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.