We decided to build a fully featured Juce VST3 version of the MAME-emulated Ensoniq SD-1/32, which has never been emulated before.

What's working? Everything! Yes, the internal sequencer too (if you have the disk image).
Features:

• Windows 10+ 64 bit VST3, Mac Intel+ARM Universal Binary VST3
  
  
• VST3 state saving, MIDI input and automation, 4 different panel layouts, resizable GUI with VFD display, and an onboard keyboard, buffer setting
  
  
• Can load all compatible VFX/VFX-SD/SD1-24/SD1-32 disk images and cartridges
  

Requirements:
IMPORTANT - ROM Files Required!

Built with love by MAMEDev and contributors and sojusrecords.com

Read more and download here:
https://github.com/sojusrecords/Ensoniq-SD-1-32-Voice-VST-emulation

 

Hurrah !!!

 

Beyond sexual chocolate. I am running and starting every time consistently. Probably my hacked DAW, but I experienced a few DAW shutdowns in the beginning, then that phenomenon went away. It boots, runs, and makes sound every time now.

(asking for sound bank location hints without actually asking)

'Bleachbass' kicks my ass. wow.

 

Last edited: Mar 19, 2026 at 8:51 AM

Does it looks for a system font on "Full Keyboard" UI selection? I am reproducing the font issue I had yesterday on Vertigo.



Wonder if i deleted a font. "Compact", "Tablet", and "Rack" UI's are perfect (on my system).

 

Last edited: Mar 19, 2026 at 9:14 AM

do you people think we will HAVE every single synth emulated soon enough?

 

The full keyboard panel is buggy. It's so big that even in 1920 px size the fonts are too small. The MAME standalone version also behaves like this. Missing fonts? What is the OS?

 

Please don't worry about it. I do not need it that much. Just for my own system troubleshooting. I am on Win 11 running S1 v5. Sounds like it's someone else's problem anyway. Good to know.

 

Big thanks for sharing the roms... I just tried the emu but i have a lot of crackles in the sound and the cpu is not overloading... I change the samplerate in ableton and changed the buffer size in the vst but the crackles are still there.

 

What OS? What CPU/GPU? What is your soundcard's buffer setting? Your CPU and/or GPU IS overloading, just in the background, as the MAME engine runs in a background thread. We have been tested it on an ancient i7-4770 and it's runs smoothly on 4096 buffer setting. On a i7-8700 runs perfectly even on 256 buffer setting.
Maybe it's an Ableton problem, doesn't tested it on yet.

 

I have a Mac Intel i7 on Sequoia. The CPU is not spiking...

 

Hmm, I have an 8th gen intel i7 imac with Sequoia and it runs smoothly on 256 buffer setting with the latest FL Studio, so Ableton can be the problem. I'm not familiar with Live, maybe there are some settings for the vst3 wrapper? Also try other sound card buffer settings too. What happens when the GUI is not opened?

 

Doesn’t work in Windows 10 / Cubase 15 — it goes straight to the blacklist.

 

thanks for bringing this emulation that fast into my awareness

 

Followed the steps everything working. Are there instrunctions on how to change presets and banks, i don't quite get it ? :D

 

Unfortunately, I Can't get Ableton Live Suite 11 to scan the vst3 into it's browser (after finding roms lol)
This happens sometimes with my Catalina 10.15/Intel machine.

 

This is an emulation, works just like the original.
Read the manual: https://www.polynominal.com/ensoniq-sd1/ensoniq-sd1-manual.pdf

 

As stated in the Github page: macOS 14 (Sonoma) or newer.

 

Last edited: Mar 19, 2026 at 4:32 PM

i used to have the real deal till it died on me. thank you for doing this - i will dig in and see if the image files i have load here.

 

nevermind, figured out the problem