Difference between revisions of "Ensoniq"

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Ensoniq was a popular electronic musical instrument and sound processor  company that produced sound cards during the 1990s. Their cards competed against Creative Labs' offerings. At the end of the decade they were suffering financially and were purchased by Creative and merged with the E-mu subsidiary.
 +
 
==Cards==
 
==Cards==
 
===Soundscape S-2000===
 
===Soundscape S-2000===
−
[[File:Soundscape s2000.jpg|thumb|Soundscape S-2000]]
+
Based upon the OttoR2/Sequoia/MC68EC000 chipset and an AD1848KP DAC/ADC, the Soundscape S-2000 was a high-quality wavetable sound card in 1994. It has clean, quality output, especially noticeable when compared to Creative Labs' ISA cards. There is no MIDI effects processor but the samples have reverb/chorus pre-computed.
−
Based upon the Otto and Sequoia MIDI chipset and an Analog Devices AD1848KP DAC/ADC, the Soundscape S-2000 was a high quality wavetable sound card in 1994.   
+
 
 +
I/O ports are configured by jumpers. DMA, IRQ, SB emulation and some other settings are software configurable.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%;"
 +
! Doom E1M1
 +
! Dark Forces
 +
|-
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape - Doom E1M1.mp3</flashmp3>
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape - Dark Forces.mp3</flashmp3>
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Soundscape DB===
 +
This is a Waveblaster-compatible daughtercard with the Otto/Sequoia/MC68EC000 chipset on board with 1 or 2MB ROM.  Again there is no effects processor but the samples have pre-computed effects.
  
−
*Hardware-based MPU-401 support for great General MIDI compatibility
 
−
*16-bit 48 kHz PCM output when used in native Soundscape mode
 
−
*2 megabyte compressed sample ROM
 
−
*83db SNR
 
−
*Panasonic, Sony and Mitsumi CD-ROM interfaces
 
−
*Motorola 68k microcontroller removes need for drivers/TSRs.
 
−
*Sound Blaster 2.0, Adlib and WSS support
 
−
*OPL2 emulation (poor translation to MIDI synth)
 
−
*MT-32 emulation (poor)
 
  
 
===Soundscape PnP / OPUS ===
 
===Soundscape PnP / OPUS ===
−
[[File:SoundscapeOpus.jpg|thumb|Soundscape OPUS]]
+
This is an OEM-only cost-reduced product with similar specifications to the S-2000. It uses the AD1845JP and a MIDI chipset consisting of Cow and Opus. It has compatibility problems with some DOS games because of the use of I/O addresses not used by S-2000 (games don't always support them). Again there is no effects processor but the samples have pre-computed effects.  
−
This card is an OEM cost-reduced product with similar specifications to the S-2000 but with some changes. It uses the Analog Devices AD1848JP and an all-in-one MIDI chip called OPUS. It has some compatibility problems with games because of the use of I/O ports atypical for the S-2000 (games don't always support them).
+
  
−
*1 megabyte compressed sample ROM
+
Hardware settings are configured by PnP and by the SSINIT program.
−
*Plug'n'play support
+
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%;"
 +
! Doom E1M1
 +
! Dark Forces
 +
|-
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape Opus - Doom E1M1.mp3</flashmp3>
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape Opus - Dark Forces.mp3</flashmp3>
 +
|}
  
 
===Soundscape Elite===
 
===Soundscape Elite===
−
[[File:Soundscape elite.jpg|thumb|Soundscape Elite]]
+
This is a revision of the S-2000 board. The Elite model includes an effects DSP daughtercard, called the "ESP", that is fully programmable by a Windows application and by sysex commands. The patch set is revised and has notably stronger percussion samples. The Elite was released in 1995. 
−
Essentially revision 2 of the S-2000, but with the addition of an effects DSP daughtercard and a revised sample ROM. Based upon the Otto and Sequoia MIDI chipset and an Analog Devices AD1848KP DAC/ADC. Released in 1995.
+
 
 +
I/O ports are again configured by jumpers. DMA, IRQ, SB emulation and some other settings are software configurable. PnP is not supported.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%;"
 +
! Doom E1M1
 +
! Dark Forces
 +
|-
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape Elite - Doom E1M1.mp3</flashmp3>
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape Elite - Dark Forces.mp3</flashmp3>
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%;"
 +
! Dark Forces (FM emulation)
 +
|-
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape Elite - Dark Forces (FM).mp3</flashmp3>
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Soundscape II===
 +
The Elite without the ESP daughtercard and possibly a different patch set.
  
