EMU 1616M Laptop Digital Audio System

No longer available at zZounds
Mastering grade 24-bit/192kHz converters. Hardware-accelerated effects. PatchMix DSP zero-latency hardware mixing and monitoring.

E-MU's new 1616M Laptop Digital Audio System is the most powerful and portable laptop audio system ever created, offering the same powerful DSP effects, zero-latency monitoring and mastering-grade 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters of E-MU's best selling PCI Digital Audio Systems. The E-MU CardBus card can be used standalone for its DSP power and studio-quality headphone amp/line output, or plugged into the MicroDock M for a total of 16 inputs and 16 outputs plus 2 sets of MIDI I/O. E-MU's Laptop Digital Audio Systems ship with ASIO2 and stereo WDM drivers for Windows XP and 2000, as well as the new E-MU Production Tools Software Bundle that includes E-MU's Proteus X LE, as well as software by Cakewalk, Steinberg, Ableton, IK Multimedia, and many more -- everything you need to create, record, edit, master and burn your music.

Features:
Mastering grade 24-bit/192kHz converters -- the same A/D converters used in Digidesign's flagship ProTools HD 192 I/O Interface delivering an amazing 120dB signal-to-noise ratio

The ultimate portable system - for recording, editing, mixing and virtual instruments -- use the E-MU 02 CardBus Card alone for its hardware-accelerated effects and premium stereo headphone/line output or together with the MicroDock for complete analog and digital I/O flexibility

Hardware-accelerated effects -- over 600 standalone and E-MU Power FX VST plug-in effects with no CPU overhead

PatchMix DSP zero-latency hardware mixing and monitoring -- with super-flexible read more patchbay -- no external mixer needed

Ultra-portable MicroDock offers 16 inputs/16 outputs plus MIDI I/O -- everything from balanced analog and turntable inputs to ADAT and S/PDIF (switchable to AES/EBU)

2 E-MU XTC studio-grade, ultra-low noise preamps (-127dBu EIN) with analog soft limiter -- Mic/Line and true Hi-Z inputs via Neutrik connectors, 48V phantom power and 60dB of gain

Compatibility with most popular audio/sequencer applications -- ultra-low latency 24-bit/192kHz ASIO 2.0 and Stereo WDM drivers

E-MU Production Tools Software Bundle - includes Cakewalk Sonar LE, Steinberg Cubase LE and Wavelab Lite, Ableton Live Lite 4 for E-MU, IK Multimedia AmpliTube LE and T-RackS EQ, Minnetonka diskWelder Bronze, SFX Machine LT, plus E-MU's Proteus X LE Desktop Sound Module -- everything you need to create, record, edit, master and burn is in the box

I/O Configuration:
2 E-MU XTC Ultra-low Noise Mic/Line/Hi-Z Preamps with Soft Limiter and 48V Phantom Power (-129dBu EIN)

4 x 1/4 in. Balanced Inputs

6 x 1/4 in. Balanced Outputs

Turntable Input (w/ground lug and hardware RIAA preamp)

24-bit/192kHz ADAT In/Out (switchable to S/PDIF)

24-bit/192kHz coaxial S/PDIF Out (switchable to AES/EBU)

2 sets of MIDI In/Out

Stereo 1/8 in. Speaker Outputs (configurable from stereo to 5.1)

2 Stereo Headphone/Line Outputs (one on card, one on MicroDock M)

E-DSP Hardware-accelerated Effects, Mixing and Monitoring
E-MU's Laptop Digital Audio Systems feature the powerful E-DSP chipset, which features a hardware-accelerated effects processor with over 28 effects plug-ins (over 600 presets). This effects architecture is fully expandable, allowing you to add more effect plug-ins to your system as needed. E-DSP also provides zero-latency, hardware-based mixing and monitoring via the included PatchMix DSP mixer, delivering unmatched flexibility in routing audio between all of your physical and virtual (ASIO/WDM) inputs and outputs- no external mixer needed.

