Ensoniq EPS-16 Plus Essential Disks

If you have managed to acquire an Ensoniq EPS-16 Plus and you did not get an operating system disk as part of the acquisition you will know that you have just acquired a door stop!

Operating System Disk 

The operating system disk is the must have disk for this sampler.  The literature around this synthesiser states that there were two official versions of the operating system version 1.00 and version 1.30.

There is reference that there was another version released by Ensoniq, but the literature is extremely thin about this version and I could not file any disk images anywhere that could be written to a disk so it could be tested.

There was also reference to a version of the operating system that was released by someone other than Ensoniq.  I thought this might be a similar situation to when NuEdge wrote Typhoon for the Yamaha TX16W.  The reference to this alternative operating system was found on an obscure website.  And while I found the reference to the existence of the operating system, I could not the files to create a disk that could be used.  

Click here to buy the operating system disk

Ensoniq Signature Series

The EPS Signature Series was released by Ensoniq for its range of samplers that used the sample sampling and file formats.  Starting with the Ensoniq EPS sampler released in 1988, through the sampler I own (Ensoniq EPS-16 Plus) and finishing with the range of samplers that followed under the Ensoniq ASR brand. 

I wasn't sure how many Signature Series sets were released by Ensoniq.  My research seems to suggest that 19 box sets were released between 1988 and 1992.  Most of these box sets contain 3 disks.  Some contained 4 disks and some 5.

For the box sets that I have acquired the format is:

• Individual samples.

• One or more bank files for loading multiple samples on to the sampler.

• One or more sequences using the sample sets that are included on the disks

This list is what I believe these 19 collections that were released were called:

• Craig Anderton Vol.1

• Craig Anderton Vol. 2

• John Robinson Vol. 1

• John Robinson Vol. 2

• Nile Rodgers Vol. 1

• Nile Rodgers Vol. 2

• Paul Jackson Jr Vol. 1

• David Hentschel Vol. 1

• David Hentschel Vol. 2

• Claude Gaudette Vol. 1

• Claude Gaudette Vol. 2

• Maurice White

• The System

• Joey Defrancisco

• Marcus Miller

• Jason Miles

• Jeff Lorber

• Richard Souther

• Philippe Saisse

If you know of any other collections in the Signature Series then let me know.

Click here to buy the EPS Signature Series disks

EPS Sound Library

The EPS Sound Library sample sets started to be released following the release of the Ensoniq EPS sampler.  As stated above these could also be loaded onto the Ensoniq EP-16 Plus and Ensoniq ASR samplers. 

I have acquired a number of these Sound Library collection sets but have struggled to find reference stating how many were released in total.  Based on the sets I have I know at least 13 collections were released.

Each collection contained 10 disks of samples that could be loaded on to the sampler for use.

Click here to buy the EPS Sound Library Disks