Ensoniq developed their own proprietary 24 bit chips for this device and also used that chip in their synths. The sound quality was beyond any affordable EFX box at that time. I have four DP-4's in my studio, two of them I got as rewards from Ensoniq. Sales people were able to earn "Ensoniq points" for selling their products and later turn in those points for new Ensoniq gear. Quite the spiff !
There is something indescribable about the sound of Ensoniq stuff. Their early synths had crunchy 8-bit waves with analog filters and no fx, and then their later synths had much higher fidelity samples, dsp-based filtering and effects (which found their way into the DP series). Yet despite the different generations of tech in their instruments they all have an “Ensoniq sound” that you can hear. The sound is deep but not warm, bright but not harsh or metallic. Ensoniq stuff has an attitude-laden character that punches through a mix elegantly. Personally I have an SQ-80, DP/4 and SD-1. I proudly use them all a lot in modern techno and ambient music.
This shows once again that Ensoniq devices are underrated 😉 Two weeks ago I got a barn find (yes, a real find in a real barn). It was an Ensoniq ESQ-1 that was very dirty and with some coffee on some of the keys. I didn’t know much about it but but the seller agreed on 75€. It was said to be working but complaining about the battery. I didn’t test it in the barn. I bought a new battery and took the whole synth apart and gave it a thorough clean. It turned out to be in excellent cosmetic condition. Soldered a battery holder and put in the new Duracell battery. Fired it up and it powered on. Found the factory patches and downloaded them via MIDI. Everything works perfectly! It is very intuitive and easy to program. It sounds amazing so I’m very happy I bought it 😁
I miss my ESQ-1. It was a amazing synth in its time and it grew with me into a command center for multiple modules. Yes - so well thought out! I had mine maxed - maybe an SQ-80 would do the trick!!
This was one of the reasons I liked my ASR-10 sampler so much. The built-in effects were based on the DP/4 and you could access them from the audio inputs while you were using the sampler. I used it for all my vocal reverbs and delays in the early and mid 90s.
Good to know, I’ve just bought an asr10 & have been contemplating the dp/4 . Do you know how many of the effects are in the synth? Is it worth having both?
A beautiful machine. Pure, classic techno in a box. Big, fat, crunchy reverb tails that you WANT to hear. Massively versatile and a pleasure to program. A true classic.
Gorgeous processor. Ensoniq was smart to use knobs rather than buttons for editing. And having them be shiny metal was a nice touch. Reminds me of a 1970's stereo receiver. Great video, Espen!
Hello there, your music from Quake II was a huge inspiration for me when I was in my late teens soon to become a recording artist. I used to play the CD audio tracks a lot. thanks! I bought a cheap ensoniq DP4 a while ago with a little problem but didn't know how to fix it, had to return it. two years later I learned the skills and would probably have been able to do it. but can't find any dp4. now I got a DP2 with a more experienced tech, maybe I'll be lucky to be able to play one.
Thanks for featuring this wonderful FX processor. I have owned a DP/2 for over 20 years and really love delays, reverbs and distortion effects. Funny you mentioned the battery replacement hack job. I’m not that technical but I managed to replace the battery in mine even though it required some soldering 😂
I luv these units. And had been pricing them for a future purchase. When I saw the video title, I immediately thought... PRICES ARE GOING UP NOW. Guess I’ll have to sell something to offset its new price ranges. 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ Great Content. 👍🏾✌🏾
That is an amazing peice of gear! I'm a singer, and it's really cool when you show how you mix and process your vocals. I'd really like to see more of that in future videos.
Espen did some videos last year (and maybe the year before) where he shows how he records and processes his vocals. TH-cam doesn’t make it easy to browse videos (especially not on a phone or Fire TV Stick), but you may be able to find them.
Thanks! I have a video called "How to do 80s vocals where I go in-depth on how I record and mix vocals. Check out my playlist section to find it easy. :)
Another device that I used extensively in the 90's, a marvel of a machine with a spectacular sound. Fortunately I still have my ASR-10 which includes a DP-2, with virtually the same algorithms and effects, but not as versatile as the fantastic DP-4. Thanks for the video!
hello Espen, I love your channel, I'm also an owner of a DP4 not the plus version. Daft Punk used a lot the DP4 back in the days, especially for the Phaser "Phaser DDL" which sounds lush. I don't know about their usage of the vocoder but clearly it sounds close. I love this unit which has it's own thing, and I've tried when I didn't own one to emulate it, nothing compares. One thing which is interesting on it is to create landscapes sounds, you can assign a sine / noise generator that you can pitch however you want and use lfo on it and couple it with few other effects as large reverb in full wet + delays or chorus and you will get a dreamy sound of it.