−
*Hardware-based MPU-401 support for great General MIDI compatibility
 
−
*Programmable ESP daughtercard (effects processor)
 
−
*16-bit 48 kHz PCM output when used in native Soundscape mode
 
−
*2 megabyte compressed sample ROM
 
−
*83db SNR
 
−
*IDE, Panasonic, Sony and Mitsumi CD-ROM interfaces
 
−
*Motorola 68k microcontroller removes need for drivers/TSRs.
 
−
*Sound Blaster 2.0, Adlib and WSS support
 
−
*OPL2 emulation (poor translation to MIDI synth)
 
−
*MT-32 emulation (poor)
 
  
 
===Soundscape VIVO 90===
 
===Soundscape VIVO 90===
−
[[File:Soundscape vivo mark5.jpg|thumb|Soundscape VIVO 90]]
+
This card uses the Mark 5 / OttoR2 MIDI chipset and an AD1845JP DAC/ADC. This card replaced the Opus card as an OEM favorite and was available at retail. Aside from the disappointing 1MB patch set, the card is the first to require EMM386 for DOS support, creating problems for some old games that conflict with EMM386.  Settings are configured by PnP and by the SSINIT program.
−
This card became the OEM favorite, replacing the OPUS card. It also was available at retail. It is less capable and less flexible than the large Soundscape boards based on Otto and Sequoia. It uses a chip named Mark 5.
+
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%;"
 +
! Doom E1M1
 +
! Dark Forces
 +
|-
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape Vivo90 - Doom E1M1.mp3</flashmp3>
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">Soundscape Vivo90 - Dark Forces.mp3</flashmp3>
 +
|}
  
−
*Requires EMM386.exe be loaded for DOS support
 
−
*1 megabyte sample ROM
 
−
*90db SNR
 
  
 
===AudioPCI===
 
===AudioPCI===
−
[[File:Audiopci.jpg|thumb|AudioPCI]]
+
The final sound card from Ensoniq is a very cost-reduced PCI card that is almost entirely host-driven (software-based).  MIDI is a soft-synth in both Windows and DOS and has limitations that make it impossible to produce a patch set that rivals the older cards with 2 megabyte ROMs.  
−
The sound card from Ensoniq is a very cost-reduced PCI card that is almost entirely host-driven (software-based).  MIDI is a softsynth in both Windows and DOS and has limitations that make it impossible to produce a patch set that rivals the older cards with 2 megabyte ROMs. It has very poor FM synthesis (OPL3) emulation that actually runs through the MIDI synth.  
+
  
−
In Windows 9x it has rudimentary DirectSound3D 4-speaker support and minimal A3D/EAX emulation.
+
When Creative purchased Ensoniq, a driver update was released renaming the card to Sound Blaster PCI 64. This also added some new features. In Windows 9x it has rudimentary DirectSound3D 4-speaker support and minimal A3D/EAX emulation.
  
−
When Creative purchased Ensoniq, a driver update was released renaming the card to Sound Blaster PCI 64. This also added some new features.
+
The ES1370 is not AC97 compatible and is actually natively 44.1 kHz. 48 kHz playback plays with a higher-than-normal pitch. Apparently the chip lacks sample rate conversion.
  
