Ensoniq MR Rack

i would have to say it not that easy to use because
you can't not edit the sound on the hardware itself, you can only edit effect part others you need soundiver
and each patch sounds doent have itself own reverb/ chorus preset
only insert effect setting is saved by preset

effect is decent , reverb is smoother than EMU and korg trinity

big and thick (brick) overall, but i like fat sounds (bouncy) better
real insturments and vocal samples are clearly recorded low fi, even tho the unit process in 44k
transwaves are okay not much, you really need urban dance to get more transwaves
perhaps the lack of resonance filter, overall sound is quite closed

donno

its not bad, cant edit sound on the hardware itself.....but read review from SOS data base said that its has better preset than jv1080... just can't agres with that
jv1080 is 32k, but sound more open not super thick than MR but reasonably fat
no i dont like its sound

It's pretty easy to navigate and there are some stellar sounds right out of the box but without the editing software I find I'm not able to quite get all I want out of this unit. The effects section is stellar and that area alone helps greatly.

Polyphany is greatly restrictive when stacking sounds which is often when I start getting results and the note cut-off very audible which is a significant weakness but again, the effects save the day. I also find it will freeze up, not often but when it does it goes into this squirrelly mode and wipes out all my sounds by hard resetting itself back to the factory sounds.

Fantastically expressive and would be even better with the editing software. Ensoniq has a unique sound of it's own but there are catagories which I personally find weaker than other manufacturers overall sound pallets. I often find that '80's' sound I need for music of that decade but even today, some sounds are still fresh and inviting. I also have the 'Coakley' Piano card installed and that has some nice piano samples to play with, Infact, they may be among my favourite piano sounds aside from software offerings out there.

Forget the keyboards as 2 of my ZR76's have problems with keys breaking but worse are the rotary encoders which are a nightmare for realiability. They die and hugely disable editing and such. The MR Rack is way more reliable but I wouldn't really want it as my only unit.

I'm in Canada so it's horrible up here. Absolute dead end. Too bad as I really like Ensoniq but it's a nightmare to get parts for and service in general. Broken keys I can get fixed but the rotary encoders are out of the question it seems.

Some killer sounds, great effects, and editing would be hugely enhanced with the software that I just can't seem to get my hands on. I love the Coakley piano card but otherwise would settle for a Yamaha Motif-ES rack over this unit for all around stellar sound pallet if I had the choice. The weighted keyboards have great feeling keys and the marriage of sound to action is stellar, along with the fact that it records everything I play in real time (!) makes it an amzingly inspiring idea catcher but the unreliable, breakage factor reduces it's value. Ensoniq was an innovative and very friendly company back in the day but now that it's part of Emu systems, it may as well not exist I find. I am a fan of Ensoniq despite the short comings and for unique and expressive sounds I highly recommend this companies offerings.

Software 2.0
This synth module -- the rack version of the MR-61/76 and ZR-76 synths -- is very deep, yet refreshingly musician friendly. User interface is excellent. Two knobs let you find sounds and parameters quickly; no nested menus. Manual is detailed and clearly written, well-indexed, and describes in plain language how to use even tricky features such as real-time control with PN/NRPN values from a sequencer. Editing patches REQUIRES a software patch editor; most patch parameters (envelopes, filters, LFOS, levels, pan, tuning etc) can be tweaked directly from the front panel but tweaks can't saved as new sounds

Polyphony is 64 voices; 16-channel multitimbral. The Rack operates fulltime in multi-part "performance" mode, rather than in the dual program/performance modes typical in most synths. This has many ramifications, especially if your main use is multi-timbral sequencing, as mine is. A "performance" is a 16-part configuration saved to memory. It can be a 16-channel sequencing setup; it can be used for parts stacked in deep layers; it can be used for splits; it can be used for combinations of these things. It is easy to use for sequencing; there is no quality loss typical of other synths when a sound is used in a multichannel setup rather than heard alone. Each performance can have a custom drum kit. The FX are a 10 in themselves. They are diverse and they sound excellent. More than that, there is a flexible system for implementing them in a sequencing environment: You can get the FX you want with the sounds you want. Details are too complicated to go into here, But for me MR-Rack succeeds at flexible FX capabilities where most modules have disappointed. Also worth mentioning: extra memory comes via affordable, easy to use SRAM PC cards. A 512k card is enough memory for four additional patch banks and 128 performances. AND: The MR-Rack has three expansion slots for Wave expansion boards or (if you can find one) a sample-RAM board.

