Organization: University of Missouri-Columbia Campus Computing, 314-882-2000
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Date:         Tue, 28 Jul 1992 08:37:47 CDT
From:         Greg Johnson <CCGREG@MIZZOU1.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Looking for info: Ensoniq KS-32
              28 Jul 1992 13:23:52 GMT from <will.Roch803@XEROX.COM>

I had posted to this discussion about three weeks ago, my first superficial
impressions of the new Ensoniq KS-32, about the same as recently observed.
Later I got to try it some more, and answered a private inquiry as follows.
I live far from the dealer, and can't offer much more than this for now.

Date:         Fri, 24 Jul 92 13:39:53 CDT

On Fri, 24 Jul 1992 10:33:22 -0400 you said:
>...I saw that you normally play an FP-8 AND a T1.  I happen
>to think that the SOUND of the FP-8 has no equal for piano and
>e-piano in a mix.  The keyboard feels great too, so when you say
>that the KS-32 is even better, I want to hear more.

"Feel" is by definition subjective, but it seemed to me that the KS-32 touch
was lighter than the Roland FP-8, definitely lighter than the Korg T-1.  For
me this is prefered, though at some point it's no longer a weighted keyboard!

>Could you see the KS-32 replacing the work that the FP-8 does sonically?

Yes.

>I know that the Ensoniq grand is supposed to be marvelous (a 2Mb sample
>or somesuch?).

If you can find examples or literature on the latest variations of the SQ
series, this should adequately describe the KS-32.  Just add weighted keys &
subtract $.

>How 'bout the "rhodes-type" sound that the FP-8
>is renown for, can it do that well? (I'm using a big Roland RD-1000
>currently, but have to give it up soon) Is the KS capable of warm
>analogish sounds, ala Roland JD-800?

There were some good Rhodes and Wurlitzer EP patches;  I wish I'd tested
them for velocity to see how well they'd growl, but I recall them as
adequate.

>In short, I'm losing the RD,
>so I'd like a >61 key weighted keyboard with really good piano
>and electric piano sounds, plus a synth engine that does warmer
>(versus brighter, like Yamaha SY/TG synths) sounds.

Hmm.  I too prefer warmer over brighter.  This was one place where I'd fault
the KS-32/SQ line.  The factory sounds EXCEPT for the pianos and organs
(pipe, B3) seemed a tad thin for my uses.  On closer investigation, I found
that the piano, string & drum sounds are PCM multi samples (2MB) whereas
most of the other 1MB tends to be single cycle synth'd.  I didn't play with
sound modification enough to see whether I could beat some warmth into
brass, oboes, & other wind simulations.  Beyond filters, with 32-note
polyphony there's opportunity for hybrids and detuning effects.

>The other thing that I'm concerned with is the general reliability of
>Ensoniq equipment.  The net is chock full of horror stories as you well
>know.  Where else can I get a 76-key synth with good pianos for under $2000
>street though?

Right, that concerns me too.  But there are recent testimonials that
Ensoniq has gradually corrected hardware & software problems.  As I noted,
it sounded like the KS-32 improves the SQ's audio quality in some subtle
way.  I hope that hints of other incremental improvements.

The KS-32 seems to me to have all those basic keyboard sounds of the FP-8.
The KS-32 doesn't have speakers or the extra audio-in and amp of the FP-8,
but it does have:  bend and mod wheels, a zoneable keyboard, channel
aftertouch, a fair collection (what, 80-some?) of useful (if perhaps
lightweight) waves, a good architecture for distancing the sounds, a useful
on-board sequencer (at least compared to the amusing "recorder" of the FP-8),
program & sequencer cards, etc. etc., all the workstation stuff.

One negative thing about the KS-32 is that it has a tiny display (of
what, 32 characters?) and you definitely need the manual to navigate it,
unlike say the SD or EPS series or Korg T.  Besides my own interests, I was
shopping for something for a church to use.  Non-techy musicians wanting to
just call up a sound and transpose it down a couple of steps may be frustrated
with these.  My digital watch has a better display and more controls!
Transposition for vocal accompaniment is a major motivation for getting a
"piano substitute" keyboard rather than a piano, but there isn't any middle
ground between simple controls of consumer units and the cryptic interface
of pro weighted keyboards I've seen.

But all in all, the price makes the KS-32 an astounding item.  It would be a
great practice keyboard.  It'd keep your fingers from going limp and please
your your ears without irritating wherever you keep your wallet.
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth