E-mu samplers are microtunable !

Yup, the E-mu samplers CAN do microtunings. Any key any pitch.
From the "Dynamic Processing" chapter of the PDF manuals for
the ESI 4000 & ESI 2000 (from http://www.emu.com) :

APPLICATION: Creating an Alternate Tuning Template.
1. Tune each key by selecting it as a zone and then adjust the tuning.
2. To use the template with other samples, load in new samples to the
existing sample numbers.
3. Return the samples to their true pitches using the Original Key
function.

There are actualy 3 parameters on this particular edit page :

* Tuning: varies the zone pitch over a range of -100 to +100 cents.
(One hundred cents equals 1 semitone.)
* Delay: varies the time between when a MIDI Note On message is
received and the onset of the note up to 1.53 seconds.
* Chorus: thickens the sound by doubling the primar y sample and
detuning the doubled sample somewhat. Chorus uses two channels.
When chorus is on, the number of available channels in the zone
will be cut in half. Chorus cannot be used with stereo samples.

Plus, zones can be transposed in 12-tET semitones.

The ESI can access up to 999 samples per bank arranged in up to 256 presets.
16-parts, 64 voices, 19 filter types, 3 AHDSR envelopes, 1 multiwave LFO,
A pair of submix outputs with integral returns in addition to a stereo
output, & SCSI.

Still, the voice architecture lags in a few areas in comparison to the
Ensoniq ASR-X Pro. Particularly, the ASR's LFO can sync to rhythmic
divisions of the sequence tempo or received MIDI clocks. Plus it has an
additional "Noise" modulator.

The AST retails for @ US$1350 & the ESI 4000 is @$900. The just released ESI
2000 is supposed to be cheaper still. But the ASR includes a nifty
sequencer, apparently (& happily, for those who know the joys of analog
style sequencing) modelled on analog sequencers, plus a powerful stereo efx
processor. The ESI Turbo option (@$400) adds efx, but it's bogus in
comparison to the ASR's efx. One could spend the $400 on any other efx proc.
& route it through the submix loops.

Later,
Drew

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> From: "Drew Skyfyre" <skyfyre2@yahoo.com>
>Subject: E-mu samplers are microtunable !
>
>Yup, the E-mu samplers CAN do microtunings. Any key any pitch.
>From the "Dynamic Processing" chapter of the PDF manuals for
>the ESI 4000 & ESI 2000 (from http://www.emu.com) :
>
>APPLICATION: Creating an Alternate Tuning Template.
>1. Tune each key by selecting it as a zone and then adjust the tuning.
>2. To use the template with other samples, load in new samples to the
> existing sample numbers.
>3. Return the samples to their true pitches using the Original Key
> function.
>
>There are actualy 3 parameters on this particular edit page :
>
>* Tuning: varies the zone pitch over a range of -100 to +100 cents.
> (One hundred cents equals 1 semitone.)

The E-mu and most other samplers allow tuning per keyboard zone, but there
are a couple of reasons why it is not all that desireable for
microtonalists:

1. If you've ever looked at the zone tuning for a sample, it never has
exact 0 offset tuning from equal temperament. That's because most real
world samples are never exactly tuned to 12TET and need a few cents
correction. When you apply the tuning template from one sample set to
another, the correction factors never match. Therefore, each tuning
template created from zones needs to be customized. Keep paper and pen
handy, because you'll need to record the offsets by hand to add to offsets
from 12TET.
2. Doing tuning tables this way is not as simple as the above directions
imply. It is a very tedious process. Several list members have created
tunings in this fashion and I think they will agree that built in tuning
tables makes life much simpler.

John Loffink
microtonal@worldnet.att.net

In a message dated 11/13/1999 05:44:22 AM, John Loffink
microtonal@worldnet.att.net wrote:

>The E-mu and most other samplers allow tuning per keyboard zone, but there
>are a couple of reasons why it is not all that desireable for
>microtonalists:
>
>1. If you've ever looked at the zone tuning for a sample, it never has
>exact 0 offset tuning from equal temperament. That's because most real
>world samples are never exactly tuned to 12TET and need a few cents
>correction. When you apply the tuning template from one sample set to
>another, the correction factors never match. Therefore, each tuning
>template created from zones needs to be customized. Keep paper and pen
>handy, because you'll need to record the offsets by hand to add to offsets
>from 12TET.
>
>2. Doing tuning tables this way is not as simple as the above directions
>imply. It is a very tedious process. Several list members have created
>tunings in this fashion and I think they will agree that built in tuning
>tables makes life much simpler.

What about the Ensoniq ASR-X Pro digital sampler? (I'm thinking about
purchasing one)...

zHANg

>What about the Ensoniq ASR-X Pro digital sampler? (I'm thinking about
>purchasing one)...

It has one tuning table for the entire MIDI note range. The table is
assigned globally to all programs.

John Loffink
microtonal@worldnet.att.net
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://home.att.net/~microtonal/