Virtuoso 2000 : 128 Voice Virtual Orchestra

Overview The Virtuoso 2000 was launched in spring 2000 as the Orchestral Module in the new Proteus "2000" range. With an unbelievable 128 voices and 64MB of samples, this takes the Proteus 2 apart ! From solo and section strings to brasss, woodwinds and percussion - its all in here! All new samples from the same symphony under ideal recording conditions. The samples took 2 years to create and develop, they were recorded from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

Expansion  The Vituoso 2000 has 2 ROM slots free for expansion. Each slot can take a 32MB ROM, either a factory sound set or a Flash ROM with sounds created in an Ultra.
E-mu Systems have launched eight sound ROMs (at $249 - $395 each):

Filters The Virtuoso 2000 has 50 Z-plane 14-pole digital filters some of which are extracted from the 197 filter types that were created for the Morpheus. Some are rather newer (e.g. TB303!) There are a wide range of filters from traditional analog, to formants and flange/phaser. If you use some of the more complex filters your voice polphony will reduce by a half.

Configuration  There are four "oscillators" called Instruments, Layers 1 - 4. They each can replay any of the 16-bit sampled waveforms, which are connected to the Z-plane filter, and then a digitally controlled amplifier(DCA) and stereo pan.

There are 2 envelope generators (one for the filter, and one for the DCA), plus a third assignable envelope generator. There are also two independent LFO's per layer, each with 17 different waveforms and they can sync to MIDI clock. Then there is a full modular patch cord facility to enable control of any of the 64 destinations, with any of the 64 sources.

Effects  The Virtuoso 2000 has a dual 24-bit effects set up, with 76 types of basic effects. Very useful, but not a substitute for a dedicated unit.

Demo Sequence Press and hold the Master and Edit buttons together to play the song demo's.

Song 1 Song 2

* 128 Voice Sample Replay
* 16-bit samples
* 18-bit DAC's
* 1U Silver Rack
* 1210 samples
* G- and H-chip based
* 50 preset Z-plane Filters
* 64 - 128 MB sample ROM
* Dual 24-bit FX processors
* S/PDIF -AES Digital Out
* 256 RAM User Presets
* 640 ROM Factory Presets
 

* Model Number 9096
* Launched Spring 2000
* Launch price was $1395
* Secondhand now $600
 

* Brochure  758KB

* User Manual
   2722KB

* Latest OS
* Various Sound ROM's
 

The new Proteus modules have space for additional sound ROM's and E-mu released a wide range of ROM's from 1999- 2001. Here is the definitive list.

* Protozoa - Proteus 1,2,3
* Holy Grail Piano
* Techno Synth
    Construction Yard
* Definitive B3
* Orchestral Sessions
* Sounds of the ZR (Piano)
* World Expedition
* X-Lead
* Pure Phatt
* Siedlaczek Orchestra
* Beat Garden
 

The Proteus 2000 has had regular OS updates:

* 1.24 November 2001
* 1.23 March 2001
* 1.21 Sept 2000
* 1.11 April 2000
* 1.10 March 2000
* 1.05 November 1999
* 1.04 September 1999
* 1.03 July 1999
 

Diagnostics Mode The Proteus 2000 has a full range of internal diagnostics, but beware they can cause speaker damage and the initilization routine is one way.

To enter diagnostics mode, power on with both cursor keys held down. There are 19 modes, which test out all the various components inside the Proteus 2000.

To re-initialilize and ERASE all user data, select Diagnostic 18 and press enter. Kapow !