The Ensoniq DP Pro uses two of Ensoniq’s second generation 24 bit ESP (Ensoniq Signal Processing) VLSI chips to create the many effects it is capable of producing. The two ESP chips allow you to run two separate effects simultaneously, such as delay and Chorus etc.
The Ensoniq DP Pro also used different algorithms to the DP/4 processors that came before it. The clue is in the name, PRO and this effects processor was targeting a higher end market and the Ensoniq engineers set out to give it a better sound than all that came before it. In addition to space and time effects (Reverb and Delay based effects) the Ensoniq DP Pro included some mastering effects such as compression and stereo imaging tools. A full list of available effects appear below:
- Mastering Limiter
- Compressor/Limiter
- Compressor
- Servo Limiter
- 3 Band Compressor/Limiter
- Expander
- Stereo Gate
- Dual Mono Gate
- De-Esser
- Stereo Synthesizer
- Stereo Re-Imager
- Variable Tap Delay
- Spatial Delays
- Ping Pong Delay
- Stereo Delay
- Loop Recorder
- Expert Reverb
- Reflection Modeler
- Small Ambience
- Non-Linear Reverb
- Multi-Pitch Shift
- Multi-Chorus
- Flanger
- Phaser
- Tremelo
- Panner
- Chatter Box
- Rotary Speaker
- Tunable Speaker
- Parametric EQ
- Octave EQ
- And more…
The Ensoniq DP/4 series of processors although inferior in terms of pure DA conversion and signal quality, remain more popular because their grainier sound quality gives the effects more character. Similarly the Eventide H3000 is more sought after than later models for the same reason.
The Ensoniq DP Pro was a very capable and very complex beast to use, and that is perhaps it’s downfall. Eventide processors suffer a similar fate for the novice user, but take time to learn the way the DP Pro works and you have a vary capable device on your hands.
