Proteus 1

(Rock & Pop)

Overview The Proteus 1 was released in 1989 as the first synthesizer module that E-mu Systems had ever produced. It contained 32 voices of multi-timbral samples, coupled to a basic synthesizer sound architecture. The sounds for the Proteus came directly from the EIII library (with a bit of sample rate changing), and includes pianos, organs, strings, horns, guitars, basses and drums.

Laid Back The Proteus sound is laid back, and today does not stand up too well - unless you want a Phil Collins late 80's sound! To save costs the case is plastic rather than metal, and the Darth Vader looks are something you love or hate. E-mu Systems could not make enough of these modules in the first year of production, resulting in frustrating delays for customers. The Proteus was a massive hit for the first few years, with lots of sales and aftermarket products.

XR The XR model has additional RAM for storing another 192 user presets. E-mu shipped these models with 128 new presets, and duplicated 64 ROM presets in RAM.

Expansion The base model could be upgraded with an additional 4MB of orchestral samples from the Proteus 2, making it a Proteus 1 Plus Orchestral. The ROM chips sat on a daughterboard and E-mu provided 128 new ROM presets as well.

Presets The base model has 192 presets (64 of which are user programmable), whilst the XR has 384 presets. E-mu Systems went on to create a library of presets and sold them in sets of 64 as SysEx downloads on floppy diskette.

Filters & Effects There are none (to expensive to include!), even though the necessary digital filter chip had been implemented in the Emax II - it was too expensive to use in the Proteus.

LCD The Protueus uses a standard green 16 x 2 LCD display, augmented by a MIDI activity LED, and LED's for Master, Edit Menu, Preset, and Home.

Front Panel Controls The Proteus 1 has the standard set of early Proteus controls, which are: Power Switch, Master Menu Select Button, Edit Menu Select Button, Home/Enter Button, Cursor Controls, Data Entry Control, and a rotary Volume Control.

Waveforms There are 125 waveforms are the heart of this module, ranging from Piano, Strings, Voices to Guitars, Bass and Drums.

Configuration The Proteus module implements part of a classic analog synthesizer - digitally. There are two "oscillators" called Primary and Secondary Instruments. They each can replay any of the 16-bit sampled waveforms. The waveforms are replayed first via a simple low pass tone control, then a digitally controlled amplifier(DCA) and stereo pan. The amplifier is modified by a dedicated envelope generator.

Inside The Proteus 1 uses a standard set of hardware and the Revision A motherboard. It has a Motorola 68000 processor, eight ROM chips for the samples, and six Burr Brown 16-bit DAC's (PCM56P). There are also a couple of custom surface mount ASIC chips, the Toshiba Gate Array and the special E-mu G-chip.

MacProteus Digidesign worked with E-mu Systems on an internal upgarde card for the Mac computer, with a Proteus sound engine built on the card. This was launched as the MacProteus NUBUS card in 1990. This was a very early "sound card".

Protologic InVision made a 4 MB upgrade board for the Proteus 1 in 1991. It fitted internally, and came with an adapter to make the Proteus a 2U rack - due to the additional heat generated. There are 128 new ROM presets and a good number of these are very good. The new sounds range from Rock, Organ, Tablas, Shaku, Fretless Bass and eight drum kits. It is well worth tracking down a Proteus with this upgrade. The upgrade card cost $495.

Verdict The Proteus was ground breaking in 1989, but the sounds have dated badly and some were rather struggling in the first place. There is no way to fatten the sounds with FX or filters. If you are on a tight budget and need some basic sounds check this one out. Don't pay more than $150/£100.

Protozoa ROM If you want the sounds of the Proteus 1, 2 and 3 then check out this ROM for the Proteus 2000. It has all the waveforms from these modules authethically reproduced.