Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Hi.  Does TS-10 basically has same synth structure as VFX, 
right?  Maybe more waveform, more effects.....
and also TS-10 is the last VFX family synth, right?   Am I correct? 
another words.......

ESQ-1  ---->  SQ-80    =  ESQ Family

VFX ---> VFX-SD ---> SD-1 ---> TS-10    = VFX family

MR-61 --->  ZR-76  =  MR family  /  The end of Ensoniq Synth  :-(

I know Ensoniq made more products.....But I just put their main 
synth here.......

What the difference between TS-10 and MR-61.......
I know TS-10 is the last Ensoniq Synth has Poly aftertouch, patch 
select botton etc.....
Is MR-61 still powerful synth or more like Rompler workstation?
Sorry for so many questions.....but I love Ensoniq 
SYNTHESIZER.  They have such a distinct sound.  I'm so sad 
they are bought by creative labs or E-mu or whatever and now 
they don't make Synth anymore......   :-(

I wish they reproduce synth like ESQ or SQ-80 with powerful 
effects and few knobs or ribbon or any real time controller.....
I think it would be a hit......I love ESQ/SQ-80's Digital Analog 
Hybrid Sound....   :-)   

Anyway.....any info or comments would be greatly appreciated....

Thank you all Ensoniq Fans out there......

Koichi   :-)

Greetings, Koichi,

The TS series of synths, while based on similar OS as the VFX was a totally 
new upgrade.  The two are not compatible in the same way that the VFX and SD1 
were compatable.  

While the sequencers are similar and the voice structures are similar, they 
do not read each other's data or diskettes.  There were significant 
enhancements of the TS from the SD1 and VFX series.  

Warmly yours, Frank Fortunato

On Saturday 03 November 2001 05:42 pm, you wrote:

> I wish they reproduce synth like ESQ or SQ-80 with powerful
> effects and few knobs or ribbon or any real time controller.....
> I think it would be a hit......I love ESQ/SQ-80's Digital Analog
> Hybrid Sound....   :-)

I agree, though the closest you can get to the ensoniq(s) for a controller, 
these days, is the Kurzweils. If you're looking for a master controller, the 
K2600 is the place to start. They lack poly aftertouch, but so does everyone 
else's :/. That said, you have the patch select buttons - well, 2 buttons in 
the same location that can be set to produce just about any CC value), 4 
footswitch inputs, 2 foot pedal inputs, 2 ribbons, 8 sliders.  It really is 
control heaven.

Another good master controller with lots of control options is the Oberheim 
MC3000 that gibson/oberheim still sell. Again lacks poly aftertouch, but has 
*8* MIDI outputs, and a programmable patchbay - plus similar control options 
to the K2600. Or it would be, I just checked the site (after writing all 
this) and the MC3000 has been removed from Oberheim's product catalog within 
the last 3 days :/ Maybe they'll replace it with a similar product, but given 
how Gibson are running these 'subsiduary' companies, I have my doubts :( 
(still, might be worth rumaging online to see if you can find an alternate 
vendor - though MusicYo were probably the sole distributor - before they 
clear their stock)

Some day, and hopefully soon, someone will write good 'virtual instruments' 
for many of these mid-80s to early-90s synths, and everyone will be able to 
experience SQ and VFX sounds without hunting for used versions :)

As I said the other day, the K2600 is on my shopping list - If new fuses 
fix my SD1, it will complement it (and I'll still have poly aftertouch :), if 
not, it'll replace it. 

Btw, I have a feeling that poly aftertouch will make a 'comeback' in the next 
few years. I think its overdue, and techs such as MLAN will remove all of the 
major problems associated with poly aftertouch. Plus with the interest in 
VA's and soft synths, giving back the control methods of those old analog 
synths (which is where poly aftertouch was most common) will become more of 
an incentive. Plus, making good reliable poly aftertouch sensors is a lot 
easier these days than it was in the 80s.

