Anyone got an Ensoniq EPS?
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- KVRAF
- 1527 posts since 3 Apr, 2002 from desolation row
the 12 bit one, not the 16 bit one. How is the keyboard action, and general usability? I can get one at a good price, and want to add a gritty sampler to my setup.
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- KVRAF
- 9600 posts since 17 Sep, 2002 from Gothenburg Sweden
Don't have one now but used to many moons ago. I can say without a doubt it is the worst keyboard i have ever played. It's simply horrible. You can get used to it and polyAT is nice to have.
I'd be worried about the floppy drive dying. And dealing with floppies is a PITA in general.
The good side is that you can get quite fast editing the thing once you learn the shortcuts. And it has some interesting looping abilities. As for general sound i hated that too. The input stage is simply crap. Sounds horrible. I transfered some sounds to it digitally and those sounded fine so it is the input stage that sucks.
If you set it to 12 voices it sounds much better than the 20 voice mode.
For me the only reason to get one is the PolyAT keyboard.
I'd be worried about the floppy drive dying. And dealing with floppies is a PITA in general.
The good side is that you can get quite fast editing the thing once you learn the shortcuts. And it has some interesting looping abilities. As for general sound i hated that too. The input stage is simply crap. Sounds horrible. I transfered some sounds to it digitally and those sounded fine so it is the input stage that sucks.
If you set it to 12 voices it sounds much better than the 20 voice mode.
For me the only reason to get one is the PolyAT keyboard.
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- KVRist
- 353 posts since 6 May, 2005
Maybe look for a rack version (eps-m)
Or if you just want some grit the Zoom sampletrak, and boss sp202 will do the trick.
I have a Zoom, and at 16khz it's pretty dirty(in a good way).
Good at that detune grit/artifacts too!
Or if you just want some grit the Zoom sampletrak, and boss sp202 will do the trick.
I have a Zoom, and at 16khz it's pretty dirty(in a good way).
Good at that detune grit/artifacts too!
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- KVRist
- 462 posts since 31 Jan, 2003
I had an eps16+...
I can see no reason to buy one today even if at 50$. SW samplers are a lot better. If you need compatibility buy a K2000 it reads all the eps disks. (Selled my eps - buyed a k2000RS). If you need that dirty sounds go for a mirage. sorry.
I can see no reason to buy one today even if at 50$. SW samplers are a lot better. If you need compatibility buy a K2000 it reads all the eps disks. (Selled my eps - buyed a k2000RS). If you need that dirty sounds go for a mirage. sorry.
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- KVRian
- 1106 posts since 8 Oct, 2003 from Belgium
Also had a 16+.
Keyboard broke on me twice. First time I got it repaired by an Ensoniq repair center and they told me that the keyboards were quite problematic. The soldering between the 2 keyboard halves gets loose all the time.
Second time not only the keyboard broke, but the engine was also acting funny, so I didn't bother getting it repaired.
To test it, you could start the sampler, load a sound and then push hard on the plastic just underneath the keyboard. If it fails, you will get an error message.
I did like the sound of it though (grainy sound, analog filters).
Peter.
Keyboard broke on me twice. First time I got it repaired by an Ensoniq repair center and they told me that the keyboards were quite problematic. The soldering between the 2 keyboard halves gets loose all the time.
Second time not only the keyboard broke, but the engine was also acting funny, so I didn't bother getting it repaired.
To test it, you could start the sampler, load a sound and then push hard on the plastic just underneath the keyboard. If it fails, you will get an error message.
I did like the sound of it though (grainy sound, analog filters).
Peter.
My band : The Black Tartan Clan (celtic punkrock)
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Chuck E. Jesus Chuck E. Jesus https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=108246
- R.I.P.
- 7301 posts since 23 May, 2006 from in between a cornfield and a river
i have my wifes old Mirage sitting in a closet...i might just throw it away...
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- KVRian
- 1106 posts since 8 Oct, 2003 from Belgium
Chuck E. Jesus wrote:i have my wife, old Mirage, sitting in a closet...i might just throw it away...
Peter.
PS : I swear, that's how it sounded, the first time I read it !
My band : The Black Tartan Clan (celtic punkrock)
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- KVRAF
- 4218 posts since 10 Oct, 2002 from Nashville, TN USA
pschelfh wrote:Chuck E. Jesus wrote:i have my wife, old Mirage, sitting in a closet...i might just throw it away...
Peter.
PS : I swear, that's how it sounded, the first time I read it !
Apparently many wives are like a mirage. They're curvy and hot from a distance, but you get up close and it's all over.