I can see a rather good choice of albums on the wall: Construction Time Again - Depeche Mode - not their best in my opinion but still likeable A Secret Wish - Propaganda - possibly the best pop album ever Dare - Human League - the classic dancefloor filler, you can't go wrong with that Scritti Politti - Provision - alongiside ther previous album a masterpiece of intricate yet catchy pop funk production Well done Espen, your videos are always interesting and enjoyable
Interesting video. This unit reminds me somewhat of my Eventide H3000 that I got way back around 1990. Maybe, with a little bit of my Yamaha Rev 7 thrown in. Both units I still have today... Nice video and nicely explained details for this unit. Phil NYC Area...(Jersey Shore)
Fantastic video Espen!! I picked up an original DP/4 in 2010 for $200 USD. Worth every penny! Extremely versatile and sounds great. Very well made too. I believe that Ensoniq touted them as being on par with Lexicon when they released them and reviews seemed to agree. Speaking of Lexicon,I also have a PCM 60. It's pretty sweet too and has it's own sound character. As another commented, Ensoniq used in house designed proprietary DSP chips. I think they called them OTTO. And yes, they did use them in some of their synths. Or versions / revisions of OTTO. I know my TS12 and MR76 have an OTTO in them and I think my VFX SD does too. Also of note, Ensoniq used Philips 1541 DACs in their high end workstations and samplers. I know for a fact my TS12 has 4 of them and I'm pretty sure my MR76 does as well as my EPS16+ Rack. Audiophiles hold these DACs in very high regard. One of the few things I agree with an "audiophile " on. Speaking of which, I also have an MR Rack and a Mirage. I would love to run across a Fizmo at a good price. I really like Ensoniq and I hate they are gone. I think their samples of acoustic instruments are some of the best if not the best for their day. The electric piano presets on the TS12 sound very true to the emulations and very playable. Ok, I'm getting off the subject going down memory lane. ;-) Again, Great Job!!
Nice choice of the opening lines from ELO's Time album to demonstrate the vocoder effect at 15:48. I think Lynne was saying something quite true there.Truly an inspired record.
Cool track you used to demo some of the effects, Espen! The melody, chord progression and arrangement were perfect for that tune. I found myself listening more to it than to the changes you were making on the DP/4+! (Sorry about that - I’ll go check it out on Spotify now. 😉) The DP/4+ was certainly ahead of the other multi-effects boxes at the time, though. One friend of mine had an Alesis QuadraVerb GT, and one had a Digitech DSP-128+. Both were decent, but neither was meant to be a pro-level box like the DP/4+. Thanks for showing it off!
Thanks man! Yes, it was in many ways a groundbreaking "cheap" way of getting the Eventide H3000 for way less money back then. I wanted the H3000 too, but it was realtivly new to the market itself and cost more than I felt I could spend at the time.
unfortunately these are experiencing "retro pricing" I don't mind buying a bit of retro fx, I've got a couple of SPX90s and a Quadraverb but for the money Ensoniq DP/4s are going for these days I'd probably go for an Eventide H9.
@@tonelab I should really be selling those on commission. I get asked that all the time. They're from Gear4music. If you search for "19" rack" they pop up a little down the list. Quite cheap too, depending on where you want them sent. ;-)
Espen Kraft your reviews and insights are so enjoyable and interesting to watch Espen. Whilst i’m thinking about what music to work on, i like to chill out to your videos with a glass of something and get that music gear fix! So great mate !
The problem with having so much deeply programmable gear like this, is ergonomics. Ideally, you want it at eye or desk level, somewhere comfortable in front of you. But as more synths and rack modules accumulate around you, it becomes more and more impossible for everything to be where you'd like it at the same time. Editor/librarian programs running on the computer can help with this, but eventually, you always end up with some deep synth or module with endless programming potential down near the floor, up near the ceiling, its screen hidden by something other piece of gear that's in the way, etc. And let's not even get into how long it takes to get all of this wired without intermittent connections or line hum problems. This video about the DP/4 reminds me of this because mine is to the left of me, and a little further down toward the floor in my rack than I'd really like. I could put it somewhere better, but something else would have to get demoted to make room for it...
The way I use much of my gear is in a Chris Lord-Alge style, I never change the setup. This is set on this vocal chain and will never be adjusted. Apart from me making this video. I'd rather get another DP/4... ;-)
I’m glad you’ve finally done a piece of retro gear that wont cause the price to inflate........ cause they are already stupidly high!!😳😂. Nice effects unit but unfortunately unobtainable for most of us now, given it’s all just digital rom I’m surprised these haven’t been cloned ...enjoyed your run through of it though! Thanks Espen!
Espen Kraft I’ve always liked its follow up the Ensoniq DP pro, unfortunately after looking for a few years I’ve pretty much given up! Never seen one for sale so they are either to awesome to sell or not many were sold in first place I guess? I use an asr-x just for its effects processing as a substitute, & you can get them cheap so if you ever want to try some of the later versions of Ensoniq effects you may want to keep an eye out for one? ...Keep up the good work.
