E-Mu EMAX II, Operation Manual

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Emax II operation manual
34
SETUP
1. Plug a microphone into the rear panel Sample Input jack (an instrument can also be
used, but a mic is easier to work with for now).
2. Erase the bank memory ( MASTER 4 ). This gives us maximum sampling time.
3. Set the level ( SAMPLE 1 ). The default keyboard placement will work for now, but if
you want to change it, see SAMPLE 2. Also set the sampling rate ( SAMPLE 3) . This
should be at 39 kHz; might as well leave it there for now. Check the available sampling
time (
SAMPLE 4) , which should be at least 13.4 seconds.
4. Set the threshold ( SAMPLE 5 ), arm the sampling process ( SAMPLE 6 ), and you’re
ready to sample! Speak into the mic; as soon as the level exceeds the threshold, the
display will say “sampling.” Feel free to talk away for 13.4 seconds, but if you lose
patience, press
8 to stop sampling.
5. Play the keyboard in the assigned range (lower keyboard, C1-B1) to hear the results
of your sampling.
6. Now experiment with more sampling: Try setting a particular sample length
(
SAMPLE 4 ), using forced sampling instead of threshold-sensitive sampling ( SAMPLE
7 ), assigning the sampled sound to other portions of the keyboard ( SAMPLE 2 ), and
also, practice terminating the sampling process ( SAMPLE 8 ). As long as you do not de-
activate the module, new samples will replace previous samples on the keyboard.
7. To save the sample as part of a preset, de-activate the sample module. Since memory
was cleared prior to sampling, Emax II created a preset (00) called “Untitled,” and this
is the preset that holds your new sample. Had you sampled into a bank with existing
presets, the sample would have been stored with the current preset. If you wanted to
sample into a new preset, you would have first had to create a preset (
PRESET
MANAGEMENT 3 ) in which the sample could reside.
8. Let’s try another sample. Activate SAMPLE 2 to change the current voice. Notice that
Emax II, a very polite instrument, doesn’t overwrite the existing sample without your
express permission; thus, the new sample is automatically assigned to the next higher
octave. This assignment can always be modified with
SAMPLE 2 . Also note that if
you’re ever in a position where you’re going to overwrite an existing sample, Emax II
will notify you via the display.
9. Remember, this Guided Tour is intended simply as an overview to give you a “feel”
for the sampling process. Good sampling requires skill and patience; practice!!
GUIDED TOURS
Guided Tour #5