Emulator II © 1984 E-mu Systems.
The E-mu Emulator II was a landmark 8-bit digital sampling keyboard that brought professional sampling technology to a broader range of musicians. Developed by E-mu Systems, it featured 8-bit logarithmic sampling, analog resonant filters, velocity-sensitive keyboard, and floppy disk-based sample storage. Compared to its predecessor, the original Emulator, the Emulator II offered improved audio quality, greater memory capacity, and more advanced sound-shaping capabilities, making it one of the most influential samplers of the mid-1980s.
The Emulator II was one of the first widely used professional samplers, helping define the sound of mid-1980s pop, film, and electronic music.
Its 8-bit sampling system gave it a distinctive gritty yet musical character that remains highly sought after today.
The instrument used analog Curtis filters (CEM chips), which allowed samples to be processed with warmth and expressive resonance.
It supported floppy disk-based sample loading, which was revolutionary at the time but extremely slow by modern standards.
The Emulator II was widely used by major artists and producers in the 1980s, especially for orchestral hits, choirs, and cinematic textures.
It helped establish the sampler as a central tool in modern music production, alongside competitors like Akai and Fairlight systems.
The keyboard was large, expensive, and primarily aimed at professional studios rather than home users.
Today it is considered one of the defining instruments of early sampling history and a cornerstone of 1980s electronic sound design.