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Winter
2005 Site Updates
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February 1, 2005
~ minor udates and site maintenance:
- The
Tips
& Tricks
page has been updated with one tip regarding the
compatabilty of ASR-X Editor running in Classic
under OS X Panther.
- Inactive URLs
on the Links
page have been removed.
- The 'Search'
dialog has been updated to comply with the
transition from the MySearch site search service
to siteLevel
- No updated
information or news regarding the availability
of ASR-X parts or accessories has been made
available to ASRXCITE since the previous site
update. No further updates will be forthcoming -
maintenance updates will occur only as
necessary.
- When
in need of help, direct your ASR-X question(s)
to the ASR-X
mailing list
at Yahoo! Groups.
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Autumn
2003 Site Updates and News
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October 18, 2003
~ I didn't anticipate further updates to ASRXCITE
but there appears to be a need for
just_one_more:
- If you hadn't
already known, the E-mu
web
site recently underwent an overhaul and now more
closely approximates the Creative
Labs
homepage. As a result of the E-mu site redesign,
much of the archived materials for the Ensoniq
product line (and many E-mu legacy products) has
been made unavailable. As of this writing some
of these legacy resources are again available
for download: ASR-X Pro OS 3.04 OS updates, the
ASR-X/X Pro Getting Started PDF, and ASR-X Pro
User's Guide PDF for
example
With
assistance from some helpful ASR-X and FIZMO
users, the ASR-X
Reference
Manual
PDFs have been recovered - much of which was
found using the Internet
Archive Wayback
Machine.
Note: Various ASR-10 sites have related
materials too - see ASR-10.com
for an ASR-10 Reference Manual and
more...
Many of
the Ensoniq User's Guides for the
ASR-X/FIZMO/PARIS/ZR can be also be found at
American
Musical Supply
(no affiliation with ASRXCITE.) Use the Manuals
link on the left hand side of the AMS home page
- then link to Product Manuals and select the
manufacturer.
FYI, print
copies of Ensoniq User's Guides and Reference
Manuals can be purchased from Syntaur.
- Emagic
has released a new SoundDiver subrelease for Mac
OS 9 and Windows.
This
update contains new support
for:
Ensoniq
ASR-X and ASR-X Pro
Korg KARMA
V2.0
Korg
microKORG
Roland
VG-88
Roland XV
series: "Complete Orchestra", "Ultimate Keys",
"PlatinumTrax" and "World Collection"
boards.
The
Ensoniq ASR-X/X Pro module was developed by Ingo
Debus who has also been responsible for the
SoundDiver Ensoniq FIZMO and MR/ZR modules.
Great work, Ingo! And many thanks.
- A helpful tip
from Dean Collet: Electric Factory Australia has
the Ensoniq
ASR-X SCSI Kit
on markdown in their Bargain
Bin
web page. Shipping costs might be prohibitive
but...a source for parts is a source for
parts!
- Synthony has
a selection of Ensoniq TS/ESS/AS and CDR Disks
listed on the Garage
Sale
web page.
Significant updates have been made to the
Downloads
page - I've made available all the ASR-X and
MR Series resources at my disposal: PDFs, Demo
Disks, etc. To make room for these items most of
the 1-SOUNDS have been removed.
The
Tips
& Tricks
page has been updated with the eight articles
previously posted at the discontinued
Tutorial
& Tech Tips
page at the old E-mu<>Ensoniq web site.
Thanks again to the wild and wonderful
Wayback
Machine!
As always:
when
in need of help, direct your ASR-X question(s) to
the ASR-X
mailing list
at Yahoo! Groups.
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State
of the X Address- Spring 2003
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April
20, 2003 ~ Here's the more recent word on parts and
services for the Ensoniq ASR-X:
- The
Ensoniq X-8 Audio Output Expander, SP-5 ASR-X
SCSI Kit, EXP-1 Real World, and EXP-3 Urban
Dance boards are no longer available from E-mu
or Syntaur Productions. No source of new old
stock has been brought to the attention of
ASRXCITE. The best chance to score any of these
accessories is eBay.
- The
Ensoniq X-Audio Sampling Series CDs are getting
scarce - Volume 1 is no longer available.
X-Audio Series Volume
2
and Volume
3
can still be had for sale from E-mu (you might
also check E-mu's SoundFont.com
for availability.)
- Ensoniq
ASR-X OS v2.67 EPROMs for the original 'black
box' are still available from Syntaur
Productions.
- Chicken
Systems is again offering the Internal
ZipDrive Kit
for the ASR-X (and also the EPS/ASR.)
