Ensoniq DP4

Steve Smith · 20th March 2003

e-cue made a refrence to one in the Digital Performer thread, and it got me thinking..

I havent used one in like 6 years, but I recall loving them.. anyone still using em? Why? Why Not?

e-cue · 21st March 2003

The DP4 + is the way to go. Much less noisey than the DP4 unit. Actually, I haven't used one in a while, mainly because I don't work anywhere that has one in the rack. Damn shame, cause I sure do miss the Crystal Tines and LS Studio GTR settings.

thethrillfactor · 21st March 2003

I am still using mine also(DP4+ and its still noisy).

I wish Ensoniq would release the "innards" of this thing.

I had Jim Williams of Audio Upgrades try but Ensoniq will just not budge.grudge

Bastards!!!

The thing has been discontinued for years and they still won't budge.

FOURTHTUNZ · 22nd March 2003

Jeez, I still love mine! bought it new in 91', I wish they had made it with digital I/o!
I'd like to get the plus one though, for the balanced i/o

peace
daniel

malice · 22nd March 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by thethrillfactor

I had Jim Williams of Audio Upgrades try but Ensoniq will just not budge.grudge

What is this upgrade ????

never heard

I have DP4, I love it. A little noisy but nice, and easy to use.

I thought the difference with both units were only some more algorythms ???

malice

Nutmeg II. · 22nd March 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by FOURTHTUNZ
Jeez, I still love mine! bought it new in 91', I wish they had made it with digital I/o!
I'd like to get the plus one though, for the balanced i/o
peace
daniel

The Ensoniq DP 2 had a digital i/o and balanced analog I/O.

FOURTHTUNZ · 23rd March 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Nutmeg II.
The Ensoniq DP 2 had a digital i/o and balanced analog I/O.

Yeah, but wasn't the digital i/o an option? I can't remember but I've been looking at those too

peace
daniel

vodka gimli · 4th April 2003

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but there's a guy (not me or anyone I know) on Harmony Central selling a DP4 for $275.00, which is about half of what I usually see them going for...

Steve Smith · 4th April 2003

I have seen about 4 or 5 DP4s go for around 300 on ebay in the last month.

XHipHop · 4th April 2003

So how does a DP2 compare to a DP4(+)? A shop near me has one on the shelf. Is it 1/2 a DP4 (just two engines rather than 4) or is it a totally different effects unit.

Thanks.

thethrillfactor · 4th April 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by XHipHop
So how does a DP2 compare to a DP4(+)? A shop near me has one on the shelf. Is it 1/2 a DP4 (just two engines rather than 4) or is it a totally different effects unit.

Thanks.

Totally different.

Better guts, half the "magic".

Steve Smith · 5th April 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Totally different.

Better guts, half the "magic".

Brilliantly put.

plexi · 6th April 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Totally different.

Better guts, half the "magic".

What exactly are the "magic" of the DP/4+ ?

Amund

Steve Smith · 6th April 2003

Well, for one, a DP4 is he eaisest way to get that "corprate" guitar sound ( think any Dann Huff tone, or TOTO ) I have found ( after the amp, I am not praising the overdrive in the unit.) and the time based effects in that unit rock. It just sounded right without too much tweaking.

thethrillfactor · 6th April 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve Smith
Well, for one, a DP4 is he eaisest way to get that "corprate" guitar sound ( think any Dann Huff tone, or TOTO ) I have found ( after the amp, I am not praising the overdrive in the unit.) and the time based effects in that unit rock. It just sounded right without too much tweaking.

I actually prefer the Korg A1 for that guitar sound(and a bunch of others).

The DP4+ is great for time based effects.

plexi · 6th April 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve Smith
Well, for one, a DP4 is he eaisest way to get that "corprate" guitar sound ( think any Dann Huff tone, or TOTO ) I have found ( after the amp, I am not praising the overdrive in the unit.) and the time based effects in that unit rock. It just sounded right without too much tweaking.

Cool, I may have to fire mine up and explore a little,as the KSP8 came in just a few days after I bought the Dp/4+, I never really gave it a chance......
I was thinking about selling it, to get the remote for the KSP........Hm

Amund

BrianT · 6th April 2003

FWIW, some of the DSP4 algos have been and are still being ported over to Paris, as the DSP chips are the same.

I've always really liked the sound of the DDLs and chorus in Paris. Ensoniq made some cool sounding stuff, and amazingly, Paris never seems to break, unlike the Ensoniq keyboards.

Regards,
Brian T

nd33 · 7th April 2003

I've got an Ensoniq ASRX sampler/sequencer which has many cool time based effects, does anyone know if these are similar to the ones on the DP4?
I've seen a second hand DP4 in a shop and was thinking of trying it but not if it's more of the same.

Peace

CarLofgren · 6th April 2011

I've had a DP/4 for ages and never used it apart from flipping through the presets and saying aha. Yesterday I got the yearly urge to reconnect my equipment and after browsing the web for a 90s lo-fi digital hardware compressor (yes, I'm buttered that way) I realized that I actually got four of them in the DP/4. After hard wiring it up to a drum machine and creating own chains of effects - I can only say wow.

It's so wonderfully inspiring to create chains of processors, in any order you like. My drum squasher yesterday was built up by the chain compressor-compressor-vcf distortion-compressor.

This thread mention noise, and oh my yes. After living in the digital domain for so long, you sure hear it, especially when using dynamic tools. Maybe I'm high on finding out the coolness of the DP/4 - but I don't mind the noise actually. It's not that much it takes over and it gives a bit of a dirty feeling to it.

ray_subsonic · 6th April 2011

Both an ASR 10 Rack and a DP-4 here. I still use them for FX often.

