Emulator IIIx : Upgrades and Add Ons

Factory Upgrades The E-mu Systems factory no longer provide upgrades, and there are only limited spares for the Emulator IIIx's. Users are to a large degree on their own, with some limited third party support. The factory upgrades were:

EIIIx Upgrade Price Part # Stereo analog sample inputs $495/£462 6109 8 MB Memory $495/£456 6108 Internal hard disk (120 MB) $795/£750 6105 Remote Controller Software $295 6107

Floppy Drive The disk drive is a Sony 3.5" DS/DD MP-F11W-10 (p/n ZM350), you can replace it with a variety of 3.5" IDE drives, provided you set the id to 0 (most drives ship with the id set to 1)

Maxtor 540S

Internal Hard Disk The original hard disks in the EIIIx Turbo models are rather small at around 100 - 120 Mbytes and rather noisy (being large 5.25" models). However it is relatively easy to add or replace the hard disk, if the right drive can be located. To fit a hard disk drive to a non-turbo model you need:

• The drive sits on a metal isolation plate (p/n EM457)
• HD internal SCSI cable (p/n AC357)

Tracking down a small SCSI drive (1 - 2 GB) is no longer easy, as they are no longer manufactured. We recommend using an external MO drive as they are available, reliable and quiet. The EIIIx uses narrow SCSI hard disks, and there is a compatbility list here.  more »

Operating System The latest release of the EIIIx OS is 2.10. We don't believe the Boot PROM changed, version 3892 is typical on early machines. 
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Memory  The EIIIx can be easily upgraded by the end user to the maximum of 32 MB, and this upgrade is strongly recommended. Whilst it was originally designed for upgrading at service centres, in reality it is no harder than a PC/Mac to upgrade.

The EIIIx uses up to 64 DRAM ZIP memory modules (each one is 512k bytes) which are located on the main digital board. ZIP memory modules are somewhat hard to find these days. However they can still be found :-

       Sound Logic in the USA - $197 for 8 MB.

       MicroRam Electronics in the USA - $128 per 8 MB

Remote Control Software E-mu Systems sold the EIIIx Remote Control and Sample Librarian software. This enables a Mac (once hooked up via MIDI) to control all the front panel of the EIIIx, and to catalogue and audition samples from hard disk. The software is no longer manufactured.  more »

Finding Hard Disks Locating a small SCSI hard disk is no longer an easy task. The EIIIx will format up to (2 Gbytes ?), and the OS can make productive use of all this space (the theoretical maximum is 999 x 32M = 32T bytes !). Small SCSI disks of around 1 - 2 Gbytes can be either found second hand (via Internet auctions) or brand new via surplus stock PC retailers.

Quiet Please Internal hard disks create significant noise, which is unwanted in a studio environment. Ideally hard disks should be mounted externally in a location that is away from the main mix and recording zone. However if you still want an internal hard disk (they are convenient) then choose a quiet drive.

The sound level of modern disks is often listed in the technical specifications (typically 30 - 35 dB), which can usually be found on the drive manufacturers Internet site. Alternatively look out for lower spin speeds (5400 rpm rather than 7200 or 10,000 rpm), thinner drives (with less platters) and certainly use only 3.5" rather than 5.25".