- Help
Wanted
Productions
has posted a photographic guide
to replacing the Rotary Encoders on an ASR-X
sampler using the Mouser
Electronics
Part Number 318-ENC160-24P.
- EPR
Electronics
is again offering replacement kits for ASR-X
Rotary Encoders consisting of an Encoder pot and
new black knob. New location and contact
information:
EPR Electronics
1242 E. Hillsborough Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33604
845-343-1237
[email protected]
http://www.eprelectronics.com
- Of
note to ASR-10 users: EPR
Electronics,
has reproduced the SP-3 SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEM
INTERFACE for the Ensoniq ASR-10 Sampler (not
the ASR-X/X Pro.) For more information or to
purchase the SP-3 SCSI Interface, call
845-343-1237 or e-mail [email protected]
Site updates and revisions are in place to the
Downloads, Links, and Tips & Tricks
pages.
ASR-XChange,
previously hosted by Scott Hansen, shutdown for
good in late 2002. I've recovered the 'How To'
articles previously hosted at ASR-X Change and
posted them here
on the Tips & Tricks page.
At
this late date, ASR-X users should consider this
web site to be "static", i.e., no further
updates will be forthcoming - unless news
regarding parts and availability should find its
way to ASRXCITE,
in which case an update will be posted.
When
in need of help, direct your ASR-X question(s) to
the ASR-X
mailing list
at Yahoo! Groups.
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Summer
2002 Site Updates and News
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August
12, 2002 ~ It has taken longer than I anticipated
but I've finally completed long overdue updates to
ASRXCITE
(about six week late but who's
counting...)
- Significant
updates have been made to the Links
page.
- There
are many additions, and revisions, to the Tips
& Tricks page (my sincere thanks to those
who contributed.) Many of the new pages contain
updates regarding service info and replacement
parts.
- A
1-SOUND of Xbase-09 drum samples has been added
to the Downloads page.
I'm
planning one more site update - no later than this
Autumn - and that may likely wrap things up. I've a
few idea's left to purus and a number of early
items posted on the Tips & Tricks page still
require revision.
If
you have information regarding a source of new old
stock (NOS) for the EXP-1 Real World or EXP-3 Urban
Dance Expansion boards for the MR/ASR-X don't
hesitate to email
and we'll pass along the information. Neither
E-mu
nor
Syntaur
has any remaining inventory of EXP-1 or EXP-3
boards. The EXP-4 Perfect Piano board is still
available from E-mu and Syntaur. The EXP-2 Drum
Expander board (MR series only) is still available
from E-mu. Second hand prices for the EXP-1 and
EXP-3 appear to be averaging $249-300. If you cut a
better deal than that - good for you!
If
your late model Ensoniq instrument has recently
been serviced please don't hesitate to
email
a summary of your experience (the good & the
bad) and we'll pass along the information here.
Parts and Service for Ensoniq instruments (PARIS,
ZR76, ASR-X Pro, FIZMO, Avista) have been
transferred from E-mu's facility to TheSoniq in
Santa Clara, CA. Replacement parts and service for
'classic' Ensoniq instruments can still be had from
EPR
Electronics
in Middletown, New York and Audio
Electronics
in Dallas, Texas.
The
E-mu web site has undergone some reorganization
with updated information being provided. The
results are a much improved navigation with access
to Service and Support Information. Good work E-mu.
Check out the following links:
E-mu
/ Ensoniq have released the HALO Keyboard. Based on
the Proteus synthesis engine - with an 'Ensoniq'
badge - the HALO contains the 'Sounds of the ZR'
sound set which also includes samples from the
EXP-4 Perfect Piano expansion board. In addition,
E-mu has released the 'Ensoniq Project ROM'
consisting of samples from the most excellent (and
sadly discontinued) EXP-1 Real World and EXP-3
Urban Dance expansion boards. While HALO may
contain choice Ensoniq samples the tone generator
(EGs, Filters, LFOs, and FX) is a Proteus - not an
MR/ASR-X series synth engine. Check out these
links:
FWIW,
E-mu has been offering heavily discounted prices on
their recent offerings (Mo' Phatt, MP/XL
Grooveboxes, PK/HALO keyboards, etc.) I can only
speculate nobody is immune to the current state of
the economy.
Syntaur
now offers the OS v2.67 upgrade for the original
ASR-X along with a large selection of Ensoniq
Reference Manuals. Syntaur has also released
Sample
Set 30:
"Mellotron"
for the ASR/EPS Samplers.
The
much anticipated Translator Mac is now available
from Chicken
Systems.
