Ensoniq ZR-76

OS: 3.0.3 (Atleast that is what the Flash Rom had written on it)

Sound on this motha are so fatty that I gained 30 pounds playing it; and that's all within a 3 month period.

Patch editing is easy, I have a manual but never needed to reference it for editing patches. Ensoniq's editing features really make a huge difference to the sounds. Solid.

The built in effects are amazing, always puts a smile on my face when I tweak-out patches with different parameters and effects, couldn't ask for more in the effecs department. The keybed is sooo yummy, plays solid with a great feel, can't get enough of the keys. After-touch gives me that extra bit of expression making this keyboard very dynamic.

On-board sequencer is very simple, no manual is needed for this feature. The only item that isn't intuitive is the song editor.

Strings - amazing, and when you layer them with other patches, it really steps it up a notch...
Piano - [is perfect] I crapped my pants when I heard the piano for the first time, awesome.
Pads - very good, and putting some effects on some of these really adds a whole new dimension
Brass - a handfull of good ones, perhaps the an expansion card has better sounds for brass
Drums - are very good and plenty
So many sounds on this thing!!!
There are so many parameters and effects to mess with that makes this keyboard very expressive

Built like a tank, unlike the pricy plastic Korgs (M3 iPod looking thing).
The Fatar keybeds on the ZR-76 have great action, but tend to need a cleaning. After cleaning the contacts, I cover my keybed when not using it and keep it out of dusty rooms like the garage or attic.

Like all Ensoniq keyboards, we have the shop in California, "TheSoniq' keeping these peaces of art working. Other than that, no support.

If this keyboard was stolen, I'd kill the bum that took it and then I'd get another one, steal it if I have to :). I would never sell this thing. I own Korgs haven't given a second thought about taking them out of the case to play them.

The creators of the amazing SID chip for the Commodore 64, Bob Yannes, put together an another amazing sounding device, the ZR-76. I love the C-64 sounds and when I first heard the ZR-76 sounds and later came to realize that it was from the same makers, I was not at all surprised. Get a ZR-76 if you have the chance, or atleast trying one out to experience the magic.

Dont' know the version - Very easy to use - but need to hit the sound finder button to start from zero on each bank - so you have to get used to it - the keyboard is a bit quirky when it comes to the O/S - but the IDEA PAD is fantastic and can be transfered to a track - I feel the quikest and easiest way to make a song - don't be afraid to use the menus -just that good
Patch tweaking is on the fly and pretty good - not easy per se, but good - the Manual is written pretty well and anticpates questions well...

Poly is 64
Has tons of built in effects

THe EXP WORLD Expansion Board is a must have - YOU have to get this board or sample it somehow.

Midi is alot better, but still can look up from time to time

THe sequencer and Drum Machine are great - easy to use - Just as good as other of today's synths if you dig into it!

This this is made for making movie scores - Honest - Amazing and I have a Triton, EX5R, Alesis Fusion, JV-80's, and a few others - The Natural Acoustic Intruments are amazing

OK the sounds are just great - some sounds are a little dated - but even those sound good - The samples were so well done that acoustically (meaning Natural acoustically sounding) this is best for Strings, woodwinds and Drums - Saxes are good

Super High quality in samples - Clean like an ASR-10 and classy Like a KORG Trinity/Triton -

The effects are excellent

Get the world expansion board if you can find one!

Yes - I would

OUT of business - Google for help

If you can find one on Ebay or craigslist, buy it- I was going to sell mine - but just couldn't bring myself to do it - I would buy again - only because - I would like to produce some movie or TV type of scores or soundtracks of some sort - what would I pay for it now -with out any expansion - probably around $700.00 - $800.00 - because there is nothing like this keyboard - Does it compare to today's keybaords Yes and NO - it's just different in its own way!

One of the easiest to use midi composer system out there, and I own a Korg Triton and Yamaha ES-8. But the thing that I love about this keyboard is creating splits and layers on the fly in the middle of a song while playing live.

The biggest draw backs is the company is gone to my knowledge.

I had a ZR-76 I purchsed new in 1999. I sold it last year. I actually missed it. Even with the fantastic abilities of my Yamaha Motif ES-8 and Korg Triton, there are some voices in that ZR=76 that I really missed. The barri=sax split with horns was fantastic for Motown live tunes. Or the Barri=sax split with a B=3 for Mustang Salley. The strings are one of the best on the market. However the "Atomic Lead" is one that makes your toes curl.

