emusonacid!

Hello all.

I just acquired a lovely e6400 Ultra running 4.61, with an internal HD. I have a decision to make!

Shall I upgrade to 4.7?

I don't have an RFX card, so my primary reason for upgrading would be for the file system. I already own a Jaz drive and plenty of disks. I could load my emu CD's into the unit by transferring them to Jaz from the PC, then copying them to the internal HD via the SCSI Jaz. Otherwise I'll need to purchase an external SCSI CD drive.

I have two major reservations about the upgrade. First, I am against beta software on principle. Second, my mind has been poisoned by the following post, in which someone lists the known defects of 4.7. One of these is supposed to be "random loud outbursts". I work with headphones a lot, and the thought that someday, just maybe, I'm going to have my ears blown out, is a real obstacle to creativity to say the least. The post is here:

http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=28610

On the other hand, someone on this site posted that 4.7 was fine and that the problems related primarily to RFX cards.

Can you weigh in please? Has anyone had such a problem? Thanks in advance.

Scott

you need only 4.7
if you have the RFX32 Card and
if you need to control the Res. in Realtime.

otherwise stay on 4.6

The crackle /burst ist just Digtal - Summing bug.
Just reduce the whole gain Gain or and the Vol of your Parts.

Are these subtle bursts of digital summing noise, or loud (i.e. dangerous) bursts? Do they only occur if you are really pushing the levels?

scottylad wrote:Are these subtle bursts of digital summing noise, or loud (i.e. dangerous) bursts? Do they only occur if you are really pushing the levels?

It´s simple Digital overload. Try it on a devise in your choise DAW/DAT what every and check out what happends.

When you have one Signal/Preset/Sample wich is already normalized ( 0db ) its no Problem.
If you summend more than one of this (0dB )Signals to one output you summend also the dbA.
This can also happend if you play a normalized Sample Polyfon . Maybe 16 Voice String Pad - so you get in the most of the cases 16 x 0.3 db or what every you have on Signals.
Normaly Sampler/Rompler know this , or /and have an Value/Parameter in the Master/Menu to Setup this. E MU also ;-)
In 4.7 they forgot it .
So you can´t see it what realy happends inside this Digital Summing pass. So you have to controll it by yourself and you ears.

Edit: See also Master - Setup - I/O - Headroom/Boost.

I don't think you'll encounter the "outburst bug" without the RFX, Scottylad.

With the RFX card installed, the Multimode screen gives you the options of routing via MAIN/BUS 1-12 or "Mixer" (*). Do not use MAIN/BUS 1-12. Do all your routing through "Mixer". Since working like this, I haven't experienced the "outburst bug".

(*There is also a "Voice" setting, but personally I never use it.)

hi
If you want the ability to transfer a large amount of sample data both ways you need your ultra booting up in 4.7 (allows your sampler to talk to FAT formatted drives) in order for the jaz/zip/HD format to be accessable to your computer PC or MAC (these machines will not read EOS format.)
I use 4.7 with no problems but if I started to experience any glitches I would move between 4.61 and 4.7 as needed.
It would only take about a min to roll back to 4.61 so what is your problem with giving it a go.
It will improve your creativity x10 if your using a computer to chop edit process reloop and generally mangle your sounds.
Hope this is helpful.

Thanks everyone for your answers.

Jahfunk, you have me intrigued by your statement: "It will improve your creativity x10 if your using a computer to chop edit process reloop and generally mangle your sounds.". Although you are doing a lot of editing on the computer, you still transfer your audio back to the e-mu. What's the advantage for you - is it THE SOUND (which is why most of us are willing to deal with the inconveniences of shuttling files around with old SCSI technology - to a 3U rack unit no less), or are there sample-manipulation or real-time control features of the emu that you find unique?

I'm curious as to what software you use to edit your samples? And do you find that the features of the e-mu in regards to relooping, munging, etc. aren't enough for your needs?

Eager to hear your $.02.

Hi scottylad
I love the filters and real time control of the emu.
Beat munge is kind of cool but limiting.
Try using recycle to edit loops with this you can quickly ajust tempo gate time and pitch for each hit then save as a loop or as seperate hits with a seperate midi file for the groove.
Soundforge will allow good visual editing and processing, sonic decimator is a cool plug-in that transforms samples into crunchy glitched out heaven, but there are loads of great plug-ins that you can use within soundforge.
So the combination of on-screen editing with the advantages of an incredible sampler are the reason for my working method.
I always remember the analogy of "Using a machine with a small display can be like trying to paint your hall through the letterbox", so if I can free up time by seeing my edits onscreen then this seems to make sense to me.
I get the best of both worlds.