I never really thought of the Fizmo as an acoustic emulation synth. There's no mention of such in the manual. It's a transwave synthesizer similar to wavetable synthesis with ability to scan through different waveforms in a given patch. But according to Wikipidia: "The Ensoniq Fizmo was a synthesizer developed by Ensoniq. Developed in 1998, the Fizmo uses a Digital Acoustic simulation Transwave with 4 MB of ROM, up to four voices per preset, each voice with two oscillators, independent LFOs and FX"
00:00 Opening Titles
00:17 Introduction
01:27 Switched On 80s
12:54 Little Black Boxes
17:29 Commercial Break
19:58 Patching Today
29:19 Synthesiser Club
31:59 Video Lab
36:07 Outro
SWITCHED ON 80s - This third series takes an in-depth look into six classic 80s synthesisers, selected because of their interesting and unique attributes
LITTLE BLACK BOXES - A further look at some classic rack mount studio gear of the 80s and 90s
COMMERCIAL BREAK - Some shameless Memetune shilling
PATCHING TODAY - A deep-dive into vintage modular systems and how to set up a patch on them, starting from scratch, this time using Cybersynthesis techniques to bring an element of surprise to the patches
SYNTHESISER CLUB - A short musical demonstration of a synthesiser classic or three, concentrating on 'families' of synths
VIDEO LAB - A look at old video equipment and how to create experimental visuals, concentrating on a specific device in each episode
The MemeTune Programme Credits:
Everything in this video was created by B D Edwards (Benge)
All music, design, writing, filming and production completed at Memetune Studios, UK, 2025"
"Excellent Fizmo ready for a new home. Plays great with excellent feel synth action keys. Serviced a couple years ago, this board has many years of life ahead of it. All knobs respond to fine control, and input/output is clear.
Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.
"In excellent condition and fully functional. Most importantly it has had the essential regulator modification. The instrument has been well looked after, having been kept in a non-smoking and pet-free home studio.
The synth comes with the original user's guide and a suitable UK mains power adapter. If you intend to use it outside the UK you will require a 9VAC 1.3A adapter for your local mains voltage.
Ensoniq's swansong, the FIZMO is an incredibly rare and highly sought-after 48-voice synthesizer which uses 2nd-generation Transwave technology to create very organic sounds unlike any other synth available. The top panel is festooned with realtime controls for many of its features, including the unique and quirky 'F I Z M O' knobs which alter various parameters per patch. It is most revered for its ability to create immense textures and soundscapes, often from just a single note.
For deep diving using a computer, there is a reasonably priced Mac / Windows application available called Fauxmo which is a standalone editor / librarian GUI. It edits the instrument via MIDI in real time."
Introducing Tranzwave, a powerful wavetable Synthesizer, inspired by an unsung hero from the late 90’s: The Ensoniq Fizmo.
The flexible modulation engine, coupled with creative editing and randomization features, simplifies the creation of new, innovative sounds. Tranzwave brings all the wavetables from the Fizmo into the modern age for new creative explorations. With its user-friendly interface, Tranzwave provides complete control over wavetable and effect controls, making the creation of new sounds both fun and easy.
Tranzwave – A Tribute to Fizmo’s DNA
In the late 1990s Ensoniq pioneered “Transwaves”, a unique form of wavetable synthesis notably featured in their Fizmo synthesizer. Unlike earlier forms of wavetable synthesis, which could sometimes produce more static or stepped sounds, Ensoniq’s technology facilitated fluid transitions between different waveforms within a wavetable. This innovation led to the creation of evolving, dynamic soundscapes. Ensoniq’s approach allowed for a more seamless and organic morphing of sounds, enabling musicians to craft rich, textured audio experiences that changed over time. This method offered a fresh and novel way to explore sonic possibilities, distinguishing it from the more digital and discrete transitions of previous wavetable synthesizers like the PPG Wave. Although the Ensoniq Fizmo, which utilized Transwaves, did not achieve widespread fame, its distinctive approach to wavetable synthesis marked a significant development in the evolution of electronic sound and influenced modern synthesis techniques.
Tranzwave brings this older, unique wavetable concept, known as Transwaves, into the modern era of music production. By sampling each frame of these Transwaves, Tranzwave offers a rich and dynamic sonic palette that captures the essence of these early digital synthesizers. It’s akin to having a vast library of colors and shades at your disposal, offering endless possibilities for creating new and innovative sounds.
"I was the Product Manager for FIZMO at Ensoniq in 1998, right before they were swallowed up by Creative Labs. This is actually one of the very first FIZMO’s to come off of the production line. When I saw it I immediately panicked! There was no silk screening for the I/o on the back of the keyboard! A few of these were manufactured this way and they were given to me and some of the customer support team at the time. It also includes the OG Radio Shack Adapter which we used in-house until the production adapters arrived.
I haven’t used it in years but I just fired it up. I do have the red plastic cover for the display. It needs to be glued back on. The unit is fully functional and works with the fantastic FAUXMO Editor which I have a copy of. Here’s one of the most unique synths ever produces and a piece of Ensoniq history."
"Unique synth, evolving sounds, wavetables like a PPG Wave or Waldorf Microwave. We performed the essential power regulator modification to this unit (this needs to be done or you risk doing serious damage to your Fizmo!), replaced the missing red plastic display window with a new one. Fully tested by professionals, working perfectly and sounding like nothing else. Comes with original owners manual."
"For sale is a rare vintage Ensoniq Fizmo Transwave digital keyboard synthesizer. This is a cool unique sounding synth. Includes external wall-wart power supply. Previous owner mentioned that the common rectifier issue has already been repaired. It's tested and working but has some minor issues. The screen appears to have some minor damage to it (still functional) and the envelope section does not appear to function properly (could be user error, but some settings it does not seem to apply the ADSR as expected). Due to these issues it is sold as-is, no refunds, returns, warranties or guarantees. Priced lower accordingly. Otherwise everything appears to be working as it should and it's still very usable and sounds nice."
