But the real reason E-MU (then known as E-mu Systems) achieved its current lofty position in the music world is thanks to the introduction of the original Emulator sampler in about 1981. The instrument listed at $7,900 and only about 500 were built (the first one went to Stevie Wonder!). By 1984, the immensely popular Emulator II was introduced and the rest, as they say, is history. The company went on to build the first 16-bit sampler (the EIII), the first truly affordable drum machine with real drum sounds (the Drumulator), the first rackmount sample playback module (the Proteus) and many more.

Still, we're not here to take a history lesson - we're here to learn about some truly amazing new modules that may be every bit as groundbreaking as anything E-MU has done up until now. So sit back and relax as we take you on a tour of E-MU's latest and greatest instruments.

To this writer, nothing is more exciting than the new Virtuoso 2000 128-Voice Virtual Orchestra ($1395 list). The Virtuoso 2000 ships fully loaded with 64 megabytes of all new orchestral instrument (and section) samples, all of which were recorded in the same acoustic space by the same symphony orchestra and soloists. What this means is that you get a super consistent sound across all the instrument groups.

In the past, you might have an oboe recorded up close in a dry studio, while the English horn was recorded from six feet away in a hall. Put them together and you had a totally unnatural sound. Most listeners probably wouldn't know why the sound was, well, a bit weird, but it was easy to tell that the resultant mix was not natural. And when you added other instruments recorded in other acoustic environments - from dry studios to ultra live halls - it would all end up sounding totally wrong - murky and unfocused.

Which is why E-MU finally decided it was time for the ultimate sampling session. They started negotiations with a prestigious, world class orchestra in a major city (which, we're sorry, but we cannot name for a number of reasons) and finally the session was set. I've personally been present at many sampling sessions, and I know they can be grueling. Plus, you go back to the studio with dozens of hours of digital information, faced with the task of finding each of the best, most consistent notes from all the instruments of the entire orchestra. Then everything needs to be looped... Yikes! It's truly enough to make your head spin.

But the good news is that the end result was totally worth the monumental effort. Everything is here in meticulous detail, from solo and section strings to brass, woodwinds and percussion - all sampled from the same symphony under absolutely ideal recording conditions.

With its massive polyphony, 32 MIDI channels, 24-bit dual stereo effects processor, two expansion slots, six balanced analog outs, lightning-fast processor and versatile I/O, the Virtuoso 2000 is sure to please even the most demanding composer - like you and I. It will even play back Flash ROMs that have been authored on E4 Ultra samplers, meaning you can add your own custom samples to the Virtuoso 2000 and take it on the road and leave all of your expensive gear at the studio where it's safe.

You want upgrades? The Virtuoso 2000 will accept the following upgrade kits: 9081 Holy Grail Piano (16 MB), 9082 Protozoa (16 MB Sounds of the Proteus 1, 2 and 3), 9083 Definitive B-3 (32 MB), 9084 Techno Synth Construction Yard (32 MB), 9087 Sounds of the Ensoniq ZR (32 MB) and 9088 Planet Earth Vol. 1 (32 MB)

E-MU's new B-3 sound module ($895 list) delivers the magical B-3 tonewheel organ sound in one rack space. Meticulously sampled, E-MU's B-3 offers you an exhaustive palette of authentic drawbar settings, distortion and tremendous rotary speaker control via the B-3's real-time controls. The B-3 even offers you percussive features that play just like the real thing - no other module can touch it! And the B-3 is expandable with an additional ROM slot (for up to 128 MB with the Turbo upgrade), letting you fit even more power and sounds into this amazing one rackspace unit. Experience the magic of E-MU's B-3 module for yourself - nothing else sounds closer to the real thing.

Features include 32 MB of sound ROM with 384 ROM and 512 user presets, 64 voice polyphony (expandable to 128 with the Turbo upgrade), outstanding rotary speaker simulation, 12 assignable real-time front panel controls, dual outputs (expandable to six plus S/PDIF w/Turbo upgrade) and a built-in 24-bit dual stereo effects processor. Like the Virtuoso, the B-3 plays back Flash ROMs authored on E4 Ultra samplers. Upgrade kits include all of the upgrades for the Virtuoso, plus 9085 Orchestral Sessions Vol. 1 (32 MB) and 9086 Orchestral Sessions Vol. 2 (32 MB), which together add all the sounds of the Virtuoso to your B-3 module! The 9190 Turbo Module Upgrade adds four additional analog outputs, S/PDIF I/O, 128 voice polyphony, 16 additional MIDI channels and two additional ROM slots.

The aptly-named Xtreme Lead-1 ($895 list) is E-MU's new techno / electronica BPM synthesizer that gives you an incredibly diverse dance soundset, powerful filters and unparalleled rhythmic capabilities in one rackspace. The XL-1 also introduces E-MU's new SuperBEATS Mode, which allows you to effortlessly trigger, latch and unlatch synced loops and grooves from separate keys on your keyboard. Add to this up to 16 simultaneously synced arpeggiators, and you have an all-in-one dance module that buries the competition. And the XL-1 has an additional internal ROM expansion slot (or more with the Turbo upgrade), that allows you to expand your sound arsenal with the many Proteus expansion ROMs available, or even create your own custom ROMs using E-MU's E4 Ultra samplers. Take the lead with E-MU's XL-1 and don't look back.

Features include 32 MB sound ROM with 512 ROM and 512 user presets, 64-voice polyphony (expandable to 128 with the Turbo upgrade), 12 assignable real-time front panel controls, Rhythmic Pattern Generator / Arpeggiator, 12th order filters, dual outputs (expandable to six plus S/PDIF with the Turbo upgrade), a super clean 24-bit dual stereo effects processor, one additional internal ROM expansion slot (expandable to three) and 16 MIDI channels (expandable to 32). As you might expect, the Xtreme Lead-1 will accept any of the upgrades available for either the Virtuoso 2000 or the B-3 module, so you'll always have access to fresh, new sounds!

The new Mo'Phatt Urban Dance Synth ($895 list) takes over where E-MU's legendary Planet Phatt left off. Mo'Phatt has it all: 32 MB of fresh new urban sounds, SuperBEATs Mode, up to 16 syncable arpeggiators and a powerful processor to deliver all of your grooves and loops with the tightest timing possible. And you can modify / warp your sounds into anything imaginable using Mo'Phatt's advanced synthesis architecture and effects processor. Need more sounds? E-MU knows you do. You can expand your soundset with the many expansion ROMs available for the other E-MU modules, or you can create your own custom ROMs using E-MU's E4 Ultra samplers. Mo'Phatt has got it all - mo'sounds, mo'beats, mo'ways to get down.

Other features include 64-voice polyphony (expandable to 128 with the Turbo upgrade), 12 assignable real-time front panel controls, 12th order filters, dual outputs (expandable to six plus S/PDIF), a 24-bit dual stereo effects processor, one additional internal ROM expansion slot (expandable to three) and 16 MIDI channels (expandable to 32).

Want to know more about any of these great E-MU modules? Then pick up the phone and call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer right now for additional information, features, specs and special low pricing on the expandable modules from the people who started it all!