Ensoniq KT-76

I'm still happy with version 1 -if it ain't broke don't fix it. The presets are still immaculate and I've produced a truck load of t.v. soundtracks with no problems (it's still hungry). Patch edit is O.K. The manual is O.K. if you speak Fluent Klingon -it irritated me to tears at first, but I guess I've adapted.

The poly is fat as a goose. The action is good, but in comparison to my other synths, it's like comparing a motorcycle to a UPS truck. Yes, it has expansion capabilities - The PCM cards are kind of neat to use as a note pad, but if you need a huge amount of memory, your'e going to need a PC for storage. MIDI-yes. As far as what the MIDI can do...I'm still trying to think of something it CAN'T do. The sequencer is real time and quantize capable, and the quantize DOES NOT make the playback feel robotic or automated -very supple.

ALL instruments are realistic (that is until you tell them not to be)
Styles of music-it works with anything. On Board effects are good, but sometimes they hiccup between sequences (my software is old)
Yes, it reacts to my playing, I only wish the keys didn't feel so heavy -especially when I'm working on a really hyper part of a composition. Velocity and after touch are available, but I can't say I've used them to their full value.

It's pretty depedable. The only problem that has shown up was an unexpected event error, but it has a quick fix (reboot it).
Next problem was a broken record button (you'd break too if you were pushed 50 million times) but it was an easy fix for the local ensoniq tech. I'm not going to use this keyboard on the road. It's too elegant to let some beer swigging idiot kill it on the concrete. It's bulky too (like lifting an Oak table). I wouldn't call this mammal portable unless there are two able bodied men to lift it.

I don't know -I've never called 'em.

Well, I'm sure there are a ton of new keyboards out there that I would love to have and can't afford, so I'll be content with this one.

This is the 1994 model, manual says version 1. I haven't edited the patches themselves, just the on-board effects which was pretty easy the first time through. Set up of user pre-sets is clear, as are most of the basic functional items, but I sure wouldn't want to attempt anything fancy without the manual, which is mammoth, and not written for novices. My life is too busy to do any sequencing, and it looks fairly intimidating (haven't done it before; maybe it's easier than it looks.) On-board buttons and read-out all make sense. One thing right up front: This bugger is pretty bulky and unbelievable heavy. Gotta be 40 lbs anyway. My 18 year son said that calling this a portable keyboard is false advertising.

It would be way easier to list what this thing doesn't do. Probably won't order a beer for you . . . that's about it. 64 note polyphony, and if that's not enough you can tell it how to steal notes if you're layered up the ying. Amazing. Lots of effects, though you can't pile them one on top of the other, but other than a rotary speaker, I prefer my effects from a separate source, although the factory presets are very clean. Takes PCMCIA cards and appears to be able to accept hard memory if you like to go into the guts of these things, which I don't. 'Syntaur.com' has lots of soundcards and an upgrade if the soundset isn't enough for you. Blank cards can also be used to store sequences and songs. Yes, pressure sensitive, yes weighted hammer action, yes aftertouch. And here's a cool trick: Some of the factory Hammond presets say "(pr)" after the description, meaning you speed up the Leslie rotor sound with aftertouch pressure, and some say "(wh)" meaning you use the modulator wheel. Took me a while to figure it out, but pretty dang slick if you ask me. I'm sure it could have more in the way of features - - this is my first big-time keyboard (graduated from an old Roland Juno2 and XP-10), so maybe my bar is set too low, but for my purposes this is fabulous.

To me, the ultimate test of any keyboard is this: Do you ever forget you're NOT playing the real thing? And this is the first board I've played - - much less owned - - where I've actually forgotten that I wasn't playing an acoustic piano. Between the sound and the feel of their Concert Grand, I was transported into PureMusicLand. High praise, indeed. The same is true of the Fender Rhodes. They are just way too cool, and the action is much more consistent than my old one was. The Hammond sounds are passable, especially in the blues-rock band setting, but as an owner of both an A-100 and a Leslie 145, well, I never forgot I still was pretending. (But as another reviewer said, it's hard to feel like you're playing a Hammond when you've got weighted keys. And non-waterfall at that.)

The other sounds are, predictably a mixed bag. I don't bother with guitars. The brass: Pretty dang good (esp. trombone). Woodwinds: okay. Strings: a tad disappointing, though I rarely use them. Some of the pads were wonderfully lush, and the synths are a matter of taste to me, though again, our blues-rock stuff stays mostly with the Big Four: Acoustic piano, Rhodes, B-3, and horn section. Three are outstanding, and I'll just keep using my Peavey Spectrum with a cheapo controller for the Hammond parts. I should mention that it took me a little tweaking to find a preamp, effects, and EQ set-up that got the piano to sounding perfect. But I got there. Hallelujah.

