Adams
Yves Rosseel <yv...@freeway.rug.ac.be> wrote:
>This is what I would like to know: is there anything the E64 can do,
>the E4K can not? The ads suggest the E4K is (almost) identical to
>the E64 (except for e.g. SPDIF instead of AES/EBU, only two Simms slots...),
>BUT plus some goodies:
> - SMF playback/SoundSprint (Ok, OMS 2.0 will bring the same
> to the E64)
> - comes standard with 4MB
> - 18 bit Fx processor
> - 76 notes keyboard + controllers
Oh, a couple of other things: The E4 has two, maybe three expansion
slots (the E64 has none), while the E4K has only one (I think I have
these numbers right). And the new O.S. for the E64 will read Roland
CDROMs, but the current version in the E4K will NOT. We will have to
wait for an update to the E4K to get that functionality...
Jeff Adams
Jeff Adams
Yves Rosseel <yv...@freeway.rug.ac.be> wrote:
>This is what I would like to know: is there anything the E64 can do,
>the E4K can not? The ads suggest the E4K is (almost) identical to
>the E64 (except for e.g. SPDIF instead of AES/EBU, only two Simms slots...),
>BUT plus some goodies:
> - SMF playback/SoundSprint (Ok, OMS 2.0 will bring the same
> to the E64)
> - comes standard with 4MB
> - 18 bit Fx processor
> - 76 notes keyboard + controllers
The best part is that the E4K can be expanded to 128 voices, which the
E64 never can be. Yes, the E4K is a great deal. Oh, it doesn't have
balanced outs (at least the subs aren't... maybe the mains are, check
the web page www.emu.com).
The only thing that bugs me about the e4k is that it only has two 72
pin simm slots. And they won't accept a 32 meg simm, so, you are stuck
buying inexpensive 16 meg simms (less than $200 each) and being
limited to 32 megs total, or you have to buy the outrageously priced
64 meg simms (around $1200 each) to get more than 32 megs of memory.
I think if you wait about 6 months they may come out with an E4K
"rack" version that uses the E4K design (i.e., can be expanded to 128
voices, uses 72 pin simms).
-Jeff Adams
Barry Bocaner
Jeff Adams (jeff....@mtv.gtegsc.com) wrote:
: 64 meg simms (around $1200 each) to get more than 32 megs of memory.
My local computer discount store has them for $500 a piece.
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Barry J. Bocaner _________/|
<ba...@igc.net> (___|_____\|__________
_|__________)-
"If you listen to a piece of classical music it's a piece of music, but if
you listen to a pop song from 1954 it sounds like a pop song from 1954.
How much of the music that's being written today will be worth listening
to in ten years, except for nostalgia?" -Geddy Lee
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jeff Adams
ba...@igc.net (Barry Bocaner) wrote:
>Jeff Adams (jeff....@mtv.gtegsc.com) wrote:
>: 64 meg simms (around $1200 each) to get more than 32 megs of memory.
>My local computer discount store has them for $500 a piece.
Let us know where this is!!!!!! 16 meg simms were around 150-200, 32
megs were 400-500, so a 64 meg simm (even at $10 a meg) would be at
least $640.... ???
Please!!! Prove me wrong! Give us a phone number to the store that has
them for that price.
Thanks,
Jeff Adams
Eric Rehl
In article <960604095...@freeway.rug.ac.be>, Yves Rosseel
<yv...@freeway.rug.ac.be> wrote:
> This is what I would like to know: is there anything the E64 can do,
> the E4K can not? The ads suggest the E4K is (almost) identical to
> the E64 (except for e.g. SPDIF instead of AES/EBU, only two Simms slots...),
> BUT plus some goodies:
> - SMF playback/SoundSprint (Ok, OMS 2.0 will bring the same
> to the E64)
> - comes standard with 4MB
> - 18 bit Fx processor
> - 76 notes keyboard + controllers
> This is alot for the extra money you pay for the E4K. Am I missing
> something?
>
> Yves.
Very simple - the e64 will NEVER go past 64 voices/64 meg ram, also has no
expansion slots, also has no balanced outs. Go for either the E4K or the
ElV.
BTW, OMS 2.0 has nothing to do with any Emu features. EOS (Emulator
Operating System) 2.00 is already out and has added SoundSprint, SMDI
support (Recycle! now works!) and support for the FX card and Octopus
(additional 8 analog outputs) cards for the ElV.
Eric Rehl
In article <DsHL7...@wlbr.iipo.gtegsc.com>, jeff....@mtv.gtegsc.com
(Jeff Adams) wrote:
> The best part is that the E4K can be expanded to 128 voices, which the
> E64 never can be. Yes, the E4K is a great deal. Oh, it doesn't have
> balanced outs (at least the subs aren't... maybe the mains are, check
> the web page www.emu.com).
