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The E-mu Morpheus is a digital synthesizer that was released in 1993. It's known for its unique sound creation capabilities, made possible by its Z-Plane synthesis engine. The Z-Plane synthesis engine allows for complex spectral filtering, which enables the creation of highly dynamic sounds that can be morphed and modulated in real-time.

The Morpheus has a 128-voice polyphony and 32-part multitimbrality, allowing for the creation of complex layered sounds. It also features a 16-track sequencer with a maximum resolution of 480 PPQ (parts per quarter note), making it suitable for both live performance and studio production.

The synthesis engine is divided into 24 filter types that are organized into six groups. The six groups of filters are: Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, Notch, Peak, and Comb. The filters can be combined in various ways to create complex filter routing structures. This makes it possible to create sounds that are not possible with traditional subtractive synthesis.

The Morpheus also features a unique modulation system that allows for the creation of complex and evolving sounds. The modulation system consists of three multi-wave LFOs, three envelope generators, and a set of user-definable modulators. The LFOs can be synced to the internal clock or an external MIDI clock, and the envelope generators can be looped for sustained sounds.

The Morpheus has a built-in effects processor with a variety of effects, including reverb, chorus, flanger, and distortion. The effects can be applied to individual parts or to the entire mix.

In terms of connectivity, the Morpheus has MIDI in/out/thru, four audio outputs, and a headphone output. It also has a SCSI port for storage and a PCMCIA slot for loading and saving sounds.

Overall, the E-mu Morpheus is a unique and powerful synthesizer that is well-suited for sound designers and musicians who are looking for a deep and versatile sound creation tool. With its Z-Plane synthesis engine, complex filter routing, and dynamic modulation capabilities, the Morpheus can create sounds that are truly unique and expressive.

The Morpheus was designed by a team of engineers and sound designers at E-mu Systems, a company that was founded in 1971 by Dave Rossum and Scott Wedge. E-mu Systems was known for creating high-quality digital audio equipment, including samplers, drum machines, and synthesizers.

The design team for the Morpheus was led by Dave Rossum, who is a well-known figure in the world of electronic music. Rossum was a co-founder of E-mu Systems and is credited with inventing the first digital sampler, the E-mu Emulator, in the late 1970s. He was also involved in the development of several other landmark products, including the E-mu SP-1200 and the E-mu Proteus sound module.

Other members of the Morpheus design team included Steve Gray, who was responsible for the software and firmware development, and Tim Swartz, who was responsible for the user interface design. The team also included several sound designers who created the factory preset sounds for the Morpheus.

The Morpheus was released at a time when digital synthesis was still a relatively new technology, and its unique sound creation capabilities made it stand out from other synthesizers on the market. The Morpheus quickly became popular with sound designers and musicians, and its influence can be heard in a wide variety of electronic music genres.

In 1998, E-mu Systems was acquired by Creative Technology, and Dave Rossum went on to found a new company, Rossum Electro-Music, which continues to develop innovative digital audio products to this day. Despite being over 25 years old, the E-mu Morpheus remains a beloved and highly sought-after synthesizer among musicians and sound designers.

More information about the sound designers who contributed to the factory presets of the E-mu Morpheus synthesizer. The Morpheus features a wide range of complex and dynamic sounds, and these were created by a team of talented sound designers.

Some of the sound designers who worked on the Morpheus include:

Rob Papen - a Dutch sound designer who is known for his work on numerous synthesizers, including the Predator and Blue II.

Ian Boddy - a British musician and sound designer who has released several albums of electronic music and created sounds for a variety of hardware and software synthesizers.

Scott Frankfurt - an American musician and producer who has worked with numerous artists and created sounds for a variety of synthesizers.

Kurt Ader - a German sound designer who has created sounds for several synthesizers, including the Waldorf Wave and the Korg Wavestation.

John "Skippy" Lehmkuhl - an American sound designer who has created sounds for a variety of synthesizers and drum machines, including the Roland D-50 and the Korg Wavestation.

These sound designers brought a wide range of creative ideas and techniques to the Morpheus, helping to make it one of the most innovative and expressive synthesizers of its time. Their contributions continue to be appreciated by musicians and sound designers to this day.

The E-mu Morpheus is known for its use of a unique type of filter called z-plane filters, which were developed by Dave Rossum and Steve Vail.

Z-plane filters are a type of digital filter that allow for complex and dynamic frequency processing. Unlike traditional filters, which operate in the time domain, z-plane filters operate in the frequency domain, allowing for a more precise and expressive control over the spectral content of a sound.

In the Morpheus, z-plane filters are used to manipulate the harmonic content of a sound in real-time. The Morpheus features two sets of z-plane filters, which are known as the "Filter A" and "Filter B" sections.

Each filter section has two filter types, which are known as "morphing" and "parametric" filters. The morphing filters allow for real-time blending between two different filter types, while the parametric filters allow for precise control over the filter's frequency response.

One of the key features of z-plane filters is their ability to create complex filter shapes that are not possible with traditional filter designs. Z-plane filters allow for the creation of filter shapes that can include sharp spikes, notches, and complex resonant peaks.

The Morpheus also includes a variety of modulation sources that can be used to control the z-plane filters, including LFOs, envelopes, and a unique modulation source called the "Z-Plane Envelope Follower". The Z-Plane Envelope Follower allows for the filter to be dynamically controlled based on the amplitude of the input signal, creating a unique and expressive effect.