Always a pleasure..thanks Espen..Not sure if your familar with the Synthesizer Museum in Oakland, but I would love to go there, for a synth vacation, bucket list thing.. If your not familar with this place, your able to rent or reserve time and play any of the synths they have. Everything is plugged in to mixers so you can actually record some stuff. Be cool to walk out with some wave files created on some of the original synths, its quite a list.. Could spend a lifetime in there...
Daft punk did use the dp4 there is an article where alot of the equipment they used for the their first homework and the dp4 is mentioned they also used it for the phaser too
You know it's funny, I love Ensoniq samplers and keyboards, I own 5 of them! But the sound of the DP/4 has always came across very brash to me, something about it doesn't agree with my ears!
Does the TS10 / TS12 line from Ensoniq have a DP / 4 + installed as its effect processor??? Or is it not exactly the same? I have a TS10 and I will say that the effects part of it is incredible!
great unit, I've had so many ensoniqs self immolate though, the 4+ seems especially deathly. Any of their boxes or boards, by this point, replace the totality of their main PSU and any voltage regulators even slightly off spec imo.
I can’t afford a DP4+, but I have the processors in my ASR10R and in my ASRXpro. Both I use as effects processors. It’s even in the TS10, but there are no inputs for external gear. Thanks for making it more expensive. (Just kidding.)
So it seems I should have hung on to a lot of my gear when I moved studios. Threw into a skip a Waldorf Microwave an 808 and a DP4 along with a load of other analog gear. Oh well! :+)
From my experience, an emulation is always going to be worse (or much worse..) than the real thing. Doesn't matter if it's virtual synthesisers or effects or whatnot, it's never going to sound the same or most of the time even close to the original hardware.
I don't see why this would be the case here, given that the DP/4+ is a digital effects unit, i.e. it runs DSP algorithms on a microprocessor from the nineties. Ok, as long as the original sources of the software are not available and people have to approximate the effects by reverse engineering frequency and time responses there will be small differences, but otherwise...
Love what you're doing here! Working my way through your videos ... Q: 2:28 sounds really familiar but I can't place it. Put me out of my misery, please!
Usability is good on the DP/4+, and I think the front input helps in a smaller studio. I mentioned in another video that I prefer the Eventide these days and the Ensoniq doesn't get much use, but I think that's somewhat because I'm lazy and don't have it wired in to the mixing board. Essentially I use the X32 board as my sound interface, going 4x ADAT in and out from an RME RayDAT card. This gives me 32 in and out to the X32, and I can use any of the analog inputs/outputs and aux's on the X32 for running effects. Maybe too flexible since re-wiring for a project can take some thought. Oh, and don't use the Ensoniq for distortion effects... please? ;-)
Espen Kraft That was then... lots of retro effects are usable today, but distortion from the 90’s should be buried with the 90’s IMO. My REX50 is fine as a delay and even some reverb is cool, but Yamaha distortion on it sounds like nasty digital overload. Of course if you use it creatively it’s got an edge... Now that we’re on the topic, one technique I used was to run the synth through a guitar amp and wet mix that sound in as an effect. I bet a good amp sim could be something interesting to try...
Thank you once again for another great pedagogical video Espen! I really liked the sounds, and your tune. One thing that surprised me, as an old guitar player, was how good the blues lead gtr sounded, especially when considering that this is a piece of work from the early 90's. The distortion was quite spot on, dirty...just how we like it! On another note, I can't help but to notice those figurines you have in the background, do we perhaps have a closet anime lover here hmm? ;)
Yes, I've had lots of guitarists come by through the years (when I used this a lot in productions) and they often ended up using the DP/4 instead of their own guitar effects or amps. True story! As for the anime... you're quite right. I have a few on display in the studio and more on display elsewhere. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Wow that's really cool! That got me thinking....so it could potentially be used as a Guitar Talkbox/Vocoder as well I guess? (Versatile thing that is!) As for the anime...very interesting, that definitely piqued my interest! :-)
@@EspenKraft i watched it all = and you talk in the intro about the dp4 yet showing a dp4 plus so yes its not very clear that the dp4 has a vocoder aswell since it dont have xlr mic = i did found this info afterwards.thanks
Hi Espen thank you so much for another fantastic video on how to use vintage gear... do you think one day to make one on the prophet 2002 you have there? it would be a dream for me to finally understand how to use it to sample. cheers , you are the best
I had one of these (non +). I was able to get it for about $100 per channel a couple years ago, the + version seems to go for double. It sounded great but the UI was not so easy and I just didn't have the time so it often sat unused. I felt bad that it was being unused so I sold it. It is great in the right hands! This is an artifact (1992) of using DSP to emulate amps and speakers. ccrma.stanford.edu/~dattorro/DP4.htm
Their Paris recording system also has the same effect algorithms. After Emu dumped support for the old Ensoniq IP, the community was making some of these available as plugins for Paris. Wish they broke out to VST-land, but only Matt Craig's EQ (th-cam.com/video/aGrxEtMwGPA/w-d-xo.html) made it AFAIK. Darn it, Espen, now you make me want to cobble my old Paris recorder back together!