The E4K mains outputs are balanced, the subs are unbalanced. The e64 is
all unbalanced; however, the factory can mod that if you wish.
> The only thing that bugs me about the e4k is that it only has two 72
> pin simm slots. And they won't accept a 32 meg simm, so, you are stuck
> buying inexpensive 16 meg simms (less than $200 each) and being
> limited to 32 megs total, or you have to buy the outrageously priced
> 64 meg simms (around $1200 each) to get more than 32 megs of memory.
I've heard of 64M 72 pin SIMMS being sold for $775 just the other day.
That would mean a total of $1550 for 128M! That's outrageous to you? You
must have a very short memory.
> I think if you wait about 6 months they may come out with an E4K
> "rack" version that uses the E4K design (i.e., can be expanded to 128
> voices, uses 72 pin simms).
Not a chance. The ElV is the flagship, the e64 is the midrange, the esi32
the entry model. You might as well wait for the E5 if that's your
thinking.
Eric Rehl
Eric Rehl
In article <DsHLB...@wlbr.iipo.gtegsc.com>, jeff....@mtv.gtegsc.com
(Jeff Adams) wrote:
> Oh, a couple of other things: The E4 has two, maybe three expansion
> slots (the E64 has none), while the E4K has only one (I think I have
> these numbers right).
The E4 has three, e64 has none, E4K has one.
And the new O.S. for the E64 will read Roland
> CDROMs, but the current version in the E4K will NOT. We will have to
> wait for an update to the E4K to get that functionality...
Wrong! Current EOS reads Roland files in all models (E4, e64, E4K). I know
that Emu's web site is not updated very quickly, but any Emu dealer should
have been able to tell you that.
Eric Rehl
Russell A. Dawkins, Jr.
In article <DsHL7...@wlbr.iipo.gtegsc.com>, jeff....@mtv.gtegsc.com says...
>
>Yves Rosseel <yv...@freeway.rug.ac.be> wrote:
>
>>This is what I would like to know: is there anything the E64 can do,
>>the E4K can not? The ads suggest the E4K is (almost) identical to
>>the E64 (except for e.g. SPDIF instead of AES/EBU, only two Simms slots...),
>>BUT plus some goodies:
>> - SMF playback/SoundSprint (Ok, OMS 2.0 will bring the same
>> to the E64)
>> - comes standard with 4MB
>> - 18 bit Fx processor
>> - 76 notes keyboard + controllers
>
>E64 never can be. Yes, the E4K is a great deal. Oh, it doesn't have
>balanced outs (at least the subs aren't... maybe the mains are, check
>the web page www.emu.com).
>
>pin simm slots. And they won't accept a 32 meg simm, so, you are stuck
>buying inexpensive 16 meg simms (less than $200 each) and being
>limited to 32 megs total, or you have to buy the outrageously priced
>64 meg simms (around $1200 each) to get more than 32 megs of memory.
>
>"rack" version that uses the E4K design (i.e., can be expanded to 128
>voices, uses 72 pin simms).
>
>
What's wrong with the current EIV rack that's 128 voices ... it's been out for
more than a few months?
-Russell.
Jeff Adams
er...@idt.net (Eric Rehl) wrote:
>In article <DsHL7...@wlbr.iipo.gtegsc.com>, jeff....@mtv.gtegsc.com
>(Jeff Adams) wrote:
>> The only thing that bugs me about the e4k is that it only has two 72
>> pin simm slots. And they won't accept a 32 meg simm, so, you are stuck
>> buying inexpensive 16 meg simms (less than $200 each) and being
>> limited to 32 megs total, or you have to buy the outrageously priced
>> 64 meg simms (around $1200 each) to get more than 32 megs of memory.
>I've heard of 64M 72 pin SIMMS being sold for $775 just the other day.
>That would mean a total of $1550 for 128M! That's outrageous to you? You
>must have a very short memory.
No, I said that $1200 for a 64 meg simm was outrageous. Someone else
posted they had seen them for $500, and now you for $775. That's not
outrageous.
>> I think if you wait about 6 months they may come out with an E4K
>> "rack" version that uses the E4K design (i.e., can be expanded to 128
>> voices, uses 72 pin simms).
>Not a chance. The ElV is the flagship, the e64 is the midrange, the esi32
>the entry model. You might as well wait for the E5 if that's your
>thinking.
Well, think what you want but I've spent around an hour on the phone
with folks at Emu, and, without actually saying it, they indicated
that any further designs would be based on the 64 voice board with 72
pin simms, and that it's not infeasible that they will come out with
an "E4K rack". How would they distinguish it from the E4? I don't
know.
