Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

What is the difference between the VFX and the SD-1?

> What is the difference between the VFX and the SD-1?

Models of the VFX family:

VFX: original base model.  No sequencer; has only 3 buttons in the
middle section where the sequencer transport buttons are in the rest
of the series.  No floppy drive; has a little "compartment" in its
place that can hold a couple of cartridges.

VFX-SD: Added sequencer, Floppy disk, more percussion waves.

VFX-SD-II: Added mega-piano waves.

SD-1: Rename the model, IMHO to avoid the reputation of unreliability
the VFX had attained, because they *thought* they had the keyboard
calibration problem fixed.  That wasn't really true; the first SD-1s
still had the keyboard problem.  I believe the SD-1 also added some
more waves. 

SD-1 32-voice: has 32 voice polyphony; previous models had 21 voices.

I have a VFX and a VFX-SD; the rest is from memory.  

Somewhere along the line they also did more work on the percussion,
but I can't remember where.  The original VFX had very limited
percussion sounds; for instance, a hi-hat had to be simulated with
noise, there was no sample.  The VFX also used the same voice
archetecture for drums as for everything else, and there was only one
percussion sound per wave.  So, since each program has only 6 waves,
you could only have 6 different sounds in each drum "set".  One of the
third party cartridges I have has two programs designed to be layered
with each other to get around this.

Going on *really* fuzzy memory here: the VFX-SD may have had a
"multi-drum" wave, that had different drum samples at different
pitches, so you'd have a wider selection of drums sounds across the
keyboard.  And the SD-1 might have added a drum mapping ability so
drum parts that were originally targeted at a general midi device
could be played back with some success on an SD-1.  (If I recall
correctly, GM compatibility was achieved in the next family, the TS
series, which is somewhat similar to the VFX series, but different
enough that (e.g.) it's not MIDI sys-ex compatible with the
VFX series.)

--> Steve


-- 
Steve Wahl    steve@...

Can we get a collective ticket for that group to visit the wizard?
Hint: they need neither courage nor a heart.  -- RJL

One more difference to note...the main reason I keep my VFX.  The VFX and VFX-SD have rare Polyphonic (as opposed to Channel) Aftertouch!  That means when I press one key harder, only that key's modulation/aftertouch is affected.  Many synth modules respond to Polyphonic Aftertouch but very few keyboards that are affordable can provide it !!

The later SD-1 and SD-32 models did not have Polyphonic Aftertouch, only Channel Aftertouch (at least from all my research when I was going to buy an SD-1 or SD-32...the extra waves didn't meanmuch to me compared to the need I had for the Poly-AT)

(I hope this disseration improves the value of the VFX & VFX-SD in the selling market....)

Bob
El Segundo, CA



-----Original Message-----

>From: Steve Wahl <steve@...>
>Sent: Aug 23, 2007 7:51 AM
>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Sorry about that last..duh er huh... valid question...
>
>> What is the difference between the VFX and the SD-1?
>
>Models of the VFX family:
>
>VFX: original base model.  No sequencer; has only 3 buttons in the
>middle section where the sequencer transport buttons are in the rest
>of the series.  No floppy drive; has a little "compartment" in its
>place that can hold a couple of cartridges.
>
>VFX-SD: Added sequencer, Floppy disk, more percussion waves.
>
>VFX-SD-II: Added mega-piano waves.
>
>SD-1: Rename the model, IMHO to avoid the reputation of unreliability
>the VFX had attained, because they *thought* they had the keyboard
>calibration problem fixed.  That wasn't really true; the first SD-1s
>still had the keyboard problem.  I believe the SD-1 also added some
>more waves. 
>
>SD-1 32-voice: has 32 voice polyphony; previous models had 21 voices.
>
>I have a VFX and a VFX-SD; the rest is from memory.  
>
>Somewhere along the line they also did more work on the percussion,
>but I can't remember where.  The original VFX had very limited
>percussion sounds; for instance, a hi-hat had to be simulated with
>noise, there was no sample.  The VFX also used the same voice
>archetecture for drums as for everything else, and there was only one
>percussion sound per wave.  So, since each program has only 6 waves,
>you could only have 6 different sounds in each drum "set".  One of the
>third party cartridges I have has two programs designed to be layered
>with each other to get around this.
>
>Going on *really* fuzzy memory here: the VFX-SD may have had a
>"multi-drum" wave, that had different drum samples at different
>pitches, so you'd have a wider selection of drums sounds across the
>keyboard.  And the SD-1 might have added a drum mapping ability so
>drum parts that were originally targeted at a general midi device
>could be played back with some success on an SD-1.  (If I recall
>correctly, GM compatibility was achieved in the next family, the TS
>series, which is somewhat similar to the VFX series, but different
>enough that (e.g.) it's not MIDI sys-ex compatible with the
>VFX series.)
>
>--> Steve
>
>
>-- 
>Steve Wahl    steve@...
>
>Can we get a collective ticket for that group to visit the wizard?
>Hint: they need neither courage nor a heart.  -- RJL

