| ASR-10 Pros |
ASR-10 |
ASR-X |
| User
Interface |
You can edit
everything from the front panel |
Little
editing is available from the front panel - computer is
needed for full editing |
| Sequencer |
Timing is
more solid, editing easier to get to; song structure more
complete and flexible |
Better
resolution, more quantinzation features, timing has been
an issue |
| Play-While-Load |
Although a
little sluggish to play while loading a sound |
Not
available; machine shuts down while loading |
| Keyboard
version available |
Regular
organ polyphonic aftertouch keys (10), or weighted keys
(88), also includes pitch and mod wheels |
Only pads,
but they are nice |
| More
special looping parameters |
START+END,
others |
Still
retains TRANSWAVE looping |
| Special
Looping Functions |
Crossfade
and synthesized looping data editing features |
No looping
functions besides manual looping and auto-zerp crossing |
| Envelopes |
Has initial
level control plus second release feature |
Initial
level is preset to 0 and no second release function |
| Latency |
Better
reaction to onboard control and incoming MIDI notes |
Less
responsive |
| Faster
Load Times |
SCSI and
floppy |
| Effects
Upgradability |
New custom
algorithms can be composed and loaded |
Effects
fixed within ASR-X hardware |
| Programmability |
More glide
modes (single trigger, multi-trigger, legato, pedal) |
Either on or
off; not monophonic only |
| |
|
|
| ASR-X Pros |
ASR-X |
ASR-10 |
| Sampling
Fidelity |
Better
sampling convertors, arguably better S/N ratio |
Still quite
good; ASR-10 has optional Digital In and Out |
| Filing
System |
DOS disk
format; AIFF file format for wavedata; SMF's for
sequences; has seperate files for wavedata and sound
parameters; facilities for reusing wavedata files |
Proprietary
disk and file format |
| Resonant
Filters |
Two new
seperate filter modes, seperate per voice |
Monophonic
rez filters available with effects |
| Keymaps |
Additional
level (RAMKit) added for more powerful control |
|
| SESSION/BANK
files and parameters |
Additional
set of parameters that can alter included sound files -
brings ability to make slight program changes without
saving redundant sets of sounds |
|
| Track
and MIDI |
16 discreet
tracks, 16 channel multi-timbral |
8 discreet
tracks, 8 channel multi-timbral |
| Memory
and management |
34mb max
(66mb ASR-X Pro), 256 memory slots available |
16mb
maximum, 8 memory slots available |
| Programmability |
Wider range
of modulation, more modulators, polyphonic glide, smooth
and stepped variations |
|
| SCSI
Implementation |
Inexpensive
($200) SCSI Interface, compatible with many more drives;
can reset, rescan bus, provides SMDI transfer, can change
local SCSI ID number; storage and filing sometimes
erratic |
Expensive
SCSI ($350); cannot work with Jaz, NEC CD-ROM, and
several other drives; no SCSI transfer of wavesamples,
fixed SCSI ID of 3; solid storage scheme |
| Effects |
Better
effects, more modulation capability, more simultaneous
effects |
Effects
still excellent; bus output system is better |
| Operating
System |
Based on
internal chip; chip upgrade (black ASR-X) or software
upgrade (ASR-X Pro) |
Based on
external storage |
| Sound
support |
Has internal
ROM sounds and waves; can read it's native format; can
translate EPS/ASR volumes without effects translation;
can read Akai and Roland volumes but only translates
keymaps and wavedata |
Reads native
format but not ASR-X format; translates Akai and Roland
files thoroughly; no ROM sounds aboard |
Ensoniq ASR-X or ASR-10?