Audity 2000

Digital Rhythmic Modular Synthesis

Overview The Audity 2000 is a 32 voice (64 voices with OS 2.0) multi-timbral sample based synthesizer module that takes the Proteus concept to the maximum. It competes directly with the new generation of virtual analog synthesizers, but uses samples rather than models to create awesome sounds. This module is for creating cutting edge, moving and flowing analog sounds, made possible by the Z-plane filters and an ace 16 channel arpeggiator. The total number of voices is determined by the strength of the filter type chosen. Simpler 6th order filters enable 64 voices, complex 12th order filters reduce the polyphony to 32 voices. This is one cool synth !

The Audity 2000 was formally launched at the Winter NAMM in January 1998, and discountinued in Spring 2000. If you want one new, then just buy an Xtreme Lead, it has all the same samples as the Audity 2000 as well as the Extreme ROM expansion board.

Industrial Design The Audity 2000 was the first in a new range of modules by E-mu Systems (the Proteus 1000 and 2000 ranges). To create a leading edge design E-mu partnered with a fellow Scotts Valley company, IDE Inc. - who specialise in cutting edge industrial design (e.g. the PalmPilot IIIc).

IDE's industrial designers created and render more than a dozen potential design solutions for the Audity 2000 in 1997. They colloborated with the E-mu Systems development team, and used the same design software (Pro/ENGINEER). This software was also used to provide design control throughout the Audity 2000's mechanical development. IDE have been design partners with E -mu Systems since 1994, starting with the ESI32 and including the Emulator 4 and Ultras, and the E4K.

Why a Blue Audity? Well the Audity 2000 blue is the same colour that was used in the early E-mu Systems products, most notably the Emulator I. The Audity name was originally used in the late 1970's by E-mu Systems as the name for their first digitally controlled mega analog synthesizer.

Expansion The Audity 2000 has 16MB of 16-bit samples and can be upgraded with one additional 16MB SIMM. There is only one expansion ROM from E-mu Systems.

You cannot add the P2K sound ROM's into the Audity 2000, as they conflict with the presets within the module. You can use the original EOS Sound ROM's though (Phatt/Orbit and E-synth).

Filters The Audity has Z-plane digital filters (one for each voice), E-mu Systems have provided 50 different types to work with, ranging from flanges, to formants, to the usual 4 pole low pass.

Configuration This module implements a modular analog synthesizer - digitally. There are four "oscillators" called Instruments, Layers 1 - 4. They each can replay any of the 16-bit sampled waveforms, which are connected to the Z-plane filter, and then a digitally controlled amplifier(DCA) and stereo pan.

There are 2 envelope generators (one for the filter, and one for the DCA), plus a third assignable envelope generator. There are also two independent LFO's per layer, each with 17 different waveforms and they can sync to MIDI clock. Then there is a full modular patch cord facility to enable control of any of the 64 destinations, with any of the 64 sources.

Effects The Audity 2000 has a dual 24-bit effects set up, with 76 types of basic effects. Very useful, but not a substitute for a dedicated unit.

Version 2.0 (# 9096) On August 19 1998, a few months after launch, E-mu Systems released Version 2.0 which contains many of the new Proteus 2000 features plus support for the Audity XTREME Sound ROM. This version was a free software upgrade for owners who purchased their Audity before October 31st 1998. After that it was a $199 upgrade. This was an important software development for the Audity and the forthcoming Proteus 2000/1000 range. It enables software updates to be sent to the module over MIDI. This enables software upgrades to be distributed over the Internet.

Version 2.01 A minor bug release with one major change. No hardware modifications are needed. The upgrade ensures that the filter resources used for 12th order filters are freed correctly. This had caused voices to intermittently not sound at all. If the voice was stereo or chorused this could sound like hard panning, since only one channel of the pair was audible.

Version 2.0 Features This version adds a set of exciting features. If you have an older Version 1, contact E-mu Systems for the upgrade.

• DFA (Dynamic Filter Allocation), allowing for up to 64 voices of polyphony. The Audity 2000 now functions in a 64-voice mode. Layers' using 6th order filters use one voice and layers using 12th order filters use two voices.
• Sound Navigator - allowing you to search your presets by category. You can even create your own categories.
• Filter and Auxiliary envelope repeat
• 9 new LFO Waveforms
• New FX Patch Cords
• An additional FX send
• FXB Digital delays now can be locked to MIDI clock (example; delay = 1/8 notes)
• Four new real-time controller sources I - L
• Tempo offset per preset, (1/2x or 2x)
• Solo Layers function
• 256 new RAM preset locations
• Edit All layers function
• Copy Bank function
• Randomize Preset function
• 15 Multi Setups
• 12 user tuning tables (11 more)

Verdict The Audity 2000 (especially in Version 2 guise) was received with very good reviews. At the original price of £1300 it was looking like an ace synth but expensive. At the revised RRP of just £649 - it was excellent value for an outstanding synthesizer.

Factory Demos Demo Sequence Press and hold the Master and Edit buttons together to play the song demo's.

Xtreme Sound ROM 16MB of waveforms from the Planet Phatt and Orbit Modules (922 waveforms), along with 256 new presets and 100 new arpeggiator patterns.