Hm, I misread those commands in the docs. The "EXTCODEC" command is for setting up an external TI codec included on the dev board. I think that perhaps you might only need the first command to use the empeg I2S:

SET CONTROL AUDIO INTERNAL I2S EVENT 32

And mayyyybe a "RESET" after that. Might be that simple.

Also the number might not be 32. The docs say "...configures I2S to use 32 bits per sample to suit the clocking requirements of the TI codec" so I don't know if the empeg needs that or if it needs 16 in that slot or what.