Arturia SQ80v vs Ensoniq SQ80 how accurate is it?

[@NineFourOneMedia]

I have an ESQ-1 and also this SQ80v. Loading the sysex from my ESQ into this thing, they are just so close it's not even worth discussing. Very impressed. It's the closest of all the emulations I have of any of my vintage synths.

[@masterchain3335]

Great comparison. You may have just saved me like $800. Was heavily leaning towards getting a real SQ80 and wondering if it was really worth it over just getting the plug-in. I'm sure the hardware version has its charm, but to me this is so close in sound that I don't think I could justify buying an old clacky keyboard that sounds essentially the same.

[@JeffShuck]

The Arturia stuff is getting better and better IMO. The last couple of years they’ve just been killing it. I recently got an SQ-80, which I love - and yet, now I wonder how much I’ll turn it on! Although, the one thing Arturia can’t emulate is the feel of the klacky buttons. Either way, the SQ-80 is absolutely a secret weapon. Love all of the Ensoniq stuff. Great video.

[@Fluxwithit]

I agree, there is something about those old button interfaces. Partly why I love the hydrasynth is it has a very similar vibe when programming (jumping from block to block). Also those old vacuum display or what ever it’s called. It just has a vibe about it

[@JeffShuck]

@@Fluxwithit Oh man, I love the old displays! The VFX is incredible too, although it has a very different architecture and sound. I've been eyeing the Hydrasynth -- I have to say, I'm drawn to things that are fairly "digital" versus all the analog stuff that is everywhere. The time I grew up I guess. How would you compare Hydrasynth to the Prophet 12 and Novation Peak? All three of those seem to cover similar territory and each keeps catching my eye...

[@Fluxwithit]

@@JeffShuck all obvious biases aside (as I now work for ASM ) I sold my prophet 12 as I just did not find myself very inspired working on it. Something about the way it was voiced and laid out just didn’t work for me. I don’t miss it which I really feared I would. I sold it not too long after getting the first prototype of hydrasynth. Hydrasynth filters imho were just so much more versatile and I could pull things out of the oscillators in more interesting ways. I like the peak but editing it is not as fun imho. I much prefer the peak sound over the p12 (even though the p12 is far more close to a summit as it has the ability to dual layer etc… to that point the p12, summit and Hydrasynth Deluxe would all be on closer ground.). For me the fun of editing directly impacts the end sound. I like the filter on the peak but I don’t like how the modulation matrix is handled. Not horrible but not the best.

[@JeffShuck]

@@Fluxwithit All great feedback, thanks! Didn't know you worked for ASM. Definitely increased my interest in the Hydrasynth!

[@station2station544]

This is scary. As a former ESQ-1 and SQ-80 owner, all I can say is WTF? 14:10 the circuit modeling is capturing all the emblems! They could have easily made this a sample-based VST and they didn't. Rather, they modeled the circuits! Thanks for doing this.

[@anissbenthami]

It's a digital synth what circuit are you talking about

[@jansonrawlings8169]

@@anissbenthami Thie is a hybrid synth with analog filters. Also, do you think digital synths run on magic? Or might there be circuits involved

[@oskie66skye]

Arturia + Ableton = Are my tools. I just love 'em.

[@photicsonar]

You saved my day after my ESQ-1 got broken! Great Job, Man!

[@ApexDubb]

I love the Arturia plug in synths They are so close to the real instruments

[@PJ....]

Just picked up an SQ-80 for US$165, all working well other than Floppy is a a little finicky (Will replace or upgrade drive), but came with Eprom Cart als, so cant complain at that price. Love all the Arturia & UVI emulations ...

[@Rose_Arcana]

Nice video, I will be getting this in the future. Right now I am satisfied with the SQ8L, you gotta love Arturia.

[@ResearchSoundLab]

Try to invest in your art at least once a year. Believe in yourself, Rose. Give yourself a treat once in awhile.

[@bwc1976]

I never heard of this synth until just a few days ago when I tried the Arturia version, but it seems absolutely fascinating, as well as kind of a spiritual successor to the Commodore 64's SID chip which was designed by the same people who started Ensoniq and also used digitally stored waveforms. The whole analog to digital transition era is so fascinating, and everyone talks about the DX7 and CZ101 and Alpha Juno and those are really important of course, but not everyone knows about the SQ80 or the Korg DW6000 and 8000.

