E-MU Audity 2000

software on mine is v.2.01 i believe there was bugs in the v2 ,timming issues ,sound conflicts or some thing ..editting can be a headache i supose ,well its a menu job ..although to be fair emu do work logically and i find it user friendly,theres a lot of power in there , the manual is well written ,again logical so can be refered to when you get a problem.needs reading or at least skimming through a couple of times to know what you have there then you can go pressing buttons and know where find help in the book...a machine you have to work at. well worth the effort..its a good machine to learn ,use that, you can use other boxes ,,i got a bit more kit after i know lol...

poly 64 on v2--v2.01 32 if you use 12 pole filters..the effects are imho are quite good the reverbs few to choose from flangers chorus pan etc adequate for my needs ..easy to use once youve found your way around..the 16 arps once you get into it the presets 200 of them.. can be tweaked delay speed up etc easy. then the box gets musical then you can make your own user presets..as i said earlier some reviews ive read, seem to make a big mistake with this module i think its designed purely and simply as a powerfull drum machine with deep synthesizer capabilities to work with rythmns,,not as others seem to think primarly a synth with 16 arps ,,it isnt its the other way . now its easy to crack the egg..now the manual makes sence..learn the other way it could take ages to master..may even sell like some do..
full midi spec as i understand.. sys to cakewalk, cubase whatever you use for sound bank transfer..midi in out and through...etc

synth responds to how good the keyboard your using is, i use a gems2 and velocity aftertouch ,,comuter never a prob.
the sounds i like. some are wiered, efects. arps types couple of organs and synth sounds all can be tweaked.ive built a couple of piano type sounds easily.. some body said it cant done he he easily and that was a week after id just got it..not bad for a hobbyist eh ..to some the sounds can come over, boring i dont think so but factory presets normally do get a bit bland, thing is its a synth so beef them up it isnt that difficult just needs patience like owt else.its basically a very underated tech box with open possibilities powerfull..

it seems solid enough but, like all things that cost over a grand(?1000) once i wouldnt through it downstairs and id have a case round it if i get good enough to gig,..i would gig with it.. but one thing that happened once was, it factory reset for no reason so back up your work,it only happenned once ..i may have touched some buttons by mistake ..

bought second had no need to deal with ..

i would buy again if it was lost or stolen or even brakes down(if it wasnt an easy fix)first module i bought a couple of years since .
seemed to be a piece of kit that would compliment my roland juno and yamaha hs4(organ with midi in, out)and computer..first impression.sounds good later on found the manual.second impression this is gonna be deep .it is deep but unlike a lot of reviewers i use what i need to use , then build from that instead of expecting it to sing to me.. you have to work at it.i use the arps to create rythmns, as i worked out 12 months later its a rythmn moduller with a deep syntheziser to create the sounds to adapt to the beats thats why the sounds are as they are..i love it now
hobbyist user

not updated version one. i would not need 64 note polyphony anyways.
the presets sound like what they should lets go to a rave and wear yellow sunglasses and call our selfs a dj.
that aside a unique synth with its own sound lies beaneath.
editing isnt that hard unless you have add and want to twist some knobs.
goes much beyond the tweak the filter mentality of programing.
the virtual patchcords are pretty versitale.
the manual is well a manual and if you read it two or three times the layout of this synth will start to become second nature,

this synth has some cool features like the ability to send your sounds to your stompboxes and fx processors. digital out is nice to. all synths should have a digital out now. allthough i am unsure if there will be anynew hardware synths soon.
extremely good apegiator.

well it has awesome sounds its a emu.
emulator.
they pretty much wrote the book on sampling.
you could use it for most styles of electronic music but if you want it to sound like a proteus forget it. the cold harsg digital sound of its filters can be like a bucket of icewater thrown on your sleeping head.
perfect.

this synth sold for 2 grand or so at one point so it is made to be reliable.

emu is a pretty good company to deal with.
surprisingly.

for 250m bucks used. it is a steal. i would replace it.
i have lots of synths.
i am not going to list them in upper case letters.
i do not think that having tons of synths means you can program them

I have an updated version (2.O or so) with the 64 note polyphony. The factory presets are probably the most unmusical sounds I've heard - largely due to lazy progamming. You can layer/double patches up the wazoo, but the stocks don't take advantage of this. My advice is to implement at least 2 layers per patch on the presets - at least make them stereo!!!!

It IS modular - meaning there is no LFO amount knob, or Filter Env depth. Everything must be routed to EVERYTHING via the "patchcords". This is a REAL pain on a tiny LED display. The front panel control knobs don't exactly help - they can all be reassigned PER PRESET, making the silk-screened parameter names useless.

There are 4 layers per patch which you can mute as you desire to facilitate programming - but, ho-ho you can still edit a muted layer (unlike the Wavestation which only lets you edit the layer YOU ARE LISTENING TO)!! Meaning, you can tweak away on the layer you're not even hearing....duh!

If you like those 1000 piece all-white jigsaw puzzles, then this is the synth for you.

OK. The features are very good. Lots of filter options, polyphony, panning, MIDI sync, modulations etc. But just imagine someone taking your favorite synth and smashing it to a thousand pieces and have you patch every f*ckin' parameter from scratch, and you get an idea of how to program this one.

The built-in FX are kind of Digital 80's sounding.....if that's for you.

Although there's 2 "oscillators" per layer, they never actually meet - meaning all sync and ring mod sounds are fake.

It does have over-extensive arpeggiator functions which I never use. I practice Czerny, Hanon, Dohnanyi and play all my notes live.

