EMT 250
Category: Products / fx & processors / reverb
Added: 13-Jun-01 | Author: admin
New price: na | S/H price: ???.. rare to find.
Company Link: No company link
EMT 250
the EMT digital reverb, introduced in 1976, someone pointed out some errors we'd made, so i've redone the page which was chucked together rather quickly a few years back - EMT previously had bigtime studio hits with the 140 plate reverb (which sometimes get's modified to stereo) then a stereo 140 version & then the smaller and more manageable 240 goldfoil plate... so anyways, I thought i'd add it as a bit of info & links etc, pooling as much stuff as I can find so people can see what these items look like at least & get some info - here's a top-panel picture of the 250:
Here's the 251.
Here's some info from a web-page (http://www.gprime.com/html/digital_processing/body_processing_255.html)
In 1975, the US engineering contract firm Dynatron completed the R&D for the 250, an entirely electronic unit that re-revolutionized reverberation. Karl O. Baeder and Dr. Barry Blesser determined the algorithms, and Ralph Zaorski (most recently a co-developer of the Dynatron 255) created the hardware for the EMT 250, which continues to set the standard for that effect with its classic sound 25 years after its introduction. A mere 250 of the 250’s were produced, and the surviving systems have the distinction of being one of the most sought-after “vintage” digital effects units.
When asked to comment, Zaorski noted that as a packaging of the original EMT 250 algorithms into a box fresh for the year 2000, the Dynatron 255 seems to represent the best of both worlds for the legion modern-day aficionados of the EMT 250’s sound. “People are familiar with the EMT 250,” he explained. “The Dynatron 255 is a device which has (the EMT’s) capability using modern technology, and therefore there aren’t the problems of maintenance that would come into play with the 250.”
As for getting the chance to be a part of the birth of a hallmark piece of recording gear, Zaorski acknowledges that a good time was had by all. “We were pretty excited about it, actually,” he recalls. “It was a fun project!”
Here's some more info from another page: (http://studioelectronics.biz/recentprojects/recent-classicemt.html)
In 1976 though, EMT blew a lot of minds by introducing the 250 Electronic Reverberator Unit. Not only was it the first digital reverb,but it sounded fabulous, and looked like something from an alien spacecraft! It was a free standing unit about 3 feet tall with black “radiator” style heat sinks wrapping around 3 sides, and a large, bright red power supply assembly. On the top mounted control panel 4 oversize levers resembling aircraft controls adjusted main delay/decay time, LF and HF decay times, and added delay to the send. It also had delay, phasing, chorus, slap, and “space echo” programs. It had one input and either 2 or 4 outputs, depending on the version ordered.
EMT 250 Electronic Reverberator Unit
The 250 really had a beautiful sound. Its design was a joint effort between EMT’s engineers in Germany and a small firm in Massachusetts called Dynatron. EMT designed the converters, I/O, and power supply, while Dynatron designed the main digital/processor board. The Dynatron effort was led by Dr. Barry Blesser, then a professor at MIT (and later an AES President). The finished unit had nearly 500 IC’s, and 3 cooling fans. To protect its revolutionary design, the part numbers and identification were scratched off most of IC’s on the digital board. The Electronic Reverberator Unit utilized a memory board that held 80 2102’s - then a popular 1k (!) static RAM chip (also used in Radio Shack’s TRS-80, the first real home computer). In accordance with Moore’s Law (which predicted the doubling of transistor density every year) later models used a RAM board with just 32 IC’s. This new board used 4044’s, a 4K RAM device.
EMT 251 Digital Reverberation System
About 250 250’s were built, and they sold for about $20,000 each. I’m not sure whether EMT recouped their investment, but the machine was a huge milestone in recording technology that heralded a real turning of the corner for the audio industry. Within a few years EMT had released the 251, a revised model with an LCD display and increased functionality. The 251 offered extended frequency response, additional parameter controls, more programs, and a remote control port in the same “sci-fi” package.
As you might suspect by now, servicing those EMT reverbs was a labor of love. The 250 sounded pretty sick - There were problems in the power supply, D-A board, and that primitive RAM board with the 80 IC’s (finding the bad ones was an interesting mini project!) After finding and repairing those 3 problems, I then performed the bizarre, convoluted, and thoroughly German alignment procedure. When the repairs were finished, I ran some audio through it. Wow! Beautiful warm, natural sounding reverb, with a touch of menacing rumble in underneath. What a sound.
The 251 had a different kind of problem. The internal electronics worked just fine but its LCD display had burned out, and running it was a bit like driving a car while blindfolded. The owner had already concluded that no spares existed, which we confirmed. With some difficulty, we tracked down the original specs and manufacturer of the display, and are trying to have new ones manufactured. You can be sure that one way or the other, we’ll get it running again.
The only thing I could find about the actual company (EMT), which is rediculous really for the www, was a note that in 1960: "Production start of the Studer C37 and the Revox D36 which became the first Revox stereo taperecorder of the 36 series. Co-operation with "EMT Wilhelm Franz GmbH" begins.
Well if that is the ones then the only other info on the www i could find was relating to turntable and other hi-fi whatever gear... not a sausage of anything else much to be gleaned, sorry.
ah wait.. here's some more from a dynatron digital 250... gives some more info:
the original 250 had - "Front panel controls are: Decay, Low Frequency Decay, High Frequency Decay and Initial Delay - Decay Time being 0.4 to 4.5 seconds, LF Decay from X0.5 to X2.0, and HF Decay from X0.25 to max, Initial Delay being 0/20/40/60ms times."
