EMT 250 (1976)
A digital reverb processor released in 1976. It started the era of digital studio reverb.
Overview
The EMT 250 came from the German company EMT (Elektromesstechnik) and is recognized as the first commercial digital reverb unit. It came out in 1976 and replaced mechanical reverb systems with a completely electronic design that had no moving parts. It was developed with the American electronics company Dynatron and engineered by Barry Blesser after approximately two years of research and development. Only 250 units were ever produced, which is part of why it's rare and sought after.
Specifications
| Production quantity | 250 units |
| Original price | $20,000 |
| Nominal line level | +6 dBm |
| Operating level adjustment | Adjustable via analog circuitry access |
| Integrated circuits | Approximately 500 |
| RAM | 125 K bits |
| ROM | 16 K bits |
| Operating speed | 50ns per instruction |
Design
The EMT 250 was the first practical digital reverb. With no moving parts, it was rugged and resistant to shock and vibration. It used an all-discrete component design built on 7400 series logic ICs, developed with Dynatron, and it took around 500 integrated circuits to process reverb in real time.
Context
The EMT 250 brought digital reverb into professional studios. It came before later units like the EMT 251, which used the same processor core but added enhanced reflection controls. Universal Audio later released a plugin emulating the EMT 250.
Market
With only 250 units ever made, the EMT 250 is highly collectible. It debuted at $20,000, and forum discussions mention interest in buying mint-condition units for around 7,500 EUR.
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