[@Fluxwithit]

yes the Ensoniq team are legends. for more info on that era I did an interview with Dave Rossum who sheds light on some of that era as well. (spoiler E-MU bought Ensoniq at one point and both were bought by UAD)

[@csilt]

Great job on the demo. I think they do sound very similar. I think I'm going to have to shell out the money and get the V Collection. I want the Emulator too. Save Ferris!

[@EnervatedSociety]

I'd say this the closest emulation they've done so far. Makes sense since it's partly digital/sample based. Next would be the DX7 V and the rest are pretty much crap (imo) as emulations go but useful synths in their own right. That said, I haven't checked out the Emulator II V or the CZ V yet. Thanks for the video. First comparison vid I've found since this emulation came out. Also sub and liked.

[@StarskyCarr]

Nice vid. It a lovely bit of software, that's opened my eyes and ears to the ESQ80 - I never really knew what it could do previously.

[@Fluxwithit]

It’s a beautiful color that I’m glad won’t be lost to the world as time moves on and these synths become less stable

[@jensschettler1732]

This is like all digital synth emulations from arturia, awesome. The cz101, the dx7, the fairlight and the synclavier are also fucking great.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Great stuff Ken, it sounds really good. Makes me want to get the hardware! Love the cameo from the explorer too 😁

[@LordCritish]

I liked and subbed! I'm afraid of Baba Yaga. btw the SQ80 V sounds much better than the crime that Arturia calls a Prophet VS emulation.

[@rohosynth]

Great demo, Ken! Memories flooding back from my data selling these synths…good memories. Arturia has another winner.

[@jdigital1]

Thanks for a great comparison, both sound amazing and extremely close.

[@corridor444]

Thanks for staying 💯

[@kelansmith5514]

Awesome comparison, I also own an SQ-80 and the only slight critique I would have is that the CEM filter on the h/w version has that special Curtis magic (noticeable especially with longer releases in the filter and amp envelopes) that only U-He has come close to replicating in software. In all other ways this is nearly a 1:1 emulation, great job Arturia.

[@Fluxwithit]

Sounds dead on to me. Both u-he and arturia are doing zero delay feedback filtering now which has really improved the sound emulations out there imho. Only differences I hear is on some patches they may be slightly brighter or darker depending on the patch and that the modulation amounts are slightly different .

[@Death_By_Media]

I loaded all my old patches and noticed I had to open the filter about 5% more in the SQ80V and the final output sounds a bit clearer and louder , but otherwise I’d say pretty spot on . Even did another A/B with SQ8L ( which I’ve used as an overflow module it’s so close ) and it held up there too . I’m with you on them not adding the buttons to the keyboard view , truth be told I prefer the workflow in SQ8L’s GUI having used the real deal for years , but running it in net vst , SM pro VFX on Mac OS and its lack of midi cc control won’t be missed . Btw Ken next time you speak with the guys at ASM you should ask if they where inspired by the Ensoniq synths when they made the Hydra layout , I’d be interested to know .

[@Fluxwithit]

the Hydrasynth UI is more heavily influenced by the Oberheim matrix 12 , but there is some ensoniq love there too. I remember when I got my first look at the prototype I took a double take at those module buttons lol.

[@Death_By_Media]

@@Fluxwithit How could I forget my ultimate dream synth ! I could see that too hadn’t thought about it .

[@Johnsormani]

I had issues with net Vst but I am using the SMP vmachine as an overflow unit for the sq80 and esq1. Works great

[@jscan]

Love the SQ8L - been using it for years, and as an dedicated Ensoniq user (still!) of numerous keys since the early 80's, I can confirm it does the job - bets thing about it is the price!

[@thirstyCactus]

Nice comparison. I agree that the SQ-80 sounds a bit darker than the SQ-80V. Maybe Arturia went a bit over-board with the aliasing, or didn't model the DAC / output circuitry accurately.

[@Fluxwithit]

@@thirstyCactus I mean it could be as simple as old output caps and filter calibration on my unit

[@thirstyCactus]

​@@Fluxwithit True

[@Lantertronics]

Well done video!

[@fender1000100]

Listen the SQ 80 is so awesome. That if the Arturia is even 80% there it's gonna sound great.