To me, Ensoniq instruments have always sounded uncanily real.
In my opinion, the Piano, cymbals, electric piano's and strings all sound great.
The on board effects are the same quality as their effects processors (DP-2 and DP-Pro).
Think of it this way, the DP-Pro effect processor was $1395 retail. Now, you have the same processing power inside of the MR Rack!
This unit responds very naturally to velocity and aftertouch.

have had the MR rack for 4 years. Never had a days trouble from it.
It is very dependable. Even with Ensoniq,s rep for gear that breaks down, I would gig with the MR Rack without a back up.

I always had a good experience when calling tech support. It was a little tough to get through to someone, but they always called back if I left a message.
I called and asked for an upgrade and it was no problem.
They even sent some good instructions so the upgrade was easy.

If it were lost or stolen I would have to hurt somebody because they are no longer being made.
The MR rack with the EXP installed is an integral part of what I am trying to do, which is Jazz and R&B.
I love everything about it and I have no regrets about purchasing it. Once I got it, it really began to change the way I was writing music.
I began to work on straight ahead Jazz (the cymbals were right) and just go places I hadn't gone before.
I have been playing for 10 years and sometimes you just need a little
something to excite you. That piece did it for me. At the time, all I had was an O1WFD, Wavestation SR and an ASR-10.
Now, I have a little more gear like a JD990, JV1080, Triton, and a Fizmo.

Software 2.0
This synth module -- the rack version of the MR-61/76 and ZR-76 synths -- is very deep, yet refreshingly musician friendly. User interface is excellent. Two knobs let you find sounds and parameters quickly; no nested menus. Manual is detailed and clearly written, well-indexed, and describes in plain language how to use even tricky features such as real-time control with PN/NRPN values from a sequencer. Editing patches REQUIRES a software patch editor; most patch parameters (envelopes, filters, LFOS, levels, pan, tuning etc) can be tweaked directly from the front panel but tweaks can't saved as new sounds.

Polyphony is 64 voices; 16-channel multitimbral. The Rack operates fulltime in multi-part "performance" mode, rather than in the dual program/performance modes typical in most synths. This has many ramifications, especially if your main use is multi-timbral sequencing, as mine is. A "performance" is a 16-part configuration saved to memory. It can be a 16-channel sequencing setup; it can be used for parts stacked in deep layers; it can be used for splits; it can be used for combinations of these things. It is easy to use for sequencing; there is no quality loss typical of other synths when a sound is used in a multichannel setup rather than heard alone. Each performance can have a custom drum kit. The FX are a 10 in themselves. They are diverse and they sound excellent. More than that, there is a flexible system for implementing them in a sequencing environment: You can get the FX you want with the sounds you want. Details are too complicated to go into here, But for me MR-Rack succeeds at flexible FX capabilities where most modules have disappointed. Also worth mentioning: extra memory comes via affordable, easy to use SRAM PC cards. A 512k card is enough memory for four additional patch banks and 128 performances. AND: The MR-Rack has three expansion slots for Wave expansion boards or (if you can find one) a sample-RAM board.

Presets are generally of very high quality. Some solo instruments are quite average (but easily improvable with programming). Other patches are exceptional. Strong points: electric pianos, organs, basses, electric guitars, drums, all forms of synth sound (leads, pads, digital, analogish), percussion.
The acoustic pianos are quite good for a general-purpose module. They become superb with addition of the Perfect Piano wave expansion board (no longer sold separately by Ensoniq but it turns up on auctions). The expansion also gives you two big multisamples of a Rhodes and Wurlitzer. (The other expansion boards, still sold by Ensoniq, are a World board and a Dance board.)
MR sounds can be as expressive as you wish. Most presets are programmed to respond to velocity, aftertouch and mod wheel for bread-and-butter real-time control. But you can assign additional real-time controllers, depending on what's available from you controller, and nearly all synth parameters can be modified in real time through MIDI CC and RPN/NRPN parameters. There are 40 "insert effect" algorithms in addition to global reverb and chorus, and each of these can have one parameter of your choice subject to real time control from the controller of your choice. At the patch-programming level (with software) there is a rich array of possible modulation routings.
This module covers a wider range of potential musical styles, without having to add expansion boards, than any I've used, and I tried and rejected four other well-regarded modules before giving this one the job. Many of the solo orchestral voices would not satisfy a user with specialist needs; but for broad-based composition, it is great.
Special mention: The 12 megs of waveform ROM include dozens of Ensoniq "Transaves." When combined with the ability to delay and loop sound layers in a patch, this gives a programmer/ sound designer great tools. for creative work.

