Emu E-Synth Ultra

Advantages: great sound, great features
Disadvantages: steep learning curve

...I have used this machine for the past 4 years (and its predecessor the E64 for another 4) and rate them the best on the market. Even with all the soft sampling available nowadays, you can't substitute it for a hardware sampler for speed, ease of use and reliability. The E6400U has a great bottom end, its convertors are pretty good all round. Easy to get samples in, trimmed and ready to go once you get the hang of it ( takes about 2 hours with the plain english manual.) Its the possibilities of modulating the sample that make this machine stand out. You can control the filters, lfos, envelopes and just about anything else with any parameter, so there endless mod possibilities. In-built FX, 8 outputs, SCSI, loadable up to 128mb of ram which is enough for any track, I wouldn't part with it for anything.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: THAT filter, very easy to use, graphical editing, warm sound
Disadvantages: monophonic outputs, not much memory, takes a while to load up disks

...It comes as no surprise that most of the artists on Warp records own an FZ-1 sampler. This sampler only has a passing aquaintance with clean sounds preferring to grind everything up into a mass of Aphex Twin-esque crunching. The FZ-1 has a maximum sample rate of 32Khz and although casio claim 16 bit sampling, rumours have it that it is more like 12 bit sampling with 16 bit processing. This is what gives it the unique sound that is loved by artists such as u-ziq, Global Communications and Underworld. Once you recognise the sound you can hear it all over the Dubnobasswithmyheadman album. It is capable of producing fairly clean samples but this is not the point, if i wanted clean samples i would use my e-mu E6400. The standard FZ-1 comes with 1MB memory although this can be expanded to 4MB if you can find a dealer. 1MB is just enough... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A great product on paper...
Disadvantages: ...ruined by awful build quality

...analogue synths to get it and I didn't care what it looked like. But I cannot afford £400 for a piece of equipment that falls apart and crashes more than Windows 3.1. Novation need to start making sturdy products designed to be USED and ENJOYED. Pass over the K Station - check out the Microkorg or Nord Micro Modular instead... same product, same price, far better quality. I sold my replacement K-Station on eBay and will never buy Novation again.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful