Ensoniq EPS-16+

I'M USING THE LATEST OS SYSTEM(1.30).I USE SAMPLES FROM A FRIEND WHOM HAS A PLAIN EPS.

IT CAME WITH GOOD 24BIT EFFECTS.IT HAS A EASY TO USE SEQUENCER,I CAN DO ALL OF MY ARRANGEMENTS WITH EASE.IT GIVE YOU SO MANY OPTIONS FOR MIXING AFTER YOUR FINAL TAKES.I'USING THE 2X'S EXPANDER.

THIS THING USED WITH A PHATT ANALOG BOARD WILL GET YOU PAID! IF YOU ARE IN TO R&B/HIPHOP/OR WHAT EVER THIS IS IT! ALL THE INFAMOUS MUSIC PRODUCERS HAVE CROSSED PATHS RIGHT HERE!

NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS.ONLY THING IS STOCK UP ON THE 3.5 DS/DD AT RADIO SHACK!

NEVER CALLED

REMEBER THIS WILL GET YOU ON THE ROAD TO BE THE NEXT DR.DRE/MANY FRESH /SWIZZ BEATZ/DALLAS AUSTIN!I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR SOME NEW HITS.IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO PRODUCE BUY ONE!

I LIKE THIS ONE,I HAD A EPS FIRST,BUT IT DIDN'T COME WITH A MANUAL.I'M USING THE NEW OPERATING SYSTEM.A FRIEND OF MINE SUPPLIES ME WITH MY SOUNDS,SO I CAN DO ALL MY TRACKS,EDITING WITHOUT GOING TO TAPE.

I USE MOSTLY THE ROOM REVERB OR JUST GO DRY.I HAVE THE 2X EXPANDER,IT USES THE OLD DS/DD DISK NO PROBLEM,RADIO SHACK HAS PLENTY.THE SEQUENCER IS SO EASY.

I'M USING MPC/LINN/R8/808 YOU NAME IT,ALL ARE PHATT,BUT USE ONLY SAMPLES YOU MAKE.FORGET THE NAY SAY'RS,THIS IS THE ULTIMATE AFFORDIBLE MACHINE FOR ALL HIP HOP NEEDS.JUST TEAM IT UP WITH A JUNO106 OR ANY OLD ROLAND JUNO/JUPITER BOARD.THESE OTHER GUYS DON'T WANT TO TELL ALL THE SECRETS.ASK A HIP HOP PRODUCER ABOUT ENSONIQ AND THEY WILL SHOW YOU THE MONEY!!!DALLAS/BOMB SQUAD/MANNY FRESH/JERMAINE/SWIZZ BEATZ/WHAT ABOUT YOU?OH,WHAT ABOUT DRE?$$$$

NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS

NEVER CALLED.DON'T FORGET TO STOCK UPON DISK$$$

I'M SO PLEASE I THINK I'LL TAKE THAT RACKMOUNT,TOO!JUST REMEMBER ME IN YOUR MIX,MAKE IT PHATT AND PHUNKY,YA HEARD ME?$$$

Latest Disk based os v1.13, Not very intuitive or reliable but a very flexible and unique and novel approach (for its time) to sampling synthesis. the culmination of 80's sampling know-how. The disks that come with the synth are pretty good but rather limited.

The more polyphony you use the greater the drag on the cpu and the more prone to errors, run it with 8-voice polyphony and no efx for most stable operation, esp. w/ the sequencer. The sequencer and sampler are flexible with many editing options, midi capabilities and effects are good too. Different sample rates for low fidelity weirdness. Unique loop and modulation options. Expansions no longer made. The features still make this thing very useful, 16 bit stereo sound ,(only 1 mono input for sampler) its great for messing around with the latest sampled loops etc of the day. I created a whole library of cool waves based on the sh101 through the years. The filters on the eps are another weak point, they lack resonance and realtime tweakability- but you can emulate this to a degree by modulating the start point of a resonant wavesample via modwheel. Another weak point- very small sample memory-1 mb base, 2mb expanded and 4mb total possible w/ the option 2 mb flash... now unavailable.

The preset disks suck so you better be prepared to sample your ass off!- and don't forget those dd disks!

It is not very reliable and will crash again and again especially when you program the sequencer and max it out--- which won't take long. It is great if you just want to play sounds from it or use it a s a tone module but do not rely on this for your main wotkstation- inevitable frustration will result. That being said- I have never had any problem with the synths hardware, keyboard or anything requiring servicing- one button doesn't click (from being clicked so many times!) but still works fine so I guess its fairly reliable.

if parts like the Floppy drive breaks- i hear they don't make 'em anymore- you're screwed.