Ensoniq developed their own proprietary 24 bit chips for this device and also used that chip in their synths. The sound quality was beyond any affordable EFX box at that time. I have four DP-4's in my studio, two of them I got as rewards from Ensoniq. Sales people were able to earn "Ensoniq points" for selling their products and later turn in those points for new Ensoniq gear. Quite the spiff !
Cool story man!
There is something indescribable about the sound of Ensoniq stuff. Their early synths had crunchy 8-bit waves with analog filters and no fx, and then their later synths had much higher fidelity samples, dsp-based filtering and effects (which found their way into the DP series).
Yet despite the different generations of tech in their instruments they all have an “Ensoniq sound” that you can hear. The sound is deep but not warm, bright but not harsh or metallic. Ensoniq stuff has an attitude-laden character that punches through a mix elegantly.
Personally I have an SQ-80, DP/4 and SD-1. I proudly use them all a lot in modern techno and ambient music.
This shows once again that Ensoniq devices are underrated 😉
Two weeks ago I got a barn find (yes, a real find in a real barn). It was an Ensoniq ESQ-1 that was very dirty and with some coffee on some of the keys. I didn’t know much about it but but the seller agreed on 75€. It was said to be working but complaining about the battery. I didn’t test it in the barn.
I bought a new battery and took the whole synth apart and gave it a thorough clean. It turned out to be in excellent cosmetic condition. Soldered a battery holder and put in the new Duracell battery. Fired it up and it powered on. Found the factory patches and downloaded them via MIDI. Everything works perfectly! It is very intuitive and easy to program. It sounds amazing so I’m very happy I bought it 😁
That's fantastic glad you found this little gem!
Great find!
I miss my ESQ-1. It was a amazing synth in its time and it grew with me into a command center for multiple modules. Yes - so well thought out! I had mine maxed - maybe an SQ-80 would do the trick!!
This was one of the reasons I liked my ASR-10 sampler so much. The built-in effects were based on the DP/4 and you could access them from the audio inputs while you were using the sampler. I used it for all my vocal reverbs and delays in the early and mid 90s.
Same as the TS-12 massive Wave synth
Not based but they exactly the same discrete processors, ASR has two and DP has four of them
@Function Automat The verbs are still lush. I legit cannot find any software verb to compete with DP4 and its, not for lack of trying
@@toitoitoy yes but you can keep resampling those two processors!
Good to know, I’ve just bought an asr10 & have been contemplating the dp/4 . Do you know how many of the effects are in the synth? Is it worth having both?
A beautiful machine. Pure, classic techno in a box. Big, fat, crunchy reverb tails that you WANT to hear. Massively versatile and a pleasure to program. A true classic.
DP4+ are already hitting the $1000 mark, they were $250 2 years ago. Now is going to be even harder to score my 3rd unit. Damn!
Retro pricing sucks
I actually still have one of these in pristine condition!
Just acquired one. Being serviced now and cannot wait to use it with my ESQ1 and EPS16+ rack.:)
Espen, you ARE the 80's: but if you were an effect box, you'd be the DP/4+. Love this overview. Keep going!
Thanks! :)
:D
This is the real deal love the sound!!!
bought my ASR10 in the 90's but didn't get a DP4 until a couple of years ago - glad I did, as you demo'd - it's great!
Gorgeous processor. Ensoniq was smart to use knobs rather than buttons for editing. And having them be shiny metal was a nice touch. Reminds me of a 1970's stereo receiver. Great video, Espen!
Thanks Paul!
Ensoniq stuff is just fantastic ;-)
Company formed by people who designed the Commodore vic 20 and c64
@Bode Valentino any recommendations? Just finished maldelorian
You can never go wrong with an Ensoniq.
Great sounding video, Espen.
2:28 is synthlust 🤩
Ensoniq always had some x-factor to their stuff one way or the other. Often some quirk as well ;-)
I love the sound of these.. I had a TS-10 many years ago and loved the effects which I believe were a striped downed version of this.
I was in awe of this processor back in the day.
HAd one. Used it on all of the Quake games ive worked on. Sold it later. Stupid me.
Hello there, your music from Quake II was a huge inspiration for me when I was in my late teens soon to become a recording artist. I used to play the CD audio tracks a lot. thanks!
I bought a cheap ensoniq DP4 a while ago with a little problem but didn't know how to fix it, had to return it. two years later I learned the skills and would probably have been able to do it. but can't find any dp4. now I got a DP2 with a more experienced tech, maybe I'll be lucky to be able to play one.