Forget Pianos and Strings - this baby can produce wild, crazy sounds. You can probably create stuff unlike any other axe, so E-MU deserve credit here. However, I DO have problems making it stand out in a mix. It just seem to lack punch (perhaps cheap DAC converters?). I have the same problem with the E-MU ESI 4000 - sounds great solo, but disappears in a mix!

Still, it DOES get used in my studio, just not as a primary source for anything.

Well, I did spend about 2 years modifying all the presets to a point whereby they could be considered useful, only to have the unit mysteriously re-set them all!!! (Yes.....I know, back-up your work!)

I have never used it on a gig - soundtracks, yes.

To be fair, E-MU have always answered my emails with a day or two.

Depends on your music - if you're looking for an extremely versatile synth, and have lots of spare time, then you'll probably enjoy this synth. It's NOT for everyone - I think it was discontinued after a year - but it is capable of creating unusual sounds. It is NOT analogue-sounding. I have a Polivoks, various JX's and MKS's, Moogs, a Chroma Polaris, SCI Prophet 600, and would turn to them for analogue mayhem. The Audity is useful because of its' extensive layering and MIDI capabilities.

Seems straight forward and logical if you liek multi menu's

Packed with synthesis stuff , some nice modular synth blocks like quantiser and stuff and pacthcords allow a fully modular approach and if you know what your doing some mad mad fx and stuff can be had...like all emu modules its really a modular synth in a rack...

well as i said , its firstly capable of all manner of multi lfo / weirdness...but waht i really loved about this synth was its waveforms and character....sems what you get with these emu racks is really a whole host of excellent classic waveforms...i do electronica and olf lfo kind of stuff plus plaid / black dog flavour stuff and this machines great for ideas and flavour.All in all what you get with all the emu modules is really a great sample set in a complex synthesiser.Ive used many many synths over the years , many analogues but never found anything which pooled so many classic waveofrms together.......

?

Wonderfull character , instant appeal and a classic sound ...a real shortcut if your looking for certain flavours...this is what emu are good at....

i'm using software update 2.1 and i swear it makes it sound tighter"better" than before.I , can't stand the menus they can drive you NUTS!!!but overall it kicks ass when your looking for new material.

it's 64 poly,the versatility of this machine is great , you just have to know the anolog world,and its jargon.i expanded it w/ the extrme lead mod. and its cool just more to build on.

i was going to give it an 8 ....just because ,i have a few analog synths , and the analog just KILLS!!!it....sorry, but thats the reality of it.....BUT!!!!...you do have to love the combo of effects and cool arps in there....

now i can depend on it, thanks to "FRUSTRATED" above, he noticed the problem and i guess with a little motivation got this thing rocking .....so thanks to you....this buds for you man!!,......BUT...i did have the unit just seem to initialize itself .....only once ....

the computer downloaded it & the rest is history...

i guess i would because thre pretty cheap these days,....theres so much other stuff out there too....but this machine def. gave me a lot of great times.....sometimes its just the right thing you need in a song..it does i guess compare to the analog greats but....analog just has more???????......well.....its PHATTER you know what i mean....i also have .........,a SHERMAN FILTER BANK,STUDIO ELECT ATC1,QSR,JOMOX X BASE 09,KORG ES-1,MXR DELAY SYS 2,JUNO 106,AN1-X, ALESIS WEDGE FOR REALTIME ADJ. OF PARAMETERS W/ THE SLIDERS.

I'm using the original OS. The presets are initially quite decieving but it doesn't come as a shock at all. Most design teams focus on providing the user with as many sonic options as can be created, so they invariably neglect to create good presets. They're no musicians dude! And as far how one goes about editing and creating sounds, its modular. At first this architecture can be intimidating to the best of us, however as you grow more acquainted with the system, you come to realize that the design team struck gold. The manual also is quite extensive and has many graphical interpretations of what they're attempting to explain. Let the truth be known, if you're expecting some cliche conventional techno sounds, look elsewhere. I'd recommend some of Roland's toys like the SH-32. But if you seek to create some authentic estoric sounds, look no further than the Audity.

64-voice poly or 32-voice, not really sure since I bounce all my tracks to wave during post-production. The built in effects unusually are quite good. The more spectral effects are generally above average. The ambient effects, which you quickly come to be noticed in the 7 banks or presets, play a vital role in the character of the sound. No on board sequence, aside from the arpeggiator. All in all very flexible MIDI-wise.

This isn't a realistic instrument, as many of the other reviews clearly point out. Aside from classical or country music, this instrument can create a progressive twist to nearly all forms of music. Admittedly though, it performs quite well in music of the electronic variety. Very good touch sensitivity with some after-touch features. All gravy baby!

My instrument seems a bit faulty when I sequence multiple instruments at once via MIDI. I also occasionally get sounds playing non-stop when cycling through the various patches it has. I think a panic button on the instrument would have been wise to implement. I'd definitely gig with this instrument, its sure to get some booty movin.

Haven't called them yet.

All in all, I'd definitely buy this instrument if some guy stole it from me. First of cours, I'd rearrange the culprit's face. The only thing that would stop from completely rendering him physically invalid would be in his good taste in choosing the Audity over all my other gear.

My shear joy in playing this instrument far outweighs the grievances that I have with it. It helps me sweeten all my songs, regardless of the genre. Finally, if you're considering to buy this instrument, I'd ask that you first play it. This synth has its own unique qualities that shouldn't be compared to any other synth. Ain't nuttin but a chicken wing brotha!!

