ENSONIQ - SD 1
Detlef Anton
hallo world,
i want to by a SD 1 of Ensoniq. Is there anybody, who have it,
or got experience with it?
what are the possibilities with SD 1?
is it easy to create new sounds?
how many created sounds can I save?
can I by in future new sound of it?
what should I consieder to pay?
what is the original prize?
what a year it was build in?
...
please give me all comments you have about SD 1.
many questions and no answers
ciao and thanx for any help
o o o o o o o . . . ___________________________
o ---- _______________________ | Detlef Anton alias toni |
.][__n_n_|DD[ / midnighttrain \ | Joseph-Haydn-Str. 14 |
>(________|__|_|_an...@cscip.uni-sb.de_|_| D - 66125 Dudweiler_____|
_/oo OOOOOO o` ooo ooo 'o^o^o o^o^o`
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Jonwband
anything. The Ensoniq SD-1 is one of the most programmable synths that
you'll ever find. Lots of power. The sounds are good, but they get
better when you take the time to tweak them and change them a bit.
24 track sequencer (12 seq. tracks and 12 song tracks) The song tracks are
linear tracks that overlap the sequence tracks. If you tie 4 or 5
sequences together, then the song tracks will allow you to record over all
the sequences without having to do each sequence individually. Lots of
powerful editing features in the sequencer as well. And the SD-1 works
well with a computer.
The SD-1 can also be used as a system exclusive librarian for other midi
gear and can do multi-track recording of up to 12 tracks from other midi
gear. In other words the SD-1 becomes the master controller.
The digital effects are probably not the greatest, but you can offset that
by getting a quality effects processor and sending your voices thru the
aux. channel.
There is no way to import new waves into the SD-1 since it does not have a
PCM card slot or any type of sample ram (however, the update of the SD-1,
the TS-10 and TS-12 have sample ram, SCSI, and can read samples from
Ensoniq, Akai, and Kurzweil samplers). However, you don't need it. If
you want to sample sounds, it is my belief that you should by a dedicated
sampler. The SD-1 will, however, allow you to create new sounds with its'
180 some on board waves. It would take you years to create every sound
possible on an instrument like this. The SD-1 is a true synthesizer.
You have a 3.5 Diskette in which you can save all your programs,
sequences, system ex. data, combinations, and backups of the Operating
System.
If you do get one, drop me a line and I will mail you some disks with some
of my sequences and programs. I have some brass and woodwind programs
that are incredible. The percussion sounds on this board are unreal.
Check it out!!!!!!
Jonathan Willis
Cakewalk Pro for Windows, Encore 3.0 Notation, and
an Ensoniq SD-1 Synthesizer -- MIDI Tools with Power!!!
A.S.
(Detlef Anton) wrote:
>
> hallo world,
>
> i want to by a SD 1 of Ensoniq. Is there anybody, who have it,
> or got experience with it?
>
> what are the possibilities with SD 1?
> is it easy to create new sounds?
> how many created sounds can I save?
> can I by in future new sound of it?
> what should I consieder to pay?
> what is the original prize?
> what a year it was build in?
> ...
> please give me all comments you have about SD 1.
>
> many questions and no answers
I love my SD-1 and there are few drawbacks, so here goes...
-----
PROS:
Some of the real instruments sounds are great. String ensembles, cello,
sax (I reprogrammed a bit), reeds, and horn (french). The drums are also
very usable.
The program control keys (two gray keys, left side) are great. They let
you switch between variations on the same sound or even different sounds.
Every synth should have this.
The sequencer is very easy to use and is much more practical than many
workstation sequencers. In otherwords, you will actually use it. I find
myself having trouble weaning myself off of it and onto Logic. It holds
lots of songs at once. It does NOT change tempos except in blocks (sequence
by sequence), so if you're expecting to sequence classical or some types of
blues and jazz, expect to drop it into a computer when you're done to get
this effect.
Songs can be set to trigger midi setups across a rig.
The internal effects are fairly good and you'll actually use them.
CONS:
----
The samples are pretty good but fixed. It will not accept new samples or
play back others like the TS-10.
Some of the synth-type sounds are fair, but I figured those are more easily
found in other modules.
The internal effects are in pre-assigned pairs instead of letting the user
select the pairs.
Because the sequencer is structured 12+12, only twelve midi channels at a
time are accessible by an external sequencer such as in a computer. This
is stupid, which Ensoniq admitted, but they didn't seem too apologetic
about it.
Ensoniq has done little to upgrade or correct the sequencing software in
the last few years (they've given up on it a little too quickly) and there
are a few small bugs.
IN GENERAL
----------
Try to get a 32-voice unit (SD-1 32v) and make sure it's frame is sturdy if
you're planning on roading it.
I bought mine in early 1992, I think, for about $1,900-2,000.
Jonwband
voice version came around in the later part of 1991. The original price
was $2695.00.
It was not a cheap board, but it is a very powerful board. If you read
the previous reply, you have a good idea of what it can do and also its
weaknesses. Here are some other things the SD-1 can do:
12 tracks of Multitrack recording of all your Midi Gear.
Then it can store all the midi info for all your gear in it's system
exclusive library, making it a good midi librarian.
Works well with a computer and syncs to Midi start and stop, but not MTC
or SMPTE. However, you do not need it to sync to those since your
computer sequencer will do that.
Even though you only have 12 tracks for recording midi when using a
computer, you can send patch dumps via the computer to change the sounds
in each track at various points during your music. This means that you
can use as many sounds as you want.
The effects are not the best, but functional. Get a good effects
processor!
Finding an SD-1 will be hard. Not many that own them are willing to sell
them. They are some of the most programmable synths ever made. Even
though you cannot add new samples to the board, the 180 some waveforms on
board can be programmed in so many ways that it would take you years and
years to exhaust every possibility.
A used SD-1 in good condition with 32 note polyphony should run you around
$1,100 - $1,250 U.S.
Good Luck!
Gary Hammell
>anything. The Ensoniq SD-1 is one of the most programmable synths that
>you'll ever find. Lots of power. The sounds are good, but they get
>better when you take the time to tweak them and change them a bit.
I agree with you 100%. I've got the VFX-SD and an SD-1 (32). I love them. Mind
you, I've just got Cubase Score and I'm having a bit of a problem using more than 16
tracks (Multi-mode = one sound per midi channel and therefore limits me to 16 sound
polyphony). Any ideas?
Thanks for any response.
Gary