Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

There's even more to impress you

- the VFX SD II is a pretty rare model which was quickly follwed by the SD-1. It hat more memory, new sequencer functions (e.g. step and multi recording), new effect algorithms, and a new OS V2.0
- the SD-1 32 voice came with 32 voices instead of the former 21 and more memorey to bring the sequencer to 75.000 notes by default (there was a memory upgrade kit for the SD-1)

Unlike the VFX SD and the VFX SD II, the SD-1 models came without the label VFX. So there is actually one (so called vanilla) VFX, followed by the VFX-SD and VFX SD II which makes three VFX models.
After that came the SD-1 models.

And the SD-1 was origially to be named QFX I which collided with a PEAVEY product, an effects processor, coming to market i the same year. Yet there might be some prototypes or pre series devices labelled QFX...

Then there was the SQ series as a more or less low cost version of the VFX / SD-1 including rack versions, the MR series, the TS10 and TS12, and the FIZMO with tons of dials like an analog monster, not to talk about the PARIS production system...

Not enough. There are also various samplers, starting with the Mirage, the EPS series, and the ASR series where the latest is the ASR X Pro groove box - still very popular.

A large part of Ensoniqs business were sound chips which populated not only their own soundcards but also Soundblaster and others.

There is a great web site explaining all Ensoniq (and other synth companies) gear in detail:
www.synrise.de is a vast synthesizer database. Unfortunately many parts are in German only, so are the Ensoniq descriptions - and they announced to finally close it down.

Hans


Claus schrieb:

So there is a VFX-SD, VFX-SD1 (21 Voice) and VFX-SD1 (32 Voice).

PLUS the Original VFX that if I'm correct, came in at least two versions??

Amazing Ensoniq ;)

From: Hans Artmann[mailto:hans-artmann@t-online.de]
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 3:52 PM -07:00
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Highly Desired Patch.....

The violin patch is only available on the SD-1, not on the SD. The SD-1 has a couple more wave forms implemented (168 waves altogether in a 3,5MB Rom instead of the VFX-SDs 141 waves in a 1,75 MB Rom). The vanilla VFX has 109 waves (1,5MB).

The ROM banks are also different. While the VFX series including SD have INT, CART, and ROM, the SD-1 has a second ROM bank to hold another 60 sounds and 20 presets.
That is why you can switch between INT, CART, ROM1, and ROM2 on the SD-1.

Among the waves added for the SD-1 were some solo strings like violin and cello.
That means there is no way to develop a clean violin patch on the SD.

Sorry Harry, but if you need a violin you need to explore other options, maybe an SD-1 or an EPS series sampler (great Ensoniq gear, and sometimes pretty cheap to come by).

Oh, and ebay has lots of violins ;-)

Hans


Claus schrieb:

If You use the CART button to select ROM Bank 1 and press the 7 key there should be a Violin as the fourth sound in that window...

From: Harry[mailto:ebbrecords@...]
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 3:29 AM -07:00
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Highly Desired Patch.....

Hello all,
I trust that all are doing well and making lots of music. I need a
patch for the VFX-SD and I cannot seem to create it convincingly. I
need a solo violin patch. Has anyone been able to successfully make
a violin patch? I know that there is not a waveform in the list for
that sort of thing, but I was thinking that there has to be a way to
make one.
That is really the only patch that I have not been able to make on
the synth since I have had it. I have one on my SQ-2, but as I look,
there is a designated waveform for such an instrument.
If anyone has one, can you send it over to me?

Thank you,

Harry Ebbeson III
Ebbeson Management Group