Ensoniq ASR-10 help, for ASRonians.

Eponim wrote:Hi guys,
I would to know how can you have on the ASR10 each pad (or note) which mute all the others when you sequence it through an MPC. I my case, all chops are on note off (mpc style) with full velocity.
Is it possible to have all chops played normaly (full lenght) with 1 chop which can mute all the others in full velocity sequenced by the MPC or with the good MPC velocity?

Any help is welcome!

So, nobody to help me about this case?

I've another question for you guys:

I've the ASR10-R version, so I don't have a modwheel on it. My Mpc2500 sequence the ASR, so I would to know if it's possible to take an Mpc slider to act like the ASR modwheel with midi?
Or how can I've the modwheel thing on the ASR10-R? midi keyboard? other?

Thanks for your help !!!!

yo eponim

u can do all that

chops

velocities

mod wheel

i have the asr-10R sequenced by MPC 2500 and midi keyboard all connected together and i can play pads or keys use mod wheel all that stuff

i'll make u a vid later tonite

Hi Tonyscarbones,

Thanks for your answer, so if I've well undertood you're post, to have the mod wheel working, I must use a midi keyboard hooked on the mpc 2500/ASR.

I'm waiting for your vid either you can PM me to tell me what are the correct settings. I'd look on the net, on the manual and turned some params on/off on the ASr, but can't figure out how you can achieve this.

Thanks for your help !!!!

quick question: what's up with the different screens that are in asr-10s? someone asked before me, but it wasn't directly answered as far as i can tell
i'd like to know which are the screens to avoid, what other things to look out for
thanks

I believe the later/ last machines (1997/ 1998) have the blue/ purple screen while the older machines have the standard 'whatever its called' display. Lol. By definition a newer machine should have a longer shelf life. I dont think the newer blue/ purple screens are backwards compatible to the older models, at least thats what I recall diggin up when looking into it.

I've noticed that prices on ASR-10 KB's are sinking like a stone, currently in the downward part of the demand cycle. Good investment if you have the space and some patience. Already a classic piece, but still a fair supply out there. Demand for ASR-10 racks appears to be climbing...

clint246clint wrote:I've noticed that prices on ASR-10 KB's are sinking like a stone, currently in the downward part of the demand cycle. Good investment if you have the space and some patience. Already a classic piece, but still a fair supply out there. Demand for ASR-10 racks appears to be climbing...

Word...I've been wanting an ASR rack for a minute, but if keyboards get cheap then I will snatch one up. Love sampling into an ASR.......just adds that layer of UGHH

The original screens are VFDs
Their MTBF should be shorter than LCDs in last asrs .....
But look at the mpc2k for proof of those dying faster.... so who knows.

I find VFDs are easier on the eyes.... and usually have wider viewing angles

clint246clint wrote:I believe the later/ last machines (1997/ 1998) have the blue/ purple screen while the older machines have the standard 'whatever its called' display. Lol. By definition a newer machine should have a longer shelf life. I dont think the newer blue/ purple screens are backwards compatible to the older models, at least thats what I recall diggin up when looking into it.

I've noticed that prices on ASR-10 KB's are sinking like a stone, currently in the downward part of the demand cycle. Good investment if you have the space and some patience. Already a classic piece, but still a fair supply out there. Demand for ASR-10 racks appears to be climbing...

thanks for the answers

i'm looking at one with an "classic ensoniq lcd screen with green luminescent letters", so i guess that's the top one in the video. but he does say 'lcd'.. hmm... where have you read/heard about the different mtbfs?
scsi, zip, cd, dozens of floppies, cds and zips, os 3.53, waveboy disks (kinda confused on that one.. an effect on a disk?), still gotta ask about memory

i've been interested in an asr-88 for a while, but asrs rarely show up round here, so i'm really considering this one. i don't think 88 keys is that much more useful than 61, plus i don't really like weighted keys

clint, you're noticing sinking prices, what was the rip off point when they were in demand? where do you think the price will end? i'm pretty interested in the one that's up now, but i also have patience...

i've not really come across major problems ageing asr's develop (apart from the screens, but that's still vague to me now), so if i cop a mint one, can i expect a few years without problems?

