E-mu Morpheus


The Morpheus has its claim to fame with the ability to "morph" sounds creating unique, evolving and intricate sounds with superb digital clarity. The Morpheus uses Z-Plane synthesis and filters. These are 14-pole filters that model and interpolate resonant sound characteristics. In other words, you can morph between different sounds and vary the balance of the morph between these sounds. Go from analog drones that fade into high strings, for example.
The Morpheus is a digital rackmount synthesizer. It features complete 16-channel MIDI implementation that can control most parameters as well. The Morpheus is also easy and intuitive to operate. This plus a dual effects processor and up to six individual outputs make this a professional synth worthy of professional studio work. From film scores to textural ambiences, the Morpheus and its new Z-Plane technology will satisfy you. It is used by Orbital, Astral Projection, Hardfloor, LTJ Bukem and Fluke.
- Specifications
- Polyphony - 32 voices
- Oscillators - 16-bit, 8 MB ROM samples (Expandable to 16MB), 18-bit output DACs
- Synthesis - Digital, Z-Plane, Acoustic-Simulation
- Filter - 32 14-Pole Interpolating Digital Filters employing 32-bit internal arithmetic; 198 programmed filter types
- Effects - 2 effects processors
- Keyboard - None
- Memory - Patches: 384 (128 RAM, 128 ROM, 128 Card); Performances: 16 internal, 16 external card
- Control - MIDI
- Date Produced - 1993
- Websites of Interest
- Resources & Credits
Images from Perfect Circuit Audio.
Errors or Corrections? Send them here.

First, the effects in the Morpheus are not part of the normal patch structure. They have absolutely no settings in a preset. They aren't even part of a multi (or as E-mu called them, hyperpresets). Instead, they're part of the global MIDI set up, and they effect all presets on all channels.
Second, while there are two, the available effects on split between them. If you use an effect on processor A, you can't use one of the other ones that's available on A over on processor B.
These combine to make the effects next to useless for multi-timbral operations. But then, any effects at all was a novelty in an E-mu product at the time.