F • - The Independent Newsletter for Ensoniq Users EMU and ENSONIQ Merge In This Issue ... Two of the strongest names in the music industry join forces Articles: E-mu and Ensoniq Merge teams have started sharing technologies and EMU of Scotts Valley, CA has announced EMU- ENSONIQ ................................ cover that as of July 6, 1998, they have officially concepts and the results of these creative joined forces with ENSONIQ Corp. of Mal­ collaborations will start to appear in the vern, PA. The combined organizations will marketplace early next year. External Sequencers and Ensoniq Keyboards now be doing business as EMU-ENSONIQ Eric Montgomery ............ ...... ..................... 3 - a merger between two of the strongest Carl Bader, Vice-President of ENSONIQ names in the music business. EMU­ Musical Products, says, "Our new Company, DP/4: A Via Musictone ENSONIQ's approach will be to merge both EMU-ENSONIQ, will be a dynamic force in Tom Tracy ................................................. 4 EMU and ENSONIQ's unique capabilities the marketplace, leveraging the strengths into one very competitive and powerful and experience which both firms have ac­ Hacker G*L *I*T*Z company. The ultimate objective is to offer quired in their history as inn~vators in the products that lever­ Interview with Bill Champlin - Part II age the unique ~~ ENSlllliiil ;::;~?nk mu,k John R. Bolles ............................................ 5 perspectives of both EMU and EN- ~, _ EMU - Founded in Reviews: SONIQ and to MUS I CAN D A U D lOS Y S T EMS 1972, EMU is the streamline opera- leading developer of Basement Tapes: CBIRD tions into a single, highly effective, creative, innovative digital-audio products based on Steve Vincent ............................................. 7 responsive, and competitive business un it. digital sampling technology for the music and multimedia markets. EMU audio Dave Bristow, Vice-President of Marketing products are used by professional musicians, Regular Stuff: for EMU-ENSONIQ, states, "By combining sound designers, and audio engineers forces the new company will enjoy a larger worldwide. The company is based in Scotts Random Notes ........................................... 2 collective customer base and a broader Valley, California and employs around 200 Hypersoniq ................................................ 2 product range." He continues, "This means people. The Interface ............................................. 9 that we can now apply the best of our joint Classifieds .......................... ..................... 13 technologies over more products. And with ENSONIQ - Founded in 1982, ENSONIQ Hacker Booteeq .. .... ......... ........................ 15 our new sales and marketing efforts we can Corporation is a leading producer of audio " ensure that all customers, new and old, EMU and sound technology products. Well known and ENSONIQ, can benefit." in the professional music industry for its production of keyboards, synthesizers, ef­ subsidiaries of Creative Technology, Ltd. EMU-ENSONIQ looks forward to building fects processors, and digital recording on the strong, successful relationships that systems, ENSONIQ's custom IC design both EMU and ENSONIQ enjoy with their expertise has made the company a technol­ EMU@, ENSONIQ@, the EMU-ENSONIQ existing customers. Because of this, ogy and manufacturing leader in sound solu­ logo. and Audio PC@are trademarks owned EMU-ENSONIQ will continue to offer tions for OEMs. ENSONIQ is located in or licensed by EMU-ENSONIQ. registered audio and music products, with different fea­ Malvern, PA, and employs about 200 in the United States as indicated by @ and in tures and prices, under separate brand people. numerous other countries worldwide. All names. In addition, EMU-ENSONIQ's En­ other trademarks are property of their gineering, Production, Sales, and Marketing Both EMU and ENSONIQ are wholly owned respective holders. ISSUE NUMBER 158, $2.50 AUGUST, 1998 ) ,. Front Panel tion of not printing articles on certain instru­ - but the popular media has managed to RND (I)i ) ments in favor of other instruments anyway tum this into a slur instead of the point of - we 're just about always out there scratch­ honor it once was. (And we're getting tired ing for material. The mix you see is a direct of getting e-mail asking about cracking the Interesting Times - Part II reflection of what people choose to write phone system .. ) Whatever we end up with, about.) This really should breathe some we'll always answer to the Hacker name As you might imagine, 1998 has been a much-needed new life into the Hacker. The from those who know our history. (That's "holding-our-breath" kinda year here at the last couple years has seen this operation go you guys.) Hacker. After Creative Technology's ac­ from a shoestring to a half-shoestring and we quisition of Ensoniq (TH, January, 1998), really see this as a very good shot at revers­ And things have been awfully quiet from the