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The (in progress) Complete Guide to the E-MU E6400 Ultra Sampler

E-MU E6400 Ultra TC Studio.jpg

The Sampler That Made so Many DnB Classics ​​

Hello!

Welcome to my complete guide to the E-MU E6400 Ultra Sampler. 

This guide is mainly focused on the E6400 Ultra because that is the unit that I own and use daily but a lot of the information in this guide is going to be applicable to other samplers in the range. 

As with all the documents on my website they are a constant work in progress. I edit them like open source software. If you go to the foot of the page you can see all the topics I am planning on writing about. 

This is not a Manual but more a collection of information on the real way that I am using this sampler to make tunes at the moment. 

This page is a work in progress I will be making additions and changes as and when I feel like it. I aim to share all the information that I have about the Sampler that changed the game in Drum and Bass / DnB. 

I only recently (within the last couple of years) got myself a decent EMU (The 6400 Ultra). 

I want an E4XT if anyone wants to sell me one! I need the 128 voices! 

I have an E6000 Emulator (a previous iteration of the series of big studio samplers) 

and also an Esynth which I believe is an E5000 Ultra with a ROM Memory full of Classic EMU Sounds.

When I started making music I had an ESI4000 which is like the scaled down version of the big boy emu's. The ESI4000 is very capable as a platform but with some limitations in terms of outputs and the ability to edit samples on the unit itself with a 4 line LCD it cant show you any waveforms so editing start points and chopping samples had to be done on a computer or by ear which is not the most accurate. 

The E6400 Ultra is a massive step up in terms of outputs and being able to edit samples on the unit itself and paired with the optional extra 8 output board and onboard FX makes it the peak of sampling technology available in the hardware era. There are other samplers like the AKAI s6000 and Z4 and Z8 models which are in the same ball park to the EMU in terms of features but I have the AKAI s6000 and s5000 and they don't compare at all in terms of software and functionality. 

You can really tell that the designers of the E-MU samplers really had functionality in mind when designing the software and the features of the unit to make it as smooth as possible to get a sound and get it playing out the outputs as quick as possible. The same action on an AKAI takes alot more time and on screen editing. I can see why so much incredible music was made on these E-mu Samplers. 

 

Like a lot of gear when you get your hands on it you really start to gain insights into the reasons why tunes sound like they do from back in day. There are some acts that used the various units (of which there are many variants) widely in they're music including: Photek, Dillinja, Bad Company, Optical. (So many classics!) 

I realise this is mostly a complete waste of time on my part and there are very few people who care about any of this but I know there are a few hardcore heads out there that might not care about the technology but really really care about a particular sound and era of dnb that is almost completely gone now apart from a few of us die hard producers trying to make new classics on old hardware. Recently I did a joke post about hardware sounding worse and taking way more time to make tunes but this is in no way true well on the first point. It sounds so much better in a way that cant be explained. Yes it takes quite alot longer to make tunes on hardware but it also delivers tunes that sound like a tune and not the sum of its parts. its wierd. Sounds you make or play on the EMU stand up on they're own without having to be in the mix there is just a magical quality to everything it touches. 

I could go on and on about this. There are a few technicalities that I believe that contribute to the Dark Magic. Midi is not sample accurate so the timing drifts ever so slightly giving drums a groove that makes them feel organic. The AKAI samplers are too loose in timing for DNB I feel but the EMU E6400 Ultra is so tight but loose in timing in just the Goldilocks way not too tight not too loose. Just right to make BANGERS!! 

Types of E-MU Samplers

There are many types and flavours of E-MU samplers ranging from various dates and models. It can get quite confusing as to which one should I get to make the particular style fo music I wanna make. I am no expert so if I get this wrong then don't hate on me but please let me know. But here is a list of the types of EMU samplers that I have owned and the thoughts I have about them.

ok these are the ones that I got: 

E-MU E6400 Ultra - This is the best of the ones I have, it has onboard FX like reverb and all sorts. Proper workhorse of a machine. I also have the extra 8 outputs bringing it up to 16 outs on the back of the unit. 