This is a monster synth.Its also a beauty ,so this really a knock out synth!!!.
My unit was originally fitted with OS version 1.03. E-mu send me the update to OS 2.0 version,so know I use the version 2.01.This job took some time,so check the unit's OS before buying !

The presets are of excellent quality ,as long you don't really care about natural-sounding patches.The preset patches are EXCELLENT,but -some of them- weird !!!
I want to make something clear : Audity can CREAM some VA synths I know,in every imaginable way.
The sound id agressive ,FAT,rich,and the SPDIF out [switchable to AES/EBU] helps you have perfect sound in studio.
Audity has 12-pole filters and very good digital effect unit.There are 2 effect units available.

If you are really serious about programming [take the time to read the very good manual and spend a few hours with the unit] ,you can make patches that are beyuond imagination.The 2 line display is really small,BUT this doesnt limit the easy of programming or using in any way.It just take some time to make yourself "home" .And then you it really shines ...

The Audity is also supported by Emagic's Sound Diver.

OS version 1.xx offers 32 voices poplyphony.
OS version 2.xx offers 64 voices when 12-pole filters are NOT in use.
There are 1 main out,and 2 aux outs [a total of six mono outs].The aux outs can be used as effects send-return ,for using say a distortion or overdriver effect.

The unit has 4 knobs controlling upto 12 parameters [you can define your own set].OS version 2.xx is great 'cause you can select patches by category :wanna a synth ??? set category to "syn" and all the synths are selected....

For crazy,electronicus,beat-o-matics,and weird souls out there only...
don't expect a Steinway piano patch...!!!
Weird,beautiufull and ...Unique

Oh yeah.its reliable.

Emu's support is good,but they needed some time to send me the OS upgrade from OS 1.03 to 2.00 [4 months].
You judge and decide for yourself.

if you find one ,GRAB IT !!!
Even if you aren't in beat-o-matic scene this is the tool that will make your song perfect in terms of ambience !!!
Perfect for soundtracks also !!
I love my Audity. [I also have 7 more synths,and had 2 more ...thats a total of 10 synths].Of these 10 synths [Yamaha Sy55,DX21,An1x , Emu's Proteus 1,Alesis Quadrasynth,Alesis D110,D50...] Audity is the synnth that made me creative,patches can be unique !!!!

If your familiar with a Proteus 2000, then you can operate this unit.
It is interesting that EMU obsoleted this unit less than a year after it came out!! I'm talking about the XL-1. I was upset that I purchased the Audity when it first came out, then had to wait for the upgrade, then had to shell out even more money for the Xtreme expansion, only to find I could have traded the thing in for an XL-1!!! I really thought the ROM sets were different. Nice blue color scheme though! Emu should stick with that. I have kept the unit and programmed scores of terrific sounds for it. I do wish it had more room for user patterns like the XL-1 has. Editing patches or creating entirely new ones from scratch couldn't be easier or more fun. You really don't need a computer editor. Now I realize many people reading that will scoff at me, BUT THEY JUST HAVE NEVER GOTTEN INTO PROGRAMMING EMU's WAY! Forget the other synth companies like Roland. You absolutely cannot program a JV-1080 or something without a computer. But EMU really knows how to design a user interface!! And people who bitch about the small LCD screen must need glasses or something! I have poor eyesight, but it never is a problem with these EMU screens everybody detests. I have a suggestion: Mount the unit at eye-level and sit in a comfortable seat, AND READ THE DAMN PROGRAMMING MANUAL!!! TWICE!! I'll bet most people spent a couple of hours trying to program without the manual and concluded that it's all EMU's fault for that little LCD. Don't cop out! This unit can sound so good you may not care that it's not a true analog synth. Just ask Larry Fast of Synergy! And no, I DON"T work for EMU, but I HAVE used their products going all the way back to the EMU Modular. ( THAT gives away my age!)

The unit had 32 voices of polyphony when it first came out (OUCH!) but now it's double that. sort of. If you use the 12 pole filters exclusively, then it's still only 32 voices. This is an area where the new XL-1 turbo etc., have a real advantage. That and the ability to install more ROMS. EMU has shifted the architecture slightly in the models coming out after the Audity was introduced, and these ROMs are NOT COMPATIBLE. I have heard, that you can use the ROM from the E4K "E-Synth" in place of the Xtreme ROM (The ONLY ROM that can work in the Audity). The arpeggiators are really incredible and being able to use patterns as well, just makes this unit able to single-handedly produce an entire composition by itself ( in some music genres). If you ask old-timers like Larry Fast, Vangelis, etc., (ALL Audity 2000 users to this day), if they think this unit replaces the piles of cranky analog dinosaurs they used to use, they will say MOSTLY. Your about 80% there with the Audity, then you might just need only a Nova module or maybe a JUNO or something to get you the rest of the way.

Everybody always want's to know if it REALLY has the sounds of the Audity analog monster that never really saw the light of day, in it?
Well yes. And no. I never heard what the original Audity sounded like, nor did ANYBODY else who didn't work on the design team! In reading about the voice architecture of the original Audity, I can see that it exploited the SSM and Curtis synth chips of the day. It no doubt had a sound similar to a REV 3 Prophet 5. I experimented heavliy with Curtis chips and a few SSM chips back in the late seventies and early eighties, and built my own version of the Audity (with just four voice channels instead of sixteen), and I can tell you first hand (and nobody argue with me, I was THERE) that this new Audity DOES have samples of the actual VCOs as passed through the filters, probably left open so you could shape the sound with your Audity 2000's 6 and 12 pole filters. I don't understand the present fad for going analog, these things sound close enough! You can always warm up the sound even more with a stomp box or a plug-in on your computer. And if your thing is to re-create the sound of Tangerine Dream or Klaus Schulze, this unit has you covered completely! You can even program out the velocity and aftertouch to better simulate an old analog synth.