Is that you, Trent? Roflz.
@@RunOfTheHind nope, that's Sonic Mayhem.
Thanks for featuring this wonderful FX processor. I have owned a DP/2 for over 20 years and really love delays, reverbs and distortion effects. Funny you mentioned the battery replacement hack job. I’m not that technical but I managed to replace the battery in mine even though it required some soldering 😂
Great unit. The phaser on this thing sounds really good too
Love this video, Espen! Thank you so much for your efforts. I love to see 70s-90s gear demos and overviews. Your songs are also fantastic!
Many thanks!
I love the reference to ELO - Time...
Yep, from what I recall the DP4 was pretty well regarded back in the day, and considered a bit of an undiscovered gem from those who had them...
I luv these units. And had been pricing them for a future purchase. When I saw the video title, I immediately thought... PRICES ARE GOING UP NOW. Guess I’ll have to sell something to offset its new price ranges. 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ Great Content. 👍🏾✌🏾
Just purchased one and am really excited to try it. My first hardware effects unit.
I still want one.
I have a DP/4 and DP/4+. Wonderful effects processors!
Probably one of the best effects unit! Got a DP/4 myself.
That is an amazing peice of gear! I'm a singer, and it's really cool when you show how you mix and process your vocals. I'd really like to see more of that in future videos.
Toast Angler +1
Espen did some videos last year (and maybe the year before) where he shows how he records and processes his vocals. TH-cam doesn’t make it easy to browse videos (especially not on a phone or Fire TV Stick), but you may be able to find them.
Thanks! I have a video called "How to do 80s vocals where I go in-depth on how I record and mix vocals. Check out my playlist section to find it easy. :)
Maybe it's easier to find through the playlist section I've organized?
The iconic voice effect for KI
Another device that I used extensively in the 90's, a marvel of a machine with a spectacular sound. Fortunately I still have my ASR-10 which includes a DP-2, with virtually the same algorithms and effects, but not as versatile as the fantastic DP-4. Thanks for the video!
They're great. Cheers! :D
hello Espen, I love your channel, I'm also an owner of a DP4 not the plus version. Daft Punk used a lot the DP4 back in the days, especially for the Phaser "Phaser DDL" which sounds lush. I don't know about their usage of the vocoder but clearly it sounds close. I love this unit which has it's own thing, and I've tried when I didn't own one to emulate it, nothing compares. One thing which is interesting on it is to create landscapes sounds, you can assign a sine / noise generator that you can pitch however you want and use lfo on it and couple it with few other effects as large reverb in full wet + delays or chorus and you will get a dreamy sound of it.
Thanks! It can definitely be used for abstract musique.
Amazing unit! I can't live without the Key Funk Phaze preset...
i am delighted to still own this amazing piece of kit.
The ASR-10 module changed my view of sound....massive. One could use it as a masterbuss and the sound got HUGE
A friend of mine used the dp4 as his main guitar pre amp, he,got,some,amazing sounds with that setup
Someone should re-make this box. I still use mine to this day because no software can compete with it in a number of areas.
Wow. Wetness is spectacular.
God dag, Espen! Thanks for displaying one of the finest moments in TIME: Prologue!
It's my favorite ELO album!
God dag, Espen...mine too...4ffr it is and surely on a very high position in my favo top ten albums of all TIMEs ;-}
Almost owned one of these back in the day. Great little unit.
Great video. Thank you Espen. I was looking so forward to this one. You rock man!
Thanks Johnny! :)
I can see a rather good choice of albums on the wall:
Construction Time Again - Depeche Mode - not their best in my opinion but still likeable
A Secret Wish - Propaganda - possibly the best pop album ever
Dare - Human League - the classic dancefloor filler, you can't go wrong with that
Scritti Politti - Provision - alongiside ther previous album a masterpiece of intricate yet catchy pop funk production
Well done Espen, your videos are always interesting and enjoyable
Thanks! Yes, I try to rotate what's up there from video to video. ;-)
Interesting video.
This unit reminds me somewhat of my Eventide H3000 that I got way back around 1990. Maybe, with a little bit of my Yamaha Rev 7 thrown in. Both units I still have today...
Nice video and nicely explained details for this unit.
Phil
NYC Area...(Jersey Shore)
Thanks! :D
Great device with great sound ! Thanks for the video
Cheers!
That song sounds like it could be a trance hit of today, the melody is quite nice.
:D
amazing unit and great video Espen!!
Thanks man! :)
Fantastic video Espen!!
