Over 500 studio quality wave files.
In the year 2000, E-mu Systems released the Planet Earth 64-Voice World Sound Module, a dedicated hardware unit that aimed to shrink the musical globe into a single rack space. As a specialized member of the Proteus 2000 family, this module moved away from the standard orchestral and pop palettes of its siblings to focus entirely on ethnomusicology. It arrived at a time when world music influences were becoming increasingly prevalent in film scoring and electronic production, offering a professional-grade alternative to the often thin-sounding "ethnic" presets found on general-purpose synthesizers.
At the heart of the unit is a 32MB sound set titled "World Expedition," which provides a vast library of multisampled instruments spanning every continent. The collection includes everything from the delicate plucking of the Japanese Koto and the resonant drones of the Indian Sitar to the aggressive punch of Brazilian Batucada percussion and the haunting breath of South American flutes. Unlike simple sample playback devices, the Planet Earth utilizes E-mu’s sophisticated synthesis engine, allowing these organic sounds to be manipulated through 12-pole resonant filters and complex modulation routings, effectively blurring the line between traditional acoustic instruments and modern synthetic textures.
The hardware is designed for both studio composition and live performance, featuring 64-voice polyphony and 16-part multitimbrality. This means a producer could theoretically run an entire ensemble of diverse world instruments simultaneously from a single MIDI sequence without experiencing voice stealing. One of its most distinctive features is the "SuperBEATs" mode, which provides interactive, synchronized grooves that can be triggered and transposed in real-time. Coupled with 16 internal arpeggiators that can be synced to a master clock, the module excels at creating complex, rhythmic layers that feel more alive than static loops.
Beyond its internal library, the Planet Earth offers significant longevity through its expandability. The chassis contains three additional ROM slots, allowing users to install further 32MB sound sets from E-mu's extensive catalog, potentially bringing the total memory to 128MB. On the rear panel, the unit provides six analog outputs, which are essential for processing different instruments through individual outboard gear or separate mixer channels. While the original hardware is now a legacy item, its sonic footprint remains relevant; the entire library has been preserved by Digital Sound Factory, ensuring that these meticulously recorded world sounds continue to be used in modern digital audio workstations today.
