Ensoniq • ASRx
The ASR-X is a professional quality alternative to the Akai MPC-3000. It's a sampling, synthesizer, sequencer and effects studio in a single tabletop unit with professional sampler specifications, and easy yet professional sample editing features. Although it has been replaced by the ASR-X Pro, this instrument is still pretty great. For the most part, they're both the same - except the ASR-X is not as expandable. However it still has easy programming, excellent analog-like filters (low, high and bandpass with resonance), many sample-editing functions, digital effects and easy sequencing.
What separates the ASR-X Pro from the ASR-X? The newer Pro offers an already built-in SCSI interface for limitless storage to disk or drive; a cool new Flash OS system means you can upgrade it simply by inserting a floppy, no messing with ROM chips; a new Stomper program synthesizes phatt analog drum machine sounds (a built-in drum machine), giving the MPC-3000 a run for its groove; memory is expandable to 66MB; cool Resampling technology allows you to digitally resample with any effects and tweaks you've applied back through. Though this list is long, the older ASR-X is still a very modern machine with just about all you'll ever need in sampler of this type. It has been used by BT.