At this weight, it sure as hell better be reliable. No probblems to date, but I kind of baby all my toys.

Beats me. With luck I'll never have to call them.

Stealing this will take some doing . . did I mention it was heavy? But in the event some vermin managed to make off with it I'd be seriously bummed and would need to self-medicate for several days consecutively. You don't see many of these (eBay or elsewhere) and shipping them cross-country will run some serious bucks. For what I paid, I'd be shocked if there's anything better. Anywhere. I started playing almost - - eek! - - forty years ago. This could well be my last keyboard, unless the key action or my back decide to wear out. I love the feel, sound and versatility. I played some new models in the local Guitar Center and found them pretty much the same, but at significantly more dollars, and without the sound banks, sequencer or expandability. I don't miss the last 12 keys either (they cut five off the top end and seven from the bottom, none of which I use much. Ensoniq got this one right. Good on ya if you can find one and get it for the going rate.

Not sure what version of the software is being used but keyboard manufacturing date is February 1996. Works fine, not a single problem. Presets are among the best for that time. Definitely has it's own character. Manual is friengly and written in "English" English.

Polyphony is 64 voices, keyboard action is simply briliant. Keyboard is being manufactured by Fatar and imported from Italy.
Effects are typical for Ensoniq - high quality set of echo, delay, chorus type combintaion (Hammond B3 lovers will be glad to find out that rotary speaker is there). Extensive MIDI implementation, but I did not go deep into this one yet. On-board sequencer is easy to use and flexile enough to create and edit your music without any help of PC-based software sequencer.

As I said sound set is among the best I've heard. Definitely has it's character - sounds fat, inspiring and yet elegant if you will. If you like Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock type music you will find a lot of similar (sometimes very similar) sounds.If you are more inclined to traditional R/B, Jazz/Soul music you won't be disappointed either. The piano and the drums is enough reason to get this machine. It has a great Fender Rhodes emulation, fairly good Whl and DX type pianos. B3 emulation is not bad although it feels little strange on weighted keyboard. Brass section, sax, flutes are very expresive.
To make long story short - very usefull sound set. Somebody might be disagree with me, but this is the matter of personal taste, so I'd give it 9 out of 10.

It looks reliable. Heavy as hell, so if you going to gig with it make sure to carry it with care. But I think this machine is more intended for studio use.

Never had a problem with KT.

If it were lost or stolen, I would buy it again. Overall I think it's a great machine for the price.

I don't know what software version I'm using, but I got it in early 1996 so it was still pretty new then. It's very easy to use; everything you need to know to get around is right there up front. If you're flipping through the edit pages, you can just use the number keys to get to the various pages, and instead of pressing "Exit" a million times (like on my Korg N1R) you can just press "Select Sound" and you're right back to the instrument preset list. Everything is up front and easy, yet powerful. The manual is fantastic -- it's huge, but it lets you know EVERYTHING about the KT. It's also well written and very clear.

The polyphony is 64 voices, which is pretty much the standard for modern sample-playback synths. The weighted action is incredible; you probably won't find better action on a synth (except maybe for Yamaha; I don't know). The effects are really good too, although the reverb is a bit limited. You basically have sixteen different reverb presets, and there isn't a whole lot you can do with them. But it also has chorus, delays, distortion, a resonance/cutoff filter (!), and other effects. It can accept standard 512KB PCMCIA SRAM cards for storing instrument presets, performance presets, and sequences/songs. It has an on-board sequencer, and it's pretty easy to use, but I haven't used it much.

The sounds are kind of a mixed bag. Most of the instrument presets are rather funky (like the strings, brass, pianos that are out of tune), but it has a lot of good electric pianos and acoustic organs. It has some good winds and VERY good New Age/ethereal instruments, and pretty good drums (although some of the bass drums are pretty wimpy). But if you want really good instrument presets, you'll have to make them yourself. Ensoniq didn't even use the Transwaves (which were later brought to light with Fizmo) much at all! There *are* some cool things you can do with this synth, but you'll have go deep into it to bring it out. It has sampled saw/square/triangle and other analog waveforms, so you can make a lot of analog-type sounds. Most of the presets are compatible with aftertouch, which is really nice if you're using both hands and can't use the Mod wheel. It doesn't have a lot of sound FX, just mostly instruments and drums.

I've had it for almost five years, and the only problem I had was a rattling front panel. We took it to an authorized Ensoniq repair shop, but they almost broke it! Finally, they got it to stop rattling, but lately it has come back again. I think it's just a problem of tightening screws. Other than that, no problems. Rock solid.