we've been wondering how all this was ing this trend and building things back up to East Coast Gang the last few months - we going to unfold. Well, some of the eggs have the old glory days. suspect things are going to start jumping started to hatch - and it turns out they're there pretty soon too. So stay tuned for Part Emus! (See cover story.) The integration of We've included a couple recent Emu New III... these two companies should be good news Product Releases in our Hypersoniq section for both of their worlds. so you can get a feel for what's going on * * * with our new cousins. Ever since'Mirage users started sharing these Usually about this time we start our annual pages with ESQ users, you folks out there in And, yes, this is probably going to lead to a whining about how the whole world grinds Hackerland hav~ been pretty understanding name change. We've got some ideas in mind to a halt in the middle of summer and we about th~Hacker' s need to change with the but we're open to suggestions - but they start making empty threats about cutting times - or disappear. Well, we're going to better come fast. We do want to keep the page count or special summer combo issues have to ask you to expand on that a little bit "Transoniq" part of our name since that's and the like. Well, more good news - this 'cause we're planning on starting to cover the name that we're doing business under time around we're letting this lull manifest the Emu line of instruments over the next and it's the name of our web site. We're still itself in larger (readable!) print in the Inter­ few issues. (And we're rarely ever in a posi- pretty attached to the "Hacker" portion too face. Enjoy! And happy summer. HVPERSONIQ New Product Announcements EMU ships Audio Production Studio Vice-President of Business Development. He laptop computers. EMU8710 PS differs from Digital sampling, wavetab1e synthesis, and continues, "Our goal is to provide our cus­ EMU's first generation PCMCIA card in sound design hardware for Windows® tomers with a world-class product while at three key areas: an added microphone input, the same time furthering the success of com­ an increase in SoundFont RAM from .5MB Scotts Valley, California, July 1, 1998. puter produced audio for music and multi­ to 2MB, and an increase in wavetable ROM EMU is proud to announce that this month it media projects." from 2MB to 4MB. EMU8710 PS consists of will ship the Audio Production Studio - a an Audio PC Card (PCMCIA Type II), a sampling/audio system consisting of a Win­ Features: The Audio Production Studio MABOX cable (MIDI! Audio Breakout Box) dows 95® PCI card (the E-Card), a unique consists of a main PCI card with S/PDIF and - which allows access to all the features of Audio Access Bay front panel called the balanced analog I/O, the E-Drive which the EMU8710 PS, and a powerful suite of E-Drive, and a powerful suite of EMU and brings additional S/PDIF, selectable mic/line EMU® and third-party application software. third party application software. The Audio inputs, and a headphone output to the front EMU8710 PS provides streaming audio, Production Studio provides high-quality of the computer for easy access. Also in­ high-quality wavetable synthesis, and Crea­ sampling, 64-voice/32-channel MIDI syn­ cluded is a powerful software suite which tive Labs SoundFont@ compatibility to thesizer support, digital mixing, hard disk was developed by EMU and third-party ven­ musicians and audio producers worldwide. recording, and unmatched real-time effects dors for playback, recording, and sound EMU8710 PS is currently available direct for audio processing . .The Audio Production design. In addition, it features 64 hardware from EMU for $395 (www.emu.com). Studio also supports the SoundF ont@ file for­ voices supporting SoundFont sounds (wave­ mat, the most popular form of downloadable table samples/synthesis) and/or streaming Portable audio solution - EMU8710 is for sounds in the world. Designed for musicians, audio, as well as a unique patch able effects musicians and audio producers who need a sound, designers, 'and multimedia content architecture with multiple effects from the portable solution for high-quality audio and developers, the Audio Production Studio al­ EMU library. MIDI production. "EMU871O PS represents lows the user to deliver legendary EMU the latest accomplishment in EMU's line of sound direct from their desktop. The Audio EMU ships EMU8710 PS computer products," says Alan Grattan, Production Studio will begin shipping on Portable studio for Windows 95 laptop com­ EMU8710 Product Manager. He continues, July 31st at a suggested retail price of $699. puters "EMU's strength and experience in digital­ audio technology has enabled us to create a "The Audio Production Studio is reflective Scotts Valley, California, July 1, 1998. portable, inexpensive, audio solution with a of our commitment to the development of EMU is pleased to announce that this month huge array of professional features.