[@SoundsAndGear]

Dope video bro

[@ShazammtheProducer]

facts

[@BeatsAndGuitars]

Great video Ken

[@Fluxwithit]

thanks

[@soundmechanicssd]

Sounds great!

[@BCThunderthud]

I watch this video every time an ESQ-M shows up on eBay. There's a "cheap" one there now but I really don't need it, nice as it would look under my Mirage.

[@brianjrobinson]

I've found that none of my non-factory patches sound the same when I import the Sysex. The general character is there, but the attack is different, the decay is different, the sustain is different, and there are other "enhancements" to the sound. The sounds sound exactly like what the SQ80 is capable of, but none sound exactly like my patches. And when I listen to your factory patch comparisons, I'm hearing the same thing on most of them. It sounds "samey", but not the same. I'd rack it up to my synth being old, and something now working quite right, but the SQ8L sounds the same as my SQ80, while the SQ80V only sounds "similar" to my SQ80. The SQ8L is an identical twin, the SQ80V is a fraternal twin.

[@Fluxwithit]

Interesting , love to see a comparison video with you sq80 and the sq80v/sq8L. I haven’t done any sysex importing as I tend to creat my sq80 patches and not really save em for later (aside for I’m multi sampling)

[@maxhult830]

@Frank Tuesday I second that! I had the ESQ-1 with the SQ80 added waves on that OS. 3.53 or something. Did A/B comparisons with the same patches from sysex. SQ8L is spot on.

[@maxhult830]

@@Fluxwithit SQ8L is freeware btw, just download a copy and you'll hear what Frank is saying! ;)

[@Fluxwithit]

@@maxhult830 I’ve had sq8L for years , I don’t really find the attack thing so much as the difference in the brightness control. Which is really a global filter/eq control. Sq8L to my ears doesn’t have the jittery low end quite as down pat imho. The presets in the sq80v are definitely tweaked though.

[@ShazammtheProducer]

this shit looks and sounds dope nice video as always

[@Fluxwithit]

Thanks 🙏

[@gizka6816]

it seems like the only thing that gives it away is the velocity response on the sq80 gives you a softer sound. other than that its pretty spot on

[@dernuniverse9813]

Check out the free old version of the synth Is SQ8L. Only 32bit very good

[@TheWoodlandWhale]

I've wanted a 64bit version for years

[@strange_delight]

Great video. It shows that the plugin pretty much does what the hardware does but I kept wondering: why don't you use the SQ80 to control the plugin? Or use the hydrasynth to both control the SQ80 and the plugin?

[@Fluxwithit]

because 1, the SQ80 doesn't make a great plug in controller. no usb and as I explain the Aftertouch is no where near as predictable and precise as hydrasynth. 2) it would make bouncing back and forth between the two a hassle.

[@Johnsormani]

@@Fluxwithit man don’t you have a midi interface ? You could have recorded everything intone go and fix the rest in the video editing

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

This sounds way closer to its hardware counterpart than Korg software synths do. It even has the same character as the hardware synth's outputs. Korg software synths all sound digital and pristine. They all could be the same plugin.

[@Sebastianandthedeepbluemusic]

a bit of of post processing to cut the brightness and you are there with the emulation. I heard another ab on KZbin that didn't sound close but the unit must have been more worn out or something. cool might grab the plug thanks

[@Fluxwithit]

I should note , there is also a brightness knob at the bottom of the plug in to aid in getting the software closer to any specific sq80

[@mastermachetier5594]

I’d love to see and get info on the restoration process on the sq80 I have my eyes on one

[@ChrisHuelsbeckOfficial]

I found most of the SQ80 V factory patches (even the ones with the known names from the hardware patches) are enhanced (usually with the added effects section or more expressive controller settings). If you import original SQ80 sysex data, the differences between plugin and hardware are minimal... an almost perfect emulation! :)

[@StayBased1]

I just buy whatever Arturia releases now its a no brainer 😜

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

How does the Arturia VST compare to the freeware SQ-80 VST (which also can load the original sound files) ?

