Proteus 2000 Now Shipping

(Click for a close-up)

EMU-ENSONIQ has announced at AES the Proteus® 2000, an all new 128 voice sound module with 32MB of resident ROM sounds and room to add 96MB more. EMU's new module also features front panel real time controls, 6 pole digital filters, 24 bit FX processor, 6 analog outputs, and a S/PDIF digital output for incorporation into the all digital studio. The product will retail for $995 and ship in December. A MSRP of $1395 was previously announced, but due to an arrangement with Creative Labs' manufacturing and purchasing groups, EMU was able pass substantial savings on to the user.

A remarkable 128 voices and 128MB of sound storage

Although the Proteus 2000 is the namesake of the original Proteus introduced nearly 10 years ago, it actually shares more with the Emulator' 4 sampler line than anything else, starting with its 128 voices of polyphony. Proteus 2000 also shares memory capacity with the E4 in the fact it has four 32MB internal slots for 128MB of available ROM space which allows sounds to be added according to the needs of the owner. The product comes standard with a 32MB sound set custom tailored to the needs of composers with a wide and highly useful assortment of instruments covering many different styles of music. The Proteus 2000 also has a special Sound Navigator feature that allows presets to be sorted by type, making the 128MB of sounds easy to manage, according to the company.

32 MIDI channels and New Software Features

The Proteus 2000 has 32 MIDI inputs on two MIDI jacks to allow for advanced MIDI sequencing and is 32 part multi-timbral. Even though the Proteus 2000 is very advanced in its sound generation capabilities, EMU developed several new software features that make the product easy to use as well including the ability to store what the company calls Multi-mode set-ups. Multi-mode setups include preset numbers, volumes, and pans for all 32 MIDI channels, and allow the user to quickly change the configuration of the entire product quickly and easily, a real time-saver for the musician who plays live.

EMU also has developed a new feature that supports rapid auditioning of sounds by automatically generating a "riff" on the current preset, thus eliminating the need to be near a keyboard while checking out sounds. The Proteus 2000 maintains the powerful patch chord architecture of its other sound modules and the familiar EMU sound module layout, but adds an all new downloadable operating system for quick and easy software updates via the Internet which can be loaded into the unit over MIDI.

New hardware features too

Proteus 2000 has 12 real-time controls on the front panel (four separate knobs that address three layers of parameters) which provide instant access to the most used parameters of the powerful synth engine. The product also features 6 pole dynamic filters and a 24-bit dual stereo effects processor. Proteus 2000 connects to the outside world using the 6 analog outputs, as well as the S/PDIF port with stereo digital out for use with digital mixers and recording systems.

"This product represents a real breakthrough for the MIDI musician" notes EMU' Senior Product Marketing Manager, Sean Wilhelmsen. "Never before has so much power been put into such a small package: 128 voices, 128MB of sounds, 32 MIDI channels, digital filters, dual 24 bit FX processors, 4 real time knobs on the front panel, and a digital output. Truly the Proteus 2000 packs a tremendous amount of music power into 1 rack space, and is a worthy successor to the venerable Proteus name" he adds.