Ensoniq Fizmo

The software version is the final 1.10. The presets are a 50/50 lot,
but do hint at the power under the hood. Editing is pretty easy and
intuitive--all on the front end . . . althought the SoundDiver software
(if you can get it work--it's tricky, but possible) accesses a ton of
other editable parameters. The true power of this synth is in making
your own sounds. It's quite inspiring. The manual is a good introduction
to things on the Fizmo, although the best method for getting it is to
simply dive in and starting tweaking. It's most definitely a tweaker's
unit. It's very easy to use and you can go very, very deep and get as
complicated as you please.

Sound layering is the key and the polyphony is just fine. The sounds evolve
and are very "alive." The keyboard action is the same as my Alesis QS6. A little
stiff, but not much different than other keyboards. The effects are
super--reverbs, distortions, flangers, rotary speakers . . . just about
anything you'd want to tack onto the great sounds that it can already
produce. They're very easy to use. You just insert them on the patch and fiddle with them
from there. There are no expansion capabilities--other than upgrading the software to
it's final version--but I don't know why you'd need to expand. Making your own patches and being able to download and use
other people's should keep you occupied and mesmerized for the rest of your life. It has full MIDI capability, but no
on-board sequencer--although it will sync up to anything for all the tempo and arpeggiator stuff that it's got. As with everything else on the Fizmo, it's all very easy and intuitive.
Since some folks might not like having no expansion, I'm giving it a 9.

The Fizmo is modeled after nothing, so it sounds like nothing out there.
I'm sure that this will put off most folks, but for me it's just perfect.
I would say that experimental and noise musicians will fall in love with it
immediately. It might take others a while, though. The onboard effects are great
and really add to the madness and genius. It's quite responsive to playing styles
and can be easily modified to react to specific playing styles. For me, it's a 10 on this end.
I like weird sounds and coming up with otherworldly things. It is THE machine for this, believe me.

I know that earlier units from last year were problematic. I also know that most problems stem back to a cheap, crummy power supply (a wal wart, ugh...) that Ensoniq provided.
I would suggest finding a unit that had a good user history (since they're no longer in production and Ensoniq has merged with E-Mu). Also, you should immediately replace the power supply with
one from Radio Shack (9VAC, 1300ma, 16w/for original Nintendo replacement).
Again, most of the problems stemmed from the bad power supply and its
burning up and causing more internal difficulties. The one I have is very dependable, but it
probably won't leave my home studio, so I can't comment on gigging with it.
I give it a 7 for reliability, strictly because of the problems with other units.

Since the merger of Ensoniq and E-Mu, it's been pretty quiet on the Fizmo
support end. I have been in contact with Kim Wilhelmsen at E-Mu, who is
handling the warranty stuff for the Fizmo, and have found her to be very
helpful. She sent out my SoundDive editing software pronto and processed my
warranty info very quickly (it was a gift, too--and she was very understanding on that end with the warranty).
I would think that they would be equally helpful with repairs. I don't doubt that she'd stand behind the warranty.

I would hope to get another one, if this one were lost or stolen. I've been playing
for over 21 years, and I'm an experimental musician. This thing is
invaluable to my music and noise. I love the fact that it makes insane
and original, unique sounds--and that I can make my own things from
scratch that sound like NOTHING else out there. I compared it to the new
Korg MS2000, the Roland Groovesynth and Nord Modular--and I really
think that it's a completely different animal than those. The Fizmo is
very much an individual in a world of modeling units. I wish that the editing
software were easier to get fired up with the Fizmo, but that's my only gripe.
The Fizmo is inspiring and definitely pushes my music forward into places that
it wouldn't otherwise be able to go. I give it a 9, only because of the software gripe.

A lot of the presets are lame, but I don't think it matters... The Fizmo is a synth meant for YOU to make your own sounds. Unfortuneately, the front panel doesn't provide you with everything you need to edit patches. When you send in your warranty, you also include form so they can send you the free editing software. Even though the Fizmo came out in 1998, this software didn't come out until Dec, 1999! I got my Fizmo in Sept, but didn't send in my warranty until Dec, so I still haven't gotten my software, which kind of sucks, because you need this software to edit certain things. For example, I remember I was reprogramming one patch, and when i had stripped it down, there was still this thing where when i let go of the key it'd pan from left to right. There's nothing on the front panel about this kind of thing, so I was kind of frustrated...