I paid 1800 for this back in 1992 when it was really a state-of-the-art piece of equipment along with the EMAX and it served me well though the years, and while it it never really taught me anything about analog synthesis- and has flaws, it taught me alot about sampling- no i wouldn't buy it again now, but I'm definiltley not sorry I bought it then- it is still very useful and sentimental to me so I will keep, but my advice to others would be avoid it if possible because there's much better options out there nowadays for the money.

As a sample playback synthesizer it is great but moderatley difficult to learn, especially all of the sampling editing features- but once mastered it is easy and fast.(os v 1.3)Standard presets aren't that bad- good tr 808 samples, strings, jazz and rock drums a few basses but no good synthesizer sounds. comprehensive editing features including ability to self sample and numerous wave editing algorithms are available. Envelopes are edited using numeric scales- not easy for beginner to master.In fact the manual is partly to blame because it never discusses the fundamentals of synthesizer use (VCO, VCA, VCF etc) and so to a novice it is a complex task to synthesize sounds (can only generate a square wave anyway ).

max 20 voice poly. But by selecting less polyphony you can get more processor power and sequencing ability- plus at lower poly settings it will crash less often. Built in efx are great and highly adjustable but forget about real time control with most parameters because it sometimes clicks or stutters the sounds when adjusted (not that unusual among non analog synths)The keyboard, mod wheels and a foot controlller are the main controllers you should use to affect the sound- not the buttons or sliders. You can arrange entire tunes using samples and loops on this baby- no problem. Midi capabilities are there, makes a great keyboard controller and live performance sampler- will crash- usually when arranging, it never seems to crash upon simple playback. you would probably want to add the flashbank ROM option which allowed internal storage of up to 2 mb of sounds and a tone generator that uses virtual analog technology.The 6 output expander was available- now rare. Also upgradeable to 2 mb of ram from standard 1 mb.Also a scsi option was available. Sequencer is pretty good but prone to crashing when intensley arranging- save often.

Sounds are totally up to you- you can layer piano samples across the keyboard as easily as making a sample drum kit, you can easily create weird atmoshperic loops or dope rhythms from samples- limited entirely by your imagination. it is possible to synthesize some sounds using the internal tone generator it is mostly useless unless you have alot of time on your hands.EFX are really good- i like "Jerry's Patch" and "Mutron lives" on the wah effect especially with drums- sounds like aphex twin to me. keyboard action is typically flimsy plastic as on most synths- but suprisingly useful and articulate.

Reliabilty- well you may end up cursing the skies from time to time with this synth- OS crashes are inevitable and a fact of life for any user of this synth (unless you use it purely for performance via keyboard or as a master controller or tone module)- if it didn't crash i would say the synth is just about perfect but i guess nothing is perfect- I would bring backup disks and be prepared

OK support from Ensoniq- they will send you latest os (that's about it)which suprisingly does very little to prevent crashes.this synth was released in 1991-1992 and became the basis for ASR keyboard and drummachines. This is an american made keyboard- MALVERN, PA

A good sampling workstation and a steal these days, especially if you accept the occassional crash- but I would definitley couple it with other midi instruments to take strain off the processor and reduce poly -addition of a drum machine and a tone generator are almost essential.Compares well to AKAI sequencers but less reliable. Wish mine had the flash rom option installed. Don't push it too hard and hot and it will work well. Compare this to a yamaha ex5, for what i paid the ex5 delivers a whole hell of alot more than the EPS 16+; get an rx5 they are the best workstations i've ever used, If you can't afford that get one of these used for around 600$ at ebay.

This is a sampling workstation. Editing samples is dificult (no visual display of waveform). Many menus to scroll through. Many pre-made sounds are (still) available through Rubber chicken, 3D sounds, etc. Waveboy also produces effect disks adding functionality. (a definite must!)

EPS 16+ is a 16 bit sampler w/ 2 Meg memory, upgradeable to 4 Meg. 61 keys, uses double density disks (saving can take a while & use multiple disks), SCSI kits are available. Has a sequencer. Editing samples can require you to re-insert the OS disk. Another option is a flashbank, which is a small storage/memory device. An output expander will increase your outputs to 6 (from 2 + headphone out) Very limited 2 line LCD display. Has multi-channel aftertouch, velocity.

Sounds of course depend on the sample source, some sounds I have purchased require lots of tweaking, and some are great (Waveboy transwaves). Onboard effects are limited but increased with the Waveboy add-ons (I dont mean to sound like a Waveboy rep, but they have good stuff) This is not a synth, so no "built-in" sounds, you need to load them all.