All Digital Audio Systems ship with the following Effects Plug-ins:
Stereo Reverb
Lite Reverb
Compressor
Leveling Amp
Chorus
Flanger
Phase Shifter
Frequency Shifter
Distortion
Speaker Simulator
Rotary Speaker
Auto-Wah
Vocal Morpher
1-Band Para EQ
1-Band Shelf EQ
3-Band EQ
4-Band EQ
Mono Delay 100
Mono Delay 250
Mono Delay 500
Mono Delay 750
Mono Delay 1500
Mono Delay 3000
Stereo Delay 100
Stereo Delay 250
Stereo Delay 500
Stereo Delay 750
Stereo Delay 1500
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General
Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz from internal crystal or externally supplied clock (no sample rate conversion)

Bit Depths: 24 bit I/O, 32 bit processing

CardBus Card Specification:
Form factor: PCMCIA Type II
Bus-Mastering DMA subsystem reduces CPU usage

E-MU E-DSP 32-bit DSP with 67-bit accumulator (double precision w/ 3 headroom bits)

Hardware-accelerated, 32 channel mixing, and multi-effects processing

Zero-latency direct hardware monitoring w/effects

ASIO 2.0, Stereo WDM/MME/DirectSound Drivers

EDI (E-MU Digital Interface) proprietary 64 channel audio link over CAT-5 cable

Anti-Pop speaker protection minimizes noise during power on/off

Ultra-low jitter clock subsystem: < 1ns in PLL mode (44.1kHz, Opt. S/PDIF Sync)

Combo Microphone Preamplifier/Hi-Z/Line Inputs (2)
Type: E-MU XTC combo mic preamp and Hi-Z/line input w/ Soft Limiter

Gain Range: +60dB

Frequency Response (min gain, 20Hz-20kHz): +0.0/-0.1dB

Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz min gain, -1dBFS): < -115dB

Hi-Z Line Input:
Input Impedance: 1Mohm
Max Level: +18dBV (20.2dBu)
Dynamic Range (A-weighted, 1kHz, min gain): 112.5dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted, min gain): 112dB
THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS, min gain): -102dB (.0008%)

Microphone Preamplifier:
Input Impedance: 1.5Kohms
Max Level: +6dBV (+8.2dBu)
EIN (20Hz-20kHz, 150ohm, unweighted): -127dBu
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted, min gain): 112.5dB
THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS, min gain): -103dB (.0007%)
Phantom Power: 48V
Soft Limiter: 5dB max compression (software selectable)

Analog Line Inputs (4)
Type: servo-balanced, DC-coupled, low-noise input circuitry

A/D Converter: PCM1804

Level (Software Selectable):
Professional: +4dBu nominal, 20dBu max (balanced)
Consumer: -10dBV nominal, 6dBV max (unbalanced)

Frequency Response (20Hz-20kHz): +0.0/-.03dB

Dynamic Range (1kHz, A-weighted): 112dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted): 112dB

THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS): -102.5dB (.0007%)

Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -120dB

Analog Line Outputs (6)
Type: balanced, AC-coupled, 2-pole low-pass differential filter

D/A converter: CS4392

Level (software selectable):
Professional: +4dBu nominal, 20dBu max (balanced)
Consumer: -10dBV nominal, 6dBV max (unbalanced)

Frequency Response (20Hz - 20kHz): 0.0/-.06dB

Dynamic Range (1kHz, A-weighted): 112.5dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted): 112.5dB

THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS): -98dB (.0012%)

Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -115dB

Headphone Amplifier (2 Stereo: MicroDock and Card)
Type: linear power amplifier

D/A converter: CS4392 (dock), AK4396 (card)

Gain Range: 85dB

Maximum Output Power: 50mW (dock), 20mW (card)

Output impedance: 22ohms

Frequency Response (20Hz-20kHz): +0.0/-0.07dB

Dynamic Range (A-weighted): 112dB (dock), 115dB (card)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted): 112dB (dock), 115dB (card)

THD+N (1kHz, max gain): 600ohm load: -92dB (dock), -96dB (card)

Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS, 600 ohm load): < -100dB

Phono Input (Stereo)
Type: RIAA equalized phono input

Maximum Level:
Professional: 60mV RMS
Consumer: 15mV RMS

Input Impedance: 47Kohm

Frequency Response (20Hz - 20kHz): +0.1/-0.3dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (15mV RMS unbal input, A-weighted): 96dB

THD+N (1kHz, 15mV RMS input): -88dB (.004%)

Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -80dB

Digital I/O
S/PDIF:
2 in/2 out coaxial (transformer coupled)
2 in/2 out optical (software switched with ADAT)
AES/EBU or S/PDIF format (software selectable)

