| Synth Name: | EPS-16 Plus |
| Synth Manufacturer: | Ensoniq |
| Synthesis Type: | 16-bit samples, 11.2 kHz–44.6 kHz |
| Polyphony: | 20 voices |
| Keyboard: | 61-note with polyphonic aftertouch |
| Left Control: | pitch-bend and modulation wheels |
| Ext Control: | MIDI |
| Memory: | 1 MB, expandable to 2 MB (1 MB RAM, 1 MB flash memory on "Turbo" units) |
| Fx: | 13 onboard effects |
| Dates: | 1990–? |
| Price: | £1795[1] |
| Velocity: | Yes |
| Aftertouch: | Yes |
The Ensoniq EPS-16 Plus is a sampling keyboard produced by Ensoniq starting in 1990. It was the successor to the EPS, one of the first truly affordable samplers on the market. The EPS-16 Plus uses 16-bit samples[2] at seven sample rates ranging from 11.2 kHz to 44.6 kHz and features 13 onboard effects. The unit was available in both keyboard and rackmount versions (EPS-16R). Some versions of the EPS-16 Plus were sold as "Turbo" units, which included an extra 1 MB of flash memory and SCSI upgrades. These units are designated with a "T" after the model number.
The EPS-16 Plus features a mono input and stereo outputs, made useful by the unit's stereo panning and internal effects. It was succeeded in 1992 by the stereo-capable ASR-10.
Notable users include Havoc of Mobb Deep, RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan as well as Wu-Tang affiliate True Master,[3] Speech of Arrested Development[4] and Christian "Flake" Lorenz of Rammstein.
De facto Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA produced some tracks for Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) on an EPS-16 Plus, including the group's biggest single "C.R.E.A.M.".[5] He then sold the unit to True Master, who used it to produce "Fish" from Ghostface Killah's debut solo album Ironman[6] as well as "Brooklyn Zoo" from Ol' Dirty Bastard's debut solo album .[3] Havoc of Mobb Deep has stated that he produced "Shook Ones, Part II" an EPS-16 Plus.[7]