I've had no problems out of either I have owned.

this scares me as I understand the company is out of business

This is my second ZR=76, I kicked my self for selling the first one. I gave $2,200 for the first one new, then like a fool sold it for $1000 with a road case last year. I just paid $650 for a used one that wasn't in near the condition of the one I let go.

The keyboard itself standsout on the ZR. Excellent piano feel. The "perfect Piano", is probably the best I've ever owned for recording purposes. If you do not mind the weight, 60 lbs. Live is a snap with the "favorites" buttons dead center in the keyboard. You can program/assign them to whatever the ZR has internal and loadable from floppy! The display for its' day, is all that is needed for Christ sakes. There are no big hoopty doo displays. Not needed for this keyboard. Constuction as everyone who can spell ZR-76 is non less then a tank. Very rugged. Great for putting it in place somewhere, church, recording studio and leaving it there for all to be enjoyed.

Controlling the unit is so easy, you will need the manual in order to quickly learn how to assign and program it. I was able to beging assigning and changing without the manual. Not smart but it did work. Drums and percussion are outstanding, clean and pure sounding. Typical Ensoniq studio recording cleansliness in the sound. With the sustain pedal, and that is the only external control I use, makes the piano sound very very realistic. Very Cool.

Connectivity is legacy and it is what is was. You can do some computer control. No USB, USB was not invented at the time. But I have still given high scores here because it is what it was, quite ahead of its time.

There is all kinds of transposing and global control of the unit. You really need the manual here to fully appreciate its functionality in this deptartment. The ZR's come with the EXP-4 sound expansion card which is the "Perfect Piano". These go for about $200 on Ebay themselves. Great sounding piano.

The sound of Ensoniq is truly legandary, warm, clear, realistic. Strings are so powerful, you have to back off to stay in check with what you are supposed to be playing. You get carried away. Brass and sax is THEEE very best in the industry. I have a Korg Karma, I have a Nord Electro 76. Yes they are probably better in some respects with newer updated sounds, but, they are also $1700 and $1700 new. I beleive the ZR was about $2700 new. The sound is my absolute strong point with this unit. It really belongs in the recording studio to give your clients this opportunity to lay down tracks that are quite unique! They'll love it!

Fortunately, as a ROMPLER, the sounds are adequate and in some cases very very good for my style of playing. I just acquired the ZR after a semi-challenging search and already had used the MR-Rack which has the same base ROM set less 2 meg of drums (I had installed the Piano expansion). Surprisingly the architecture is a little different. The knobs on the MR rack are better for selecting items, and the ability to save performance setups to USER RAM is excellent, and missing in the ZR, including the STACK feature which allows voices to share a STACK midi channel. I am disappointed that the ZR does not store its sequences to non-volatile RAM, and this means saving to floppy all the time. I am certain this was a design issue which was discussed at length and was a cost cutting move at the time. Fortunately the saves were to floppy and the MIDI standard is maintained and works well. They could have easily went to a SCSI, ZIP, Syquest or other less ubiquitous solution (glad they didn't), and although slow, the reliability of floppy drives has been good for me. I am always a little nervous about built in hard drives for instance. Still Saving your ideas always to floppy is a bit of a downer.

Nonetheless, I HAVE to give this board all the praise in the world for it's immediacy and overall functional ease of use. The layout is superb, intuitive (although I am no newcomer to Ensoniq having owned an ESQ-1 at one time, and still own a KS-32. I tried a bunch of contemporary boards, but none have the quickness and agility for getting ideas down quick which was essential for me as a songwriter and arranger. I now have a powerful enough and good enough sounding workstation that I can decouple from the studio. I cannot tell you how much I love this board despite its RAM config. The idea pad/recall is irreplaceable. I like the favorites, but wish that I could save layers and splits to them more effectively, but this is a small quibble. At least it gives you a fairly elegant split/layer option, and the mix dial and control 'strip' are very nice. Again, did I tell you how much I love this board.

64-voice - still not a bad standard.

The keyboard action is a bit stiffer than my KS-32, feels more solid, but less 'hammer' kick back. I am told it is a superior assembly and the weights will not break. We'll see. I like the feel. 76-keys is better for portability.

