The Ensoniq Halo is a sleek keyboard with a 32 MB ROM soundset of diverse synth sounds including sounds of the popular Ensoniq ZR-76 featuring the "Perfect Piano". Halo has three additional ROM slots for up to 128 MB of sounds (more on this below). The keyboard is a full 61-keys long with 16 real-time controllers. There's also 16 on-board syncable/programmable arpeggiators and the E-mu's Super BEATS interactive Groove Mode. With 16 mute/enable buttons this keyboard is set for live and on the fly performances with plenty of real-time controls! Halo also features multi-mode resonant filters, 24-bit DACs, and an affordable price tag!

Halo is part of a new line of performance keyboards launched by E-mu/Ensoniq that repackage their current line-up of top notch sound modules targeted at specific genres. For all purpose synthesizer, the PK-6 Proteus Keys. For HipHop and R&B, the MK-6 Mo’Phatt Keys. For techno trance and dance, the XK-6 Xtreme Keys. And Halo from Ensoniq, which is another all purpose synthesizer.

Every one of these ships with one 32 MB sound-set, but are expandable up to 128 MB via three additional slots for 32 MB expansion cards. These cards include (ranging from $249 to $395):

• 9061: Siedlaczek Orchestra 32 MB ROM.
• 9062: Pure Phatt 32 MB ROM - standard in Mo’Phatt, MP-7 and MK-6.
• 9063: Beat Garden 32 MB ROM - standard in Orbit 3.
• 9082: Protozoa 16 MB ROM - standard in Proteus 1, 2, 3.
• 9083: Definitive B-3 32 MB ROM - standard in B-3.
• 9084: Techno Synth Construction Yard 32 MB ROM - standard in Orbit 3.
• 9085: Orchestral Session Vol. 1 32 MB ROM - standard in Virtuoso 2000.
• 9086: Orchestral Session Vol. 2 32 MB ROM - standard in Virtuoso 2000.
• 9087: World Expedition 32 MB ROM - standard in Planet Earth.
• 9088: Sounds of the ZR featuring the Perfect Piano 32 MB ROM - standard in Ensoniq Halo.
• 9089: X-Lead 32 MB ROM - standard in Xtreme Lead-1, XL-7 and XK-6.

With these expansion options, you could buy a PK-6, then add the sounds of the Orbit 3, XK-6, and the MP-7... or any other combinations you may want. If you like desktop synths, you can start with an MP-7 or XL-7, and then add these same expansion card options to add Proteus, Orchestral, or the new Halo sounds to them. E-mu/Ensoniq's interchangeable sound cards and a variety of keyboard/sound-module options means that there's a model out there for everybody now.

gridsleep

January 29, 2011 @ 9:31 am

(cont'd) higher quality than your average synthesizer. They imbue a sense of quality, and the action enhances playability. I am waiting for a Novation X-Station to arrive; I intend to use that as my main MIDI controlller. Seriously, the HALO makes for a very good MIDI controller in its own right. It doesn't have all the match up controllers that the X-Station has, but it can be used quite fitfully. E-Mu created a very good chassis with these keyboards. I think people would have had less doubt and/or more respect for (cont'd)

gridsleep

January 29, 2011 @ 9:30 am

(cont'd) the Korg M50s if they were as solid as this aluminum appliance. I really like the way the boards are designed, as well. They are just perfectly stylish for a synthesizer, and tough enough for road use, and I happen to like the silver with read accents the most of the HALO. If you can get to one, just try it. You'll agree this is a superior keybed.

gridsleep

January 21, 2011 @ 1:13 pm

Someone needs to stop cutting and pasting. This text above was cut from the E-mu PK-6 page and dropped in here, and they didn't even bother to edit it. Look...where it says PK-6 they could have at least edited it to say HALO. And that's exactly the thinking I see in the E-mu products. A lack of or at least a simplification of imagination. Keyboards and rack modules from cookie cutters. Just different colors. You could take all E-mu's circuits and put them into one box for an ubersynth, rather than split up for maximum profits. E-mu could never have invented the FIZMO. Nice synth tho.

Digi Fan

June 24, 2010 @ 10:59 pm

The drum kits on the ZR-ROM are outta sight.

Edgar

June 4, 2010 @ 3:57 am

I got this synth thinking it would live up to this hype and that it would have many presents from the ZR76 ( after having sold my ZR76) and I'm not convinced. Maybe I need to play with it some more. The Interface is not typical ensoniq, then again they didn't make it. Sounds are great, but I want my ZR back.

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