E-MU E6400 Emulator - I believe this one is an older version of the Ultra. It does not seem to keep time as well as the Ultra and the Processor and OS is kinda slower than the Ultra too. It is still a very good machine but there are no onboard FX like reverbs etc. 

E-MU E-Synth: As far as I could tell this is like the E6400 but not the ultra version. The one I have does have the onboard FX but it has an issue with the jog wheel where when you turn it too fast it has a buffer over run and has to think for a minute about itself :) Apparently this is an issue that can be fixed. The main distinguishing feature of the E-synth model is that it has a ROM memory with a bunch of EMU preset sounds that you can use. (Remind me to plug my E-synth in and give it a channel on my desk so I can see what the sounds are like again. 

E-MU ESI-4000: This was the first sampler I owned. I made my first release on the 4000. It really is very powerful as a playback device but as an editor it really is not good enough to be a tool for making the type of dnb that was being made in the very early 2000s. That Bad Company, Dillinja, Photek grit. For that kind of stuff you are gonna need a one of the 3u bigger units. You cant see the waveform on the display of the ESI-4000. 

When I got my E6400 Ultra it was amazing to know that you dont need a computer to edit the soundsyou just do it all on the box and it really does add the flavour.   

Other types of EMU i have not owned: 

Emulator (1981) - some oldschool biz (I was not even born)

Emulator II (1984) - More old school bizol (I would have been 2 years old) 

EMAX (1986)

Emulator III (1987) 

Emax II (1989)

EMULATOR IV (1994) This one got to be the one that Dillinja Used for early tunes given the date and from what I have seen on videos of him in the studio.

E-MU E5000 Ultra - I know Bad Company used these for a while and then upgraded to better ones. 

E-MU E6400 Ultra - This is the one I have in my studio its an absolute workhorse of a sampler. 

E-MU E4XT Ultra - One of the top of the range ones with 128 note Polyphony. I dont think I have reached the polyphony limit on my sampler yet but 128 would be nice. 

E-MU E4 Platinum - The Donny! Everything included as far as I know. All the inputs and outputs, Spdif, 128 Note Polyphony, FX and RFX, 2 midi Ins and 2 Midi Outs. It is basically 2 emus in one box. I would love to get my hands on one of these. 

RFX-23 - This is the FX card Option for the Ultra range of EMU's, Apparently they are quite buggy but the functionality it adds sounds amazing. 

Ok so there is a brief list of all the types of emus you can get, Tom? Which one should I get? will in my experience the E6400 ultra is the best one I have used. I know the the E4XT and E4 Platinum have got to be insane! But at this point in time they are basically made of unobtainium 

I have noticed that the Ultra Version of the sampler is way quicker and more responsive in terms of the interface and screen updates etc. This I believe is due to a faster processor on the Ultra models. Making it a much more enjoyable experience. I have also noticed that the Ultra model that I have keeps time better than the older versions that I have and for DnB that really is essential especially when it comes to 64th beats like shakers. 

I think the way people got around this in the past was to record a little loop of the shakers or hats and trigger is less frequently. 

Sampling on the EMU E6400 Ultra (Quick Start)

Getting started with the E6400 Ultra can feel a bit of a challenge but I assure you it really is super quick when you get a few hours of production under your belt. Most of the tunes I have made so far have started with beats and making a drum preset is super easy. I am using Sound Forge on my PC with the sound cards output going into the sampler inputs and sampling the audio directly into the EMU that way.

Here is a step by step guide to how to make a drum program (populate a keyboard with sounds)

• Turn on the sampler

• you want your sampler in multi mode 

• Hit sample/manage button 

• Hit f3 new (this goes to the sample record page) 

• there are various options on this page like sample length this limits the amount of time it will record for that particular sample, when you are happy with these options...

