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{{Short description|American music technology company}}
{{More footnotes|date=April 2009}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Ensoniq Corp.
| logo = [[File:Ensoniq logo.svg|center|240px]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1982}}
| fate = Acquired by [[Creative Technology]] (January 1998) and merged with [[E-MU Systems]], now dissolved
| founder = {{ubl|Bruce Crockett|Albert Charpentier|[[Robert Yannes|Bob Yannes]]}}
| defunct = {{end date|2002}}
| location = [[Malvern, Pennsylvania]]
| key_people = 
| industry = Musical instruments and technology
| parent = [[Creative Technology]]
| website = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970719010442/http://www.ensoniq.com/|date=July 19, 1997 |title=www.ensoniq.com}}
}}

'''Ensoniq Corp.''' was an American [[electronics]] manufacturer, best known throughout the mid-1980s and 1990s for its [[musical instrument]]s, principally [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]] and [[synthesizer]]s.

== History ==
In spring 1983, former [[MOS Technology]] engineers [[Robert Yannes|Robert "Bob" Yannes]], [[Bruce Crockett]], Charles Winterble, David Ziembicki, and [[Albert Charpentier]] formed '''Peripheral Visions'''. The team had designed the [[Commodore 64]], and hoped to build another computer. To raise funds, Peripheral Visions agreed to build a computer keyboard for the [[Atari 2600]], but the [[video game crash of 1983]] canceled the project and Commodore sued the new company, claiming that it owned the keyboard project. Renaming itself as Ensoniq, the new company instead designed a music synthesizer.<ref name="ieee85">{{cite journal|last2=Wallich|first2=Paul|date=March 1985|title=Design case history: the Commodore 64|url=https://archive.org/details/commodore64_mar1985|journal=IEEE Spectrum|pages=48–58|issn=0018-9235|last1=Perry|first1=Tekla S.|volume=22 |issue=3 |doi=10.1109/MSPEC.1985.6370590 |access-date=2011-11-12}}</ref>

Ensoniq grew rapidly over the next few years with the success of the Mirage and the ESQ-1. The plant in Great Valley, Pennsylvania employed nearly 200 people and housed the manufacturing facility. A number of successful products followed which all included the full-custom [[Integrated_circuit|ICs]] for music and effects which were developed in house. While the core keyboard products were generally successful, there were some quality problems and increasing competition from Asian companies. An attempt to diversify into hearing aids was unsuccessful and put the company in financial peril. In the mid-nineties, they developed a line of very cost-effective [[sound card]]s which sold millions of units.
 
In January 1998, ENSONIQ Corp. was acquired by [[Creative Technology]] Ltd. for $77 million. The acquisition was focused on the sound-card technology of the Ensoniq Audio-PCI. The musical products division, which was in financial trouble, was merged with [[E-mu Systems]] to form the E-Mu/Ensoniq division of Creative. Over the next three years the Ensoniq operation in Pennsylvania was gradually dismantled and shut down. After releasing an entry-level E-mu MK6/PK6 and Ensoniq Halo keyboards in 2002 – essentially keyboard versions of the Proteus 2500 module – the E-Mu/Ensoniq division was dissolved and support for legacy products was discontinued soon afterward.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Amazing Ensoniq|url=https://www.keyboardkountry.com/blog/the-amazing-ensoniq/|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Keyboard Kountry|language=en}}</ref>

== Musical instruments and digital systems ==
[[File:Ensoniq Mirage DSK.jpg|thumb|Mirage DSK-1 ({{Circa|1985}})]]
[[File:Ensoniq ESQ-1.jpg|thumb|Ensoniq ESQ-1 (1987)]]

Ensoniq entered the instrument market with the [[Ensoniq Mirage|Mirage]] sampling keyboard in 1985. At the price of [[United States dollar|USD$]]1695 it cost significantly less than previous [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]] such as the [[Fairlight CMI]] and the [[E-mu Emulator|E-MU Emulator]]. Starting with the [[Ensoniq ESQ-1|ESQ-1]], they began producing [[sample-based synthesis|sample-based synthesizers]]. Following the success of these products, Ensoniq established a subsidiary in [[Japan]] in 1987.

