E-mu Orbit (1993)

The E-mu Orbit was the company's first dedicated dance synthesizer. It came out in 1993 and runs on the same sound engine as E-mu's Ultra series samplers. It's a 1U rackmount module with 10-voice polyphony, 16-bit sound at 44.1kHz, and a 2-line LCD. It has stereo outputs and MIDI In/Out/Thru, and runs on AC power. The fact sheet lists a "unique special effects section" on top of the basic reverb and delay, plus beat-mapped loops and a drum section. Reviewers singled out the drum section, and one called it alone "worth the price of admission."

The soundset is aimed squarely at dance production, with 256 programs. Some sources list 512 preset programs, which may reflect a preset/user distinction. The unit weighs about 10 lbs and is a standard 19 inches wide. The original list price appears to have been around $700-$850 depending on the source, and one review quotes $770 retail. Sound on Sound (June 1996, p.124) covered the Orbit as E-mu's answer to the dance-oriented S+S synth boom following the success of the Vintage Keys.

Reception was warm. Contemporary reviews called it a "sounds monster" and highly recommended it for dance music. The effects were described as "a bit weak," and later users noted the sounds have dated somewhat compared to newer gear. The quality isn't quite at the level of the Ultra samplers it descended from. The Orbit's success led to the Planet Phatt, a hip-hop oriented sibling, and to a more powerful Orbit V2 with 32-voice polyphony, launched in 1996.

On the used market today, an original Orbit typically sells in the $150–$400 range. It remains a capable, affordable way to get that mid-90s dance sound, even if its rough edges are part of the charm.