Oh and yes, the pressure sensitivity is essential to my playing as well. Had to have it. Something the Yamaho MO did not have unfortunately, and the Korg TR is cheasy feeling to me. Nice range.
Onboard sequencer is great and works wonderful. Can't think of how to improve except if it would have stored to non-volotile RAM.

As to the sounds, there is a musicality to many of them and transparency added by the excellent FX. My only beef is with the chorus, but I might just have to get a little deeper into programming it. The drums and patterns are DYNOMITE. Very good. Would like more latin styles, though.

The pianos and electric pianos, and pads are very good, and are part of my meat and potatoes style. Organs are OK. Brasses so so. Synth textures can work very well. Not thrilled with the bases or guitars, but haven't found a synth yet that I like in that regard. Strings are outstanding. Drums, again superb. Just the sounds, sans organ that I need in a board. Add real guitars, brass, etc. in the studio anyway.

This is more of a board more for a musician 'player' not a tweaker, which works very well for me.

Only issue I've uncovered is that with loud playing, if I run master volume above 50% I get some digital distortion. Might be an issue with my op amps, not sure, but also I note that all sounds are programmed at high volume levels. My solution is just to bump the gain on my mixer, and the sounds are still very good with nice dynamics. The programmed FX in my opinion need tweaking on some sounds - the chorus is a little thick but dialing back works wonders. This was an issue with my MR too.

I've always had excellent success with Ensoniq products. This board appears to be built very well. I am hanging on to my trusty KS-32 as a backup for a little while. I miss Ensoniq and their straightforward user-driven design. They really went overboard. The dwindling support network is a concern, and I would love to find the MR-Flash board for this but probably will have a tough time.

Nonexistent now, except for www.Thesoniq.com which is an excellent repair / resale center.

Until a board with ease of use and a MIDI oriented Idea capture comes along, this will be essential to me. I may buy up a few just for parts. Although 10 years old in technology, I cannot find anything like it. Fits the bill for me perfectly. I finally have the 'board I've wanted for years.

I have the latest version (3.03). In general, the presets are ok but you would be amazed at what you can get out of this thing if you sit down with it and tweak. For example, some of the Ooohhs and Aahhs may sound too bright or harsh, so you can adjust the filter cutoff and make them sound very smooth and mellow. Also, some of the effects that are assigned to some of the sounds by default sound ridiculous. For example, "mass strings". I believe the phaser effect is assigned to that one but I'm not sure. All that baby needs is a lot of wet reverb. One cannot properly assess the potential of this keyboard in one sitting. I've had it for 5 months now and still, once in a while I will be amazed at what I'm hearing and suddenly I'm inspired all over again! Editing the sounds on the keyboard itself are simply a matter of turning a couple of knobs (those wretched knobs!) to adjust any parameters you see fit. I have yet to try out software patch editors (SoundDiver) but I am anxious to do so because I'm not satisfied with the limited options provided by the keyboard itself. The manual is awesome! Makes webster's dictionary look like a travel brochure. Not only because of the complexity of the board, but also because the writing is so detailed.

64 note polyphony, blah blah blah. Keyboard action is fine. Action is not important to me. As long as the keys press down and come back up that's good enough for me. The built in effects are just awesome. (40 I think, with many many MANY variations for each, many of which could easily classify as an effect all their own) There are so many different combinations of settings you can adjust with each effect that I would not be surprised if there are sounds this keyboard is capable of producing that have never been heard before. Remember that it's up to the PERSON to make the music. When the creativity is there and the mind is open, the possibilities are almost endless. Like others have said, this keyboard relies very much on YOU to tell it what to do! Adjusting effects is just a matter of pushing a button and turning a couple knobs (bad knobs!) The 16 track onboard sequencer works great. EXCEPT that I've had difficulty getting it to jump smoothly from one sequence to another. It's kind of squirrely that way, but by one of the reviews I've read here it looks like there's a trick to it. I'll have to look more into that. And if you like to screw around just playing stuff then you can imagine how handy the idea pad can come in as I'm sure you've played something before and were like daang, wish I could do that again. I seldom end up using it but when I do I do NOT take it for granted! It's a great feature.

