The Emu Proteus 2 (also known as the Orchestral) was a landmark in music production history. Released in 1990, it brought high-quality, professional orchestral samples into a rack-mounted module that home studios could actually afford. Today, while the original hardware is a vintage treasure, the Emu Proteus 2 Soundfont (.sf2) remains one of the most sought-after tools for producers looking to capture that nostalgic, cinematic "90s sound."
: Solo and ensemble patches including Solo Cello, Solo Violin, and Marcato strings. Emu Proteus 2 Soundfont
In the early 90s, the Proteus 2 was revolutionary. While the Proteus 1 covered "Pop/Rock" basics, the Proteus 2 offered 8MB of 16-bit ROM samples dedicated to strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. These samples were recorded from the E-mu Emulator III library, which was considered the gold standard of the era. The Emu Proteus 2 (also known as the
This is less a realistic didgeridoo and more of a drone synth. It has a metallic, circular breathing texture. In a mix, this sound sits beautifully underneath a bassline. In the early 90s, the Proteus 2 was revolutionary
The Proteus 2 library is famous for several specific patches: