First-generation Transwave
VFX is ENSONIQ's first Transwave/PCM synthesizer. VFX's Transwave belongs to the first-generation - it has looping noise with single-point samples. See ENSONIQ SQ-R and Don Solaris's TS-10 pages for info and sound examples.
The first generation Transwave is used in VFX, SQ-R, SD-1, TS-10/12 series. TS-10 has sample RAM and ENSONIQ samplers EPS/ASR can use user Transwaves as well. All these synths basically use the same architecture based on VFX and SQ-R.
ENSONIQ VFX (1990)
ENSONIQ SQ-R (1990)
ENSONIQ TS-12 (1993)
ENSONIQ introduced the second-generation Transwaves in releasing MR-Rack in 1995. Later MR-61/76 and ZR-76 came out using the same synthesis engine. MR series has the 24-bit effect chip ESP-2, which is also used in the effects unit DP/PRO.
While the overall sound quality improved from VFX, VFX's deep synthetic features are omitted in MR (Modulation Mixer, All-Waves, etc).
FIZMO is the only synth in MR series that has the resonant filter.
ENSONIQ MR-61 (1996)
ENSONIQ DP/PRO (1996)
It's obvious that PPG Wave inspired ENSONIQ's Transwave. The Transwave and the Wavetable are basically the same thing. There are many newer Wavetable synths, including Waldorf Microwave and Q series, and the new Access Virus TI.
KORG WAVESTATION is not a Wavetable synth, but can emulate similar effect by using its Wavesequence.
PPG Wave 2 (1981)
Waldorf Microwave (1988)
KORG WAVESTATION (1990)
The review at that time shows that knobby synths like FIZMO were rare those days. Clavia Nord Lead led the way to today's knobby synth movement. FIZMO, the "Realtime" Transwave Synthesizer, might have been ENSONIQ's answer to these colored, knobby synths.
Clavia Nord Lead (1995)
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FIZMO
Deep Synthesis: Home1. 16. 2005