Here's my opinion about the perfect piano. Having a real upright myself, I can tell you that no, you won't swear you're playing a real piano because acoustically that is just impossible. Speaker technology has not developed well enough to emulate the nuances and sonics of an acoustic piano. (At least mine hasn't) However, when playing back a piano sequence I've just recorded, it could EASILY pass as a recording of an acoustic piano. (which essentially, that's what it is) For instance, I can play a little Jim Brickman, and it'll come out sounding nearly like an actual recording of his. The Perfect Piano patch is preset to sound kind of mellow but most of the time I actually prefer the 2 layer Stereo piano which sounds like the perfect piano but it's a little more bright and clean. The high end of the Perfect Piano is very realistic, low end is very good too, but the mid section sounds muddy for my taste. This can be adjusted. In spite of the minute imperfections I've pointed out (all IMHO), the piano sound on this keyboard is AMAZING. That's all you need to know. Try it out for a few minutes, tweak it, you'll know what I mean.

The sax's are awesome. A couple of the electric guitars are incredible. If you go to E-MU's website and listen to the ZR-76 demos, you'll find that the jazz guitar is very realistic.

You might get away with using one of the acoustic guitars in a song but you'll have to know what you're doing. The synth sounds are awesome, very adjustable, but apparently you need a software editor to really get at them. You can bang out any rock, classical, dance, techno, country, rap, R&B, experimental, new age tune on this machine. The sounds are all there. Musicians are so caught up with perfection, that we forget to take a step back and appreciate what some of this equipment can do.

I've not had any problems with my keyboard and I bought it used and have used it almost every day in the 5 months or so I've owned it.

Have not dealt with E-MU. Since Ensoniq is no more, it's obvious I'll be up a creek if this thing goes out on me. But my way of thinking is, as long as I continue to take good care of it, I don't have anything to worry about.

This keyboard is a classic. It's possibly one of the best kept secrets in the synth world. I'm very pleased with what I got with what I gave for it. If you want one of these, ebay is about your best bet. That's where I got mine. It's easy to use, dependable, intuitive. Great sounds. No one should be disappointed with it unless you're into those "instant gratification" machines someone mentioned in an earlier review. This keyboard is made for the musician who wants to compose music and doesn't want to have to worry about anything else. In spite of its ease of use, there is still a learning curve. The ease of use does not compromise the studio quality of this board. It really is a songwriter's dream!

This board is so easy I didnt need to read the manual. I tell you what I have the Triton and the ZR 76 is alot easier to use and record. I use the ZR for the main recordingin my studio. I hardly touch the Triton.

once I understand Midi its a wrap. I use the Roland SI-24 the Alesis, Triton and the ZR 76. the action is great. The sequencer is so easy I can record with my eyes closed. However, the stupid knobs are to sensative, and they scroll all alone. I bought it for 650 dollars without a scratch but I didnt know that the knob scrolls by its self

The Perfect Piano is nice for jazz. Out of the 2 yrs Ive had it I just finally went to the other pianos . Not bad at all! Ensoniq has always been bright sounding, but the ZR 76 is perfect. they could of done allittle more with the brass and Bass. Thats where the Triton comes in. I havent heard a piano synth touch the ZR 76 perfect piano

I take it out everytime I have a gig. The darn thing is to heavy.

cant find 1

Ensonig should come out with a ZR-76 Sampler. that would be the bomb. The Triton would be know more. I HATE when the sequencer has a space at the end of a song before the loop. I figured out how to advoid that. Ex. 1-8 measures of recording you have to stop the sequencer on 9.1 for it to loop perfect.

The Ensoniq ZR-76 is perhaps the most simple user friendly board I've ever encountered. My former church had a 49-key Roland keyboard and to get from one sound to the other was like pulling teeth. With the ZR I push the piano button, there are pianos, synth sound button there are the synths and so on. You don't have to have a computer science degree to work this board. I've played a KORG Triton, supposedly one of the best boards made, and I was not as impressed as I am with the ZR-76.

Authentic Drum Machine, great Piano and Electric Piano sounds. Strings are incredible. The only reason I don't give it a 10 is the Organ sounds. The Nord Electro has every keyboard beat on Vintage Organ sounds, most likely I'll buy a Nord Electro Rack Module and MIDI it into the ZR when I get the cash.

Again lacks organ, but every other sound on the board is top notch. Pianos, Electric Pianos, Sax, Synths, Strings, even Guitars sound pretty good.