Ive giged with it before, and so far so good. I suggest using a case (Ive chiped some buttons traveling). Make sure to get the latest OS, the older ones like to crash. Available free on the web.

No repairs yet. 2-3 yrs ago I got the manual from them no problem (arround $20). There is plenty of support on the web, including a e-list.

The biggest disadvantage is the limited screen size. I didnt shop arround too much, so it was either the Rolland W-30 or this. I think the Roland is 12 bit, so this is probably better sound quality. Make sure to get all hardware options, it saves time, making the process of writing much easier (I dont have any options...) I also suggest an outboard effects processor since the on-board one is limited (1-3 effects at once, about 10 combos).

I bought my eps16+ new in 1991 or '92. I think it was about $2 grand. As a seasoned ensoniq owner (esq-1 & mirage dsk) I caught on rather quickly to getting the machine to make music but it took a couple of years to really reallize the true potential of this electronic phenomenon. On the other hand I have empathy for the novice musician or even seasoned pros that had never used an ensoniq product before the eps and jump in to the eps16+ architecture cold footed and trying to get sweet musical results with any speed at all. I had so much empathy that I frequently tutored eps owners at $45/hour. This demand was partly due to the fact that the manual sucked dinosaur-dongs to put it lightly. Bottom line is in my opinion the eps-16+ when skillfully used is one sonically sweet music makin' machine.

midi speaking the eps-16+ can easily run the show as the sequencing heart of any midi arsenal or it can be a very hassle free sound source cooperating invisibly with excellent dependabillity. The effects are outstanding and can even be state of the art at the expense of a few voices. Versatility is endless.

I give the eps-16+ a 9.9 for all of the above.

Sometimes months without a crash.... Sometimes I'm not even frustrated yet when .... Hey it won't do anything!!! It's locked up!!! And that was a hit song I was gonna retire on!!.........

My other ensoniq products all needed to go to service re-hab from time to time ....My eps16+ never once even a hint of a breakdown.

This is one machine that always finds it's way home from the pawn shop.

It is a great sounding sampler, but his factory presets are not so inspiring: they sound static and not all of them are usable(Rap tools!!). In fact, there is only 15 disks included with the unit, one containing smaller(in memory) versions of other sounds in the library, Ensoniq could have done better in quality and quantity. Also, the display is really inadequate, making loops is a terrible job, editing enveloppes too!

The keyboard action is superb, it is easy to play with intuitive dynamics. The effects are the best ones i've heard in any synth, they sound fat, rich, and very pure The major problem is the memory expansion, it only supports 2 MG RAM!! It is my only reason to desire an ASR 10, 2 Mg is never enough for deep sampling As for the on-board sequencer, not very intuitive but afer many hours of use, it get a very versatile tool

The patch select buttons makes expressiveness easier on acoutic sounds. But, the samples are too poor for the control we have over it. The Distortion effect is very good, it can make lead guitar very, very interesting. As a controller, it is a superb keyboard with great features like polyphinic aftertouch, that controller that almost any recent synth can receive but not transmit from his own keyboard. If you plan to make your own samples, you will discover a very straight programming options, It is a bit hard to radically change the timbre of the original sample (like K-2000) I would not recommand it for dance, techno or experimental music, I see it more like an easy sound-upgradable workstation.

Even if the unit does not have a very shiny reputation for reliability, The 2 units I own (1 Key, 1 Rack), are very stable, they operate very well with SCSI. I use it on gigs every week or so, I never had any problems.

Since I own my first EPS-16+, I receive from Ensoniq, informations about new banks, or products from Ensoniq. But the service is a bit slow, it took about a month to change the master volume fader on my keyboard unit.

The big difference between EPS 16+ and ASR 10, is mainly memory, If EPS could support up to 16 MG of SIMMS, it would be almost as good as the ASR10, for more than half the price!! It can sound very good if you take sone time to develop your own samples, but it is not very inspiring mainly because of the inadequate display.

There are no presets. You can get premade samples. Some are good, other are so/so.

24 note polyhony. 10 or so effects built in. Much room for expansion (SCSI external...more RAM etc.

It is a hardcore sampler, but it gets buried by more recent keyboards like the K2000 or ASR-10

I would NEVER use this puppy on a gig. It is terribly temperature sensitive and has an operating system that freaks out all the time. This is not just my OS. I have heard it from others. Would you like to be on stage and have random keystrikes or shutdowns?

It is generally a very nice sampler, but I would only reccomend buying one used and be ready to have Ensoniq fix the OS and a chip or two.