On Aug 23, 2007, at 10:13 AM, Bob S. wrote:
> The later SD-1 and SD-32 models did not have Polyphonic Aftertouch,  
> only Channel Aftertouch (at least from all my research when I was  
> going to buy an SD-1 or SD-32...the extra waves didn't meanmuch to  
> me compared to the need I had for the Poly-AT).

They do have the poly aftertouch - they just call it by some  
nonstandard name. (Just checked my manual.)

  --- Joe M.

The SD1 also have Poly Pressure. (My VFX was refitted with a 21 Voice 
SD-1 mainboard - the original equipped board went dead after a couple 
of months or so...)

And Yes, Poly Pressure and Poly Aftertouch is the same.

- Claus.

hi, Does the TS-10 have poly AT ?

-Vince

>From: "Bob S." <tttsystems@...>
>Reply-To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Sorry about that last..duh er huh... 
>valid question...
>Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 07:38:26 -0700
>
>OK...I stand corrected !
>
>Now I know I can give up the VFX for the SD-x...thank you all !

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The older the series got the less sensitive the poly after touch 
(poly AT) became, try the original VFX and then try the VFXSD next 
try the SD1.

You will see they all have poly AT but the older unit's were more 
responsive, after some research I found that the KBC software ver 
advanced each time. So I am testing out the latest/last version from 
a VFX (there were several) I will post my findings shortly...I have a 
feeling this might be the answer to better poly AT.
Rich


--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Bob S." <tttsystems@...> 
wrote:
>
> Hi Claus
> 
> I had read somewhere that the later models did not carry over the 
Poly Aftertouch, but my sources may have been in error, and all the 
web sites that listed polyAT keyboards seem to have left out the 
SD....but from now on, I will assume the SD is PolyAT/Pressure....
> 
> In your case, you started from the VFX-SD model which is PolyAT 
keyboard mechanism anyway......
> 
> Bob
> El Segundo, CA
> 
>  
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Claus 
>   To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 7:55 AM
>   Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Sorry about that last..duh er 
huh... valid question...
> 
> 
> 
>   Hi Bob!
> 
> 
> 
>   I actually bought the VFX-SD1 from a guy who didn't like it :O 
(after he used for  9 months) When he had it, it crashed on him. The 
standard repair here in DK was the change of the whole motherboard to 
a 21 voice SD-1.
> 
> 
> 
>   Could it be that the keys are different from model to model?
> 
> 
> 
>   - Claus, Denmark.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
> 
> 
>   From: Bob S.[mailto:tttsystems@...]
>   Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 2:05 PM -07:00
>   To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>   Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Sorry about that last..duh er 
huh... valid question...
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   Glad to hear that there are reports of the SD-x being Poly 
AT....however, could your's be a special case since you started as a 
VFX ?
> 
>   Bob
>   El Segundo, CA
> 
> 
> 
>     ----- Original Message ----- 
>     From: Claus 
>     To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>     Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 1:15 AM
>     Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Sorry about that last..duh er 
huh... valid question...
> 
> 
>     The SD1 also have Poly Pressure. (My VFX was refitted with a 21 
Voice 
>     SD-1 mainboard - the original equipped board went dead after a 
couple 

>     of months or so...)
> 
>     And Yes, Poly Pressure and Poly Aftertouch is the same.
> 
>     - Claus.
>