This unit is an EMU. I've said it before, EMUs DON'T BREAK
sometimes they are in need of a software update, which takes forever sometimes.

EMU is now the very best in this regard. They really run a great shop

I have to give this unit a double plus rating. You can get one used or even new someplaces for about $350.00. You can't beat that with a stick. If you can spend more, get the XL-1 turbo and just live with the puke yellow color. I own a Novation Supernova and though it sounds fatter right out of the box, it too, doesn't sound exactly like an old analog like a JP-8 or Prophet 5. And forget about sounding exactly like a Minimoog. But so what? I've done a couple of pieces whith just the Audity 2000, adding warmth and even record scratches & surface noise with plug-ins, and have fooled my old buddies into thinking they were hearing some old unknowen synth album from the seventies! Buy this unit and you won't be sorry.

My Audity only arrived this morning so I can make little comment as I have not turned it on.

Having had a great servcie from E-Mu customer support for several years I thought I should add something in their defence.

Firslt. The V2.01 OS now available from the E-mu web site claims to fix the specific fault described in some of the reviews below. It describes this fault exactly. The upgrade can be intsalled from either a Mac or PC via midi and at no cost.

I personaly would say that E-mu's commitemt to not obsoluting it's sampler products is outstanding and does not have an equivelent in other companies in this sector. I agree that dropping items like the Audity is a shame for those that commited to the platform but if compaies like E-mu don't go where the money is they will not be around for long and none of the products will be supported or serviced. (And at least it lets me get one new for very little, sorry!).

I don't work for E-mu, indeed I live in the Uk. However, I have a number of their products which really make a diffence in my studio

Relativly easy to use - provided you have above room temperature IQ. Pretty much the standard setup - should be up and going within 2 minutes.

OS 2.0 is definelty an improvment. The arps are nice, effect OK. I added the Xtreme board and that added 32mb of ROM material. Somewhat of a pain to edit patches partly due to the 1U size - but what would you expect. Sorry to see this unit go out of production so rapidly but that seems to be the MO at E-Mu

Some of the sounds are great many are just noisy electro crud. Of the ones I did like (there are only 640 to choose from so you find something) they didn't always sit to well in a mix with other gear. The unit sounds fuller than a Yamaha CS1x but not a rich as a VA machine. The filters sound good on paper but are a little thin in real life.

Don't dance on it, you'll be fine!

I sent the unit in to E-mu for the OS upgrade and add-on board. They were very responsive and quick to get the job done. I also have an E-4 (e-synth) and can't complain about e-mu tech support.

Not a replacement for VA or even other samplers. Definetly listen before you buy. Good for dance, house, techno but not much else. Wish it has a fatter sound.

Very easy to use. The preset sounds are wonderful, editing patches is pretty easy, but it seems like you can never really get away from the original intended sound. And the manual is great, it's not Roland. :)

Feature-wise this is your standard E-Mu unit. There is space for one (maybe two?) expansion cards. Good arpeggiator, like all E-Mu units. Fairly standard.

The variety of sounds is pretty good, but all in the electronic genre. Nice drums, good leads.

UPGRADE TO v2.0! The unit isn't reliable at all without it. The arpeggiator will get stuck on, freezing the entire machine. I upgraded to 2.0 but I'd be VERY wary about doing anything live with it.

Wonderful. Upgraded mine to v2.0 for free.

This unit + the Techo Expansion card = the Xtreme Lead with the output addon.

The manual is very informative (I'm a newbie). It describes what different filters do, etc. and also does a pretty good job of explaining how to use the module. I didn't have any problems setting it up with my computer despite not having done something like this before.

There is 64 voice polyphony with the latest OS version..however if you use certain filters, etc. a patch can eat up 4+ voices. The old OS (Version 1.0, which is what I have) has problems releasing (?) voices correctly and you can run out of polyphony fairly quickly. However the new OS (Version 2.1) supposedly fixes this. (I'm a little unclear on the specifics). Anyways, I called EMU and they said that they'd do the upgrade for free, but that it would take over a month.

It has nice reverb, chorus effects...the part I REALLY LOVE about this module are the resonant filters. They give you a lot of control over the patches and are essential for anyone making trance or acid. These are preset to transmit over a certain range of midi controllers and are very easy to use through a sequencer. Also, there are knobs on the front that you can use to change filter settings on the fly. Very nice.

You can check out a song I made SOLELY with this module without making my own patches at:

www.mp3.com/ResonantF

Check out 'Boost'. It demonstrates some of the filtering capabilities and sounds of the module.

The instruments are pretty much all geared towards dance tracks. You probably don't want this module if you're doing jazz or rock, etc. The presets aren't all that inspiring (some are good) - a lot of them are repetitive. However, there's a lot of potential in making your own patches. As mentioned before, the filters provide a way of making each sound very unique - kind of like an analogue synth. They really make this module. I tried out the Yamaha CS2X, as well and like the default patches better, but I like the Audity's filter capabilities better.

Prior to getting this, I was using the SB Live sample playback to make music - and I was used to the channelized reverb/chorus on EACH track. Thus far with the Audity, I can only get it to do all the tracks or 1 of the tracks at a time. (Although you can output to 2? dry channels that have there own separate output jacks). This is kind of annoying, since I really like to drench stuff in reverb for trance but if I do all the tracks then my drums get reverbed too - which sounds ratty. I guess if I got a mixer, I could fix that problem. Maybe I'm missing something on how to use it?

