E-mu Announces 32-bit RFX Upgrade for Ultra Samplers

February 29, 2000 -- EMU / ENSONIQ has announced a breakthrough upgrade to their esteemed Ultra line of Emulator 4 series samplers which includes the E5000, E6400, E-Synth, and E4XT models. The upgrade is called the RFX Card, and consists of a PC board that plugs into an expansion slot inside the Ultra sampler. The RFX Card adds 32 bit effects processing, advanced 32 bit input and output mixing, preset based multi-effects and routing, and support for new the 24 bit I/0 cards, that are simultaneously being announced. The card is expected to ship in Q2 2000 with a retail price of $795 US.

First 32 bit effects processor for a sampler

The RFX card is based on a new DSP processing chip developed by EMU, called the R-Chip, and sports 32 channels of processing with 32 bit resolution. The 32/32 architecture allows the chip to perform a variety of advanced processing functions, as well as to serve as an powerful mixing and routing device due to its integrated 15 bus stereo digital mixer. The powerful RFX card supports 16 simultaneous 32 bit stereo effects and feeds any one of 15 discrete output busses. The effects complement includes 2 stereo global effects and 14 "insert" effects. Any sample or audio input can be simultaneously assigned to up to four effects busses, each with their own effects send amount, thereby facilitating surround sound output bus operation. Incredibly, this means that each sample in a bank of presets can have a distinct effects amount and output assignment routing. Output busses include 3 main busses and 12 sub-outputs that can be routed to any physical output.

"We are extremely excited about the RFX card for the Ultra line of samplers" comments CEO and President, Don Scott. "The processing power is unrivaled, the algorithms are world-class, and we believe that it will add significant value to the investment our customers have made in their Ultras, as well as providing a huge competitive advantage in our already esteemed line of samplers" he adds.

For more information, visit Emu at www.emu.com.