E-MU Proteus 2000 (1999)
A 1U rack-mount sound module with 128-voice polyphony and real-time control over vintage keyboard and orchestral sounds.
Overview
The E-MU Proteus 2000 is a 1U rack-mount or tabletop sound module released in 1999. It was designed for composers who wanted a versatile, expandable hardware sound source. It's built on the Audity 2000 architecture and carries a 32 MB onboard sound library of classic vintage keyboard and orchestral sounds. It has 128-voice polyphony and dual 24-bit effects, and it was marketed as a powerful tool for demanding musical applications. The front panel has real-time knobs for adjusting 12 parameters on the fly.
Specifications
| Product type | Sound module |
| Form factor | 1U rack or tabletop |
| Release year | 1999 |
| Polyphony | 128 voices |
| ROM size | 32 MB |
| Sample rate | 44.1kHz |
| Processor | 32-bit |
| MIDI I/O | 2 sets (32 total channels) |
| Analog outputs | 6 (including 4 sub) |
| Digital output | S/PDIF |
| Effects | Built-in dual 24-bit effects |
| Real-time control | 12 front-panel knobs |
| Expansion | Flash RAM (rewritable) |
| Model number | 9094 |
Design
The Proteus 2000 is based on the Audity 2000 platform and built as a 1U rack-mountable unit. The front panel has real-time control knobs for shaping sound right away. Sound expansion uses rewritable flash RAM, which was a rare and valuable feature at the time.
Context
The Proteus 2000 is part of the Proteus series, alongside models like Mo' Phatt, Virtuoso, and Xtreme.
Market
Rewritable flash RAM chips for the Proteus 2000 are considered rare and highly sought after. Users describe them as "like gold dust". Original pricing varied between $204.70 and $299.00. Recent resale listings show units from around $68 to $156, depending on condition and included accessories.
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