Amp Sims/Distortion/Phaser/Wood Room/Plate .. Lots of Cool Tricks in there which makes them 12 Trick Ponies to me. The ADDA also has a unique sound ..

FOURTHTUNZ · 6th April 2011

Haven't used my Paris system or my dp-4 lately but I still love my ZR_76!
Now you guys have me wanting to put my dp-4 back in my rack!
I moved and haven't wired it in yet!
Peace

Benmrx · 3rd July 2011

I just picked up a DP/4 today...., and I gotta say it's pretty ****ing rad. I also snagged a PCM41 a week or two ago.........., notice the pattern? FWIW, I don't think the noise is all that bad. I just had to say something, and I figured this was better than starting a new thread.

razo · 10th April 2012

Has anybody modded these units for digital I/O?

Jack Luminous · 10th April 2012

I think the converters contribute significantly in the grainy/mojo tone of the box. I don't think a digital input would "add" anything valuable to the thing...

20th March 2003	#1
Steve Smith Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,384 Thread Starter	Ensoniq DP4 e-cue made a refrence to one in the Digital Performer thread, and it got me thinking.. I havent used one in like 6 years, but I recall loving them.. anyone still using em? Why? Why Not? __________________ Steve Smith - Unorignal, yet commonplace.

4th April 2003	#10
XHipHop Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 3,856	So how does a DP2 compare to a DP4(+)? A shop near me has one on the shelf. Is it 1/2 a DP4 (just two engines rather than 4) or is it a totally different effects unit. Thanks. __________________ XHipHop.com is back! Looking for guest posts!

3rd July 2011	#22
Benmrx Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,300	I just picked up a DP/4 today...., and I gotta say it's pretty ****ing rad. I also snagged a PCM41 a week or two ago.........., notice the pattern? FWIW, I don't think the noise is all that bad. I just had to say something, and I figured this was better than starting a new thread. __________________ www.mysteriousredx.com "Sorry man I played guitar instead of going to school." -- James Lugo

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21st March 2003	#2
e-cue Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 4,069	The DP4 + is the way to go. Much less noisey than the DP4 unit. Actually, I haven't used one in a while, mainly because I don't work anywhere that has one in the rack. Damn shame, cause I sure do miss the Crystal Tines and LS Studio GTR settings.

21st March 2003	#3
thethrillfactor Gear Guru Joined: Jun 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 14,177	I am still using mine also(DP4+ and its still noisy). I wish Ensoniq would release the "innards" of this thing. I had Jim Williams of Audio Upgrades try but Ensoniq will just not budge.grudge Bastards!!! The thing has been discontinued for years and they still won't budge.

22nd March 2003	#4
FOURTHTUNZ Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: MAINE Posts: 786	Jeez, I still love mine! bought it new in 91', I wish they had made it with digital I/o! I'd like to get the plus one though, for the balanced i/o peace daniel

4th April 2003	#8
vodka gimli Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 593	Sorry to bring back an old thread, but there's a guy (not me or anyone I know) on Harmony Central selling a DP4 for $275.00, which is about half of what I usually see them going for...

6th April 2003	#14
Steve Smith Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,384 Thread Starter	Well, for one, a DP4 is he eaisest way to get that "corprate" guitar sound ( think any Dann Huff tone, or TOTO ) I have found ( after the amp, I am not praising the overdrive in the unit.) and the time based effects in that unit rock. It just sounded right without too much tweaking.

6th April 2003	#17
BrianT Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,816	FWIW, some of the DSP4 algos have been and are still being ported over to Paris, as the DSP chips are the same. I've always really liked the sound of the DDLs and chorus in Paris. Ensoniq made some cool sounding stuff, and amazingly, Paris never seems to break, unlike the Ensoniq keyboards. Regards, Brian T

7th April 2003	#18
nd33 Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 287	I've got an Ensoniq ASRX sampler/sequencer which has many cool time based effects, does anyone know if these are similar to the ones on the DP4? I've seen a second hand DP4 in a shop and was thinking of trying it but not if it's more of the same. Peace

6th April 2011	#19
CarLofgren Old-school sampler addict Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 71	I've had a DP/4 for ages and never used it apart from flipping through the presets and saying aha. Yesterday I got the yearly urge to reconnect my equipment and after browsing the web for a 90s lo-fi digital hardware compressor (yes, I'm buttered that way) I realized that I actually got four of them in the DP/4. After hard wiring it up to a drum machine and creating own chains of effects - I can only say wow. It's so wonderfully inspiring to create chains of processors, in any order you like. My drum squasher yesterday was built up by the chain compressor-compressor-vcf distortion-compressor. This thread mention noise, and oh my yes. After living in the digital domain for so long, you sure hear it, especially when using dynamic tools. Maybe I'm high on finding out the coolness of the DP/4 - but I don't mind the noise actually. It's not that much it takes over and it gives a bit of a dirty feeling to it.

6th April 2011	#20
ray_subsonic Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,630	Both an ASR 10 Rack and a DP-4 here. I still use them for FX often. Amp Sims/Distortion/Phaser/Wood Room/Plate .. Lots of Cool Tricks in there which makes them 12 Trick Ponies to me. The ADDA also has a unique sound ..

10th April 2012	#23
razo Gear interested Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 9	Has anybody modded these units for digital I/O?

10th April 2012	#24
Jack Luminous Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 293	I think the converters contribute significantly in the grainy/mojo tone of the box. I don't think a digital input would "add" anything valuable to the thing...