The current version (as of this writing) offers
translation from many popular formats (Akai, Emu,
Roland) to EXS24 format. According to Chicken
Systems, EXS format was the overwhelming favorite
of potential users as indicated in their market
research so it became their priority. I suspect it
won't be too long before Translator Mac becomes the
functional equivalent of Translator for Windows. An
OS X compatible version has been
announced.
For
ASR-10 and TS-series users, Chicken Systems is now
offering for sale ASR-10
and TS-Series Video
Courses
by Covert Videos.
SoUnDEnGiNe
continues to release compelling Sample CDs (in
ISO-9660 WAV format.) Their latest offerings
are:
- Metathesis
Over 1.8GB of Ambiences - Post Doctorate
Research into the mystery and art of the Yamaha
FS1R synthesizer.
- Detritus
Audio "found objects" twisted and manipulated
into stunning ambiences.
- TimeBomb
Break Beats and Kits from an expert of the great
siderial movement!
And
the one I personally would like to add to my
collection:
- WAVstation
Vector synthesis at its best - thick, swirling,
evocative, and wild textures!
Many
thanks for visiting ASRXCITE.
I hope you found it useful.
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Autumn
2001 Site Updates and News
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November
20, 2001 ~ It is time for site updates and gossip:
- Three
additional items, and one significant revision,
have been posted to the Tips
& Tricks
page. My usual thanks to those who
contributed.
- E-mu
has outsourced the replacement part business to
EPR
Electronics
in New York. I've posted the second of two
user's experience installing replacement
encoders on their ASR-X. Contact info and part
numbers are included - see the Tips & Tricks
page for more.
- SonikMatter.com
has a number of compelling interviews
with many programmers responsible for some well
known synths, samplers and software available
from the SonikMatter web site. Of interest to
ASR-X users is an interview with Scott Peer,
formerly of Ensoniq ( responsible for the
MR/ASR-X/FIZMO design) and Peavey
(PC1600x.)
- Additional
PDFs for the original ASR-X, X-8 output
Expander, ASR-88, and DP2 have been made
available for download from
the
E-mu<>Ensoniq archives.
- E-mu has
listed the Ensoniq EXP boards on their
Web
Specials
page for $189 (Real World & Urban Dance) and
$129 (Perfect Piano).
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Summer
2001 Site Updates
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July
8, 2001 ~ Hello fellow ASR-Xer's. There are
recently completed site updates in place that I
hope you find useful:
- The
Downloads page has finally received an
overhaul. There are a number of additional items
available for download - including two banks of
1-SOUNDs for the ASR-X. A BIG thanks goes
out to MR Web for contributing the MR/ASR-X
files!
- An
additional page of Links has been added. These
links were previously available on the old site
and have been pressed back into service (with a
few minor tweaks.)
- There
are some additional items on the Tips &
Tricks page this month. Some reorganization has
taken place between the Links vs. Tips &
Tricks pages with the intention of making
related items more easily located.
In
so far as ASR-X news goes, well, there really
hasn't been any. Eagle eye observers may have noted
the addition of a 'Getting Started' guide for the
ASR-X/X-Pro on the E<>E 'site. I've mirrored
a copy on the downloads page here. Having read it
over once or twice I'd say it's just the ticket for
new ASR-X users.
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A
word regarding email to ASRXCITE
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July
7, 2001 ~ I'd like to thank everybody who has
written ASRXCITE
with your questions and comments over the past few
months (and previously, JDLX-Musique.com). Thank
you!
I
feel obliged to point out the
ASRXCITE
mailbox is monitored less frequently then in months
past. Therefore, a *prompt* reply to email
inquiries is unlikely to occur.
When
in need of help ASAP, direct your question(s) to
the ASR-X
mailing list
at Yahoo! Groups. There's an active and always
helpful community of ASR-X users willing to
assist.
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Site
Updates & News: ASRXCITE
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March
31, 2001 ~ Welcome to the 'new'
ASRXCITE
- previously hosted at JDLX-Musique.com. Regular
visitors will notice few changes - aside from the
obvious - and new visitors should feel free to make
use of the resources available both through this
site and the ASR-X list at Yahoo!
Groups.
E-mu/Ensoniq
issued the following press
release
announcing EOS v4.6 for the Ultra series of
samplers. Of particular note to Ensoniq users,
ASR-X included, is the following line
item:
"Import
of Ensoniq ASR-10, ASR-X and EPS samples and banks
from HD and CD-ROM and floppies"
Assuming
the file translation capability lives up to
expectations it would appear E-mu has offered a
viable upgrade path for Ensoniq users who don't
want to forfeit their existing library. Good news
for us & them!
