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Ensoniq ESQ-1

 

 

 

ensoniq esq1 synthesizer

audio demo Country: USA
Weight: 15 kg
Dimensions: n/a
audio demo trend price : 300€
manual demo video comments

Ensoniq ESQ-1
Digital Wave Synthesizer (1986)

 

Hybrid wave synthesizer with digital waveforms and analog filters, same breed like Kawai K3, Korg DW8000 and Waldorf Microwave.

esq1

ensoniq esq1 boot screen

info KEYBOARD 61 velocity keys. Main panel features a VDF 80 characters display, 54 buttons and a 1 data slider. On the left side there are 2 wheels for pitch bender and and modulation.


Back panel terminal connectors:
- main out stereo (for pan)
- Midi interface
- tape interface for storage also used for CLOCK sync
- sustain footswitch input
- footswitch input for sequencer start-stop
- control voltage pedal input.




edit VOICE main core is a 8-bits Motorola 6809 CPU manages 8 voices polyphony.
A basic voice is composed by 1, 2 or 3 short samples with individual parameters:
- volume mixing
- octave height
- tune coarse / fine
- hard sync mode: OSC2 restarts its wave cycle when OSC1 finishes
- AM mode OSC 1 amplitude modulates > OSC2 amplitude (ring modulator concept).



structure

osc1


 

edit WAVETABLE internal ROM is a 64 Kb (32 x 2 EPROM) wavetable coded at 8 bits resolution.
The wavetable contains 32t short cycled waveforms organized in 5 subgroups:
- mathematical pre-calculated waves
- additives waves with variable harmonics contents
- formants
- elementaries like pulse or saw
- acoustic multisamples including the infamous "clunky" piano.



1 SAW
2 BELL
3 SINE
4 SQUARE
5 PULSE
6 NOISE 1
7 NOISE 2
8 NOISE 3
9 BASS
10 PIANO
11 EL PNO
12 VOICE 1
13 VOICE 2
14 KICK
15 REED
16 ORGAN
17 SYNTH 1
18 SYNTH 2
19 SYNTH 3
20 FORMT 1
21 FORMT 2
22 FORMT 3
23 FORMT 4
24 FORMT 5

25 PULSE 2
26 SQR 2
27 4 OCTS
28 PRIME
29 BASS 2
30 E PNO 2
31 OCTAVE
32 OCT +5



filter PERFORMANCE Esq-1 manages up to 8 parts with individual settings:
- individual Midi chanel assigment
- 2 voices layer
- 2 voices split in a user-defined point
- special monophonic mode plays (1 voice stacked) with portamento and glide time
- panning can be modulated by EG, LFO, wheel, velocity, Midi CC# or pedal.


esq1 tech


filter FILTER
analog low pass at -24dB/octave resonant (not self-resonant) VCF based on 8 X Curtis CEM 3379 with key tracking level.
TECH: Like all parameters, the VCF is quantised and scaled in 30 t digital values.

 

filter

 


adsr ENVELOPE
4 assignable EGs each with a 4 stages ADSR + 3 time levels.
All EGs can be freely set to:
- EG VCF filter
- EG VCA OSC1
- EG VCA OSC2
- EG VCA OSC3


EG





lfo LFO
3 delayed modulators (shape: saw, square, noise and triangle) and many destinations:
- OSC1 pitch
- OSC2 pitch
- OSC3 pitch
- VCA amplitude
- VCF filter.
Modulation can be set to free flow or retriggered plus a special "human" function that gives a random feeling and non-linear frequency rate.


LFO




sequencer SEQUENCER
up to 8 tracks with real-time record or step mode recording with quantizers, copy tracks, merge and loop function.
SYNC internal clock frequency or sync to external tempo using tape sync IN or trigger In (+5V at 24 PPQ) widely used by analog machines.


 

memory MEMORY:
- 40 RAM patches
- 80 patcges on memory cartridge SQX-20
- 2400 RAM notes
- 10000 notes with memory expansion
TECH: ESQ 1 "Plus" version comes with double patch RAM and sequencer updated to 20000 notes.
Data can be saved on tape dump or directly to Midi Exclusive systems.
Battery repalcement: 3V soldered battery like this on the pictures, still easy to find on the market.


battery replacement

 


lfo EDIT
some computer-based softwares can make your life easier:
- Soundquest (mac/pc, commercial)
- ESQapade (Atari ST, now freeware) PIC
- Sounddiver (PC/MAC out of business)
- CTRLR (free) pic below


atari st ensoniq esq1 editor

 


family ESQ-1 RELATED FAMILY

ensoniq esqm rack

ESQ-M
The rackmount version imodel - it looks like an Ensoniq MIRAGE. It lacks the synth SEQUENCER and tap interface


 

effet VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there are some free and commercial samples set:

  name price demo
ESQ-1 reboot - ESQ-1 reboot
-Soundfont

free sample pack(needs subscription)

ESQ-1 reboot
SQL8 SQL8 free VST.
Old plugin, not more supported
SQL8


 

demoAUDIO DEMO


demo organic arpeggio
demo arpeggio filter
demo organic arpeggio II
demo bass resonance
demo thunder sound
demo resonant pad
demo Rhodes piano

demo resonant pad II
demo my favourite!
demo pan game
demo another evolving VCF pad
demo noise LFO
demo formant choir
demo  


videoVIDEO CLIP SELECTION

Ensoniq ESQ-1 demonstration ESQ-1 patches Ensoniq ESQ1 Ambient
demonstration patches Ambient

 

 

esq1




manual
ENSONIQ ESQ- 1 MANUAL

 




manual
Ensoniq ESQ-1 SERVICE MANUAL

 

 


manual
FACTORY PATCH (follow reset procedure)




ESQ1 FACTORY RESET PROCEDURE

 

(only for OS> 2.2) Hold the "record" and "button 1" . SWITCH ON- "yes"

filter

 

 


filter
wiseman tips:

With latest OS you can "cheat" the ESQ1 using a cartridge from the ENSONIQ Sq-80 which that has 0HFF waveforms (hexl) the machine accesses some memory Offsets out of the wavetable address and reads them as waveform producing glitchy sounds.

 

 

 

original scan
edit original brochure

 

 


original scan
edit original brochure

 

 

 

original scan
edit original brochure

 

 

 

 

original scan
edit original brochure

 

 

 

original scan
edit original brochure

 

 


original scan
edit original advertising

 

 

 

original scan
edit original advertising

 

 

Ensoniq ESQ-1 for sale

Ensoniq ESQ-1 for sale
CHECK OUT EBAY OFFERS


 

envelope esq1 welcome to esq1 center display VDF


manual

- filter
- cool glowing display
-a lot of fun

manual


-heavy
- waveforms compression

comment


REVIEW "Some distinctive character, fun, and surprising! good for filtered pads and analog-digital strings lovers"

 
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Ensoniq ESQ1 4 out of 5 based on 25 ratings. price €300