Ensoniq products were highly professional. Strong selling points were ease-of-use and their characteristic "fat", rich sound (generally thought of as being an "American" quality, as opposed to the "Japanese" sound which was more "digital" and somewhat "cold"). After the Mirage, all Ensoniq instruments featured integrated sequencers (even their late '80s and early '90s [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]]) providing an all-in-one "digital studio production concept" instrument. These were often called "Music Workstations". Starting with the VFX synthesizer, high-quality effects units were included, in addition most synthesizer and all sampler models featured [[Data storage device|disk drives]] and/or [[Random-access memory|RAM]] cards for storage. The manuals and tutorial documents were clearly written and highly musician-oriented, allowing the users to quickly get satisfactory results from their machines. In 1988, the company enlisted the [[Dixie Dregs]] in a limited edition promotional CD ''[[Off the Record (Dixie Dregs album)|Off the Record]]'' which featured the band using the EPS sampler and SQ-80 cross wave synthesizer.

The company had much success with the SQ product line starting in the early 1990s. This was a lower-cost line that included the SQ-1 (61 keys), SQ-2 (76 keys) and SQ-R ([[rack-mounted]], with no keys or sequencer), as well as KS-32 with full 76-keys weighted piano-keyboard. Later versions were produced with 32 sound-generating voices.

[[File:Ensoniq VFX (angled).jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq VFX|VFX]] (1989)]]
[[File:Ensoniq ASR-10 rear.jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq ASR-10|ASR-10]] (1992)]]
The company's heyday was in the early 1990s when the VFX synthesizers offered innovative performance and sequencing features (and terrific acoustic sounds), along with the ASR series of 16-bit samplers which also integrated synthesis, effects, and sequencer into a single-unit digital studio. The TS synthesizers followed the legacy of the VFX line, improving several aspects such as the [[polyphony (instrument)|polyphony]], effects engine, sample-loading capabilities and even better synth and acoustic sounds. The DP series of effects rack-mount units offered parallel processing and [[reverberation|reverb]] presets on a par with Lexicon's offerings, but at affordable prices.

[[File:Ensoniq DP2 Multi Effects Processor.png|thumb|DP/2 (1995)]]
<!-- [[File:Ensoniq DP4 internals front.jpg|thumb|160px|DP/4 internal]] -->
Despite these strengths, early (1980s) Ensoniq instruments suffered from reliability and quality problems such as bad keyboards (Mirage DSK-8), under-developed power-supply units (early ESQ-1), or mechanical issues (EPS polypressure keyboard).  Through the early and mid-1990s, much effort was focused on improving the reliability of the products. The company did not manage to reinvent its workstation concept in order to survive the mid and late '90s.

=== Timeline of major products ===
[[File:Ensoniq Mirage DSK-8 (1985).jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq Mirage|Mirage]] DSK-8 (1985)]]
[[File:Ensoniq esq m.jpg|thumb|ESQ-M (1986)]]
[[File:Ensoniq EPS Photo.jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq EPS|EPS]] (1988)]]
[[File:Ensoniq EPS-16+ (angled).jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq EPS|EPS-16+]] (1991)]]

* 1984 – [[Ensoniq Pro-Cussion]]
* 1984 – [[Ensoniq Mirage]]
* 1986 – [[Ensoniq ESQ-1]]
* 1986 – [[Ensoniq SDP-1 Sampled Digital Piano]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/ensoniq-sampled-piano/1645|title=Ensoniq Sampled Piano|magazine=Sound On Sound|date=September 1986|pages=8–9|issn=0951-6816|oclc=925234032}}</ref>
* 1988 – [[Ensoniq SQ-80]]
* 1988 – [[Ensoniq EPS]]
* 1989 – Ensoniq EPS-M<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/ensoniq-eps-m-sampler-module/61|title=Ensoniq EPS-M Sampler Module|magazine=Music Technology|date=May 1989|page=14|issn=0957-6606|oclc=483899345}}</ref>
* 1989 – [[Ensoniq VFX]]
* 1989 – [[Ensoniq VFX|Ensoniq VFX-SD]]
* 1990 – Ensoniq SQ-1<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/ensoniq-sq1/437|title=Ensoniq SQ1|magazine=Music Technology|date=October 1990|pages=64–69|issn=0957-6606|oclc=483899345}}</ref>
* 1990 – Ensoniq SQ-R
* 1990 – [[Ensoniq EPS 16 Plus]]
* 1990 – [[Ensoniq SD-1]]
* 1991 – Ensoniq SQ-R+
* 1991 – Ensoniq SQ-1+
* 1991 – Ensoniq SQ-2
* 1992 – Ensoniq SQ-1+ 32 voice
* 1992 – Ensoniq SQ-2 32 voice
* 1992 – Ensoniq SQ-R+ 32-voice
* 1992 – [[Ensoniq KS-32]]
[[File:Ensoniq_KS-32_(1992,_top-up).jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq KS-32|KS-32]] (1992)]]
* 1992 – [[Ensoniq ASR-10]]
* 1992 – [[Ensoniq TS-10]] and TS-12
* 1993 – [[Ensoniq DP/4]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/parallel-lines/2896|title=Parallel Lines|magazine=Recording Musician|date=August 1992|pages=32–36|issn=0966-484X|oclc=264952514}}</ref>
* 1994 – Ensoniq KT-76 and Ensoniq KT-88
* 1995 – Ensoniq DP/2<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/dec95/ensoniqdp2.html|title=Ensoniq DP/2|work=Sound On Sound|date=December 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608013834/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/dec95/ensoniqdp2.html|archive-date=8 June 2015}}</ref>
* 1995 – Ensoniq DP/4+
* 1996 – [[Ensoniq MR61|Ensoniq MR61 and MR76]]
* 1997 – [[Ensoniq ASR X]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/sep97/ensoniqasrx.html|title=Ensoniq ASRX|work=Sound On Sound|date=September 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607053721/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/sep97/ensoniqasrx.html|archive-date=7 June 2015}}</ref>
* 1997 – Ensoniq DP/Pro
* 1997 – [[Ensoniq E Prime]]
[[File:Ensoniq FiZmO.png|thumb|[[Ensoniq Fizmo|Fizmo]] (1998)]]
* 1998 – [[Ensoniq Fizmo]]
* 1998 – [[Ensoniq ZR-76]]
* 1998 – [[Ensoniq ASR X Pro]]
* 1998 – [[Ensoniq PARIS Digital Audio Workstation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan98/articles/ensoniqparis.htm|title=Ensoniq Paris II|work=Sound On Sound|date=January 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124737/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan98/articles/ensoniqparis.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref>
* 2002 – [[Ensoniq Halo]] (E-mu product using Ensoniq brand)
{{clear}}