Wouldn't know

Seemed pretty straightforward...I've heard some bad things and good things...I'll find out when I get my OS upgraded I guess..

I would definitely buy this again. It does everything I need and some. I got it for just $475 new too. Get this if you do trance, progressive, techno, acid, etc.

The Audity 2000's bugs as mentioned in previous reviews have been fixed in OS 2.01, and it seems to work very well now.

This review is an update from an earlier review (submitted as "frustrated"). Although it took while to find out what was happening, E-Mu did fix the bugs that were present in the 2.0 OS. They have a downloadable upgrade to OS version 2.01 free on their web site.

Now that the bugs have been fixed, it is a great unit to use. Incredible, unique, flexible sounds.

Version 2.01 is now available as an upgrade from the 2.0 O/S at the Emu wesite as a free download. Manual is good. It takes time to get the full benefit from the Audity. Amazing rhythmic possibilities, but I was able to take it out of the box, hook it up to my midi controller and get instant gratification with only minimal manual use. Personally, I like the presets.The more you read, the more you realize just what a beast you are playing with. Not too hard to edit, just read the manual and be ready for button pushes and knob turns to get to the variuos levels. Remember this synth is oriented more towards the dance electronica crowd, but with so much blending of styles your imagination and creativity are the limit.

More than enough polyphony. Effects are first rate. Xtreme upgrade is available from Emu for a reasonable price ($149.00)for even more sonic possibilities. Excellent midi control possible. On board arpeggiators make for some wild sounding rhythms.

Have only started to use the Audity. "Realistic" is an unfair moniker as this synth makes no attempt to sound as such. Sounds are mostly electronic and done very well. Onboard effects are good. Reacts well to midi and your ability to control many parameters is great. I beleive the term "modulation matrix" has been used to describe the flexability of control. Emu has done very well with this.

So far, So good.

Upgrade has been made available for free with a good explanation of how to install it. (both pc and mac) I have talked to Emu and like anywhere else some personalities are more pleasant to deal with than others, But I have always been basicially treated well.

Nothing else I have is like it. I have some other more "realistic" sample playback synths, some virtual analogs and some softsynths. Each for its own strenghts. This piece stirs creativity in a way other synths cannot. If it were lost or stolen I would replace it. It seems to do so much for such a little blue box. If you like to explore with multi-rhythmic grooves get one. You won't be disappointed.

Deep, but a VERY thorough manual.

Like all synths it has strengths and weaknesses. With proper programming this thing is a juggernaut...Filthy raucous squeals ect...
Very unique sound.

There is a system bug with the Audity2000 that
I believe is constrained to the 2.0 operating system.
EMU is aware of this problem. I want to share it with as many
other people as possible. I encourage you to test out
your Auditys with the process below to see if you encounter
the problem.

1) Start any MIDI sequencer (Cakewalk, Cubase, Logic, etc)
2) Assign two channels to the Audity. (doesn't matter which, 1-16)
3) On Channel 1, set it to the 'Mantis' preset drumkit.
4) On Channel 2, set it to the 'Angelika' preset vocal pad thing.
5) Okay, now write a short one-bar drumloop on Channel 1,
keep it simple. Do a kick-snare thing, but add a bunch of
sixteenth note hihats in there. tiktiktiktiktik, etc
6) Now, copy and paste that one bar you just wrote onto Channel 2,
so that you have BOTH channels playing the same thing.
7) Finally, either loop that one bar so it keeps playing over and over,
or copy paste it so that it goes on for about 25 or so bars.

What will you encounter?
If you listen (especially with headphones) that for -no reason at all-
you will notice that some sounds are being panned hard left and
hard right. Especially those hi-hats you made.

Now why did I choose Angelika and Mantis? It's easy to hear
what's going on with these two patches playing together, but the
problem DOES arise in other combinations of patches. Sometimes
panning is the result, othertimes, filtering changes.

I have tried this on about five different Auditys. All the 2.0
units I tried had this problem. I tried a 1.0 Audity and couldn't
get it to reproduce the problem, so I'm thinking it's something
they did in the 2.0 OS that screwed it up.

Now I had said that EMU knows about this. That's right.. I called
them, spoke to a tech, and the tech was able to reproduce it himself.
The 'offical' word from EMU is that they are now aware of the problem,
fixing the problem would require a new hardware OS upgrade. And they
"aren't sure what I priority it is for them to fix it"

So it seems they have forsaken their Audity owners, so that they
can work on and market their next four modules.

Please! Complain, email them. Be respectful, but be demanding.
They owe it to us to fix their bugs of the products we buy from them.

EMU SUPPORT PHONE : 831/438-1921
EMU SUPPORT EMAIL : support@xxx.xxx

Calling will be better. I have found that it is not a big
tech support. Everyone with an Audity, try to make the problem
happen on your unit. If it happens, talk to EMU. If not, hm...
and if you can get the problem to happen on a 1.0 Audity, let
me know.

good luck,
wolfe@xxxx.xxx

See above...I can't seem to get a definative answer from these guys.

Great synth..no, really,it's a great synth. Just fix the bugs EMU...You won't get a lot of repeat customers if you don't support the ones you have(even if not many people bought one).

This is the Emu Audity 2000 with OS version 2.0. Presets sound good and are very diverse. I'm not aware of a computer patch editor for the Audity, but it's not necessary. The menus and buttons are very well designed. It's easy to modify/create patches.