People just say LCD, if they don't have VFD in their vernacular.
In other words forget if some calls it an LCD, if it's the original version, it has a VFD.

re: reliability

First of all the PSUs need recapping, an ensoniq tech told me they're good for 10yrs max (they used 85 degree caps)
[Applies to the older models... LCD models should be ok for another few yrs]

Here are the specifics (I could be wrong, check for yourself):

16v 4700uf, 85c (black) radial (x6)
35v 3300uf, 85c (brown) radial (x2)
25v 10uf, 85v black axial (x2)

Cheap RAM is the other big problem, and heat.

Haven't even addressed these myself, but will defo recap mine soon.

On the KBs there are other issues I don't know much about, clint might fill you in.

I read MTBFs probably from mouser, and data sheets etc..
It's common knowledge that VFDs & OLED don't last as long, check out the noritake VFD datasheets for specifics, thats is where I saw the shorter lifespan.

i've read a bit online about recapping the psu: am i right in thinking that its only necessary when the inputs start acting up?
ten capacitors, seems a relatively small procedure?

hmm yeah, good thing it's clear that it's the vfd version.. they seem to be no longer made, so i'm not going to offer his asking price at all..

If the unit wasn't used quite alot, I wouldn't worry about the VFD.
The old caps drying up can affect alot of things, inc. overheating & lockups.

In one synth I recapped, the originals in the PSu where leaking, which can be a mess..
By right stuff should be recapped before then, and before things blow/short out......
In practice I wouldn't loose sleep over it though, but it's alot easier to recap stuff each time you get a new vintage piece of gear.... than building up a collection, and having to worry about how the hell you're going to get around to recapping it all in one go or two. which is what I'm faced with.

It's not difficult to do, get some soldering practice, watch some yt vids on basic soldering.
Leave the gear unplugged for a few days & the caps should discharge via a bleeder resistor.
But be careful all the same to not to short out the pins with your hand.. although it prob won't kill you.

Also check some vids showing how to discharge caps with a screwdriver....you should do that on the old ones after taking them out, before disposing of them.

hmm.. that doesn't sound like a job for me, at least not now
it's been ten years i soldered, i'm probably going to mod my hammond (t 522), which i reckon is more tolerable of shoddy soldering skills, maybe after that i could do something like recapping an asr.
in any case, i know the owner of the local keyboard store, they should be able to do it for a good price. cool dude, he designed and built an electronic organ when he was 17, in the early sixties

i don't think it's been used a lot, no scratches and perfect condiction..

AntonPD wrote:
clint, you're noticing sinking prices, what was the rip off point when they were in demand? where do you think the price will end? i'm pretty interested in the one that's up now, but i also have patience...

Well I'm in the UK (London) not sure where you are???

But when I first wanted an ASR-10 KB about 2009/10 there were two problems. Firstly they hardly ever came up for sale on eBay or elsewhere. And when they did, a machine with SCSI would easily fetch £600. This past year I've seen more ASR-10's for sale here than ever, even with SCSI £300 or so is all it takes. Because of the amount of space required, savvy buyers are opting for the rack version nowadays so the keyboards are harder to shift. I wouldnt recommend buying one without SCSI which is why they can be had for £150-200.

As soon as the next hot producer comes out as an ASR-10 user, expect values to increase to previous levels. It is after all one of the best 16 bit samplers of the 'golden era' (1990-1995), and the sound quality is simply amazing...

im in western europe
it has the scsi, but also the older screen.. hmm... imma make a lowball offer

copped it

i checked that syntaur dudes site.. why is his stuff so expensive? (literally: what is the reason for it? is it that good?) 90-170 dollars for a cd no mp3 sample.. you can download four sounds though competition is at 70 dollars for three cd's
i guess he likes high prices, the manual is at 17 dollars

szr, that gearslutz link you posted some weeks ago: does out of stock in that company mean the reader isn't available anywhere?

also: (im a real dumbass with cf and sd..) could you explain that gearslutz post to me like i was retarded? no details necessary, jumpers etc i can understand, but not the reader, adapter, case, etc. i guess i'm confused about the terminology

i once picked up one of these in the thrift store for 2 bucks: http://www.siber-sonic.com/mac/Vintage/Nomai.html is there a way to determine if that can be used as a case? (nevermind if this doesn't make sense ) it looks like the actual drive can be taken out