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Average rating:
4.7 out of 5
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I have two TS-10s, the first bought in '93, my second in '94 with the addition of General Midi. The primary reason I bought the first was to simplify my recording process of tracks, and boy did it! Then I was offered a situation to perform a single/duo, performing Top 40 variety, and they wanted the "live" band sound, so I proceeded to purchase a second TS-10, and the two keys took care of the situation easily, with many compliments on the tracks sounds, many people insisting that I was using CDs, instead of my own tracks.
I found the TS-10s to perform and record/edit with extreme ease, and still love and use them today. Some of the factory sounds were not as good as I thought they could have been, but in the final mix of my sequences, no one really cared. I highly recommend these keyboards, although there is a problem in trying to find repairmen for them.
I am an avid Ensoniq lover and user, and have owned two Mirages, one ESQ-1, one EPS 16, one KR-76, and currently own a ZR-76 in addition to my two TS-10s. I really hated to see the Ensoniq line disappear!
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I purchased my TS-10 about 10 years ago and it's still the centerpiece of my music. I've used it for major label live gospel albums, mid-budget movie soundtracks, contemporary gospel studio recordings...let's just say everything I do is with the TS-10. Plenty of workstations have come along since this machine was made, but not one has made me want to sell or trade in my TS10. And we're talking Kurzweil k2500/2600, Korgs 01/w, Trinity, Triton, Roland JV-1000, XP-80/60, Yamaha W5/7, EX5/7, and the list goes on. I'm not stupid, I know those are great workstations, but I'll put it in layman's terms as to why I still use the TS10: Easiest sequencer in the world to use and it's powerful and has useful, smart features. The effects are plenty and easy to use and edit, and the killer is this machine will load and play ASR & EPS samples. I don't own a sampler but I have a couple of places where I order samples from. I load 'em up, and start sequencing. None of that funny technical stuff you hear all the time with other machines. No resonant filter this, template that, 16bit to 44xyz this, wave format abc that, IDF, XPI format this, convert data to xyz file that�yada yada yada. That�s about what all that tech stuff means to me. I just want to be able to pick a sound and start bangin away. I have friends with Tritons, MPC's, MO Phatt's, and they all be trippin on the tracks I bang out. They be wanna know where I get those kicks and snares they hear on my tracks. The first question I'm usually asked when I release a track is "are you using the MPC?" and I proudly tell nah dawg... it's the TS10. Their second question is "what is that?" I'll tell anyone out there with little money but big Ideas don't pass this machine up if you run into one. PERIOD. TS-10 and a sound module is all you need to get your stuff down. Don't get caught up thinking you have to have the latest and greatest gear to make banging joints. I run the TS10 and an XP-30 (roughly $1,600 today�s value) for all my projects and they have more than paid for themselves literally. It ain't broke so I ain't trying to fix it ya know. I put money into recording gear, monitors, better mic, compressors, etc. But the instruments remain the same. Oh don't get me wrong, I'll eventually get a Triton, MPC, and whatever whatever, but the TS10 will always be in the center of them all. Ba-lee-dat!
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The TS-10 (61 note synth) & TS-12 (76 note weighted) are very good keys. Although most were made with the blue flourecent displays, some of the newer models had LCD's which were smaller but easier to see in sunlight. When they came out, 32 voices was the most you could get from any brand. The TS10 has a poly-pressure keyboard (each key responds seperately to pressure). It's key design also made the keys pretty much immune to dirty contacts.
The TS series was a new improved version of the popular SD-1, but with a metal case. It can load and play ASR and EPS sample disks also. The sequencer has a great number of features, and the sound synthesis engine is quite sophisticated and hi-fi, but unfortunately a lot of people were disapointed with the preset sounds that came with it. If you like to edit your own sounds or can purchase 3rd party sound libraries - you'll love it - it can do almost everything. The thing rocks.
The TS's have a great sounding FX processor, 4 seperate audio outputs, 4 pedal inputs and a CV pedal. The patch select buttons allow you to instantly select between 4 different voice variations with the left hand (or foot pedals).
The TS-10's were produced in the mid 90's when the company was at it's prime. It had solved many of it's reliability problems from the 80's and the company was not yet distracted by the big-dollar PC soundcard business.
I know this keyboard inside-out because I worked on it in the engineering dept. at Ensoniq. Although I had just about every other keyboard already, I always wanted the TS-10 but couldn't justify one until it was too late. Just last year I discovered one used - immedately bought it and I intend to be burried with it.
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I have had hundreds of live performances of Indian music using this machine over the last 6 years. It is a extremely robust machine and has numerous realistic sounds. I have particular use for the programmble pitch tables and the glide mode (portamento) feature. The only drawback is the weight of the instrument, which amounts to 25kg together with a hard case. This makes it rather cumbersome to travel around with.
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this machine simply kicks ass. the only thing it lacks is a big lcd display. its user interface layout is the most logically perfect i've ever laid my hands on. a must-have!!!
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