ADAT:
8 channels, 24-bit @ 44.1/48kHz
4 channels, 24-bit @ 88.2/96kHz (S-MUX compatible)
2 channels, 24-bit @ 176.4/192kHz

MIDI: 2 in, 2 out

Synchronization
Internal crystal sync at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz

External sample rate sync via
ADAT (44.1 - 192kHz)
Optical S/PDIF (44.1 - 96kHz)
Coaxial S/PDIF (44.1 - 192kHz)

Retail Box Contents
E-MU 02 CardBus Card

E-MU MicroDock

EDI (E-MU Digital Interface) cable (1 meter)

Universal power adapter

MIDI breakout cable

CardBus Card carrying case

Quick Start installation guide

E-MU Digital Audio Systems CD-ROM
Windows 2000 and XP Drivers
E-MU PatchMix DSP
E-MU Power FX
E-MU E-DSP Effects Library
Owner's Manual and Tutorials

E-MU Production Tools Software Bundle CD-ROM
Cakewalk SONAR LE
Steinberg Cubase LE
Ableton Live Lite 4 for E-MU
Steinberg Wavelab Lite
IK Multimedia AmpliTube LE
IK Multimedia T-RackS EQ
Minnetonka diskWelder BRONZE
SFX Machine LT
E-MU Proteus X LE (over 1000 sounds included)

Minimum System Requirements
Intel or AMD processor - 1 GHz or faster

Intel, AMD or 100% compatible motherboard & chipset

Microsoft Windows XP (SP 2) or 2000 (SP4)

256MB System RAM

900MB of free hard disk space for full installation

Available Type II CardBus slot (PCMCIA slot)*

CD-ROM/CD-RW or DVD-ROM drive required for software installation

XVGA Video (1024 X 768)

*Simultaneous input/output channel count may vary depending on the PCMCIA controller in your system.

Compatible Laptop Systems
*Laptop
IBM ThinkPad T40 (X5650)
Compaq Presario 2100 (X5628)
Dell Inspiron 600m (C13102) Laptop
HP Pavilion zv5000 1.5 Ghz
IBM Thinkpad T23 1.2 Ghz
IBM Thinkpad A22P Pentium III 933MHz Laptop
Dell Latitude (X5502) Laptop
Sony Viao PCG-V505EX
NEC VERSA LXI (X5138) Laptop
HP pavilion N5310 Intel Celeron 750MHz (X5140
Toshiba A75 (X5953) P4 2.8 GHz Laptop

PCMCIA Controller
Texas Instruments CardBus RACEway
O2 Micro OZ 6912/711E0
O2 Micro 0Z711ECI Smart Card Bus
TI PCI-1520
TI PCI-1420
TI PCI-1450
TI PCI-1420
Ricoh R/RL/RT/RC/5C475(II), R5C520
TI PCI-1450
TI PCI-1420
ENE Technology CD-1410

*All tests were performed on Windows XP (Service Pack 2) or Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4)

Known Incompatibilities
There have been reported compatibility problems with E-MU 1616/1616M and the PCMCIA controllers listed below. E-MU is currently working with the respective PCMCIA controller chipset manufacturers to develop solutions that would improve the performance of Laptop systems with these chipsets.

ENE Tech CB1411
Ricoh R5C476(II)
Ricoh R5C475(II)

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 831-438-1921

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (50 ratings)
Submitted August 31, 2005 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Awesome."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Features
It's nice that the connection between the card and box is a standard Ethernet cable, therefore easily replaced. You could also extend the range of the cable if the included one isn't long enough for your needs.
Quality
Great construction. My apartment caught on fire and the entire roof, along with gallons of water from the fire department fell on top of this thing. I picked it out from under a pile of wet, charred shingles and almost put it back down thinking it was toast. Later I took the unit apart and was suprised to discover no water or soot got inside of it. It is still functioning flawlessly.
Value
Great value. I coupled this unit with a Behringer ADA8000, together the price ($730) was still under comparable units offering the same or less number of inputs and outputs.
Manufacturer Support
Great customer support by phone. However, be advised: If you lose the installation CD you CANNOT download the drivers from the E-mu website. You must call (2 minutes was all it took) and they will send you a new CD for free. This is lame, considering you can't use the drivers or effects without the unit itself, so I don't see why they don't offer them for download. At least they don't charge you for a new CD.

Musical Background:

Hobbyist

Musical Style:

Electronic
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