Synth Museum

"Synthesizer preservation via research and education."


The Web SynthArk

EPS-M

Ensoniq EPS-M

EPS-M

Released: 1989

MSRP: $1895US

Synopsis:

EPS rack with SCSI, individual audio outputs, and memory upgrade Architecture Class: Sampler.

Ebay Description:

The Ensoniq EPS-M is an pressure and velocity sensitive 3U rack (12-20 voice, 8 channel multitimbral), 13 bit sampler, featuring dual multi-mode digital filters, triple 6 stage envelopes, an LFO, 8 track (plus 8 track song) real-time sequencer, microtonal scaling, versatile modulation, SCSI, 8 individual audio outputs, and MIDI. Sample memory (1MW) can contain up to 127 waveforms, recorded at 6.25-52.1kHz. Sample editing includes truncate mix/merge/splice fade in/out. Samples can be stored via a 3.5" DSDD disk drive.

Physical

Form Factor Dimensions Weight Audio Input Audio Output Communication Port Control Input Control Output Switch Input Power
3U rack W:17in (43.2cm) H:5.25in (13.3cm) D:15" (38.1cm) 20lbs (9kg) mic/line (sample) stereo 8 mono MIDI IN OUT THRU pedal no dual (TRS) AC

Interface

Compatibility Multitimbral Memory Program Memory External Storage External Programming UI Input UI Output
Mirage:convert EPS EPS-M EPS-16+ ASR-10 ASR-10S ASR-88 8 8 DSDD 3.5" disk drive SCSI MIDI SysEx menu driven flourescent display

Architecture

Multitimbral Polyphony Unison Architecture
8 12/16/20 (52/39/31.2kHz) no DCO->DCF->DCA->Pan

Output

Effects Pan Modulator Volume Modulator Headphone
no key pressure Env1-2 key LFO MIDI-CC MIDI-Mod MIDI-Pitch noise pedal velocity shared

Control

Arpeggiator Arpeggiator External Sequencer Sequencer Memory Sequencer External Continuous Program Change
no N/A 8 track (16 if "song" is counted) 1 song, 80 sequences (999 bars each), shared with sample memory unless memory is upgraded (256kW = 80k notes) MIDI pedal Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel MIDI-Bend MIDI-CC1 MIDI-CC4 MIDI-CC6 MIDI-CC7 MIDI-CC70 pedal

Keyboard

Key Pressure Chord Memory External Control External Sustain Key Scaling Velocity Curves
Channel polyphonic no MIDI (guitar mono mode) MIDI pedal pitch:8 tables 3

Sample

Stereo Sample Depth Sample Rate Sample RAM Sample ROM Sample Points Sample Trigger Sample Loop Sample Edit
no 13 bit 6.25-52.1kHz 1MW (1.7MB) no 127 pedal reverse cross-fade modulate truncate mix/merge/splice fade in/out

Source

Name Signal Class Waveform Octave Range Amplitude Modulator Harmonics Modulator Pitch Modulator Wave Assign Modulator
Sample digital 127 - mix: key velocity start: pressure Env1-2 key LFO MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel noise pedal velocity pressure Env1-2 key LFO MIDI-CC MIDI-Mod MIDI-Pitch noise pedal velocity portamento no

Filter

Name Signal Class IC Resonant Shape Frequency Modulator Resonance Modulator Shape Modulator
F1 digital DSP no 2-3 pole low pass (shares 4 poles with multimode) pressure Env1-2 key LFO MIDI-CC MIDI-Mod MIDI-Pitch noise pedal velocity no no
F2 digital DSP no 1-2 pole low or high pass (shares 4 poles with low pass) pressure Env1-2 key LFO MIDI-CC MIDI-Mod MIDI-Pitch noise pedal velocity no no

Envelope

Name Level Rate Loop Polarity Trigger Level Modulator Rate Modulator
Env1 6 6 yes no no velocity key velocity:attack
Env2 6 6 yes no no velocity key velocity:attack
Env3 6 6 yes no no velocity key velocity:attack

LFO

Name Waveform Delay Polarity Sync Delay Modulator Level Modulator Rate Modulator
LFO triangle sine sine/triangle positive triangle positive sine saw:up square yes no no no pressure Env1-2 key LFO MIDI-CC MIDI-Mod MIDI-Pitch noise pedal velocity no
Sampler Models
Mirage DSK-8 Mirage DMS-8 Mirage DMS-1 Mirage DSK-1 EPS EPS-M EPS-16 Plus EPS-16 Plus Rack
ASR-10 ASR-10S ASR-10R ASR-88