Known best for audio cards bundled with PCs from Gateway 2000 and Hewlett-Packard, Ensoniq is well known in the music business as a developer of chips for a number of musical devices. Creative is best known for its Creative Labs brand of Blaster (including the Sound Blaster and Graphics Blaster) line of multimedia products.
Creative will purchase the Malvern, Pennsylvania-based company for US$77 million in cash.
Although it appears to be a merger that will benefit both companies, Ensoniq users (this writer included) who have long loved Ensoniq's PC audio sound boards might be just a little sad over the acquisition.