I used to have an ASR10. The EPS16+ comes close. These samplers are still ahead of more modern samplers in so many ways. Try assigning velocity to looppoint, and experiment with Transwaves:
http://www.ensoniqsamplers.org/faq-epsasr.shtml


Non Agression Pact's albums were done on an EPS16+ with 8 output expander. Tons of artists used primarily the bigger brother the ASR-10, for example Pain Station/Converter, Scar Tissue, Xorcist, 16 Volt, the 10 and 16 were pretty much THE sound of abrasive 90's industrial music. I still flirt with getting another, if not just for drums alone.

Thank you, cthulufunk for your insight and wisdom. I realize the ASR-10 is better. Although i think it just has more sampling time. Am i right? Does anyone remember the old Akai sampling keyboard? I thought it was the shi* when it 1st came out. Is there a decent internal zip drive for the EPS 16+ that i can get to install that will fit it? Or should i even bother with a zip drive? I'm guessing SCSI is the way to go. I saw an external SCSI drive on the MIDI MARK website that comes preloaded with tons of sounds. Is this a good buy? I hate to ask so many questions. Chicken Sys has a SCSI adapter kit but you have to alter the memory expansion pack.

i have a huge run of Transoniq Hacker magazines, if i can dig them out ill sell you the run if you want.

-eddie

Ensoniq gear always has a unique sound. sometimes sharp & thin, sometimes harsh & gritty but always solid musician friendly gear. i used to drool over the 16+ back in the day, but never got around to picking one up. i've had ensoniq mirage, sq80 & still have my esq1.

I've been dying to check out an Ensoniq Fizmo. I've heard the sounds it makes and they are way cool. a fellow sparked my interest in it while we were talking about the Kawai K5000 that i recently sold. I had a bid on one on eBay but i was outbid as usual. I've never heard of the Transoniq hacker magazine. I'm definitely interestd. I never realized until recently that Ensoniq used to make computer sound cards. I was looking inside of an old computer of mine and saw the label. I think they still make them. I swear that old sound card sounded better than my new one. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit into my PCI slot or any other slot on my new computer. E-MU gear is nice but usually out of my price range.

I always wanted and EPS and never had the opportunity to pick one up. Now days I don't have much use for a sampler synth, but still I too love Ensoniq and I use my VFXsd all the time. Anyhow for your info Mentallo & The Fixer used that sampler on early albums and The Legendary Pink Dots still use it after countless albums. It's a very good sampler synth.

[from vintagesynth.com]All EPS-16+ synths can be upgraded via non-volatile flash ROM (available on-line from Waveboy Industries and Chicken Systems, Inc.) to expand your EPS's memory, effects algorithms and creative potential! It has been used by Autechre, LFO, Massive Attack and Slam.

Also the difference betwen the EPS and ASR is more than just memory. The ASR also has a larger effects library, more polyphony, a beefier sequencer, more sample editing options, and easier upgrade abilities.

`michael

Other users of Ensoniq samplers: Pygmy Children, THD, Skinny Puppy, Aghast View, Global Wave System, Bozo Porno Circus, el-P, Timberland.

Transoniq Hacker is definitely recommended for helping you learn some of the weird tricks your EPS-16+ can do... I actually used to write for them back in the day. My first album, "Contempt" and many of my early remixes (Pain Station, Fleshfield,etc) were all done with nothing more than an EPS-16+, so you can definitely get a lot out of it. Track down all the WaveBoy discs if you can...

My favorite trick to get around the lack of a resonant filter was to take a synth and sample a long, slow filter sweep. Then you can use the mod wheel or velocity to modulate the sample start point and it sounds like you have resonant filters!

I never realized until recently that Ensoniq used to make computer sound cards. I was looking inside of an old computer of mine and saw the label. I think they still make them.

Ensoniq was started by the guy who made the classic SID chip for the commodore64 back in 1982. In 1998, Ensoniq was bought by Creative. Then E-mu and Creative Labs merged & Ensoniq was killed in the deal.

Saddest day in music history IMO.

Our first album and second EP were written exclusively on the ASR-10. It's still the piece of gear I use the most. I've never owned an EPS, though.


Ian

www.waveboy.com

you can get a resonant filter disc as well. I'd say transwaves (2 disc set I believe, if you can find em), Audio demolition and Resonant filter are all good stuff to have.

I still use EPS16+ as a controller and for drum sounds + transwaves, but hey, I'm retro.

Waveboy's 'Voder' is super cool as well. That's one very good reason to try to score an EPS16 or ASR with the 3.5 diskdrive.

I still use my EPS (not even 16+!) all the time. Love it.
Vein Cage had a 16+ for the first could of records (including the soon-to-be-released "lost" 2nd one.)

Assigning filer cutoff to the modwheel is one of my fave things. May seem obvious, but when you use two filters, one going high, the other low, both modulated by the same wheel, interesting stuff happens. Takes a little finessing to get it to sound right (or at all, even) but it is a cool thing.

An ASR-10 Rack is something I've been meaning to pick up for a long time. I think it will have to happen in preparation for the writing of new material...! :)

my first big encounter with synths was at the ensoniq factory when i was there on a field trip in middle school.

we had a lot of progressive electro musicians teaching music at my middle and high school...and it paid off for me at the very least...

and then mr.shear produced our first demo/ep with the eps16+ and i realized how badly i needed a real sampler, lol.

i had a chepo boss sampler at the time..it was neat but the best thing ti ever did was..."your the fuckin bitch...fuckin bitch...ffffffuckin bitchh...bbbbb..."