On a
related note, Chicken Systems continues to promote
Translator
"The Ultimate Sample Convertor!" Currently
available for Windows only - Chicken Systems
continues to state "A Mac version is planned and
under development, but does not have a release
date."
Here's
a news item finding its way around the mailing
list:
Nomad
Jukebox maker to cut 550 workers
By CNET News.com Staff
March 20, 2001, 12:20 p.m. PT
Creative
Technology, a top maker of sound cards for PCs,
will trim its worldwide head count by 10 percent.
The Singapore-based company will lay off about 550
workers. It currently employs about 5,500 people
worldwide, a Creative spokesman said.
In
addition to sounds cards, Creative makes products
such as the Nomad Jukebox digital audio player.
Other cost-cutting measures include closing
Creative's plant in Malvern, Pa., moving its
operations to Singapore, and "sharp cutbacks in
selected nonrevenue generating Internet
initiatives," according to a statement.
Recent
site updates include additions to the
Tips
& Tricks
page and Links
page.
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Site
Updates: Tips & Tricks
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November
8, 2000 ~ Out with the old, in with the new. No,
I'm not talking about the Election 2000 results!
I'm pleased to introduce a number of additions to
the ASR-X Tips & Tricks page through the
generosity of John Dougherty of Outside
Systems.
John
has decided to refocus the emphasis of the Outside
Systems web site and was gracious enough to offer
up his ASR-X related content for posting here at
JDLX-Musique.com. Check the Tips
& Tricks
page to read all about it.
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E-mu<>Ensoniq
News, Updates, & Gossip / Site
Updates
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October
16, 2000 ~ Here's the latest news, updates, &
gossip for the ASR-X and related E<>E
items.
Regarding
the rumored ASR-X Keyboard, reported here amongst
other sources, E-mu<>Ensoniq had this to
say:
"There
was no EMU-ENSONIQ official discussion of an ASR-X
Keyboard. That is a rumor. As a general rule, EMU
does not talk about any unreleased products. If
there is word of a new product, and it is 'in the
works' it is not true."
The
latest word on ASR-X Pro software, version
4:
"While
EMU-ENSONIQ would like to release ASR-X Pro 4.0
software, we do not have the resources to complete
the software at this time. Once we are able to
complete the software, it will become available on
our website for download. There is no date set for
release in the near future."
E-mu
issued a press
release
during the 109th AES Convention regarding the PARIS
Pro Digital Audio Workstation. PARIS Pro version
3.0 software was created by Intelligent
Devices, Inc.
- creators of the original Ensoniq PARIS software.
A new, PARIS specific web
site
has been launched by E-mu. The long standing
PARIS
Users
web site appears to still be active.
For
those who missed it, the MSRP on the
Ensoniq
ZR-76
and Ensoniq
ASR-X Pro,
respectively, were reduced. A new, base model ASR-X
Pro can be had for $999! Check
zZounds for more
prices.
E-mu<>Ensoniq
Japan
have a new, revised web site in place. Check it
out.
E<>E
now offer "The
Sounds of the ZR Expansion
ROM"
for the Proteus 2000, Xtreme Lead 1, and B-3
Modules. Perhaps the EXP-1 World and EXP-3 Urban
Dance sound sets will be integrated into future
E-mu products as well?!
SoUnDEnGiNe.com
has announced Eric
Montgomery's "Nothin' But Da
Drums"
Sample CD-ROM for the Ensoniq
ASR-X/X-Pro:
"'Nothin'
but Da Drums', which is shipping now, is a
fantastic collection of new material for ASR-X
owners. 23 kits of entirely new ASR-X material
layed out by Eric, from home grown kits and drum
emulations of famous workstations. There are
over 150 kicks and 150 snares alone!"
For
more information about this and other native ASR-X
sound banks available from SoUnDEnGiNe.com go
here.
Nice to see ongoing 3rd party support for the
ASR-X!
For
some excellent reading, check out Jeff McLeods
interview
with Scott Peer of SoUnDEnGiNe.com
at the FIZMO
User Group.
They discuss the history of the Ensoniq Fizmo,
SoundEngine, E-mu<>Ensoniq and more. Can't
say enough how much I enjoyed this article - good
stuff all the way around.
Site
updates are in place for the ASR-X Downloads
(corrected corrupted files), Links, and Tips &
Tricks sections. As always, my thanks to *all* who
contributed (directly or indirectly) for your time
and insightful know-how!
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Old
News
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