Polyphony is sometimes stated as 64 voices, other times as 32-64 voices depending on types of filters in use. The unit holds lots of patches (512 user patches plus 640 preset patches). There's a "patch cord" system for editing, which makes some things very flexible and easy. (For example, you can make a patch cord going from an LFO to the patch's volume. This will make the patch fade in and out over time.) It has some built-in effects, but the patches sound almost as good with no effects. The only thing really missing is the ability to create drumkits from scratch. The closest you can get is by making a 4-level keyboard split with different existing drumkits.

This rating is tricky. The Audity actually sounds very good, when it works. There's a problem, though, with OS version 2.0. If you play certain combinations of patches together (as tracks in a song), the Audity messes up completely and requires a reboot before it will play correctly again. Sometimes it will skip 1 note out of 20, or it will pan 1 note out of 20 hard to the side. Sometimes it will change the entire tone of a patch, so it sounds tinny or faint.

This is a major problem if you're planning on actually using the Audity to write music. It basically means that if you're lucky and pick the right patches for your song, your song will be fine.. but if you pick the wrong patches, your song will skip notes, or occasionally randomly pan notes, or change tonal quality, all without you having any way to stop it (besides rewriting your song to use different sounds).

This problem with the Audity made me return my first one, thinking it was defective. I got a new one, anxious to write some songs. It turned out that the new Audity had the same problem. And since then, two other people have heard this same problem, on 2 other new Audity modules with OS 2.0.

If you have an Audity with OS 2.0 to test, try using MANTIS and Angelika (preset bank 3 patch 39 and preset bank 2 patch 52). If you play these two patches at the same time in a song or from a controller keyboard, you'll notice that every once in a while (maybe one time every 25 notes) a drum hit gets panned hard to one side. There are many other combinations that cause various similar problems.

See the expressiveness/sounds section. Can't depend on it - it doesn't correctly play the notes that get sent to it. I wouldn't even consider using it at a gig with the current problems. I find it hard to believe that Emu released a module without noticing such a major bug.

So far I've emailed Emu twice, and got a short (one-sentence) response the first time. Someone I know talked to them on the phone, and has been waiting about 2 weeks for a reply. I'm still waiting for a response to my second email. Unfortunately we don't know whether or not they're actively looking into the problem. If we get some positive resolution, I'll post the results...

Since I bought this unit, my music writing has slowly ground to a halt. It has very nice filters and inspiring sounds, but with the current playback glitches (see comments) it's unusable. It keeps giving me great ideas to start songs... but I get three measures written and I notice that the Audity is messing up again. To reiterate, this isn't a single defective unit... it has happened on every Audity 2000 w/OS 2.0 that I and the people I know have tried.

Software Version 2.0.
The Audity 2000 was already an amazing instrument; with the 2.0 upgrade, the sound is even more wide-ranging and spectacular. This is truly an instrument for the next century! The default presets are profoundly richer with the upgrade, since the reverb is beautifully spacious and detailed now, better than most present in a built-in fx unit for a synth.
Although the LCD display is small, E-Mu has one of the most intuitive and simple interfaces out there. With some experience, you can learn how to handle the "virtual patchcord" modulation matrix on this thing with ease, and a number of enhancements have been made to the interface to simplify getting to various functions. Still, a patch editor would help; good support, for example, from E-Magic's Sounddiver (E-Magic is waiting on the 2.0 upgrade version to create support for the A2K), would be desireable.

The manual is a benchmark for the kind of manual every synth maker should supply with their units. The Audity 2000 is an advanced instrument, in many ways not unlike the Nord Modular, and the manual provides excellent explanations of the unit's unique features. The Z-Plane filters, for instance, are very wide-ranging and dynamic in capability, and learning how to morph them in real-time with the many envelope options requires careful understanding of the well-written manual.

The only reason the A2K is at all difficult to use is that it is a very deep synthesizer; almost nothing out there, save the Nord Modular, will give you as much deep editing ability built in, with as extensive a modulation matrix, as this thing. That all takes time to absorb, but once you've learned, you'll see how intuitive the design really is.

Polyphony was originally 32, but is now 64 voices if you are using anything other than the 12th-order (!) Z-Plane filters (there are 50 different filter types in the Audity 2000). You can layer up to 4 Instruments in a Preset, and each Instrument is essentially a separate sample. You can have all 16 MIDI channels playing back simultaneously, with 4 instruments per channel so, for example, if you maxed out all the Instruments for the 16 Presets in Multi MIDI mode, you'd only be playing one note at a time using 64 different Instruments; or, alternatively, if you were playing one Preset with 2 Instruments, you'd be able to play 32 voices simultaneously (i.e. hold down 32 keys). This is important to pay attention to when working with the Audity's built-in advanced arpeggiator (see below for more on that).

Although the A2K is a synth module only (it would be fantastic as a Waldorf Q-style keyboard unit, with 60 knobs, though!!), it contains a large number of different velocity curves you can choose from, so that you have lots of fine control over the unit's responsiveness to keyboard velocity. You can have the Audity be very compressed or very wide-range dynamic in its response to keyboard input; there's very fine control over this.

The built-in effects (2 effects units, basically) have gone from "okay, they're there" to "wow! wow! wow!" in the Version 2.0 upgrade. E-Mu has made the effects much more integral to the synth, and the presets really showcase the unit's variety in ways they didn't in the the 1.0 version with the careful integration of the beautiful new reverb. The reverb is simply astoundingly beautiful in Version 2.0; there were always lots of reverb options on the unit, now the differences are very clear. You have the choice of 40 different effects, and one of the substantial new additions to Version 2.0 is that you can now use the Patchcord modulation matrix with the two effects units. So you can basically connect up various effects parameters in interesting parallel or series ways. Like the Waldorf instruments, and like Acess' Virus, this has the potential of providing an incredible amount of flexibility and sound sculpting capability to an already almost overwhelmingly capable unit.

