E-MU Announces ROM Authoring for Proteus
2000
February 15, 2000
E-MU / ENSONIQ® has announced a software upgrade
that allows owners of the E5000, E6400, E-Synth, and E4XT model Ultra
Sampler to create custom 16MB or 32MB FLASH ROMs for the popular E-MU
Proteus 2000 sound
module. The FLASH ROM authoring software allows a user to actually
create their own custom Proteus 2000 sound module for instant and permanent
access of their personal sound library. The ROM authoring software upgrade
is available for both the Ultra sampler and Proteus 2000 starting in March
and can be downloaded over the internet.
The announcement of the ROM authoring software from E-MU effectively
blurs the distinction between a sampler and a sound module. Samplers are
popular since they can record any sound, process them, and play them back.
The only problem is that sounds are stored in RAM and go away when power
is removed. Sound modules store "digital snapshots" of sounds
in solid state memory, making them much smaller and more robust, since
the sounds stay in memory when power is removed. The ROM Authoring software
for the Proteus 2000 allows users to create sound ROM images in an Ultra
sampler, store the sounds in a FLASH ROM, and then install the ROM in
one of the four Proteus 2000 ROM slots for playback in the Proteus 2000.
FLASH ROMs can be rewritten thousands of times, and there are two sizes
available: 16MB for $319, and 32MB for $449.
"The ROM authoring package ties samplers and sound modules together
for the first time ever" comments Scott Emmerman, VP of Sales and
Marketing, Americas. "Now, you will be able to create and manipulate
sounds in the studio, and then commit them to permanent storage for use
regular use in performance or on the road using a sound module."
he adds.
The company states that the ability to create custom sound ROMs opens
up new usage for their Proteus 2000 sound module. Since any sound can
be stored in the Flash memory, the Proteus 2000 is expected to become
the module of choice for touting bands who need the weight advantage that
comes with sound modules, a cost effective solution in sound contracting
where automated voice announcement and background music systems are required.
The company has also stated that they will make blank Flash ROMs available
to sound library companies looking to produce their own Sound ROMs for
the Proteus 2000, essentially making the Proteus 2000 and Ultra sampler
combination the world's first open platform for creation of custom ROM
sets.
Sean Wilhelmsen, Director of Product Planning for E-MU states, "(We)
think that several sound developers will choose to support the Proteus
2000 platform now that they can release libraries on both CD-ROM for the
Ultra samplers as well as in Sound ROM form for the Proteus 2000".
For more information
contact E-MU at www.emu.com. |
