The Ensoniq EPS-16+ sampler now has a free, open-source simulator for macOS by mardlib, built on the MAME framework.
ROM simulators of vintage synthesizers and samplers are everywhere. In March, Sojus Records released the Ensoniq SD-1 as an open-source project. Now, there’s another Ensoniq.
mardlib has released an early version of its Ensoniq EPS-16+ simulator software.
Ensoniq EPS-16+ Simulator
The new mardlib release is a free, open-source Ensoniq EPS-16+ simulator software for macOS only for now. The developer describes it as a hardware-level emulation of the EPS-16+. I suspect the simulator was built using AI, but the dev doesn’t disclose it.
I prefer the term “simulator” because it simulates the hardware (CPU) and isn’t an emulation of the engine like plugins from Arturia, Cherry Audio, and others.
As with The Usual Suspects simulators, you also need the original ROM of the vintage hardware sampler. Mardlib does not include this in its software. I am also not linking to it for legal reasons, as it’s a gray area.
The EPS-16+ was a hardware keyboard sampler workstation with 16-bit, variable sample rates from 11.2kHz to 44.6kHz. While its 1MB of memory was tiny and gave you only 11.5 seconds of sampling time, it offered an impressive set of unique features.
It featured editing functions like normalizing, sample splicing, merging, phase switching, auto-looping, auto-truncating, sample rate conversion, and more.
The EPS-16+ also offered more synth-like features, including two multimode non-resonant filters with slopes from 6dB to 24dB, a multi-wave LFO, and an advanced 8-track sequencer.
Built-in effects also included reverb, delay, chorus, flange, phaser, Leslie sim, distortion, and more. A highlight was the ability to re-sample the sounds with the effects.
The software gives you all these features of the hardware device. However, it’s still an experimental release and not quite finished. So some things still don’t work quite right, and there are even bugs.
First Impression
An interesting release. I’ll wait until it’s a bit more finished. If things continue like this, by 2027 all digital vintage synths will be emulated. These are some pretty wild times we’re living in right now, and I’m pretty sure this is just the beginning.
The new mardlib Ensoniq EPS-16+ simulator is available now as a free download. It runs as a VST3 and AU plugin only on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) for now.
More information here: GitHub