I like what it has... 3 envelopes, Pitch, Filter and Amp, but you can assign them to other things, Resonant Filter, monophonic glide, you can play up to 8 sounds with the press of one key, or split the keyboard four different ways. The Appregiator is pretty lame, and by that I mean the entire concept behind it, but that's just my opinon on appregiators... The MIDI is interesting, on one hand you can assign each of the 4 sounds (each sound is made of 2 "oscillators") to a different MIDI channel and therefore sequence and play four independent parts at once. Unfortuneately, if you have a large MIDI setup, you'll have to be careful about assign, say Channel 4 to anothr synth and having it effect sound 2 on the Fizmo... My favorite feature is that the knobs can be recorded into a midi sequencer. My least favorite is the display. 4 characters. Why? So that it looks retro? What if instead of free software, we had a nice big display with all those hidden parameters? Bet you it would be cheaper... You need the Fizmo manual to interpret some of the 4 letter hieroglypics used to represent things such as effects names.

The Fizmo is not for imitating "natural" sounding instruments, but I don't think synths that are supposed to do that do it very well... I find that a lot of Fizmo users/people who like the Fizmo are into Industrial music. The effects are pretty good, but instead of being able to set each parameter, there's, like 5 or 6 presets for each effect. I don't like that, but maybe you can edit the effects more with the software. The transwaves are awesome.

There's all kinds of fucked up rumours going around about this thing being a piece of crap that falls apart. On mine, everything has worked beautifully. I've even slammed in a few doorways. The one bug that is supposedly universal is the powerpack (yes, it's powered by a wall wart, which is lame) eventually dies. However, I've had mine for about 6 months now, and it's still alive. I have always used the Fizmo through a power strip, and never straight into the wall, though.

Never had to, but be warned, Ensoniq is dead. However, I hear the EmuEnsoniq tech support ain't bad, so...

For $500 new, this thing is worth it. I wouldn't want to pay $1000 for it though. If it got lost or stolen, I would try to find another, but word is these things have been discontinued. However, if it broke down on me, based on all the other stories (which may be false, yes there ARE people making things up about this synth, weird, huh?) I think I'd just give up on it. But it doesn't look like it's not going to be going south anytime soon, so i'm keeping it. I really can make some great sounds on this thing.

The presets are ok they can be used in different ways.
Editing presets is very easy and alot of fun there are 4 patches to 1 preset 2 oscillators to every patch!
You don't have to use all 4 patches you can use just 1 and mess with the oscillators which can be used one at a
time.Editing a patch makes a big difference the sounds you can create are really amazing and are very different
from any other synth. The manual is ok but if you go to the Emu/Ensoniq site you can down load a new version
of the manual for free. Also there is a new OS out version 1.10 that can be down loaded as well.

Poltphony is 48 notes depending on how your sounds are created.keyboard acttion is very responsive and can be programed to the way you play its pretty cool. the Fizmo has to fx processors on board and they are very cool
delay,flanger,echo,....ect.......The Fizmo can recieve and transmit all knob tweeking functinos and button functions.
No on board sequencer. It has midi in, through, and out. The Fismo is very flexible and easy to use instrument.

I would say that the Fizmo is a different kind of keyboard. It does not have a whole lot of real sampled instrument
sounds you could create them if you want but I would really say that the Fizmo is best for creating strange and
unique sounds that would give your Music a very original flavor.I think the Fiz. is great for Ambient, Trance ,
or experimental music. Velocity and aftertouch can be programmed in depending on how you create a preset.

So far I have had my Fizmo for about 8 months and its alive and kicking,and alot of fun.
I don't play out to much I record most of the time so I don't know if the Fiz. would hold up on the road but
I bet it would be just fine.

I have talked to the peaple at Ensoniq they are very helpfull and supportive of the Fizmo.
I have not had a problem getting upgrades or getting someone to answer a question or email.

Overall the Fizmo is a very expresive keyboard and alot of to play if you have the time and creative knowhow
to make the Fizmo sing. I have done some really cool things with mine. My friends always ask, what synth is that?
or how did you get that sound? I never tellthem I like to keep them guessing!
The Fiz. has opened some new doors in my creativeness.Its not my main instrument but it has found a home in
my studio as wel as in my heart.

Version 1.1 loaded (can't tell if this is the most recent version). Pretty easy to use once you get used to it, and that doesn't take long. The manual is pretty good, has all the details I'm looking for. Good midi information also!. I definitely want the PC editor, however. This would make it a joy to program.

The factory presets are great. This thing is definitely great at high pads, sweeping effects, and erie things. Bass sound are pretty good also, because detuning and layering can make them rip. Preset are a good example of what it can do.