The Audity 2K now accepts the XTREME ROM, which is basically the Planet Phatt and Planet Orb modules on one ROM. For those who know and like both of the above, a huge value for the current price.

MIDI capability is solid, especially since there's nothing in the way of lag with 16 channels going on with full and independent arpeggiation on each. With the four knob controllers on the front being completely reassignable to any MIDI CC, you have maximum MIDI flexibility. You couldn't do any more in this area than the Audity 2000 provides.

As for the onboard arpeggiator, nothing out there touches the A2K in this area; not only can you manage separate arpeggiation for each of the MIDI channels, but you have full control over the patterns you can use. There are 100 built-in patterns, and 100 user-editable patterns, and pattern-editing is quite simple and versatile. Anything you want to do here is possible. Only the Nord Modular and Novation Supernova are anywhere near competitive in this area, and both have substantially less on offer than the A2K.

Realism should not be a goal for the owner of an A2K; it is a 21st-century instrument, dedicated to making sounds which have never been heard before, and thus is not a sample playback instrument in style. For example, some of the weirdest tonal sounds you can make will result from playing with short percussion loops -- not immediately obvious, but an example of the advanced approach to music synthesis you have to take to work with this instrument.

All that being said, however, there are a number of presets which make it clear that with some care you can do a full emulation of a number of classic synths, from Oberheim Matrixes to CS-80 strings to Prophet VS leads and more. The presets showcasing the "VA" capabilities of what is essentially an entirely different instrument make clear that the Audity is very competitive in the "VA" arena.

Using the instruments is not easy; you have to change the way you think about using the samples in this unit, not just play them back. Using the Z-Plane filters and envelopes and LFOs (LFOs have _17_ different styles of oscillation available....!) on the samples, looping them with the loop options for the envelopes, cutting them with the gating and modulation processor options, all takes time to understand. When you realize that you're actually working with an instrument that has capabilities that are really more typical of a modular synth _and_ a sampler, yet is neither of those _nor_ a simple sample playback synth, you're finally on the way to realizing what kind of instrument you really have.

The Audity 2000 does advanced music well. Not just simple rock, classical or dance, but truly experimental music. It's good for rock, good for dance and trance and (with the XTREME ROM especially) _really_ good for trip/hip-hop and acid jazz, but what it offers goes way beyond those categories. It would be an especially good addition for anyone doing movie soundscoring, since its combination of strange samples and massive control allows for really interesting additions to the typical scoring repertory.

The onboard effects are now SPECTACULAR with the version 2.0 OS, as indicated above. Lots of variety, lots of richness _and_ detail in the reverb especially, a difficult balance to achieve. No muddiness in sound, and the characteristic default "edginess" of the 1.0 instrument has been rounded out nicely by the massive improvement in the reverb section for 2.0

The instrument is very lively in reaction to play, but with the built-in arpeggiator, it's also an excellent compositional tool. You can use it for leads, bass, etc. but working with its percussive/rhythmic/tonal focus means going beyond the usual division into bass/drums/lead.

I had to return my first unit due to a heat-related hardware failure (it happens, it's not a perfect world). E-Mu support has been very good in response to issues; I got very prompt and decisive phone support the next day after bringing a minor problem with my specific update process to E-Mu's attention.

E-Mu has been patient, friendly, has allowed access to people with lots of experience in the company for a nobody like me, and has gotten the right person to address the problem to me in record time. I am very satisfied with their customer support at this point. The long time between the A2K's release and the OS2.0 upgrade apparently had to do with factors beyond E-Mu's control (as does the nature of the upgrade process), but the amount of decisive and reliable improvement offered with this free upgrade should make anyone who takes advantage of it feel almost guilty for getting so much for free.

If lost or stolen or broken, I would replace it immediately; I'm almost considering getting another one as a back-up unit.

I can't imagine anything more I could want from this unit, except perhaps for some more string-oriented samples and/or filter algorithms. I would consider a PC-based editor but I hate the idea of being reliant upon a buggy computer for my music-making.

I would rate this as one of my two favorite instruments. I hope I can keep it running for many years. I hope that E-Mu has the opportunity to make a next generation of it, perhaps with a 4-line LCD as the only serious interface improvement. And more knobs. :)

This is my second review of the Audity. I hope this is allowed, but I know it a lot better now, so I thought it would be useful to give a more complete picture....... Still using version 1 software, seems ok to me. The presets sound pretty thin as I said before, but the good news is that for a 1U synth it's incredibly easy to tweak. Just playing with the huge number of basic voices can change any preset quickly into a killer patch. Everything is a quick twist of the knob away. Compared to my Superbass station this is a delight to use. Manual's not bad either, though I only needed to use it for the first week.

