It won't run on Ventura. When these devs say "minimum supported macOS" there can be some BS there and it might work on earlier versions of MacOS. But like you mentioned if the target deployment is 14, it is a hard floor coded into the binary. Check with o-tool in terminal and we get this:

cmd LC_BUILD_VERSION
cmdsize 32
platform 1
minos 14.0. <- the end.

 

Running ok in Cubase 14 Windows 11

 

A few hours of experimenting down the line: this emulation is amazing. Since I own the real thing navigation is easy (Ensoniq made the most user-friendly digital synths I've ever seen) and there is a boatload of resources (i.e. patches) out there. Maybe I got lucky, but the instructions for installation are just about foolproof and I ended up with a perfectly working VSTi (Windows 10/Cubase 12) of my favourite workhorse. A huge thank you to the makers!

 

Anyone know how to load VFX patches in syx format? Can it be done?

 

How to make it always start in the Tablet View mode? It seems to remember this setting per session, but I always have to choose this option manually after doing a fresh insert on a track.

 

Tried on different devices. Doesn't work with latest Ableton version

 

The fact that such projects appear at all is interesting. However, we’re already halfway into an ugly future where most software is no longer the result of intentional engineering thought and implementation (which, of course, isn’t always perfect either), but rather something like a malformed construct stitched together by an LLM from random parts — something that even its own “creator” doesn’t really understand.

Ultimately, this will kill commercial software development; everything will be flooded with broken simulacra, just as Baudrillard predicted in his work…

 

First of all, this was actually a proof-of-concept to see if it even made sense to port instruments perfectly emulated by MAME into a VST wrapper, because controlling the standalone MAME from a DAW is quite cumbersome, though not impossible (audio loopback, MIDI loopback, etc.). Then, seeing that it worked quite well, we released it, bringing a lot of joy to many people (at least to those for whom it worked at all). MAME SD-1 was released in November 2025, but it reached very few musicians; now, however, many more can use it.
Most of the JUCE wrapper code was indeed written by AI, but the compiling, building, and testing took many, many hours and couldn’t be done with AI alone.
The point was to draw attention to the potential inherent in MAME. A C++ ninja coder would surely do a thousand times better, but so far, with a few exceptions —like Jariseon’s AMAME project, which died 10 years ago— that hasn’t happened. We’d be thrilled if real coders would join the MAME VST project and plugins started rolling out one after another!
Meanwhile, it turns out that the Usual Suspects are also working on an SD-1 emulator, and it’s going to be 100% awesome because they’re the GOAT. Though it would’ve been better if they’d started working on Fizmo instead
Since this is an open-source and free project (just like MAME itself), I don’t think it would affect the creation of any commercial plugins, because legal issues make it impossible to sell 1:1 hardware-level emulation in the first place; at most, there might be projects like Adam Szabo’s Viper and Airwave. Vibe-coding commercial plugins is a pretty steep challenge; I don’t think anyone would attempt a serious project without the necessary DSP and C++ knowledge.
MAME is, by the way, a programming marvel, coded entirely without AI—so a big thanks to them for that!
Until TUS releases the SD-1, we’re happy to see so many people enjoying this little project!

 

^ you have to keep in mind that any mention of AI will result in people who can't even code telling you what they think is wrong with it, AI, the sky is falling, blah blah ad infinitum. The first person who codes an AI text scanner + ignore button combo for forums is gonna be a billionaire.

 

Curious too. I found an SYX trove on Rhythm-Lab. I think the answer will involve MIDIOX and LoopBe1 (or similar). Quite sure.

Once MIDI communication is made, import SYX, save to disk on the SD-1 (no idea if it'll work - no idea if this will make an IMG file.)

Optionally, this could be carried out in the MAME version of SD-1 (and MIDIOX and LoopBe1)

I may try in a couple days but not right now. I'm looking at ladypictures.

 

Last edited: Mar 20, 2026 at 12:25 PM

Hope they get it to run on OS10.15 Intel. Not working in Live 11 Suite, currently.

 

But did you manage to run it in any other DAW? Judging by your avatar, an Ensoniq synth must be essential to you.

 

Wow thank you very much!
As a former owner of a F.I.Z.M.O., I was – and still am – blown away by the sound quality. It’s brilliant to be able to use this emulation. It sounds fantastic! I’ve got it in Bitwig, Reason 13 and Cubase 15 Pro (all genuine versions) without any problems. Is there a way to load additional sounds via the ‘Floppy Drive’ and save my own sounds to the hard drive?

 

Yes, I’ve tested several DAWs, but unfortunately I always get the same result. I’d really be interested to know which setup actually works and whether it works on Windows at all.

The SD-1 is definitely very interesting, especially since it can read VFX cartridges. I already have the Ensoniq ESQ-1 as the real deal. If things don’t work generally at the moment, I really hope there will be a fix or update soon.

 

works flawlessly here, thanks so much guys

Windows 11 22H2, Fl Studio newest version,
installed as they explained (sd132.zip in Documents/Ensoniq)

will you also do the MR? i have seen it is on the MAME website. Thanks so much anyways

 

I tried but was not successful with the Mac version - once the ROMS were done I either got a black GUI with just the two buttons on the left, or hard crashes.

 

Well, it works on my testing laptop (I have a separate machine just for experiments, so that I don't litter my main computers). It is nothing fancy: i5-8265U with only Intel Graphics, Win11 24H2, Reaper. The plugin worked without problems (although it's a terrible CPU hog - unusable on such a CPU with low latencies).

 

ok thank you

 

Tried on two pcs with win 10 pro and cubase 15 / 14..it crashed the cubase always