E-mu Pro/Cussion (1986)
The E-mu Pro/Cussion is a rare digital drum synthesizer from 1986. It runs on the same 12-bit sample technology as the SP-12 and SP-1200. It has an 8-voice architecture with 32 touch-sensitive pads. Each voice carries four oscillators, a pair of analog-modeled low-pass filters and a built-in delay. Eight individual audio outputs give you real routing flexibility, and onboard memory holds up to 64 custom drum kits.
The Pro/Cussion put its weight on controllability. You could design custom sounds and tweak them in real time via MIDI controllers, with velocity, trigger rate, and tempo shaping every element of the sound. Mix Magazine (1991, p.15) described it as a module that didn't do anything in a small way, and noted over 1,000 drum and percussion sounds drawn from the Emulator-III library. Mix Magazine (1991, p.109) called it "quite a box" and a studio time-saver at $995. It also reportedly found its way onto the soundtrack of Aliens.
Fewer than 2,000 units were made, and the original list price was $1,595. Sources disagree on the interface - some say 32 touch-sensitive keys, others say pads. Production may have run from 1986 to 1988 rather than just 1986. One working unit recently surfaced listed at $1,750.
Known Specs
- 8-voice polyphony, 4 oscillators per voice
- 12-bit samples shared with the SP-12/SP-1200
- 32 touch-sensitive pads/keys
- 2-pole low-pass filter per voice, built-in delay
- 8 individual audio outputs
- 64 drum kit memory
- MIDI plus Amiga, Atari ST, and Macintosh interfaces
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