I said before that I don't often give 10's but I'm afraid I have to give this full marks. Taking into account the low price, this is just too good. 32 voices on 16 channels, 16 arps with user patterns and quantise functions. Now most people probably wonder what they'd use them all for and so did I. Try selecting a percussion patch, and dialling in the arp, then scanning through the patterns. Then scan the keys. All sorts of percussion can be added from hihats to congo beats to nifty little snare shuffles. Then try the same with a pad. Great for thickening up your track. Purists will be glad to know that this thing won't write your song for you, but it's damn good at adding that little extra that your tune's been waiting for. The filters are amazing, so powerful and varied (there are dozens of preset filters, with Freq and Q control) plus rez and cut-off etc on the front panel. Last but not least, virtual patchcords to feed almost anything to anything and old-timers will understand the power of this even better than I do. Seems like I could be playing with this thing for years....

ok like I said before the presets are pretty weak, but I've already made dozens of great noises from basses to pads to screaming leads. It's a digi synth so it can't compete with the very best out there, but it's still very capable of blowing your doors off. Be warned, though, this is for Techno or DnB only, there are almost NO general-type sounds unless you make them yourself.

It's been fine so long as I switch off the front panel before the main power, otherwise loss of user presets(basic commonsense but took me 2 weeks to suss THAT out). There is some doubt in my mind about E-mu's long term support for this product due to it's poor sales. Mind you, they seem a bit iffy about long term support for everything,(or is it me?)

Again, they promise expandable Rom, extra presets etc, but don't hold your breath. This is E-mu, and their CS department is way behind their designers....

Lots of people chuck 10's around like confetti, but this really IS fantastic value. For the cash-strapped techno hound this has got to be the one. It could be used as the only synth in that kind of small studio, or would work even better coupled with a good monosynth/lead and a drum machine or sampler. Maybe it'll never sound like a Supernova, but this is LESS THAN A GRAND.

I've had the Audity for a month now, and it's really an easy synth to get into..... with 600 presets, you can get cracking making tunes straight away. I've only got into the basics of patch editing (I'm looking forward to getting to grips with what appear to be very strong/versatile filters. Using Software version 1, and there's an upgrade out soon but that'll have to wait.

Features are where this box really scores. 32 voices with 16 channels of sound, 5 banks of patches. And then there are 16 arps, 1 for each channel. What's more, the factory patterns are really quite good (there are 200, that's twice as many as on the Super Bass Station for example) plus 100 slots for user patterns. Each pattern can be "quantised", and sub-divided etc, locked to midi or otherwise. It really is so easy to make "dancy" noises.

At this stage I have to base my rating on the presets, cos I've still to create any killers of my own, and this is where the Audity loses some points. Some of the pads, leads, bells etc are very good. Some, however, are crap. Bad presets? Who knows, many synth makers seem to rush their presets, not really getting the best out of the box. The fact that about half the sounds are reallly cool leads me to think that E-mu haven't really done the synth justice with the others. E-mu's web site has a page for the Audity marked as "Bonus Presets....coming soon"......maybe they'll be a bit better programmed. Some of the sounds are quite digi, and have a narrow octave range, you know they sound great in the middle frequencies but if you go down the keyboard you just get a buzzsaw, and if you go up you get a casio. Lets not be too harsh though, there are still LOADS of great sounds. Add to that some pretty good FX, and the fabled z-plane filters and you see that all is in fact not lost.

It's reset itself a couple of times, I don't know if this will turn into a bug....

no contact yet...

I like this synth, and I think there's a lot to work with in making new sounds....If I lost it I'd buy it again, particularly at the present price. I use it with a QSR and a Super Bass Station and it complements them very well. It helps me enormously, particularly in adding extra rhythm to a track. I LOVE the arpeggiators, they could even be used on their own to make tunes so why would anyone ever need a groovebox with this on the market ? As a straight synth it has limitations, basically because it's not analog. But as long as you don't want to replace your Nord with it then I think you'll be impressed. Some of the presets are, however, a bit dodgy. The only thing it lacks are MORE KNOBS, which is the way of it for most rack synths. Ah well....

Very easy, especially for people familiar with EMU synths. However, it could be organized a little better (I've never been a huge fan of EMU's menu/rotator thing -- nothing beats a big LCD)

FEATURES: Awesome. You know what's in it -- visit the EMU website.

Sounds: Awesome. I love it. I haven't had this much fun with a synth since my first Nord Lead. This synth has that special quality that makes you want to make music. Sure it has some limitations -- especially the genre -- but it really is worth the money.

No problem so far, and I'm, sure it lives up to the EMU standard.

Don't know -- never had a problem with an EMU machine. I did have one contact with customer service for upgrading my Audity and I was impressed.

Absolutely replacement material if I lost it. I liked it so much I just bought a Proteus 2000 to match. This unit is a 10+. Remember when the Nord Lead came out? This had almost the same impact on me.

Absolutely smoking synth here folks!!! This thing is simple as hell and it sounds great---u get to play with filters and movement setting from knobs located on the front of the box----the presets are easy to edit this way and sound absolutely stupendous

The feature list is where this synth shines and why I bought it!!! 32 note polyphony -over 16 multitimbral parts with arpegiators and clockable LFO's on each of the 16 channels. The key here is value....I looked and was deciding between the AN1X, the Nord Lead, the JP8000---these are great--but even the best of them maxes out over four channels. This synth has comparable sounds and a hell of a lot more features---certainly better value for the dollar!!!

The sounds here make this puppy shine---The leads are gritty---the basses are fat and the pads are ultra smooth!! It aint all goofy techno shit here either--there are some nice drum and general synth patches---this thing is a real work horse. The effects are extremely transparent---many times u wont even notice they are there---unlike the drowning AN1X----theres just something about the sound here---oh yeah--did I mention there are 800 presets---yup thats right----800---now thats a selection I am happy with!!! It is simple to edit or mutate any of these patches to make them your own!!! Combine them over a couple of channels and get super fat sounds---yup--this is great!!!