Emulator X3 - another great software ruined by copy protection

[robotmonkey]

So the other day I dug out an old copy of E-MU Emulator X3 as I thought I could use more control over the DSF Proteus VX libraries. Installed it and was immediately reminded why I hate copy protection schemes that leave you at the mercy of uncontrollable external factors.

To my surprise the online activation still worked even though E-MU has been long dead. So I sighed of relief at first but soon enough I found out that none of my host do load Emulator X3 because the licensing error. The standalone works but the copy protection mechanism seems not to be able to connect with VSTi version. F+*-ing f*-+k.
I just wonder how long the activation servers are still held up. E-MU died long a go but now Creative is also in trouble and probably will be gone soon enough and this software is becoming completely useless. Pretty sad to think that Emulator X3 is probably the most expensive piece of software I have used (it cost about 700$ back in the day).

I was also reminded how good it actually is. To this day it is actually unsurpassed in many ways. The sound quality is fantastic, the Z-plane filters are nothing but amazing, and it has great modulation options with 3 function generators, multi-stage envelopes and MIDI controllers. It is actually one of the few real VST samplers that are actually meant for sampling and sound design not just sample playback. Despite its complexity it is relatively easy to program. The interface for laying out and layering samples is so well thought out (much better than anything out there). Where it sucks is the ugly GUI that is a mix between Microsoft Word 97 and an alien spaceship, and that is painfully hard to look at on modern monitors.

In the end put it into an XP virtual machine where it worked flawlessly and that I can safely back up for the future. As virtualization is becoming more powerful it is much easier to revisit old software if needed. That's why all the CP crap like iLok, eLicenser, C/R is becoming even more annoying - even though we have better tools for going back to older software it is completely undermined by CP.

[gamecat666]

interesting, I was just considering that same option with ProteusVX and even Sampletank2 - try them in a virtual XP machine and just treat it like an external sound module.
what software did you use? VMware?

[VariKusBrainZ]

If your on windows try running your host in admin mode

[robotmonkey]

Proteus VX actually works just fine in Windows 7 in every host as it had its copy protection removed. It just lacks deeper editing functions of Emulator X3.
I'm using Virtualbox actually because of it's good USB support so I can use my audio and MIDI devices with virtual machines.

[robotmonkey]

If your on windows try running your host in admin mode

First thing I did. Didn't help nor did any of the compatibility modes.

[gamecat666]

I'm using Virtualbox actually because of it's good USB support so I can use my audio and MIDI devices with virtual machines.

Do you just use the XP stuff 'standalone', or can you integrate the VM software with your main host?
ie can midi and Audio be talking and synced across the main OS and the Virtual machine?

[robotmonkey]

Do you just use the XP stuff 'standalone', or can you integrate the VM software with your main host?
ie can midi and Audio be talking and synced across the main OS and the Virtual machine?

No, virtual machine works as a completely separate machine. With VirtualBox Extension Pack you can integrate your USB devices into a virtual machine just as they were a part of physical machine. But there is no way to sync audio and midi between the host and guest system to my knowledge. The only way to theoretically achieve that would probably be to use some kind of LAN to MIDI approach. This is purely a theoretical and I have not tried it out myself. But as the host and guest machines can communicate through network that might be possible.

[gamecat666]

thats what I thought, thanks
I was half tempted to do a proper physical XP machine and look into networked midi/Audio, maybe if I get something working it might work over VM too.
(PS Sorry for derailing the OP)

[Numanoid]

The interface for laying out and layering samples is so well thought out (much better than anything out there). Where it sucks is the ugly GUI that is a mix between Microsoft Word 97 and an alien spaceship, and that is painfully hard to look at on modern monitors.

Looks a bit like Halion Sonic to me?

[EsmileZ]

thats also my big fear that 1 day i m not going to be able to authorise me emulator x3...
on my win7 64bit pc emx3 works greate. in cubase and also in mpc ren and ableton..

[EsmileZ]

let s face it it s still a greate sampler with many modulation options and fantastic filters.

[Compyfox]

Proteus VX actually works just fine in Windows 7 in every host as it had its copy protection removed. It just lacks deeper editing functions of Emulator X3.

Just to clear a couple of things:

Emulator X is the big "sampler" - it was the flagship of the "Proteus" ports to PC.
Proteus X is the plain "rompler" - cut down from Emulator X, but still ton of control.

Proteus VX is the "player" version of both Emu X and Proteus X. It's still available through DigitalSoundFactory IIRC.


The CP scheme of Emu/Prot X that I can remember, were:
- Hardware locked (meaning, you needed an EMU card)
- later you needed at least the 1x1 MIDI device
- dunno if it ever really turned into C/R

I do know however, that the Proteus X "add-on" disks had a nasty CP system that installed a background service or something. And that didn't really work on rights newer than XP.


Else, I do agree that the EMU/PROTEUS X should be revived again. With a serial. Maybe we'll see that within the next 2-3 years? Who knows.

[robotmonkey]

Yep, that's pretty much correct. Proteus VX is to Emulator X what Alchemy Player is Alchemy. If the patches have all the Cords (modulation sources and destinations) properly preassigned it is possible generate a wide variety of sounds. It's quite surprising how much can be achieved in Proteus VX with simple filter override. What I'm mostly missing with Proteus VX is the ability to tune LFO's and use function generators.

Proteus VX is indeed available from DSF. It is also only download that is left on official E-MU site. The DSF E-MU libraries of course are the main reason to use Proteus VX as they sound much better and closer to original hardware than ports to Dimension, Soundfont or whatever. The Dimension versions sound often quite thin and lifeless compared to lush sound of Proteus VX versions.

And indeed, E-MU has had its share of copy protection drama before. Actually, Emulator X3 was postponed almost a year, if I remember correctly, because they could not get their C/R servers going. What a joke!
All the other E-MU VST's needed an E-MU soundcard as a dongle in addition to horrible Macrovision copy protection. Even their sound libraries used it before DSF got rid of it later. When Vista came around all the E-MU stuff basically was not compatible with it. It worked for some and did not for many other.

I wouldn't hold my breath though. There is nothing coming from E-MU anymore. Doubt there's anyone even left working there. The only way this could remotely happen is if DSF for example would pick it up and develop it.

[mindframe]

i have it working

i have uac turned off and run host as admin when authorizing it
running under windows 7 x64

[Compyfox]

The chance is there, robotmonkey. I even recommended it to DSF (they are the rights holder of the samples after all).

So far it didn't happen.