I picked up an original DP/4 in 2010 for $200 USD. Worth every penny! Extremely versatile and sounds great. Very well made too. I believe that Ensoniq touted them as being on par with Lexicon when they released them and reviews seemed to agree. Speaking of Lexicon,I also have a PCM 60. It's pretty sweet too and has it's own sound character. As another commented, Ensoniq used in house designed proprietary DSP chips. I think they called them OTTO. And yes, they did use them in some of their synths. Or versions / revisions of OTTO. I know my TS12 and MR76 have an OTTO in them and I think my VFX SD does too. Also of note, Ensoniq used Philips 1541 DACs in their high end workstations and samplers. I know for a fact my TS12 has 4 of them and I'm pretty sure my MR76 does as well as my EPS16+ Rack. Audiophiles hold these DACs in very high regard. One of the few things I agree with an "audiophile " on. Speaking of which, I also have an MR Rack and a Mirage. I would love to run across a Fizmo at a good price. I really like Ensoniq and I hate they are gone. I think their samples of acoustic instruments are some of the best if not the best for their day. The electric piano presets on the TS12 sound very true to the emulations and very playable. Ok, I'm getting off the subject going down memory lane. ;-) Again, Great Job!!
Thanks for the comment Patrick! Great summary as well. :)
Nice choice of the opening lines from ELO's Time album to demonstrate the vocoder effect at 15:48. I think Lynne was saying something quite true there.Truly an inspired record.
Always my fav ELO album.
15:48 ELO's Time - Prologue ! ;-)
Nice work Espen. Great video, for a great machine!
Thanks Alex! :)
Awesome piece.
You should get an Ensoniq Paris System and get some plus cards with 6 EDS DSP on each board :)
Cool track you used to demo some of the effects, Espen! The melody, chord progression and arrangement were perfect for that tune. I found myself listening more to it than to the changes you were making on the DP/4+! (Sorry about that - I’ll go check it out on Spotify now. 😉)
The DP/4+ was certainly ahead of the other multi-effects boxes at the time, though. One friend of mine had an Alesis QuadraVerb GT, and one had a Digitech DSP-128+. Both were decent, but neither was meant to be a pro-level box like the DP/4+. Thanks for showing it off!
Thanks man! Yes, it was in many ways a groundbreaking "cheap" way of getting the Eventide H3000 for way less money back then. I wanted the H3000 too, but it was realtivly new to the market itself and cost more than I felt I could spend at the time.
unfortunately these are experiencing "retro pricing" I don't mind buying a bit of retro fx, I've got a couple of SPX90s and a Quadraverb but for the money Ensoniq DP/4s are going for these days I'd probably go for an Eventide H9.
They command a lot of money these day, I agree on that.
@@EspenKraft Where did you get that angled 'rack mount' your S1000 is in...or do you know the brand of it?! .. it's a decent height that one.
@@tonelab I should really be selling those on commission. I get asked that all the time. They're from Gear4music. If you search for "19" rack" they pop up a little down the list. Quite cheap too, depending on where you want them sent. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Thanks, you should call them and ask them to generate an 'Espen' promo code !
@ArcaneAudio Ensoniq gear is very rare so it's supply and demand.
Commodore 64 5-1/4" Floppy Disk Drive ! 😂😍
Great video as ever Espen !
Thanks Giles!
Espen Kraft your reviews and insights are so enjoyable and interesting to watch Espen. Whilst i’m thinking about what music to work on, i like to chill out to your videos with a glass of something and get that music gear fix! So great mate !
Sweet! Happy to hear it! :)
Everything with a vocoder I like.
At this time Ensoniq was at par with Eventide I think.
Also like their synths and samplers.
Nice, made me fire up my DP4 again :) Btw; the non-plus version also has input 1 on the front panel, not just on the back.
Thanks! A little slip of the tongue there, the XLR at the front. My internal quality control should have taken care of that. ;-)
Waiting for prices of the DP-4 on eBay & Reverb to double, in...1...2...3...and....GO! 😉😉😉😆😅😄😃😂
😭😭😭😭😭😭 😉😉😉
p.s. Fantasic demo & tutorial Espen! (as always!) Excellent 'dreamy' vocals too!🖒🖒
Many thanks Derek! :)
WOW...my eyes lights : ) The 1541 ..... a old friend from my Childhood
Thank you 🫰🏻
1 minute in and the hair on my arms already stood up . love your channel, i learn and lust so much here lol
Many thanks for saying! :)
The problem with having so much deeply programmable gear like this, is ergonomics. Ideally, you want it at eye or desk level, somewhere comfortable in front of you. But as more synths and rack modules accumulate around you, it becomes more and more impossible for everything to be where you'd like it at the same time. Editor/librarian programs running on the computer can help with this, but eventually, you always end up with some deep synth or module with endless programming potential down near the floor, up near the ceiling, its screen hidden by something other piece of gear that's in the way, etc. And let's not even get into how long it takes to get all of this wired without intermittent connections or line hum problems. This video about the DP/4 reminds me of this because mine is to the left of me, and a little further down toward the floor in my rack than I'd really like. I could put it somewhere better, but something else would have to get demoted to make room for it...
