Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 15:45:00 -0400 
From: "John D. Williams" <jwaa+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Ensoniq VFX

In message <716313653.90000.D_NIBBY@UNHH.UNH.EDU>, 
 D_NIBBY@UNHH.UNH.EDU (Dana   Nibby) writes:
>
>I was considering buying a used VFX... Despite *all* the previous flames,
>I've heard that as long as it has a recent operating system, there's nothing
>to worry about. (1) How do I found out what a particular VFX's operating system
>is. (2) What is the most recent version of the operating system. (3) How
>much does it cost to upgrade to a recent operating system?
>
> Also -- What is the difference between a VFX, and a VFX-SD besides having
>a disk drive? I can buy a brother disk drive for about $100 I think, and
>the VFX-SD is a lot newer, right? Thus they'll cost more used... I'm looking
>for a low price. As far as the SD maybe having a better sequencer... no problem.
>That's what computers are for.
>I'll be using an A500 for that. As long as the VFX has some sort of sequencer,
>(8 tracks will suffice) that's fine. Anyone have a VFX they want to sell?
>What is a high-low price for a used VFX? What should I expect to pay for one.
>Flames are ok, as long as you're not talking about problems that were fixed
>with the newer operating systems. 
>
> Is the VFX 16-bit or 8-bit? Can someone tell me what the difference is
>between between 16 bit - 8 bit, vs. sampling rate? I thought clarity came
>from a high sampling rate. Does 16 bit give more 'warmth' or something?
>
>    Pax,
>
>      Dana
Hello again Dana,

The VFX-SD off a lot more than the stock VFX. The SD is essentially a
25,000 note sequencer expandable to 75,000 notes, and a disk drive.
he disk drive will save sysex, patch, performance, and sequence information.
The SD also offer some additional waveforms not available on the stock VFX.
I would say that the added expense of the disk drive is well worth the expense
because it work hand in hand with the VFX operating system. Depending on 
what model VFX-SD you get (late more recent model, or the older ones, you
can tell by the serial number) you can upgrade the VFX-SD so that it has
the same functions as Ensoniq"S flagship model, the SD-1 32. When Ensoniq
upgrades the VFX they replace panel buttons upgrade the software, clean 
circuit boards etc.  The VFX operating system is in ROM, however, the VFX-SD
sequencer OS is on disk, and new features are always added.  These are all
things to take into consideration when deciding whether or not you could
justify the added expense of the VFX-SD over the VFX.  When I go to the 
recording studio, I demand the VFX-SD even if I don't use the sequncer
(I use my a500 with a HD running B&P Pro, Music-X, or Tiger Cub) the
added waveform i the VFX-SD where helpful in developing a few sound which
are my signiture in my recordings.  Again, the SD has waveform the the stock
VFX doesn't have (not many, albeit). Hope that I helped.  


--
===============================================================================
| John D. Williams                    |                                       |
|   jwaa@andrew.cmu.edu  : SCHOOL     |  williams@prca.usbm-ccn.gov  : WORK   |
| "I'd like to change the world, I'd like to make it well, how can I change   |
|     the world when I can't change myself" - Todd Rundgren                   |
===============================================================================
| All views expressed are mine, all mine! and are not necesarilly the ones    |
|  experessed by Carnegie Mellon University or the U.S. Bureau of Mines.      |
===============================================================================
peace!