== Sound cards and semiconductors ==
In 1986, after making an agreement with [[Apple Computer]], the same [[Ensoniq 5503 DOC|ES5503 DOC]] (Digital Oscillator Chip, marketed as "Q-Chip") used in the Mirage sampler (DSK-8, DSK-1, DMS-1), ESQ-1, ESQ-M and SQ-80 synthesizers, and SDP-1 piano module, was incorporated into the [[Apple IIGS|Apple II<small>GS</small>]] personal computer.

Later engines, with 16-bit sample playback and internal digital filters, were ES5504 DOC-II (used in the EPS sampler) and ES5505 OTIS (used in the EPS16+ sampler and the VFX line of synthesizers featuring 21 voices). Finally, [[Ensoniq ES-5506 OTTO|ES5506 OTTO]] drove all subsequent 32-voice machines (SD-1/32, TS10/12, ASR-10/88) and the dual-OTTO machines (KT, MR, ZR). The latest incarnation, ES5548 OTTO-48, was used in the final line of Ensoniq studio products (ASR-X, FIZMO).

Ensoniq also developed an effects DSP, ES5510 ESP, that was used in the machines from VFX on and the standalone FX units DP/2 and DP/4. OTTO-48 generation uses its greatly enhanced successor, ES5511 ESP V2. A combination of OTTO and ESP, ES5540 OTTOFX, was also developed and sold.

The Ensoniq ES5505 OTIS/OTISR2, and ES5510 ESP (Ensoniq Signal Processor) were also used in various [[arcade games]]. They were all manufactured on the [[CMOS]] process. OTTO was licensed to [[Advanced Gravis Computer Technology|Advanced Gravis]] for use in the [[Gravis Ultrasound]] card. In 1994, production began on [[Personal computer|PC]] sound cards for home computers. The design of the video-game console [[Atari Panther]] also included the OTIS chip, though the product never reached series production. A dedicated version of OTTO, ES5530/35 OPUS, was developed for AT-bus sound cards, featuring built-in joystick and CD-ROM interface.

Ensoniq's sound cards were popular and shipped with many [[IBM PC compatible]]s. Many games in the late [[MS-DOS]] era supported the Ensoniq Soundscape either directly or through [[General MIDI]]. In addition, Ensoniq devised an [[Industry Standard Architecture|ISA]] software audio emulation solution for their new [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] sound cards that was compatible with most contemporary IBM PC games. It is speculated that this was an important factor in [[Creative Labs|Creative Lab's]] acquisition of Ensoniq, because Creative/E-MU was struggling with legacy compatibility at the time with their higher-performance PCI audio solutions.

