Dreaming of an Akai S950, E-mu E4X Hollywood Gold, or an Ensoniq ASR-10? These fantastic devices are full of charm and character, but they've become nearly unreachable due to their skyrocketing prices. They still provide that coveted vintage vibe, but they're increasingly hard to find without being overused to the point of abuse.

What about the rest of us? Those with an eager desire to sample the old way but not wanting to sell a kidney or rob a bank just to buy a dream sampler? Well, I'm happy to say we have a path to follow — one that won't break the bank while still delivering authentic vintage sampling goodness.

Let me introduce you to some hidden gems from the golden era of hardware samplers that deliver professional-grade sampling at a fraction of the cost. These  models flew under the radar compared to their more famous siblings, but they pack serious sampling power that deserves your attention today!

E-mu revolutionized music sampling with their legendary Emulator series, from Emulator I to Emax, each model pushing technological boundaries. As competitors caught up, the digital music landscape transformed. Musicians transitioned from 8 and 12-bit samplers to high-fidelity digital workstations, with E-mu's final Proteuses in the very early 2000s marking a nostalgic endpoint in their innovative journey. Creative Labs ultimately sealed the company's fate, bringing an end to an iconic era of music technology. Here is the list of all E-mu samplers of the 4th generation, including its sub-generations.