The way I use much of my gear is in a Chris Lord-Alge style, I never change the setup. This is set on this vocal chain and will never be adjusted. Apart from me making this video. I'd rather get another DP/4... ;-)
Cool stuff Espen...
Thanks Lasse!
Espen, sound very like “Arnold Pizza delivery” today! 🙂❤️❤️
I’m glad you’ve finally done a piece of retro gear that wont cause the price to inflate........
cause they are already stupidly high!!😳😂. Nice effects unit but unfortunately unobtainable for most of us now, given it’s all just digital rom I’m surprised these haven’t been cloned ...enjoyed your run through of it though! Thanks Espen!
Thanks man! Yes, they've risen in price over the last years. Very much so.
Espen Kraft I’ve always liked its follow up the Ensoniq DP pro, unfortunately after looking for a few years I’ve pretty much given up! Never seen one for sale so they are either to awesome to sell or not many were sold in first place I guess? I use an asr-x just for its effects processing as a substitute, & you can get them cheap so if you ever want to try some of the later versions of Ensoniq effects you may want to keep an eye out for one? ...Keep up the good work.
7:10 Very Tangerine Dream
Always a pleasure..thanks Espen..Not sure if your familar with the Synthesizer Museum in Oakland, but I would love to go there, for a synth vacation, bucket list thing.. If your not familar with this place, your able to rent or reserve time and play any of the synths they have. Everything is plugged in to mixers so you can actually record some stuff. Be cool to walk out with some wave files created on some of the original synths, its quite a list.. Could spend a lifetime in there...
Heard of it yes. I'll probably never travel anywhere again in my life, but sounds cool. ;-)
@@EspenKraftnever travel again? Sounds ominous. Take care... ;`(
Who wants to travel around the world in these times? It's not going to change either. I'm comfortable right here. ;-)
Such a fantastic sound unit... Want! :)
Man, you make me regret selling this to you!! Ah well... spilt milk and water under the bridge, what have you...🤷🏼♂️😂 Take good care of her. 😘
Regrets are a waste of time Anders, but I'm happy you did let me have her. ;-) I'll treat her like she deserves!
@@EspenKraft That's great. Passing a wonderful piece of gear amongst friends and peers is the best. I do it quite often. DP/4 is amazing.
What did u sell it for? I have 1 in mint im thinking of selling.
Brandy It was a trade. Got Espen’s Retroaktiv MKS-70 controller in return. :)
UAD needs to get on this one ASAP
a lot of techno producers in europe during the all vinyl release days had this.
I’ve been told yesterday Daft Punk used actually a Talk Box for their famous song Around The World.
Digitech Talker th-cam.com/video/9NVrzg-8QBE/w-d-xo.html
Daft punk did use the dp4 there is an article where alot of the equipment they used for the their first homework and the dp4 is mentioned they also used it for the phaser too
FX processors bring Synths and sounds to life. Those things has been so f...kin expensive though.
You know it's funny, I love Ensoniq samplers and keyboards, I own 5 of them! But the sound of the DP/4 has always came across very brash to me, something about it doesn't agree with my ears!
On my bucket list for sure! Also nice hat, didn't know you're and Angels fan. 🤗
I'm not an Angels fan. I love baseball and fans keep sending me hats from THEIR fav teams. I wear them in rotation on the channel. ;-)
I emulate the DP/4 with my DP/2
Very good.
Does the TS10 / TS12 line from Ensoniq have a DP / 4 + installed as its effect processor??? Or is it not exactly the same? I have a TS10 and I will say that the effects part of it is incredible!
yes the same Ensoniq ESP signal processor chip
great unit, I've had so many ensoniqs self immolate though, the 4+ seems especially deathly.
Any of their boxes or boards, by this point, replace the totality of their main PSU and any voltage regulators even slightly off spec imo.
People buy the DP4 just for the phaser. You should do a new video with just phaser experiments. French House etc.
I don't do house.
@@EspenKraft etc?
Great FX units, very musical, have my DP/2 permanently patched into DAW and as you say you don't get this sound from DAW plugins
Biste früh aufgestanden 🥱
I did too.
I have this unit :) But I haven't used it for ages.. Maybe it's time for a change :)
Me too, i'm feeling very guilty about it!
not for sale to Chile???
@@JuanBobadillaAbad1 Not me Juan keeping mine.
I can’t afford a DP4+, but I have the processors in my ASR10R and in my ASRXpro. Both I use as effects processors. It’s even in the TS10, but there are no inputs for external gear. Thanks for making it more expensive. (Just kidding.)
So it seems I should have hung on to a lot of my gear when I moved studios. Threw into a skip a Waldorf Microwave an 808 and a DP4 along with a load of other analog gear. Oh well! :+)
Ye did not!
From my experience, an emulation is always going to be worse (or much worse..) than the real thing. Doesn't matter if it's virtual synthesisers or effects or whatnot, it's never going to sound the same or most of the time even close to the original hardware.