−
*2-8 megabyte patch sets
+
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%;"
−
*host-based MIDI effects in Windows 9x
+
! 8MB / Doom E1M1
−
*90db SNR
+
! 8MB / Dark Forces
−
*Sound Blaster Pro 2.0, Adlib, FM synthesis, WSS and Soundscape DOS support
+
|-
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">AudioPCI - Doom (8MB).mp3</flashmp3>
 +
| <flashmp3 id="1">AudioPCI - Dark Forces (8MB).mp3</flashmp3>
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:Soundscape s2000.jpg|Soundscape S-2000
 +
File:SoundscapeOpus.jpg|Soundscape OPUS
 +
File:Soundscape elite.jpg|Soundscape Elite
 +
File:Soundscape vivo mark5.jpg|Soundscape VIVO 90
 +
File:Audiopci.jpg|AudioPCI
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==Elite FX Toolkit==
 +
Windows 3.x application that allows the user to control the ESP effects processor. Works on Windows 9x as well.
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 08.png
 +
File:Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 03.png
 +
File:Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 04.png
 +
File:Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 05.png
 +
File:Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 06.png
 +
File:Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 07.png
 +
File:Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 01.png
 +
File:Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 02.png
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Comparison table==
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
 +
|-
 +
! Name
 +
! Model
 +
! Release Date
 +
! Bus
 +
! Chipset
 +
! PCM
 +
! MPU-401
 +
! Patch Set
 +
! EMM386 req'd
 +
! Standards
 +
! SNR
 +
! I/O
 +
! CD Interface
 +
! OS Support
 +
! Notes
 +
|-
 +
| Soundscape S-2000
 +
| S2016
 +
| 1994
 +
| ISA
 +
| OttoR2B, Sequoia, MC68EC000, AD1848KP
 +
| 16-bit 48 kHz
 +
| hardware
 +
| 1, 2 MB
 +
| No
 +
| SB 2.0, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS
 +
| 83db
 +
| aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI
 +
| Panasonic, Sony, Mitsumi
 +
| DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4, OS/2
 +
| CD interfaces optional. OEM models may have 1MB ROM.
 +
|-
 +
| Soundscape DB
 +
| SSDB
 +
| 1994
 +
| -
 +
| OttoR2, Sequoia, MC68EC000
 +
| 16-bit 48 kHz
 +
| hardware
 +
| 1, 2 MB
 +
| No
 +
| General MIDI
 +
|
 +
| waveblaster port
 +
| -
 +
| -
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Soundscape OPUS
 +
| S3016
 +
| 1995
 +
| ISA
 +
| Opus, Cow, MC68EC000, AD1845JP
 +
| 16-bit 48 kHz
 +
| hardware
 +
| 1 MB
 +
| No
 +
| SB 2.0, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS
 +
|
 +
| aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI
 +
| -
 +
| DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4, OS/2
 +
| PnP
 +
|-
 +
| Soundscape Elite
 +
| S2016-II
 +
| 1995
 +
| ISA
 +
| OttoR2C, Sequoia, MC68EC000, AD1848KP
 +
| 16-bit 48 kHz
 +
| hardware
 +
| 2 MB
 +
| No
 +
| SB 2.0, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS
 +
| 83db
 +
| aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI
 +
| IDE, Panasonic, Sony, Mitsumi
 +
| DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4, OS/2
 +
| effects processor daughtercard. New 2MB ROM.
 +
|-
 +
| Soundscape II
 +
| S2016-II
 +
| 1995
 +
| ISA
 +
| OttoR2, Sequoia, MC68EC000, AD1848KP
 +
| 16-bit 48 kHz
 +
| hardware
 +
| 2 MB
 +
| No
 +
| SB 2.0, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS
 +
| 83db
 +
| aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI
 +
| IDE, Panasonic, Sony, Mitsumi
 +
| DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4, OS/2
 +
| Elite minus ESP
 +
|-
 +
| Soundscape VIVO 90
 +
| VIVO-90DB
 +
| 1996
 +
| ISA
 +
| Mark 5, OttoR2C, AD1845JP
 +
| 16-bit 48 kHz
 +
| software
 +
| 1 MB
 +
| Yes
 +
| SB Pro 2, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS
 +
| 90db
 +
| aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI
 +
| -
 +
| DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4
 +
| PnP
 +
|-
 +
| AudioPCI 3000
 +
|
 +
| 1997
 +
| PCI
 +
| ES1370, AK4531
 +
| 16-bit 48 kHz
 +
| software
 +
| 2, 4, 8 MB
 +
| Yes
 +
| SB Pro 2, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS, Soundscape
 +
| 90db
 +
| aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI
 +
| -
 +
| DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4-6
 +
| MIDI FX in W9x. DS3D 2/4-speaker, EAX and A3D with SBPCI64 driver.
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
==Related links==
 
==Related links==
 
*[http://web.archive.org/web/19970607101326/http://www.ensoniq.com/html/multimedia_products.htm Ensoniq within Internet Archive]
 
*[http://web.archive.org/web/19970607101326/http://www.ensoniq.com/html/multimedia_products.htm Ensoniq within Internet Archive]
 +
*[http://johnengelmann.net/technology/ecw/ AudioPCI .ecw patch set information]
 +
 +
[[Category:Hardware]]
 +
[[Category:Sound Cards]]

Latest revision as of 07:38, 12 March 2013

Ensoniq was a popular electronic musical instrument and sound processor company that produced sound cards during the 1990s. Their cards competed against Creative Labs' offerings. At the end of the decade they were suffering financially and were purchased by Creative and merged with the E-mu subsidiary.

Cards

Soundscape S-2000

Based upon the OttoR2/Sequoia/MC68EC000 chipset and an AD1848KP DAC/ADC, the Soundscape S-2000 was a high-quality wavetable sound card in 1994. It has clean, quality output, especially noticeable when compared to Creative Labs' ISA cards. There is no MIDI effects processor but the samples have reverb/chorus pre-computed.

I/O ports are configured by jumpers. DMA, IRQ, SB emulation and some other settings are software configurable.

Doom E1M1 Dark Forces


Soundscape DB

This is a Waveblaster-compatible daughtercard with the Otto/Sequoia/MC68EC000 chipset on board with 1 or 2MB ROM. Again there is no effects processor but the samples have pre-computed effects.


