Ensoniq DP Pro Effects Processor

The Ensoniq DP Pro released in 1997, was the final effects processor to come out of the minds of Ensoniq. It came after the success of the DP/4, DP/4+ and DP/2 processors.

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The DP/4 & DP/4+ were four channel processors, the Ensoniq DP Pro was a stereo effects processor. Sadly two channels of processing was not all it lost, it also lost the more intuitive interface of the DP/4 series of processors.

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 allows you to run two separate effects simultaneously, such as delay and Chorus etc.

Details

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, they 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.

Specifications

Released: 1997

Quantization: 24 bit
Sampling Frequency: 32, 44.1, 48kHz
Frequency Response: > 2Hz – 22kHz
Dynamic Range: > 94 dB
THD: Unknown