I don't see why this would be the case here, given that the DP/4+ is a digital effects unit, i.e. it runs DSP algorithms on a microprocessor from the nineties. Ok, as long as the original sources of the software are not available and people have to approximate the effects by reverse engineering frequency and time responses there will be small differences, but otherwise...
Love what you're doing here! Working my way through your videos ... Q: 2:28 sounds really familiar but I can't place it. Put me out of my misery, please!
Nothing in particular, just playing random stuff. Cheers
As always nice video Espen, how I wish the bach's music extendends a little longer.
Is the korg from anders ?
Thanks! Yes, the MS10 is his.
Usability is good on the DP/4+, and I think the front input helps in a smaller studio. I mentioned in another video that I prefer the Eventide these days and the Ensoniq doesn't get much use, but I think that's somewhat because I'm lazy and don't have it wired in to the mixing board. Essentially I use the X32 board as my sound interface, going 4x ADAT in and out from an RME RayDAT card. This gives me 32 in and out to the X32, and I can use any of the analog inputs/outputs and aux's on the X32 for running effects. Maybe too flexible since re-wiring for a project can take some thought.
Oh, and don't use the Ensoniq for distortion effects... please? ;-)
I've used the distortion of the DP/4 on my synths in many of my productions in the 90s. No client ever complained. ;-)
Espen Kraft That was then... lots of retro effects are usable today, but distortion from the 90’s should be buried with the 90’s IMO. My REX50 is fine as a delay and even some reverb is cool, but Yamaha distortion on it sounds like nasty digital overload. Of course if you use it creatively it’s got an edge... Now that we’re on the topic, one technique I used was to run the synth through a guitar amp and wet mix that sound in as an effect. I bet a good amp sim could be something interesting to try...
Thank you once again for another great pedagogical video Espen! I really liked the sounds, and your tune. One thing that surprised me, as an old guitar player, was how good the blues lead gtr sounded, especially when considering that this is a piece of work from the early 90's. The distortion was quite spot on, dirty...just how we like it! On another note, I can't help but to notice those figurines you have in the background, do we perhaps have a closet anime lover here hmm? ;)
Yes, I've had lots of guitarists come by through the years (when I used this a lot in productions) and they often ended up using the DP/4 instead of their own guitar effects or amps. True story!
As for the anime... you're quite right. I have a few on display in the studio and more on display elsewhere. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Wow that's really cool! That got me thinking....so it could potentially be used as a Guitar Talkbox/Vocoder as well I guess? (Versatile thing that is!) As for the anime...very interesting, that definitely piqued my interest! :-)
It's so versatile that you could use it for whatever you want imo. ;-)
Swapped my dp/4 with a silver Vermona Mars + controller years ago .
Swaps can be great. And not so great. ;-)
Hi Esphan thanks for the Video - i found one for real cheap and getting it tommorow Its a DP4 so i guess no vocoder there...oh well "=-)
Didn't you watch the video? The DP4 has a vocoder.
@@EspenKraft i watched it all = and you talk in the intro about the dp4 yet showing a dp4 plus so yes its not very clear that the dp4 has a vocoder aswell since it dont have xlr mic = i did found this info afterwards.thanks
Ive misspell your name = sorry about that :-)
No problem!
Hi Espen thank you so much for another fantastic video on how to use vintage gear... do you think one day to make one on the prophet 2002 you have there? it would be a dream for me to finally understand how to use it to sample. cheers , you are the best
Could happen. I just have to fix it first. ;-)
@@EspenKraft thank you for you kind reply, can't wait that moment
Dudes!?
Where to get those latest EPROM Firmware binaries for the dp4+ Version? Can't find them in the www. Any ideas or link???
:(
I had one of these (non +). I was able to get it for about $100 per channel a couple years ago, the + version seems to go for double. It sounded great but the UI was not so easy and I just didn't have the time so it often sat unused. I felt bad that it was being unused so I sold it. It is great in the right hands! This is an artifact (1992) of using DSP to emulate amps and speakers. ccrma.stanford.edu/~dattorro/DP4.htm
Daft Punk also used this alot early on.
Their Paris recording system also has the same effect algorithms. After Emu dumped support for the old Ensoniq IP, the community was making some of these available as plugins for Paris. Wish they broke out to VST-land, but only Matt Craig's EQ (th-cam.com/video/aGrxEtMwGPA/w-d-xo.html) made it AFAIK. Darn it, Espen, now you make me want to cobble my old Paris recorder back together!
Do it! ;-)
Is there a difference in the quality of the effects between the DP/4 and the DP/4+?
If you go to Gearslutz some will say so, but in reality it's the same.
@@EspenKraft Thanks! This vid inspired me to plug mine in.
Спасибо! Очень интересно!
Been trying to get one of these cheap for 6 years. Not gonna happen now