Never had to deal with them.

The KT was my first real synthesizer, so I'm attached to it in a way. Ensoniq was bought by Creative Labs/E-mu, so now their only synth left is the ZR-76. But if the KT were stolen, I'd probably get the ZR because Ensoniq has a special sound. It may not be the greatest sound (the Yamaha CS6x is pretty neat), but it's easy and has great weighted action. I basically only used it for one jazz piece and some new age pieces before I actually started making my own sounds, and then I was able to use it for many more purposes. So if you're interested in picking up a used one, be prepared to make your own sounds. I just wished it had some good strings and some pianos that are in tune!

sorry, don't know what version i'm running, but i haven't updated anything. the presets sound quite good, especially the analog instruments and the drums, not great for techno stuff though. i actually have had a terrible time splitting the keyboard. editing the patches is moderately easy, but a few things just seem too difficult. i've had the thing four years, never spent an incredible of time trying to figure it out, but definately tried...

the action is great...based on the FATAR...it does have built in effects...nothing too grand...you can only mix the ones they tell you can mix...it can be expanded through a card, but i haven't tried...yes, pressure sensitive keys, very good...decent, relatively easy to use MIDI capabilities...it does have an on-board sequencer that i consider to be a real pain in the butt...definately not user friendly...i like to be able to basically figer out a sequencer on my own, and refer to the manual if i need specific commands...this thing has trouble with even the most basic commands...hell, i can't even get a proper loop...

the analog, rock, classical type of sounds are very good...pianos, rhodes, wurlitzers, strings, accordians, flutes, recorders...you name it, it's great for the live real sounding stuff...the drums are very good, as well as the bass sounds

i beat the hell out of it for four years...left it in the back of my truck every night...freezing to boiling...only had one repair recently...i even got into a car accident where my truck flipped and hit a telephone pole...played it with no problems a day later...rock solid

got one repair...not through the company...not a problem yet

if i can ever figure out how to split the keyboard, i would buy it, or the updated equivelant again...i've been playing clubs for 10 years, and keys for about 5 or 6...i also own a Roland VK-7 Hammond simulator...(buy it if you play the Hammond, it's better than anything else i've tried, by far)...i didn't have much time to compare it(the KT-76) with other boards when i bought it...sometimes it helps make music, and other times, the limitations i run into hinder what i think i could be doing with a different board...

Software Version :1.62 The preset sounds are very useful.They are fat and have that "American" character.Most presets sounds good to my ears, especially Acoustic & Electric Pianos,Basses,Pads and Drums.The Demo Sequence shows how beautiful all the sounds fit together. Its easy to edit the patches but I would like more Ram for my patches.80 are not enough. The manuals are clear written and everybody can learn many things from them especially the beginner in Midi etc. There are no Midi Specifications to make an editor or to use a byte or two... Overall it's easy to use and I think it's more a stage than a studio instrument.

The polyphony is 64 voices.Very attractive!The built in effects are very good but I would like more algorithms .Easy to program after all. It accepts ROM and RAM cards and there is an internal expansion slot for waves but not mentioned in the manuals.No disk drive but with a RAM card the notes availlable for the sequencer are 112000 !Very respectable and you can play and edit direct from the Card!Normally, the Sequencer has a max of 6500 notes.Very good you can play a sequence direct from the performances like a sound.There are 70 Performances(layers and splits of 8 sounds)and 30 Sequences ready to play! The keyboard action is one of the best I've seen.Piano action almost. 76 keys well balanced with the known FATAR feel.

The sounds are very playable:The pianos are responsive,some acoustic like the guitars and strings are excellent.Some brasses sound very good but could better.The Drums are VERY good.One of the best I think. Some drum sounds are much better than my D4's. There are 7 velocity and 7 aftertouch curves for everyone.Very good but the aftertouch could be better. Overall the sounds are crisp and for every taste except for techno etc Very good for Pop,Rock and Classic.

No problems!You can go to the moon with it ...

I don't know but I think Ensoniq could support more their costumers not only PARIS!

I'm a professional musician for 15 years and tried many synths like Korg M1/01/W/Wavestation/Poly 800,Roland D110/U220,Canvas,Yamaha DX7 II/FDE/ TX 802 etc.I tried all the Ensoniq instruments and liked them but there was a special deal with the KT 76 :Cheap,Easy to use,Fits in my car (nice for a weighted keyboard for schlepp around),sounds excellent,different sounds than KORG or ROLAND all people play.Plug and play ,no headaches.