[@Johnsormani]

Why didn’t you use the sq 80 midi to control the plug-in.? That would have the comparison easier and realtime. But the sound is pretty much dead on,. What makes the sq80v extra special is the addition of vfx transwaves which takes the synth into a whole different territory . It’s a great follow up on the sq8L from kuhlmann and the easiest way to get a sq80 in your Mac. Btw the esq1 hidden waves were a result of the 3.5 firmware that was made for both the esq1 and sq80 in the same file. It also expanded some extra functionality on the esq1

[@Fluxwithit]

This was shot all in one go, much easier to do it this way. In addition the sq80 as I explained in the video has far less precision in the polyAT making matching it up more of a chore (not less). I’d also be constantly either switching by local off or adjusting volume levels , neither of which would make sense when I have other poly AT keybeds available. Also the hidden waves I have are on the 1.8 eprom. Not sure if they differ from the ones on the 3.5 esq1 firmware. I agree the transwaves are great addition and allow for more modulation flexibility.

[@moogik1892]

wouldn't using the SQ80 to control the plugin create more accuracy, like when Ken comments that the plugin gets to the top velocity level much more easily than the keyboard of the SQ80?

[@ryanbaker9243]

Random question: anyone know which presets Mr bungle used on the self titled album?

[@blueeyedsoulman]

Is the TS-12 similar?

[@tranceemerson8325]

I bet if you send midi out from the hydrasynth into your SQ-80 it would sound the same.

[@zmix]

Question: Why didn't you use the ensoniq SQ 80 as the master keyboard for both?

[@Fluxwithit]

Because 1) then I’d have to switch control local on / off constantly and or alter levels a lot more. 2) more difficult to easily convey which of the two I am playing.

[@zmix]

@@Fluxwithit Got it. but you could just mute / solo the audio from each source..

[@Fluxwithit]

@@zmix I could do a lot of things, but like I said, wouldn’t be as fluid or easy to tell what I’m doing. This is what I chose, pretty happy with the results :)

[@zmix]

@@Fluxwithit I understand. I'm mostly curious about how the SQ 80 keyboard works with the Arturia version. I worked with Ensoniq on several of their synths and samplers back in the 90s and those strange induction based keyboards were unique (and still are), so for example when you said that you felt you needed to really whack the SQ 80 hard compared to the other keyboard, I wonder how that translated..?

[@Fluxwithit]

@@zmix the midi scaling is the same

[@ToreHansen]

Arturia Analog Labs is my fav VST, and I got almost 100 incl most free.

[@nativeVS]

Is there a way to set a slew rate for the aftertouch on the plug-in?

[@Fluxwithit]

I don't believe that is adjustable.

[@shaneking5610]

I want to restore my SQ-80 keyboard, how did you do yours?

[@Death_By_Media]

If you plan on keeping it forever I recommend doing the button cell battery mod it’s easy and will save you the risks of soldering every decade lol Also there’s a neat usb flash drive port replacement for the floppy drive out there .

[@shaneking5610]

@@Death_By_Media I’ve soldered a battery holder on mine, yeah, the floppy doesn’t work and I’ve thought about doing the usb drive thing. I really want to fix the aftertouch on mine, it is all over the place.

[@Death_By_Media]

@@shaneking5610 That’s one thing that never broke on mine surprisingly almost everything else did lol

[@Fluxwithit]

@@shaneking5610 I started by removing all the keys and cleaning the pcb contacts. Then I took a razor and scraped all the old foam spacers off the keys and whitened the keys (google that process it’s not hard.) once that was finished I found some foam dots at a local craft store that were the same size and density as the original foam… pure luck really… I would highly recommend checking out the site syntaur as they have a better sollution (new rubber spacing.)

[@infindebula]

@@Fluxwithit Syntaur unfortunately hasn't had stock on those in years.

[@zerocrossing]

Here’s the question. Will you now sell the SQ-80?

[@Fluxwithit]

No

[@christdolphin69]

why couldnt you make the hydra sound half as good as this 40 year old thing

[@jbognap]

Does the Arturia vsti do hard sync and ring mod? This is a must see for SQ-80 owners: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZWoq3lthriah6c

[@100haymaker]

When civilisation collapses ? As it happens I was subscribed already but I’ll give you this you’re a trier😁

[@Fluxwithit]

“Must not sleep, must warn others”

[@dantarradellas7351]

The gorgeous analog filter vs the software lame imitation is glaringly obvious and not in a good way. Or is just me.

[@Fluxwithit]

Honestly…. I think it’s just you.

[@Patrick-pv9pe]

It's just you scro