Emu Systems EIIIX Sound Library

Sample CD Buyer's Guide

Published in SOS January 2000
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Reviews : Sample/Sound/Song Library

STRINGS

Vns, Vas, Ces: marc.

Dbs: marc, trem.

Vn sus.

Db (M): sus, stc, piz.

WOODWIND

Cla [3]: sus, sus (ff & mf).

Ob [2], Cor: sus (all St).

Pic, Flt, Ob, Ehn, Cla, Bcla, Bsn, Cbsn (all M): sus.

BRASS

Tpts: sus, sus mt.

Tbns: sus (ff & mf).

6 Fhns: sus.

Tpt: sus (ff & mf), wah growls.

Tpt (M): sus mt <3>.

Tmbn: sus (ff & mf), sus vb.

Fhn: sus (ff & mf), sus, sus stp.

Tba, Flg: sus.

Soprano, Alto & Baritone saxes (M).

PERCUSSION -- TUNED

Bells, Celeste, Glk, Tmp, Tub, Xyl.

PERCUSSION -- UNPITCHED

BD, Bells, Tbl (M), Tri (M).

HARP

Gls: dim, major 6, dominant 7th (all up & down).

Comments: The fellow who prepared Frank Zappa's latter-day orchestral scores used to check the parts on an Emu Proteus 2 sound module. This handy orchestra-in-a-box had one big advantage over the competition (not that there was much at the time): the sustaining instruments were all looped, and, in the great Emu tradition, every sample was perfectly in tune! The masters of the sounds used in the Proteus 2 are preserved for antiquity on this CD-ROM, and some are very good indeed. Piano, harpsichord, rock crash cymbals and hi-hat are also included, but they lie beyond the scope of this roundup.

Standouts: Dammit, those French horns still sound mighty noble.

Quibbles: Bring back the solo oboe from the original Emulator!

Contact: Emu Systems UK.

Emu EIIIX-format CD-ROM £75.