• Hit Arm 

• Record your sample 

You are then met by another page this one is important! the options here can make it so quick and easy. 

using the curser keys navigate to the truncate and select both (this will chop the front and end of the sample for you without you having to do anything) then Normalise will make all the samples you record the same volume. 

For percussion this can be ok but I prefer to keep the different volumes in the sounds as I think it brings nuance. 

So here is the trick!

• Navigate to range with the curser keys and select 1 key voice 

• Navigate to Target and select empty preset

• Hit Place 

(You will be promted with a dialog to name the new preset you wish to create.)

• Name your preset something like drums using the number keypad like an old nokia phone

• Hit sample manage again then on the multi screen go to channel 1 and change the preset on that channel to your new preset you just made so you can play it from your daw 

• now go back to the Sample Manage button hit it! 

• Hit New again

• Then sample another sound and here is the kicker

• on the next page as long as your new preset is selected it will automatically place it on the next note up on the keyboard so imagine how quick this is. Like blam blam sample after sample key after key. before you know it you have filled a keyboard up with sounds. No chopping no editing just smashing them in one after another. 

Nothing long and that why people love EMU!! 

Thats my drum preset building workflow. 

Remember: you can always change and edit the sample placements again another time in the preset edit menu. 

ok so say you want to take a bass sound and put across a bunch of new keys on a new preset. 

• Hit sample/manage button 

• Hit f3 new (this goes to the sample record page) 

• there are various options on this page like sample length this limits the amount of time it will record for that particular sample, when you are happy with these options...

• Hit Arm 

• Record your sample 

• Navigate to range with the curser keys and select "auto*Multism"

• set the root key c3 is alwasy a good choice

• Navigate to Target and select empty preset

• Hit Place 

(You will be promted with a dialog to name the new preset you wish to create.)

• Name your preset something like "bum head" using the number keypad like an old nokia phone

• Hit sample manage again then on the multi screen go to channel 2 and change the preset on that channel to your new preset you just made so you can play it from your daw or midi keyboard. 

Blam you have your sound across all the keys and you will start to hear the magic of this machine. 

I know these instructions seem like they are complex but you will just do it second nature after a couple of days and its gonna be so fast to put tunes together. Maybe even faster than using software perhaps. 

Downloads

In the interest of preservation here are some EMU E6400 Ultra resources for Download: 

Documents: 

e-mu eos 4.0 manual.zip

e-mu eos technical documents.zip

EOS Remote Sysex.zip

Topics / Changes / Additions

Topics to Add: 

Contents: links to all the sections on the page

Quick Guide: Don't wanna read the whole damn thing here is a quick reference guide. 

Types of EMU Samplers: ** In Progress ** Expand this with pictures and Discriptions.

Overview: 

Operating Systems: 

Connections:  Midi / Audio / Desks / FX 

My Workflow: 

Sampling: Sample Rates / Auto Truncation (Chopping samples automatically) / place samples

Editing Samples: 

Presets: 

Placeing Samples 

Filters: Types I use a lot and concepts 

Real Time Controllers: How to assign

Advanced Concepts in Modulation: 

Built in Chorus: 

Built in FX: 

Actually Making a Tune: 

Saveing and Loading: 

Crashes: you have to save often / I save whenever I sample anything new into the sampler. 

Web Front Pannel Controller: 

The Menu System

--- Modifications to the EMU units ---

Extra Outputs: 

Scsi 2 SD Card reader / Zulu Scsi: 

​Bypass Floppy Drive trick - you have to put a jumper wire on the floppy drive pins on the mother board 

open the unit and take a picture of this.

History of the E-MU E6400 Ultra: 

History of EMU as a company: 

Story of the bad company sampler: 

Famous Users of the EMU: 

Interview with Optical: Agreed to an interview :) !!!! 

Interview with Dillinja: 

Interview with Photek: 

Interview with DJ Fresh: 

Interview with Kamal: Agreed To An Interview :) !!!!

Software Downloads? For OS and Editors if available (keep them alive) ​

Preset Downloads?

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