Photo courtesy of nkrypth at r/Samplers

E-mu is undeniably the most iconic manufacturer of "Samplers for the Masses". We enjoyed the Emulator I, were fascinated by the Emulator II, and continued to admire the Emulator III and the Emax. Then something went in another direction. The Emulator IV was again the best in all aspects, but competitors, first and foremost AKAI, did the same, and another epoch came. At that time, musicians were totally consumed by the idea of producing high-quality tracks, and the charm of 8 and 12 bits was suddenly stolen by Hi-Fi machines, computers, and digital workstations. After a series of supernovae like E-synth and Ultra, E-mu did what people wanted - combined all their sample history into the final Proteus, which wasn't even a sampler, but a rompler. Creative Labs did the rest. Rest in peace, E-mu.

But now it's time to dive into the past and recover some flashbacks. Just in case you have already forgotten how fantastic those machines were. Feel free to add your opinion in comments.

Special note about the ESI-32, ESI-2000, ESI-4000. These 2U samplers are an evolution of EIII and we'll cover this topic separately.

EOS Evolution

Here's a chronological overview of the Emulator IV Operating System (EOS) versions, highlighting the key features and developments:

EOS 1.0 - Initial release version from the 1994

The inaugural release of the Emulator Operating System debuted with the original EIV sampler. At this early stage, the system was quite limited, offering only three filter types: 2, 4, and 6-pole Low Pass filters. This basic version laid the groundwork for future innovations.

EOS 1.1 - New filters

Building upon the initial release, this version expanded the filtering capabilities. Several new filter types were introduced, including band pass, high pass, and vocal formant filters. It was launched alongside the early e64 samplers, signaling E-mu's commitment to sound manipulation flexibility.

EOS 1.2 - SCSI sample dump (SMDI)

This version introduced significant connectivity improvements, adding sample dumping capabilities, E3 sample export functionality, and new solo and latch modes. A notable technical advancement was support for SCSI disks larger than 4GB, addressing storage limitations of earlier versions.

EOS 1.5 - New effects

Developed specifically for the E4K model, this version added support for the new FX board and the SoundSprint feature, expanding the sampler's sound processing capabilities.

EOS 2.0 - New filters again, Roland sample import

A significant leap forward, this release introduced 21 new filter types derived from the Morpheus synthesizer. It also added Roland sample import functionality and DOS disk support, greatly enhancing the sampler's versatility.

EOS 2.5 - SysEx and much more

This comprehensive update brought numerous improvements:

• Extensive system exclusive control
• Improved SCSI drivers
• Support for FX Option
• Roland library import
• SoundSprint feature
• 16-track multi-mode MIDI sequencer
• 4 new Z-Plane Filters
• ReCycle support
• Iomega 1GB Jaz Drive support
• Various preset edit and DSP enhancements

EOS 2.8 - E-synth and Flash RAM

Launched to support the new E-synth, this version added compatibility with Flash ROM and Sound ROM SIMM's across the Emulator 4 range.

EOS 3.0 - Workstation functionality (December 1997)

A major release that transformed the Emulator into a comprehensive music production tool:

• Upgraded on-board sequencer to 48 tracks
• Added an arpeggiator
• Introduced MIDI-synchronized LFO's and envelopes
• Implemented patch cord architecture
• Shipped with Emagic EOS Sound Diver

EOS 4.01 - Teleport to Ultra

This version elevated the Emulator 4 range with significant upgrades:

• Faster loading and saving
• ESI4000 sample import via SCSI
• Akai S-3000 and improved S-1000 format support
• .WAV and AIFF file read/write capabilities
• Support for up to 18GB hard drives
• Hard drive sleep mode
• 2 new DSP tools
• 6 additional patchcords per voice
• New LFO waveforms
• Improved MIDI response and looping capabilities

EOS 4.10 - Flash ROM creation for Proteus

Key features included:

• Flash ROM creation for Proteus 1000 and 2000 ranges
• DVD RAM drive support
• Complete Orb Drive support
• Improved SMIDI sample transfers

EOS 4.5 "R-Chip"

Introduced in early 2000, this version debuted with the R-chip 32-bit FX processor card and included Beat Munging 2.0.

EOS 4.6

Added the ability to import Ensoniq ASR-10 and EPS sounds from CD or floppy.

EOS 4.7 FAT support

The latest version, stuck in beta status, featuring the EOS FAT file system based on Microsoft's FAT32. It significantly improved file export and transfer capabilities between E4 samplers and computers.

This progression demonstrates E-mu's continuous innovation, transforming the Emulator from a powerful sampling device to a sophisticated musical workstation with each operating system update.