=== Soundscape ===
[[File:Ensoniqsss-2000.jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000|Soundscape S-2000]]]]
[[File:EnsoniqESP.jpg|thumb|upright|ESP DB]]
* [[Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000]] The original Soundscape was Ensoniq's first direct foray into the PC [[sound card]] market. It was a full-length ISA digital audio and '[[Table-lookup synthesis|wavetable]]' [[sample-based synthesis]] audio card, equipped with a 2&nbsp;MB Ensoniq-built [[Read-only memory|ROM]]-based patch set.
* [[Ensoniq SoundscapeDB]] The SSDB was a '[[Table-lookup synthesis|wavetable]]' [[daughterboard]] ([[sample-based synthesis]] daughterboard) upgrade for PCs with a sound card bearing a [[Creative Wave Blaster|Wave Blaster]]-compatible connector. It was based upon the S-2000 chipset but was without the digital sound effects section or any [[Digital-to-analog converter|DAC]]. The SSDB would use the host sound card for final output.
{{clear}}
[[File:Esselitenoesp.jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq Soundscape Elite|Soundscape Elite]]]]
* [[Ensoniq Soundscape Elite]] was Ensoniq's high-end ISA offering. It offered the highest MIDI quality of any PC sound card they ever made, including the newer AudioPCI. The Elite was based mostly around the S-2000, with some additional features that set it far apart from its progenitor.
{{clear}}
[[File:Soundscapeopus.jpg|thumb|[[Ensoniq Soundscape OPUS|Soundscape OPUS]]]]
* [[Ensoniq Soundscape OPUS]] This card was a [[Gateway, Inc.|Gateway 2000]] [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]], and possibly was used by other OEMs, but was never sold to Ensoniq's customers directly. It was a Soundscape-like board, using the Ensoniq 5530/5535 OPUS multimedia sound chip, a chip that was only used on these OEM boards and essentially comprises an OTTO with back-then usual additional interfacing (Joystick, CD-ROM).
* Ensoniq Soundscape VIVO90 was Ensoniq's generational step forward from the Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000-based boards. It was first produced in 1996. VIVO90 had similar specifications to the older boards, but was built to cost less to manufacture.
{{clear}}

=== AudioPCI ===
[[File:Ensoniq ES1370 1.jpg|thumb|upright|[[AudioPCI]]]]
* [[Ensoniq AudioPCI]] The AudioPCI was designed to be a low-cost, yet feature-rich audio solution, which could be integrated on computer motherboards as a value-added option. It consisted of little more than a small, host CPU driven audio chip (one of the following: S5016, ES1370, ES1371) and a companion [[Digital-to-analog converter|DAC]]. Despite its small size and low cost, AudioPCI still offers nearly all of the audio capabilities and functionality of the Soundscape ELITE card. The AudioPCI line used an [[Non-maskable interrupt|NMI]]-based emulation [[terminate-and-stay-resident]] (TSR) program Ensoniq developed to provide a reasonable level of legacy DOS compatibility without requiring any signals from the ISA bus, though the TSR could cause problems with games that relied on custom flavors of [[protected mode]].

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Refbegin}}
* Ensoniq Corp., Dixie Dregs, "Off the Record", ENS-1000, 1988.
* Case, Loyd. "In Search Of The Ultimate... Sound Card." Computer Gaming World Dec. 1994: 138-148.
* Ensoniq Corp. Soundscape S-2000 Manual, Ensoniq, 1994.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19980214014059/http://www.ensoniq.com/ "Ensoniq Corp. Web Site"] by Ensoniq Corp., Multimedia Division Product Information and Support Pages, 1998, retrieved December 25, 2005
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19970607104214/http://www.ensoniq.com/html/mm-pi.htm "Ensoniq FAQ"] by Ensoniq Corp., Multimedia Division Product Information and Support Pages, 1997, retrieved December 27, 2005
* Prince, Bobby. "In Search Of The Ultimate... Wavetable Daughtercard." Computer Gaming World Dec. 1994: 156-164.
* Weksler, Mike & McGee, Joe. "CGW Sound Card Survey." Computer Gaming World Oct. 1993: 76-84.
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.creative.com/ Creative Labs : Home Page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080316073413/http://www.emu.com/ E-MU / Ensoniq home page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19980214014059/http://www.ensoniq.com/ Ensoniq in the Internet Archive 2/14/1998]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080127154534/http://personales.ya.com/sailor/ensoniq/ Ensoniq AudioPCI S5016 User Manual]
* [http://www.synthmanuals.com/manuals/ensoniq/ Archive of Ensoniq manuals at SynthManuals.com]

{{Creative Technology}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ensoniq| ]]
[[Category:Synthesizer manufacturing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Sound cards]]
[[Category:Creative Technology acquisitions]]
[[Category:1998 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Sound chips]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]