Why Everyone Wanted an E-mu Emulator (The Story Behind the Icon)

video upload by Ian Dixon

"The E-mu Emulator is one of the most influential musical instruments ever made. From Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode to Genesis, Rush and countless film composers, the Emulator helped define the sound of the 1980s. In this episode of TDL Synthchat, I'm joined by Peter James Steven from the Pro Synth Network to explore the complete history of the Emulator family, from the original Emulator I through the legendary Emulator II, Emulator III, Emax, Proteus and beyond.

Peter owns several original Emulators and even helped develop the Emulator 5 "Vampire Rack", giving him a unique insight into the evolution of E-mu's groundbreaking samplers. We discuss the iconic string sounds, why the Emulator still has such a devoted following, how it compares with the Fairlight, and why many musicians still believe nothing quite captures the original hardware.

If you're interested in vintage synthesizers, classic samplers, 80s music production or electronic music history, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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Talk Talk – Life's What You Make It | Vintage Synth Cover | Oberheim OB-Xa & Emulator II

video upload by RetroSound

"A Vintage Synth cover of the timeless 1985 classic 'Life's What You Make It' by Talk Talk, recreated using iconic vintage instruments to capture the unmistakable sound of the original era. The song was originally released as the lead single from The Colour of Spring and became one of Talk Talk's signature New Wave hits.

Vintage Gear Used:
• Oberheim OB-Xa – Pads & Organ Sounds
• E-mu Emulator II – Guitar Riff & Piano
• LinnDrum – Drum Machine
• Simmons Drums – Electronic Drums & Percussion

This cover is a tribute to the incredible production and atmosphere of the original recording, combining authentic 1980s synthesizers, sampler technology, and classic drum machines."

Roland JP-8000: The Trance Machine

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the famous Roland JP-8000 from 1996 along with its prototype.

0:00 Intro
1:17 History
4:18 Demo 1:
5:22 What is the JP-8000?
11:13 Demo 2:
12:22 The Story of the Prototype
15:59 Demo 3:
17:05 The Usual Suspects
18:48 Patron Outro Jam

With thanks to my Patrons, Roland, Andy Boucher, Mark Lawrence, Stéphane Pigeon, The Usual Suspects and other legends who know who they are!"

Roland Juno - Sonic Sketches

video upload by Smartti1970

"Synthesizer: Roland Juno 60
Effects: Lexicon Pcm80, Eventide Space"

SOMA Terra & Flux Workshop with Tim Kroker at SchneidersLaden

video upload by

"Tim Kroker presents SOMA Terra & Flux in this exclusive pre-SUPERBOOTH 2026 workshop at SchneidersLaden Berlin – an excellent hands-on demonstration and performance of SOMA Laboratory’s innovative instruments.

See you soon at SchneidersLaden - Karl-Marx-Straße 186 / Berlin-Neukölln!"

Yamaha W7 - WEMB02 "Vintage Sound" Expansion Demo

video upload by LFOstore

"The Yamaha W7 is a classic 1990s 61-key workstation featuring an AWM2 sound engine.

For vintage '70s tones, you need the Yamaha WEMB02 'Vintage Sound' Expansion Board.

This rare, internal 4MB expansion board adds 76 classic instrument waveforms directly to the synthesizer's memory.

Nick Klimenko showing sounds from this rare card.

More sounds on www.lfo.store"

A. G. Cook presents SuperStarSaw | Native Instruments

video upload by Native Instruments

"Presented by A. G. Cook, SuperStarSaw pushes stacked saw synthesis to its extremes. Create huge supersaws, impossible glides, blissed-out harmonies, and controlled chaos from a single playable instrument – without the need for endless layering and automation."

Playlist:

1. A. G. Cook presents SuperStarSaw | Native Instruments
2. Discover SuperStarSaw with A. G. Cook | Native Instruments
3. SuperStarSaw synth walkthrough | Native Instruments



Native Instruments and A. G. Cook turn his signature supersaw into a custom instrument you can play

The PC Music founder and 2025 BRIT Producer of the Year brings the stacked saw sound known for Charli xcx, and Caroline Polachek to a single synthesizer — built from his own patches

Berlin, July 16, 2026: Native Instruments has today launched SuperStarSaw, a synthesizer co-created with GRAMMY-winning A. G. Cook, British producer, PC Music founder, and one of the key architects of contemporary pop's defining sonic palette.

Supersaws, multiple sawtooth waves layered and slightly detuned against each other, are responsible for some of modern pop's most immediately recognisable textures: the wide, lush, harmonically dense quality running through Cook's work with Charli xcx, Beyoncé, Caroline Polachek, and Oklou. Building them has always meant painstaking multi-instance layering, a process Cook had refined over years of his own production work, and which became the starting point for what followed. The instrument grew out of a two-year collaboration with Native Instruments' design team, who worked directly from Cook's patches and production sessions to turn one of modern pop's most coveted sounds into something you can actually play.

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Meet LOON — A New Software Instrument by Jamstik

video upload by Jamstik

"Meet LOON, a new software instrument from Jamstik built for musicians, producers, composers, and sound designers.

LOON combines multiple sound sources—including oscillators, sampled instruments, FM synthesis, and more—into a single expressive instrument. Layer sounds, shape them with powerful effects, and assign macros to create dynamic presets that are as simple or as deep as you want them to be.

Whether you're starting from scratch or exploring the included factory library, LOON is designed to make inspiring sounds quickly without sacrificing flexibility.

Features
• Layer multiple sound engines in a single preset
• Powerful macro controls with flexible modulation
• Built-in effects and creative sound design tools
• 200+ factory presets
• Standalone application plus VST3, AU, and AAX plugin support

Compatible with macOS and Windows.

Learn more about LOON and download it at: https://jamstik.com/loon"

SCJS#108 - LOQUELIC INSANIA II

video upload by FL3SHB4CK

"Small Case Jam Sessions #108

DUAL S&H, CONTOUR 1, JUMBLER, LOQUELIC ITERITAS, IDA, BEADS

Recorded live thru Syntakt delay & reverb"

Synapse Audio Proxima 64 Retro Atmospheric Presets Live Demo

video upload by Anton Anru

📻 “VHS Memories” is a collection of 64 atmospheric cinematic presets for Synapse Audio Proxima.
🗂 It includes: 11 Keys, 8 Pads, 11 Strings, 12 Synths, 8 Drones, and 14 Textures.

📺 The soundset draws inspiration from sci-fi movies, retro electronica, cinematic soundtracks, dystopian worlds, urban landscapes, noise ambient albums, experimental modern art, and contemporary sound design.

📦 The download link: https://antonanru.sellfy.store/p/prox...

📼 Built around the concept of imperfection, the collection blends gritty, lo-fi textures with constantly shifting timbres shaped through deep modulations.

💾 The timbral range is wide and diverse, covering dark, noisy, lo-fi, warm, deep, retro/vintage, melancholic, atmospheric, detuned, cold, distant, dull, massive, epic, bright, distorted, metallic, tense, atonal, non-harmonic, FX-like, evolving, and sweeping textures.

🎛 All presets respond to Velocity, affecting volume and brightness.
ModWheel adds expression to the sound through filter opening, detuning, vibrato, or additional movement.

🧿 These patches are versatile and can be used in any genre where a dark atmosphere is essential, such as techno, ambient, IDM, industrial, drum and bass, and others. This collection is also an invaluable resource for soundtrack composers, game developers, audiobook producers, video creators, advertisers, and social media content creators.

💡 Ensure that you are using the latest software version.
To add presets to the collection, open the plugin Browser, click Menu in the upper left corner, then select Import Folder, and specify the folder on your computer.

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