The board, and Ensoniq boards altogether have really bad keybed problems, not horrible, but a key will stick or the keybed will clank when you play on it. They are easy to replace but cost $200 plus shipping to get. But looking back on it, what I paid for the board plus $200 for a keybed is still a couple of thousand less then it would be to buy a Korg Triton or a Yamaha Motif.

Well Ensoniq as you know sold out to E-MU, but a new company called The Soniq owns exclusive rights to all the parts for Ensoniqs, and that is where I ordered a keybed for my MR-76, and will order one for the ZR-76.

This Keyboard, for the price paid, and the price you can pick one up off Ebay (700-900 dollars), to what they are new off E-MU's website ($1795) makes it a no brainer to buy. Anyone stupid to ignore this board just because the bands that play on Jay Leno or David Letterman's music act at the end of their shows play a Korg Triton should sit down for an hour and play a ZR-76. This board is immortal, and hopefully the people at E-MU will commison some of the staff that help make this board into building a new series of 61-key, 76-key, and 88-key boards with more features and the same interface, of the future looks bleek for the continued life of Ensoniq boards as lemons like the Fizmo and Halo are the only things E-MU is dishing out that carries the name Ensoniq on it.

Software vercion 3.0.
muy facil de usarlo, tanto los sonidos como las secuencias yla caja de ritmos es realmente facil.
Nunca he editado patches en este, porque pienso qeu los factory presets son muy cool

64 voces de polifonia, pues suena bien al principio, pero si tu secuencias un midi orquestado, notaras que las notas algunas veces se cortan,
el secuenciador es facil de usar, realmente es facil manipularlo, en menos de lo que tu peinsas ya tienes tu cancion echa.
los efectos son los mas originales que he oido, a 24 bit, es de calidad profecional, e incluso puedes poner tu procesador de efectos para la mezcla final.
muy original el grabador de ideas.
las teclas y su peso son como un piano y eso es lo que admiro de este board

que puedo decir de los sonidos.
por sobre todas las cosas el piano es perfecto tal como lo dicen en el manual y en la pagina de ensoniq, aqui encuentras de todo desde un poderoso set de drums, hasta el tr 909 completo.
no me gustan las guitarras, es la peor parte del teclado

4 a?os lo tengo conmigo, nunca lo saco a un gig, porque solo es mi teclado de studio, y tambien mi controlador actual apara mi pc.
fella un como lass salidas de audio, y ya no funciona el aftertuch, pero eso lo arreglaremos otro dia

para que si no lo necesito aun

Yo comenze en la musica a la edad de 3 a?os, acualmente tengo 22, y hace 4 a?os tuve a este mostruo de teclado.
Pobrecito de el que quiera robarme el zr-76 lo mato!.
jejeje.
peor bueno, exelent stuf!!.

I am using the latest version. I think that for the most part the sounds are very good, especially the organs and pianos. The manual is very helpful if not a little longwinded. Recording is also simple, i was making tracks in about 5 minutes of opening it.

The polyphony is 64 which is pretty standard, the keyboard action feels great, especially for only 1000 dollars. The effects are great, howver one of the boards main drawbacks is that you cant apply more than one effect at the same time. MIDI is standard and works really well. I really want to get some of the expansion cards but most of them arent available anymore. THe sequencer is great, except it is a little simplified, ie you cannot set different loop points for differents tracks.

Most instruments are great, i really like the synth instrument and most of the acoustic ones sound pretty real. This would be good for most kinds of production. The effects on this thing are extremely well done and have multiple presets for each, and also editing the presets is extremely easy and simple.

Up until 2 days ago it has never crashed, so thats 1 year of solid stability. I might use this for a gig, but the wheel you use to select instrument banks and instruments are very touchy, and probably the most annoying thing about this keyboard.

CUstomer support now sucks b/c EMU owns Ensoniq and they have discontinued this board, also i didnt get the STANDARD unisyn software, and when i eamiled them they said it wasnt available anymore

If it were lost or stolen i would try and get another one, although now it seems to be rather impossible these days. I think the sequencing and sounds and effects are fantastic and most of the drawbacks are minor and able to workaround. This thing is great for making music, especially with the idea pad that records everything your play. I think that if you can find this for 1000 dollars or less that this crushes most other workstations for 500-1500 dollars more, a great bargain.