On Saturday 03 November 2001 05:42 pm, you wrote:

> I wish they reproduce synth like ESQ or SQ-80 with powerful
> effects and few knobs or ribbon or any real time controller.....
> I think it would be a hit......I love ESQ/SQ-80's Digital Analog
> Hybrid Sound....   :-)

Oh, btw, if you want to add a ribbon to your Ensoniq, don't forget there is 
also the Kurzweil 'ExpressionMate'. I was floating around the net looking to 
make sure I have the best price for the K2600 on my list :) And ran into a 
place selling the ExpressionMate for about $300 - which seems to be the 
current 'good' price on them. My instant reaction was 'hey, that thing would 
go great with the SD1' :)

(in case you don't know, its a 600mm ribbon + external control box/midi 
IN/OUT merger/arpeggiator -it also has breath controller and foot 
pedal/switch inputs)

I'm not sure if it is the right size to stick on the angled blank area above 
the keys on ensoniq, but it should fit.



Oh, and for anyone trying to keep track of my SD1, I have ordered the 
replacement fuses (www.jameco.com - part #103915 - if anyone needs any 
replacements - the 2A fuses run about $1.70/10), they'll be here in a few 
days. Tracing the PCB, it seems that the 5 circuit-mounted fuses are ordered 
rather stupidly - 2 2A fast blows in parallel, plus 3 1.6A fast blows in 
parallel - at a guess the 2A's on the 12V (FDD + analog) line and the 1.6A's 
on the 5V (digital) line.

Why is this stupid? because running fuses in parallel guarentees you one 
thing, you blow one fuse, you blow ALL of the parallel fuses. Given that the 
PSU on the SD1's is 'twitchy' at best (we've all lost sequences because we 
had to reset to factory defaults after a slight power fluctuation, right?), 
my hopes for the fuses BEING the sole problem with my SD1 are growing, 48W of 
power from the 12V rail seems excessive, but these aren't modern 'low power' 
components after all :)

Yes the ESQ-1 and the SQ-80 are lovely. But to reproduce synths like 
the ESQ-1 is to put in 40Gb HD in an old 386...

I can also say that the ESQ-1 and SQ-80 can not and should not be 
compared to the VFX and the SD, what I mean is in sound. I did really 
love my old ESQ-1, and when I bought VFX-SDii and sold my old ESQ was 
big mistake. But as time goes by the sounds changes and the 
technology is still moving forward.

Personally I think that the Ob-12 is really some thing in sound 
design… 

cheers
/niklas


--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@y..., Suzanne Archibald <suzanne@c...> wrote:
> On Saturday 03 November 2001 05:42 pm, you wrote:
> 
> > I wish they reproduce synth like ESQ or SQ-80 with powerful
> > effects and few knobs or ribbon or any real time controller.....
> > I think it would be a hit......I love ESQ/SQ-80's Digital Analog
> > Hybrid Sound....   :-)
> 
> Oh, btw, if you want to add a ribbon to your Ensoniq, don't forget 
there is 
> also the Kurzweil 'ExpressionMate'. I was floating around the net 
looking to 
> make sure I have the best price for the K2600 on my list :) And ran 
into a 
> place selling the ExpressionMate for about $300 - which seems to be 
the 
> current 'good' price on them. My instant reaction was 'hey, that 
thing would 
> go great with the SD1' :)
> 
> (in case you don't know, its a 600mm ribbon + external control 
box/midi 
> IN/OUT merger/arpeggiator -it also has breath controller and foot 
> pedal/switch inputs)
> 
> I'm not sure if it is the right size to stick on the angled blank 
area above 
> the keys on ensoniq, but it should fit.
> 
> 
> 
> Oh, and for anyone trying to keep track of my SD1, I have ordered 
the 
> replacement fuses (www.jameco.com - part #103915 - if anyone needs 
any 
> replacements - the 2A fuses run about $1.70/10), they'll be here in 
a few 
> days. Tracing the PCB, it seems that the 5 circuit-mounted fuses 
are ordered 
> rather stupidly - 2 2A fast blows in parallel, plus 3 1.6A fast 
blows in 
> parallel - at a guess the 2A's on the 12V (FDD + analog) line and 
the 1.6A's 
> on the 5V (digital) line.
> 
> Why is this stupid? because running fuses in parallel guarentees 
you one 
> thing, you blow one fuse, you blow ALL of the parallel fuses. Given 
that the 
> PSU on the SD1's is 'twitchy' at best (we've all lost sequences 
because we 
> had to reset to factory defaults after a slight power fluctuation, 
right?), 
> my hopes for the fuses BEING the sole problem with my SD1 are 
growing, 48W of 
> power from the 12V rail seems excessive, but these aren't 
modern 'low power' 
> components after all :)