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When you think of music equipment that defined the sound of hip-hop music production, there are usually three samplers that come to mind. The SP-1200 manufactured by E-mu Systems, the MPC manufactured by Akai, and the ASR-10 manufactured by Ensoniq.
Launched in 1992, the ASR-10 (Advanced Sampling Recorder) succeeded the also popular Ensoniq EPS/EPS-16+ performance samplers. This 61-key keyboard sampler was also available in 88-keys (ASR-88) and a rackmount version (ASR-10R)
Ensoniq’s all-in-one production studio was an amplified version of the EPS units. For those music producers who prefer to work with keys instead of the pads of the MPC, this was the perfect companion for their music production rig.
Crafted to be a complete performance-based sampling workstation that didn’t require a computer to create complete songs, the ASR-10 included a powerful and flexible effects unit (based on Ensoniq’s DP/4 effects processor), polyphonic aftertouch, an advanced MIDI sequencer, load-while-playing abilities, and a powerful multi-layered synthesis engine.
The ASR-10 effect on hip-hop music production
The warm sound of the ASR-10 is what has attracted so many legendary hip-hop music producers to it for decades. It’s sampler is built from Ensoniq’s synthesizer line (SD-1 and ESQ-1). Samples get stored as part of its WaveSample memory (it can hold 127). Up to eight layers of WaveSamples can be combined to create your final sound (instrument). It’s truly a unique masterpiece of music production hardware.
The ASR-10 comes with 62 effects out-the-box. These include customizable reverbs, phasers, delays, and much much more. The resampling of sounds can bring new life to them right through this all-in-one music production workstation.
There have been so many legendary hip-hop music producers who have used the Ensoniq ASR-10 as the center of their music production rig. Kanye West, The Rza, Timbaland, Jake One, and many more have created hip-hop classics with the ASR-10.
While the ASR-10 is still used to this day by some of these legend, the machine certainly does have its flaws. Mainly, the hardware is known for overheating which in return can cause system errors to occur while in the middle of producing a song.
“When they made the machine, technology wasn’t really available to do what they designed it for. That’s why it gets so hot and you get all these errors, but I think the way it pushes all that circuitry is what makes it sound so good too,” said Jake One.
“They designed it kind of jacked up, but it ended up being something great. Which is kind of like hip-hop. We make the best out of some bullshit,” he continued.
The ASR-10 has certainly left a lasting legacy on hip-hop music production. Have you ever owned an ASR-10? Interested in getting one? Check out this free 13 lesson course on the Ensoniq ASR-10. Let me know in the comments and check out some of Jake One’s finest work produced with this machine below.
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