differences between EMAX I and Emulator II?

[azone]

I've always found the information available on the difference between EMAX I and Emulator II to be sometimes lacking and sometimes contradictory.
i think this would be a good place to archive some of the facts.

1) The EMAX I uses the same DPCM mu-255 companding architecture as the Emulator II.
2) The filter in both is analog. However, the EII is based around the SSM2045 and they sound different.
3) Check out this thread as noted below in regards to 1) and 2) http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48510&p=517742&hilit=Emax+comparison#p517742
4) The EMAX I came after both the EII and EIII.

[Elmbeatz]

It's very very similar to the EII. It even has some more/improved features. BUT it just does not have THAT sound.
Nevertheless - If I was you, looking for a rack sized unit that has a similar sound to the EII, I'd definitely go for the Emax 1 rack unit. The Emax is much much much more stable than the EII.

[12bit]

The filters are vey different soundng.

I made a comparison at some point. You can hear it here:
http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48510&p=517742&hilit=Emax+comparison#p517742

Best;

Kenneth
12bit.com

[Elmbeatz]

The filters are vey different soundng.
....

Yes. - IF the filters work as they should!   

Congrats on your proper working units btw.!

[12bit]

Do you have problems with your filters ?

Kenneth
12bit.com

The filters are vey different soundng.
....

Yes. - IF the filters work as they should!   

Congrats on your proper working units btw.!

[Elmbeatz]

Do you have problems with your filters ?

Kind of - on one of my EIIs .
The other one works well though. But each time I plug it on, I hope it's still good.. 

[12bit]

Ha ha .. I understand.

All you want is to keep those old giants alive :-).

KennethA

[Chevytraveller]

I've always found the information available on the difference between EMAX I and Emulator II to be sometimes lacking and sometimes contradictory.
i think this would be a good place to archive some of the facts.

4) The EMAX I came after both the EII and EIII.

not completely correct.. the Emax was released in mid '86 whereas the EIII was launched at the end of '87, although models were scarce until '88 in reality

[juno6]

I have both.
From memory:

"Oscillators" per voice:
EII: 1
Emax: 2

Diskette:
EII: 5 1/4
Emax: 3 1/2

Max sampling rate:
EII: 27khz
Emax: 42khz

Max Memory:
EII: 1Mb (on + models)
Emax: 512kb

Max up transposition at 27khz:
EII: 12 semitones
Emax: 8 semitones

Max down transposition at 27khz:
EII: 12 semitones
Emax: no limit

Envelope generators:
EII: ADSR
Emax: AHDSR

Modulation options:
EII: less
Emax: more

Internal synthesis:
EII: no
Emax: yes (SE)

Internal Hard Disk (in HD models):
EII: 20Mb
Emax: 20Mb

SCSI:
EII: no
Emax: yes (on plus models)

Filter:
EII: SSM 2045
Emax: SSM 2047

Panner:
EII: no
Emax: yes

[H24]

Pitch Shift Technique:
EII: variable playback rate
Emax: drop/add sample with oversampling by 20 times

MIDI SDS:
EII: no
Emax: yes

Number of loops per sample:
EII: 1
Emax: 2

Monitor sampling input:
EII: yes
Emax: no

L & R outputs:
EII: no
Emax: yes

Panel controls:
EII: more
Emax: less