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Average Price: $359
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$500
$1501+
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Description
Step into the world of sound design and musical creativity with the Ensoniq TS-12, a powerhouse synthesizer that has left a lasting impact on the music production landscape. Renowned for its 61-key weighted keyboard, the TS-12 offers a uniquely tactile experience, allowing musicians to express themselves with precision and depth. Its integrated sequencer and effects engine make it a versatile choice for both live performances and studio work.
The Ensoniq TS-12 synthesizer is celebrated for its rich, lush soundscapes, thanks to its advanced synthesis capabilities. It features a wide array of waveforms and patches, giving musicians a vast palette to create anything from ambient textures to punchy leads. The intuitive interface and comprehensive control options provide an easy workflow, making it accessible for both seasoned professionals and aspiring artists.
With its robust build and reliable performance, the TS-12 has earned a reputation for being a dependable workhorse in any setting. Whether you're crafting intricate compositions or jamming out with friends, its expressive touch and responsive keys ensure that every nuance of your playing is captured.
Key Features:
- 61-key weighted keyboard for expressive play
- Advanced synthesis engine with a wide array of waveforms
- Integrated sequencer for comprehensive music production
- Built-in effects engine for dynamic sound shaping
- User-friendly interface with extensive control options
- Robust construction for reliable performance in various settings
Product specs
| Brand | Ensoniq |
| Model | TS-12 Performance / Composition Synthesizer |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1993 - 1996 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Digital Synthesizers, Workstation Keyboards |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| Key Size | Full Size |
| Keyboard Action | Weighted |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through |
| Number of Keys | 76 Keys |
| Polyphony | 32 Voices |
FAQs
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What type of keyboard action does the Ensoniq TS-12 have?
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The Ensoniq TS-12 features a 76-note hammer action keyboard with channel aftertouch, providing a realistic piano feel that is ideal for expressive playing.
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How many voices of polyphony does the Ensoniq TS-12 offer?
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The Ensoniq TS-12 offers 32 voices of polyphony, allowing for complex layering and sequencing without note dropouts.
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Is the Ensoniq TS-12 suitable for live performance?
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Yes, the Ensoniq TS-12 is well-suited for live performance, thanks to its robust build, weighted keys, and versatile sound engine that can handle various performance demands.
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Can the Ensoniq TS-12 be integrated into a MIDI setup?
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Absolutely, the Ensoniq TS-12 includes MIDI Input, Output, and Through, making it easy to integrate into any MIDI-based studio or live setup.
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What are the main categories the Ensoniq TS-12 falls under?
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The Ensoniq TS-12 is categorized under Digital Synthesizers and Workstation Keyboards, offering comprehensive features for both sound design and music composition.
Videos
willrobinsonensoniq
Ensoniq TS-10 TS-12 Factory Demo
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ensoniq TS-12.
Features and functionality
Build quality
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The 76-key weighted keybed is highly praised for its quality, comparable to modern synths costing over $2000.
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Setup and maintenance
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The plastic casings around the hammer weights in the keybed may crack, especially if the unit is handled roughly.
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The poly-aftertouch keybed may fail due to solder point issues, requiring re-flowing or wire replacement after extensive use.
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Service manuals for the TS-12 are highly detailed, providing step-by-step troubleshooting and disassembly instructions valuable for DIY repairs or tech assistance.
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Cleaning cable plug/socket connections and reseating all cables can resolve issues, as these areas commonly degrade over time in older synths.
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Capacitor failure is common in older equipment; replacing leaky capacitors can often resolve unpredictable performance issues.
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Mods and upgrades
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Upgrading the RAM to 8MB using 30-pin SIMM modules can enhance performance and is a recommended modification.
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Owners recommend using a Gotek USB floppy emulator since Ensoniq's floppy format is incompatible with standard USB floppy drives.
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Analog board replacements are occasionally available, though often out of stock. They can be sourced intermittently and used for component-level troubleshooting.
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User experience
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Despite potential internal wear, the keybed is durable with epoxy-reinforced hammer assemblies, although care should be taken to avoid physical impacts.
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Software and compatibility
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ChickenSys Software was a recommended tool for managing samples on a computer and transferring them to the TS series.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 3 Ratings
1072
Classic Ensoniq Synth
The TS series have always had their own lane. Has its own great classic sounds. It’s pretty bulky, big and weights alot compared to its little brother the TS-10, but both are pretty much identical internally other than the polyphonic aftertouch and the ts12 having channel aftertouch..
46
Awesome keys
Excellent for producing and composing soundtracks. Good EPs with certain FM character. Excellent pads e organic sounds in general.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Good EPs with certain FM character. Excellent pads e organic sounds in general.
Artist usage
Add artist
"No, we didn't have devkits for a long time during that project. Equipment wise, we all had similar setups, I had the Roland JV1080, Ensoniq TS12, Yamaha SY77, Alesis SR16 and an Akai S3000 sampler."
Tweet from Robin Beanland in which he says he used an Ensoniq TS-12 for the Killer Instinct soundtrack.
Eddie Rayner is playing an Ensoniq TS-12 during this 2005 live performance with Split Enz; the model number can be seen clearly at 0:38.
Train Through Time, a ten-minute bonus track included on the Affenstunde reissue, hints at what might have been a way forward. This rhythmic composition by Fricke and Fiedler, made on an Ensoniq TS 12 workstation synth, uses samples of trains. Dating from around 1997, it nods to the first-ever piece of musique concrete, Pierre Schaeffer's Etude Aux Chemins De Fer, created nearly half a century earlier.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ensoniq TS-12, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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