Overall, the z-plane filters in the Morpheus are an innovative and expressive feature that allow for a wide range of dynamic and complex frequency processing. Their unique design has made the Morpheus a favorite among sound designers and musicians for its ability to create complex and evolving sounds that are not possible with traditional filters.

The E-mu Morpheus features a powerful filter architecture known as the "Filter Cube", which allows for complex and dynamic sound processing. In addition, it also includes a flexible modulation matrix that allows for extensive modulation routing.

The Filter Cube in the Morpheus is essentially a 3D filter architecture that allows for real-time manipulation of multiple filter parameters. The filter cube is made up of three main axes, which are known as the "X", "Y", and "Z" axes. Each axis represents a different filter parameter, which can be manipulated in real-time to create complex and dynamic filter shapes.

The "X" axis represents the filter cutoff frequency, the "Y" axis represents the filter resonance, and the "Z" axis represents the filter type. The filter type can be selected from a variety of preset types, including lowpass, highpass, bandpass, notch, and phase shift.

The Filter Cube allows for real-time manipulation of the filter parameters using various modulation sources. For example, the X and Y axes can be modulated using envelope generators or LFOs, while the Z axis can be modulated using an external controller or the Z-Plane Envelope Follower.

The Morpheus also includes a flexible modulation matrix that allows for extensive modulation routing. The modulation matrix is made up of 16 modulation sources and 16 modulation destinations, which can be freely assigned using a graphical interface. The modulation sources include envelope generators, LFOs, and various external controllers, while the modulation destinations include filter parameters, oscillator parameters, and effects parameters.

The modulation matrix allows for extensive sound shaping and creative expression. For example, it can be used to modulate the filter cutoff frequency with an LFO, or to modulate the oscillator frequency with an envelope generator. The possibilities are virtually endless, and the modulation matrix provides a powerful tool for sound designers and musicians to explore.

Overall, the Filter Cube and modulation matrix in the Morpheus provide a powerful and flexible set of tools for sound shaping and creative expression. Their unique design has made the Morpheus a favorite among musicians and sound designers for its ability to create complex and evolving sounds that are not possible with traditional synthesizers.

Some notable records and artists that have used the E-mu Morpheus synthesizer in their recordings:

"Antichrist Superstar" by Marilyn Manson - The Morpheus was used extensively on this album, particularly on tracks like "The Beautiful People" and "Irresponsible Hate Anthem".

"Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory" by Dream Theater - The Morpheus was used for a variety of atmospheric and ambient sounds throughout the album.

"The Downward Spiral" by Nine Inch Nails - The Morpheus was used for a variety of distorted and processed sounds on this landmark album.

"Enchantment" by Amethystium - The Morpheus was used extensively on this album, particularly on tracks like "Ethereal" and "Dreamdance".

"In the Absence of Truth" by Isis - The Morpheus was used for a variety of atmospheric and ambient sounds throughout the album.

"La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One" by White Zombie - The Morpheus was used for a variety of eerie and otherworldly sounds on this album.

"Permutation" by Amon Tobin - The Morpheus was used for a variety of glitchy and processed sounds throughout the album.

"Warrior on the Edge of Time" by Hawkwind - The Morpheus was used for a variety of spacey and psychedelic sounds on this classic album.

"RAVEDUMP" by JON TETLY AND  DUKE - The Morpheus and Ultra Proteus was used for a variety of atmospheric and ambient effects sounds within this album.

"Psyence Fiction" by UNKLE - The Morpheus was used for a variety of experimental and otherworldly sounds on this landmark album.

"Moons and Cattails" by R. Carlos Nakai - The Morpheus was used for atmospheric and textural sounds on this Native American flute album.

"Through the Looking Glass" by Mike Oldfield - The Morpheus was used for various ambient and sound effect sounds on this album.

"Ascending Souls" by Denean - The Morpheus was used for various atmospheric and textural sounds on this new age album.

"Heart of the Rainforest" by Jonathan Goldman - The Morpheus was used for various atmospheric and textural sounds on this meditation album.

"Moorlough Shore" by Loreena McKennitt - The Morpheus was used for various ethereal and otherworldly sounds on this Celtic folk album.

"The Hand of Time" by Kenspocket - The Morpheus was used extensively on this album, particularly on tracks like "Alkaline" and "Tom On Bumper Cars" and also Medulla from the named single track EP.

"Resonance" by Roel Funcken - The Morpheus was used for various glitchy and processed sounds on this experimental electronic album.

"Convergence" by Robert Rich - The Morpheus was used for various atmospheric and textural sounds on this ambient album.

"Vibrational Healing" by David Hulse - The Morpheus was used for various atmospheric and textural sounds on this meditation album.

"The Cathedral" by Chroma Key - The Morpheus was used for various atmospheric and otherworldly sounds on this experimental album.

These are just a few examples of the many records and artists that have used the E-mu Morpheus in their recordings. The Morpheus' unique sound and powerful features have made it a favorite among sound designers and musicians for its ability to create complex and evolving sounds that are not possible with traditional synthesizers. The Morpheus' unique sound and powerful features have made it a versatile and expressive instrument that has found a place in a wide variety of musical styles and genres.