Manufacturer's Description for Emagic ES2 Synthesizer (Macintosh)
Emagic Synthesizer 2 - The Future is Now, Inspired by 30 Years of Synthesizer Development
With the ES2, a very special instrument is available to Logic 5 users. Drawing from the past to redefine the future, its extraordinary synthesis engine delivers exceptional tonal quality in all registers and a complex voice architecture provides extensive sonic possibilities. Its ergonomic user interface and sheer power will inspire new creative heights.
Able to combine the full-bodied energy of analogue systems with the shimmering detail of glistening digital tone generation, the ES2 owes its enormous sonic wealth to an unsurpassed palette of in-demand synthesis techniques. It handles the warm subtractive synthesis of classic analogue synthesizers with the same ease as it does popular digital synthesis techniques such as Vector Synthesis, Wavetable Scanning and Frequency Modulation (FM). The clearly laid-out structure, the well-devised construction, and aids such as Tool Tips, put this enormous potential quickly and easily at your disposal. If needed, the intelligent random sound programmer with selectable destinations can be used to supply fresh ideas. And, thanks to the adjustable strength parameter, these can either be radically new sounds or subtle alterations, at your command.
Use up to 32 ES2 simultaneously, depending on the Logic version and computer power available. Each ES2 has 32 voices, each offering 3 especially flexible oscillators, 2 filters, and extensive modulation possibilities. Select Unison, and layer up to 32 voices for huge, imposing sonic monuments. Processor optimizations for modern computers ensure maximum possible performance.
Powerful Oscillators
In addition to the classic triangle, square, sawtooth, and noise waveforms, each of the three oscillators in an ES2 voice can generate 100 digital waveforms. Wavetable Scanning without any audible steps determines which of these digital waveforms is heard. This can be dynamically modulated in realtime to provide enormously animated textures. Add to this Oscillator Synchronization for aggression and Pulsewidth Modulation for movement. A Ring Modulator offers unpolished metal, and with Linear Frequency Modulation, the ES2 can easily generate sounds known from famous FM synthesizers.
Vector Synthesis
Regardless of the synthesis technique you choose to use, the Vector envelope can store up to 15 oscillator mixes plus the values of 2 additional, freely selectable parameters and crossfade automatically, and dynamically, between these points. Imagine, for example, a sound starting with colored noise, transforming into a bell, and ending with an FM bass. The Vector envelope even runs in sync with song tempo, if desired.
Rich Filters
This dynamic oscillator mix is then passed through 2 resonance-capable filters - a multimode and a lowpass filter. These can be connected in serial or parallel modes, a process that is not only clearly audible, but graphically displayed as well. The multimode filter can be used as a peak, band reject, low-, band-, or highpass filter and offers an adjustable distortion circuit. The separate lowpass filter offers three slopes; for harsh to metallic sounds, its frequency can be modulated from oscillator 1. The fatness circuit ensures fat basses, even at high resonance settings.
For sonic variety normally otherwise found in modular hardware synthesizers, the proportions of both filters can be adjusted in both serial and parallel modes. And if you are looking for really deep basses, just mix the sine wave of oscillator 1 with the filters' output.
Modulations and Effects
Beside a multitude of MIDI signals, each voice offers 2 LFOs, one of which is tempo-syncable, and three exceedingly fast envelopes, as modulation sources. Using ten freely assignable modulation paths, these 20 sources can be routed to 30 destinations, allowing almost every parameter of the ES2 to be controlled. And the modulation intensity of each modulation path itself can also be modulated by one of the 20 sources. In this way, uncannily expressive sounds can be sculpted, which can be enlivened further with an adjustable distortion circuit. An additional modulation effect provides high-quality chorus, phaser, or flanger, providing the finishing touch to all sonic creations.
As over 400 sounds created by renowned sound designers are already included, the awesome potential of the ES2 is right on display, right from the start.
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Minimum System Requirements Macintosh
Logic or MicroLogic AV Version 5.
Mac OS 9.1 or higher
G3/400
128 MB RAM or more
CD ROM or DVD drive
Recommended
CPU with Velocity Engine support (G4/MP)
256 MB RAM or more
Low-latency audio hardware
MIDI interface, MIDI keyboard
