Vintage Synth Explorer

E-mu • Orbit-3

The Orbit 3 is the latest version in E-mu's famous Orbit line of Dance Modules. This is still strictly engineered for the techno artist, but has all the features and functions as all its sister modules including the Proteus 2000, B-3, Mo'Phatt and Xtreme Lead-1. The very first Orbit from 1996 featured 8 MB of sample ROM. The Orbit-3 has a fully loaded 64 MB of sample ROM, the "Electronica" Soundset with 1,024 ROM and 512 User presets. The original Orbit had 32 voices, but the new Orbit-3 has a full 128 voices of polyphony.

The new Orbit-3 also features E-mu's SuperBEATS Mode...the rhythmic groove generator found in other E-mu rack modules, as well as a rhythmic pattern generator/arpeggiator, 12 assignable real-time front panel controls, 6 outputs and S/PDIF digital output. Two sound expansion card slots allow you to expand its sample memory up to 128 MB using any one of the eleven sound cards from E-mu's family of sound modules, desktop groove modules, and keyboards!

Current E-mu sound modules ship with one 32 MB sound-set each, but are expandable up to 128 MB via three additional slots for 32 MB expansion cards. These cards include (ranging from $249 to $395):

• 9061: Siedlaczek Orchestra 32 MB ROM.
• 9062: Pure Phatt 32 MB ROM - standard in Mo'Phatt, MP-7 and MK-6.
• 9063: Beat Garden 32 MB ROM - standard in Orbit 3.
• 9082: Protozoa 16 MB ROM - standard in Proteus 1, 2, 3.
• 9083: Definitive B-3 32 MB ROM - standard in B-3.
• 9084: Techno Synth Construction Yard 32 MB ROM - standard in Orbit 3.
• 9085: Orchestral Session Vol. 1 32 MB ROM - standard in Virtuoso 2000.
• 9086: Orchestral Session Vol. 2 32 MB ROM - standard in Virtuoso 2000.
• 9087: World Expedition 32 MB ROM - standard in Planet Earth.
• 9088: Sounds of the ZR featuring the Perfect Piano 32 MB ROM - standard in Ensoniq Halo.
• 9089: X-Lead 32 MB ROM - standard in Xtreme Lead-1, XL-7 and XK-6.

With these expansion options, you could buy a PK-6, then add the sounds of the Orbit 3, XK-6, and the MP-7... or any other combinations you may want. If you like desktop synths, you can start with an MP-7 or XL-7, and then add these same expansion card options to add Proteus, Orchestral, or the new Halo sounds to them. E-mu/Ensoniq's interchangeable sound cards and a variety of keyboard/sound-module options means that there's a model out there for everybody now.

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NOCKER513

Posted 135 days ago

I know it says techno but i seem to find myself dabbing in the ethnic perc portion of this module and rarely use the wav's or tecky sounds. p.s basslines arent good and if u see one on ebay, count ur lucky starz

Andrew Beddoes

Posted 431 days ago

Lots of promise and character, but users need to spend considerable time improving the presets. Programming grooves is subtractive- you isolate or remove part of the pattern, or you assign a different drum. Setting up Triton-like grooves with arpeggiators and drum patterns triggering off a keyboard is very challenging.

Oneki Kai

Posted 451 days ago

I absolutely love this box. This, with an X-Lead ROM (pref. version 2) tossed in, makes an excellent "Darude sound" setup. It's capable of much more though.

It has a "warm, yet digital" character to it that few other synths have. The only other synth I'm aware of with a similar character is the GEM Equinox, but this is MUCH more reliable. If you are into techno, this is a box you cannot pass up. E-MU's synths are very underrated.

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