Soundscape PnP / OPUS

This is an OEM-only cost-reduced product with similar specifications to the S-2000. It uses the AD1845JP and a MIDI chipset consisting of Cow and Opus. It has compatibility problems with some DOS games because of the use of I/O addresses not used by S-2000 (games don't always support them). Again there is no effects processor but the samples have pre-computed effects.

Hardware settings are configured by PnP and by the SSINIT program.

Doom E1M1 Dark Forces

Soundscape Elite

This is a revision of the S-2000 board. The Elite model includes an effects DSP daughtercard, called the "ESP", that is fully programmable by a Windows application and by sysex commands. The patch set is revised and has notably stronger percussion samples. The Elite was released in 1995.

I/O ports are again configured by jumpers. DMA, IRQ, SB emulation and some other settings are software configurable. PnP is not supported.

Doom E1M1 Dark Forces
Dark Forces (FM emulation)

Soundscape II

The Elite without the ESP daughtercard and possibly a different patch set.


Soundscape VIVO 90

This card uses the Mark 5 / OttoR2 MIDI chipset and an AD1845JP DAC/ADC. This card replaced the Opus card as an OEM favorite and was available at retail. Aside from the disappointing 1MB patch set, the card is the first to require EMM386 for DOS support, creating problems for some old games that conflict with EMM386. Settings are configured by PnP and by the SSINIT program.

Doom E1M1 Dark Forces


AudioPCI

The final sound card from Ensoniq is a very cost-reduced PCI card that is almost entirely host-driven (software-based). MIDI is a soft-synth in both Windows and DOS and has limitations that make it impossible to produce a patch set that rivals the older cards with 2 megabyte ROMs.

When Creative purchased Ensoniq, a driver update was released renaming the card to Sound Blaster PCI 64. This also added some new features. In Windows 9x it has rudimentary DirectSound3D 4-speaker support and minimal A3D/EAX emulation.

The ES1370 is not AC97 compatible and is actually natively 44.1 kHz. 48 kHz playback plays with a higher-than-normal pitch. Apparently the chip lacks sample rate conversion.

8MB / Doom E1M1 8MB / Dark Forces


  • Soundscape S-2000

  • Soundscape OPUS

  • Soundscape Elite

  • Soundscape VIVO 90

  • AudioPCI

Elite FX Toolkit

Windows 3.x application that allows the user to control the ESP effects processor. Works on Windows 9x as well.

  • Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 08.png
  • Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 03.png
  • Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 04.png
  • Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 05.png
  • Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 06.png
  • Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 07.png
  • Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 01.png
  • Ensoniq elite fx toolkit 02.png


Comparison table

Name Model Release Date Bus Chipset PCM MPU-401 Patch Set EMM386 req'd Standards SNR I/O CD Interface OS Support Notes
Soundscape S-2000 S2016 1994 ISA OttoR2B, Sequoia, MC68EC000, AD1848KP 16-bit 48 kHz hardware 1, 2 MB No SB 2.0, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS 83db aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI Panasonic, Sony, Mitsumi DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4, OS/2 CD interfaces optional. OEM models may have 1MB ROM.
Soundscape DB SSDB 1994 - OttoR2, Sequoia, MC68EC000 16-bit 48 kHz hardware 1, 2 MB No General MIDI waveblaster port - -
Soundscape OPUS S3016 1995 ISA Opus, Cow, MC68EC000, AD1845JP 16-bit 48 kHz hardware 1 MB No SB 2.0, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI - DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4, OS/2 PnP
Soundscape Elite S2016-II 1995 ISA OttoR2C, Sequoia, MC68EC000, AD1848KP 16-bit 48 kHz hardware 2 MB No SB 2.0, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS 83db aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI IDE, Panasonic, Sony, Mitsumi DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4, OS/2 effects processor daughtercard. New 2MB ROM.
Soundscape II S2016-II 1995 ISA OttoR2, Sequoia, MC68EC000, AD1848KP 16-bit 48 kHz hardware 2 MB No SB 2.0, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS 83db aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI IDE, Panasonic, Sony, Mitsumi DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4, OS/2 Elite minus ESP
Soundscape VIVO 90 VIVO-90DB 1996 ISA Mark 5, OttoR2C, AD1845JP 16-bit 48 kHz software 1 MB Yes SB Pro 2, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS 90db aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI - DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4 PnP
AudioPCI 3000 1997 PCI ES1370, AK4531 16-bit 48 kHz software 2, 4, 8 MB Yes SB Pro 2, Adlib, MT-32, General MIDI, WSS, Soundscape 90db aux-in, line-in/mic, line-out, gameport/MIDI - DOS, W3.x, W9x, NT4-6 MIDI FX in W9x. DS3D 2/4-speaker, EAX and A3D with SBPCI64 driver.

Related links

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