I *hate* the 4 character LED screen. Come on guys. What's it cost, an extra $0.20 to put a real LCD screen with 10-20 characters there? For this reason alone I rate it 8 for ease of use. Otherwise, lots of knobs and it sounds great as you develop sounds.

48 voices. up to 2 oscs per layer, 4 layers per sound, this means you can (at worst) hit a 6 note chord before you loose sounds. Basically osc * layers * keys = number voices it needs. Built in effects sound prety good. As good as my Art SGE II. Aftertouch is great, though keyboard feels a little squishy. I kinda worry about pounding it to chard. Appregiator is has lots of options. Vocoder sounds pretty good. It's part of the reason I bought this.

The 64 patch limit is so 80's I can't stand it. For the $1500 list price I am *shocked* that's all the presets you get. In reality, you can get a total of 256, sort of, but that means only one layer per sound. For this alone it doesn't get the 10.

Has one drum kit which sounds pretty ok. Good enough for dance/hiphip or industrial.

None of the instruments sound like anything else I know of. That's the whole point of this thing!!!! Don't expect pianos, strings, etc. All in all, I love the sound of this thing. It compares to my Audity 2000, though the A2K is much more powerful. The fizmo is unique. It's a great cross between the old analog machine (like my DW8000) and the new millions-of-rom preset sounding machines of today. All in all, I am suprized this hasn't done better. I'd put the price point as closer to $750 than the $1500 they are asking, change the name, and they'd probably sell a million of them.

Sounds really good, though the 20 bit outputs do show in some of the nicer bell pads, etc.

No opinion here yet

I'm a little annoyed I can't find out if I need to upgrade my OS. Plus my machine didn't come with a warrantee card. But I haven't talked to them, so I don't really have an opinion yet.

I bought this as a "clearence" for way less than they go for normally (about 1/2 price). So a better question is would I pay full price for one? Probably. It's a cool machine, sounds good, feels okay, looks unusual (but it isn't ugly imho, just a bit grafiti-like), light enough. It sounds good enough that I'm considering selling my Korg Electribe in favor of the Fizmo. The EA1 sounds a little more analog and raunchy, but this is far more controllable. I'm estatic to add this to my Korg DW8000, Audity 2000, Roland MC303, EMU APS sampler synth card, the Korg EA1 and various software synths. I think this and the Audity 2000 is a lethal combo for dance, trance, and just plane space music. I am very happy I ignored everyone else's advice to stay away.

Pretty logical, the manual is like 30 pages long, and doesn't go into too much depth, but it doesn't need to really. If you've played with keyboards before you'll get it. If not the manual will probably get you there. (I haven't had it for long so I won't give it a 10)

I'm not sure about the polyphony, I only need it for leads and such, but you can layer sounds 4 deep and split the keyboard up to 4 times. its arpeggiator definetly does the job, the onboard effects are nice and provide a lot of options (decent quality too, and I normally hate onboard effects for being so lo-fi cheesy). I'd heard good things about the vocoder and it really is sweet, definetly not just an afterthought when they were making the board, it is very usable. It's not a full on workstation but you get what you pay for

It has a VERY distinct sound. You either love it or you hate it. It has this digital sound that is the antithesis of analog fat but VERY, VERY nice and sort of all it's own. Its sound is very smooth and sweet. Were using it for trip hop and electro grunge rock i.e Medicine and it's the only board we found that could do the job. Not for everyone but if you can get into the sound it's amazing. also amazing for digital drum and bassey sort of textures and bass lines.

Umm, well I gig with it without any backup, but I wouldn't throw it out a window. For me the best indicator is it's construction. The knobs are solid, the keyboard's action can be a little brittle feeling sometimes but not bad enough to be a real worry. and it'll definitly withstand the usual bumps and knocks. (no number rating cause I haven't had it for long enouhg to really say)

No idea, I haven't needed to call them.

I'd buy it again in a second (it is the only thing I've found with it's sound) I love it, but if your going to buy it play it A LOT first (I did) because I know that for a lot of applications it might not be what your looking for. I compared it with everything I could Studio electronics ATC-1 (AMAZING SYNTH),K2000,Poly-six,Trinity,Minimoog,Sequential cirquits, Waldorf Microwave, those two "dance" keyboards form Yamaha and everything else I could play. Nothing out there has the same sound as it does. One last thing, IT IS SO UGLY EVEN A MOTHER COULDN'T LOVE IT I don't know what ensoniq was thinking with that paint job.... and the name too.