-Jeff Adams
Jeff Adams
er...@idt.net (Eric Rehl) wrote:
>>[snip]
>BTW, OMS 2.0 has nothing to do with any Emu features. EOS (Emulator
>Operating System) 2.00 is already out and has added SoundSprint, SMDI
>support (Recycle! now works!) and support for the FX card and Octopus
>(additional 8 analog outputs) cards for the ElV.
And again, don't forget that this version (according to tech support
at Emu) can now read Roland CD ROMs!!!
-Jeff Adams
Jeff Adams
daw...@encmail.encompass.com (Russell A. Dawkins, Jr.) wrote:
>What's wrong with the current EIV rack that's 128 voices ... it's been out for
>more than a few months?
>-Russell.
What's wrong is that it costs $6000! It may well be worth every penny,
but, you can get an E4K with 128 voices for, what is it, $4895... So,
when you compare that to the E4, there is a "perceived value" problem.
-Jeff Adams
Jeff Adams
er...@idt.net (Eric Rehl) wrote:
> And the new O.S. for the E64 will read Roland
>> CDROMs, but the current version in the E4K will NOT. We will have to
>> wait for an update to the E4K to get that functionality...
>Wrong! Current EOS reads Roland files in all models (E4, e64, E4K). I know
>that Emu's web site is not updated very quickly, but any Emu dealer should
>have been able to tell you that.
>Eric Rehl
Fine Eric. I got this information directly from EMU!!!!!!!!! I think
that the EMU engineers should know what features are available in
their software. Now, that doesn't mean that they can't be wrong. If
you have an E4K and it can read Roland CDROMs, then great. But I'm
telling you that Emu themselves say that the current version of 2.0x
in the E4K can NOT read Roland CDROMs. They said that mod would be
coming soon.
-Jeff Adams
Jeff Adams
jeff....@mtv.gtegsc.com (Jeff Adams) wrote:
>er...@idt.net (Eric Rehl) wrote:
>>Eric Rehl
Well, guess what... There was a misunderstanding with Customer
Support... The current version of the OS in the E4K is 1.5, not 2.0
(which is what I was lead to believe). So, Eric, you're right (sorry),
when 2.0 is made available (for $49.95 they said) for the E4K, it WILL
support Roland CDROMs (they said it should start being available at
the end of this week, they are just waiting for manuals or something).
They said, in addition, that the upgrade would come with 2 CDROMs, one
is one of the ones you already get when you buy the E4K (so I'm not
sure why they are including it), and the other is a "teaser" CDROM,
that is, containing bits and pieces of a bunch of other Emu CDROMs.
Jeff Adams
Dan Blumenfeld
In article <DsuML...@wlbr.iipo.gtegsc.com> jeff....@mtv.gtegsc.com (Jeff Adams) writes:
>
>Well, guess what... There was a misunderstanding with Customer
>Support... The current version of the OS in the E4K is 1.5, not 2.0
>(which is what I was lead to believe). So, Eric, you're right (sorry),
>when 2.0 is made available (for $49.95 they said) for the E4K, it WILL
>support Roland CDROMs (they said it should start being available at
>the end of this week, they are just waiting for manuals or something).
>
>They said, in addition, that the upgrade would come with 2 CDROMs, one
>is one of the ones you already get when you buy the E4K (so I'm not
>sure why they are including it), and the other is a "teaser" CDROM,
>that is, containing bits and pieces of a bunch of other Emu CDROMs.
>
Does version 1.5 of the E4K software support SYSEX control of the
keyboard (e.g. control of filters, envelope generators, etc) or is
that part of v2.0? I was also wondering if someone could compare
the filtration on the E4k to a Morpheus. I know that both contain a
Z-plane filter, but that's about it.
- Dan
ERehl
>Does version 1.5 of the E4K software support SYSEX control of the
>keyboard (e.g. control of filters, envelope generators, etc) or is
>that part of v2.0?
Why would you want to use sysex rather than midi controllers for those
kinds of things? Sysex clogs the midi bandwidth MUCH more than
controllers. The trend for manufacturers has been to move away from sysex
output for knobs in favor of midi controller#s (witness the Nord,
BassStation).
> I was also wondering if someone could compare
>the filtration on the E4k to a Morpheus. I know that both contain a
>Z-plane filter, but that's about it.
Filters on the E4 line are 6-pole, as opposed to 14-pole on the Morpheus.
Translates to less complex types of filtering. However, the Morpheus does
include MANY variations of standard lowpass filters which in my opinion
are only marginally useful. Also, most filters on the E4 line are not
morphing types - only a handful of new ones (in 2.00 software) are.
Anyway, a filter is only as good as the source fed into it - if you feed a
high quality 48K stereo sample into a 6-pole filter I think you'll get
better results than feeding a lorez resampled mono sample into an 18-pole
filter. IMO, that is.