Check the review it's interesting:
http://www.audiomedia.com/archive/reviews/us-0600/us-0600-dynatron/us-0600-dynatron.htm
Product Videos
EMT 250 Intro
EMT 250 REVERB Description (with English Subtitles)...
Product Manuals or Files
no user manual
Product Resources
Audio demo?
More choices in this product category from other manufacturers:
Category: Products / fx & processors / reverb
User Comments
Product: EMT - 250
Name: David Kulka
Email: Email supplied but hidden
www.studioelectronics.biz
Activity: Professional
Date: 30-Sep-02
I ran across your page describing the
"RCA - EMT 250" and I believe you are
mistaken. To my knowledge RCA had no
relationship with the 250 reverb. It
was designed and build in Germany with
the help of a US contractor called
Dynatron, who designed the main logic
board. The one in your photo with the
RCA logo may have been owned by RCA
studios, or maybe someone just stuck it
on for fun.
I repair and sell these units, by the
way. Currently I have a beautiful EMT
251 for sale.
Best wi
Product rating out of 5:  |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: admin
Email: Email supplied but hidden
here
Activity: Professional
Date: 01-Oct-02
cheers :)
Product rating out of 5:  |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: doug parry
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: part-timer
Date: 18-Apr-03
Hello,
I have an EMT 251 with 250 PROMS..
It has a noisy output on one channel.
Can you recommend anyone to repair the
251.
Thanks
dparry@socal.rr.com
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: James Cunningham
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 23-Mar-05
The EMT 250 was the world's first successful digital reverb and was designed by
Barry Blesser. It was marketed in the US by Gotham Audio. It is still one of the
best reverbs ever made. It is not a plate, that was the EMT 140.
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: tb
Email: No email added
Activity: Professional
Date: 29-May-05
wow!
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: Rob harvey
Email: Email supplied but hidden
www.worldproaudio.com
Activity: Professional
Date: 16-Jun-05
World Pro Audio can repair many parts of the circuitry in the 250 and 251.
Cheers!
Rob Harvey
World Pro Audio
Hollywood
323 465-5226
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: james
Email: Email supplied but hidden
www.cherokeestudios.com
Activity: Professional
Date: 03-Jun-07
i have an EMT 250 for sell, if your interested, please e-mail me with offers
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: jairo varela
Email: Email supplied but hidden
gruponiche.com
Activity: Professional
Date: 29-Jul-09
[quote] james wrote: i have an EMT 250 for sell, if your interested, please e-mail me with offer
I need a EMT 250 or 251 for my studio.I need to know the price.
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: norman
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 08-Dec-09
hi, i´d be interested in the emt 250, is it still for sale?
best,
norman
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: Steve James
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 27-Jul-10
Why the big sound difference between the 250 and 251 ?
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: thomas b herzer
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 22-Oct-14
Looking for the service manual for the EMT 250. Let me know.
Thanks.
Tom
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: Peter Bermes
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 14-Jan-19
By scrolling down the german wikipedia page 'Elektromesstechnik Wilhelm Franz' you'll find some additional infos about the 'EMT 250', particularly concerning the true origin of its distinctive Industrial Design...!
| Product rating out of 5: |
Product: EMT - 250
Name: Peter Bermes, Dipl. Industrial Designer
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 19-Oct-20
[quote] James Cunningham wrote: The EMT 250 was the worlds first successful digital reverb and was designed by Barry Blesser. It was marketed in the US by Gotham Audio. It is still one of the best reverbs ever made. It is not a plate, that was the EMT 140. [/quote]
Funny, that everyone on this page appears to be still misinformed about the true origins of the 'EMT 250': The physical surface of this world famous reverb was designed by German freelance Industrial Designer Peter Bermes and not by Barry Blesser, who in cooperation with the technical Director of EMT, Karl Bäder, were both equally responsible for the sound algorithm! Proof may be followed up on these pages: www.wikipedia.de / Elektromesstechnik Wilhelm Franz & www.bermes-design.de
| Product rating out of 5: |
Last added comment
Product: EMT - 250
Name: Peter Bermes
Email: Email supplied but hidden
Activity: Professional
Date: 16-Aug-21
"In 1975, the US engineering contract firm Dynatron completed the R&D for the 250, an entirely electronic unit that re-revolutionized reverberation. Karl O. Baeder and Dr. Barry Blesser determined the algorithms, and Ralph Zaorski (most recently a co-developer of the Dynatron 255) created the hardware for the EMT 250...."
Dear Sir, it's simply a lie that Ralph Zaorski created the 'hardware' for the EMT 250: He developed the electronics & platines, that was fair enough! The total threedimensional Industrial design, in particular the now world famous UI with those unmistakeable 4 levers, the red cooling tower etc. had been my sole contribution to the project as freelance designer for EMT, Germany, back in 1976! So I'd ask your friendly support to have this corrected! Universal Audio & the TEC Hall of Fame had to alter this meanwhile as well: Professor B. Blesser together with Karl Bäder - the then technical Director of EMT - had been the Co-Authors of the units Algorithm, i.e. the 'Software', something in todays terms, that would fit on a DVD....! Best regards Peter
| Product rating out of 5: |
'EMT 250'
Looking for the manual? - Check this page above under the heading: 'Product manual or files' - We might have it!
Note: To cut down on spammers, cookies must be enabled to post comments to this page.
Looking for the manual? - Check this page above under the heading: 'Product manual or files' - We might have it!
[back to top]
Total stars: 67 | Total votes: 17
2 other
products from
EMT
Thomann deals