Seems fine. The operating system occasionally freezes, fixable by switching the module off and on again.

The MR-Rack joins a home composing and recording studio with three other synths and the usual jungle of processors, mixer, media. It took three years and even more disappointments to find the high-quality, general-purpose module I needed, and this is it. For me that meant excellent presets in broad categories, plus programmability for special needs. It meant easy, flexible, excellent sounding operation for multitimbral sequencing. And it meant having an FX scheme that was actually usable in the real world of programming and sequencing (AND sounded good). Broadly you could compare this with something like the Roland JV-1080/2080 modules. (In fact, a 1080 was an unsuccessful applicant for this job in my studio.) In the MR-Rack you get a better diversity of sounds that sound just as good as the Roland, and a more easily useable FX scheme. For programming and sound design there is just plain more to work with: a sound can have up to 16 layers (voices) rather than four; layers can be delayed and looped, and there are some unusual parameters for really creative outcomes.
Buy it again if stolen? In a heartbeat.

Very easy to tweak and fiddle with - it uses knobs rather than buttons you have to push twenty times to change patches - great

64 polyphony but I notice drop-off or note stealing occurring frquently with busy sequences. Great built in effects, and espansion capabilities.

The samples are fat, meaty and out there
They sound great loud.
yeah.
I am always impressed by the Ensoniq samples, followed by Korg and Roland.
It reacts to seemingly every controller and data sent by midi to the point that it plays some sequences really horribly and bent notes get a squealey character to them. Kind of strange as no other sound modules I have played the midis on do this.

of course

It had to have an operating system upgrade and the Ensoniq people in NZ were very helpful. Never got a unisyn upgrade or even the original Unisyn program for it though even after asking by phone and email twice.

it compares favourably to the Korg X series and the Roland XP30. The samples are big and fat and it complements the XP30 for strong sounds.
Only fault with it appears to be the 'note stealing' feature. Other modules play the same midis with no problem or adjustment needed. Also the GM section seems to put the drum kit way back in velocity and it seems a shame that the GM standard drum kit is the worst of the lot.

My MR Rack is an expanded one. I have the EXP-3 Urban Dance project, EXP-4, Perfect Piano and the drum expander EXP-2.
The MR Rack is this kind of unknown monster that when people with JV1080's here it, they freak out and start asking what you are using.
The Piano is probably the best (most acoustic sounding) Piano I have heard out of any synth.
The EXP-3 and 2 round out the phatt drum, drum loops, bass and synth sounds to a T!

This unit is easy to use, user friendly and the manual has not been translated from another language.
The manual is as big as a phone book, but using the appendix in the rear of the manual makes it a little less antimidating.

The MR Rack has 64 note polyphony. It is a single rack space.
It has 1 Insert effect, 3 reverb effect busses (light, Medium and Heavy),
1 chorus effect bus and a dry bus. The drums are even adjustable per sound for the effects processing.
The effects routing system is very effective while being easy to understand.
No sequencer, no disk drive but it does sounds very well.

To me, Ensoniq instruments have always sounded uncanily real.
In my opinion, the Piano, cymbals, electric piano's and strings all sound great.
The on board effects are the same quality as their effects processors (DP-2 and DP-Pro).
Think of it this way, the DP-Pro effect processor was $1395 retail. Now, you have the same processing power inside of the MR Rack!
This unit responds very naturally to velocity and aftertouch.

I have had the MR rack for 4 years. Never had a days trouble from it.
It is very dependable. Even with Ensoniq,s rep for gear that breaks down, I would gig with the MR Rack without a back up.

I always had a good experience when calling tech support. It was a little tough to get through to someone, but they always called back if I left a message.
I called and asked for an upgrade and it was no problem.
They even sent some good instructions so the upgrade was easy.

If it were lost or stolen I would have to hurt somebody because they are no longer being made.
The MR rack with the EXP installed is an integral part of what I am trying to do, which is Jazz and R&B.
I love everything about it and I have no regrets about purchasing it. Once I got it, it really began to change the way I was writing music.
I began to work on straight ahead Jazz (the cymbals were right) and just go places I hadn't gone before.
I have been playing for 10 years and sometimes you just need a little
something to excite you. That piece did it for me. At the time, all I had was an O1WFD, Wavestation SR and an ASR-10.
Now, I have a little more gear like a JD990, JV1080, Triton, and a Fizmo.