Ensoniq ESQ-1 first impression and walkthrough

[@JoePlanisky]

The point of the separate DCAs for each oscillator is so you can modulate the amplitude of each oscillator independently of the others. For example, you could start a note with a harmonically rich sound, like a saw in osc1 and sine wave in osc2, then fade out the saw wave with an envelope on DCA1 as you hold the note to end up with just the sine. In other words, you can have different waves (harmonics) for the attack vs sustain. Think of plucking a guitar string; the timbre right after the pluck is different from the timbre after a few seconds. I think Ensoniq called this "cross wave modulation" or some such thing. Also, note that the envelopes are a little more complex (and capable) than the usual ADSR type. There's a graphic on the panel just to the right of the envelope buttons that describes what the time and level controls do, but it took me a while to get my head around them even with that graphic aid.

[@MIDERA]

Yeah - normally I'm used to those DCAs as more part of a mod matrix rather than specifically tied to the oscillators. It's a cool idea though, so I don't mind how it works in that sense. Thanks!

[@VincentZauhar]

Fun seeing real-time first-hands impressions of this synth! I've owned and ESQ-1 and now an SQ-80, and I can tell you that there is so much to explore. It's very fun to hack around, and there's all sorts of fun stuff like hidden waveforms which can be wild, and out-of-bounds parameter values which can enable filter self-oscillation for instance. By the way, you can do PWM by cleverly utilizing Sync and modulating the pitch of OSC2 in a certain range, and this trick can also be used to do wavetable-like modulation without it sounding "syncky". Those are just a few examples of how deep this synth can be if you spend the time to explore it. Anyway, looking forward to a “soundscape” video! 😉

[@MIDERA]

Oh, yeah - thanks. I found how to do PWM, one of those things that just isn't obvious on first walkthrough. Hidden waves? I'll have to check that out.

[@Johnsormani]

My first impression on the esq1 was in 1986. Still have that synth and I still like it ver much

[@soupforare]

A favorite! I've had one and the module (for polyphony spill) for decades, used to wrench on them lifetimes ago.

[@MIDERA]

Can’t believe I’ve never played one, just never worked out to buy one. It’s soooooo good.

[@tylerevans1700]

Awesome to see you do a vid on the esq-1, I adore mine. :)

[@MIDERA]

It’s legit amazing. Next video will have to be a “soundscape” using it.

[@malfunkt]

Enjoyed your commentary and live demo of a this old classic. Ensoniq was so on top of their game in the '80s and '90s.

[@MIDERA]

Hey thanks. I’ve never done a video like that. I guess it’s almost like an “unboxing” video, but without the lame shit that is riding off of the coattails of the hype of a new thing, since this is old. Was fun to explore out loud what I was thinking and feeling. Thanks!

[@soupforare]

They definitely built to a price point but they were fortunate enough to have some of the best audio engineering minds on staff. Father of the SID was a co-founder.

[@mikamulperi]

Heavenly sounds!

[@MIDERA]

Thanks!

[@mathumphreys]

I bought my first ESQ1 in 1990 (plastic face) and used it in a covers band throughout the 90s for sequencing and sounds. I sold it in around 2010 and regretted it straight away. I bought another one (metal face) late last year and I won't be selling this one! Looking forward to you doing some videos on creating classic sounds (which the ESQ1 is really good at) when you get the chance!

[@MIDERA]

Oh nice. Do you feel like the metal one feels nicer? I assume this is the metal one just because it feels... well, metal. Glad you got it back!

[@mathumphreys]

I don't feel any difference between the two. The only real difference is the ESQ1 logo is in a slightly different spot and the plastic face had a heat sink on the back panel.

[@AndrewLeSynt]

I remember Ensoniq back in the 80's..... went to the music store and played all those awesome synths and samplers.... too expensive back then 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MIDERA]

Yeah, crazy to think how expensive these were back then. Hardly seems like they’d be worth the price when they can be had for like $300-$500 today.

[@Johnsormani]

Around 1400 usd I believe in 1986

[@dubstationzero4908]

no pwm but you can hard sync a square osc and mod pitch with lfo to get the pseudo effect 40:45

[@MIDERA]

Oh yeah, I’m gonna have to test it.

[@bloodyhell302]

​@@MIDERAKirk Slinkard demonstrated it on his SQ80, which is actual pwm, or as he also calls it, waveform modulation. He got some nice effects from syncing more complex waveforms.

[@paulgardener5525]

An awesome machine. Definitely a keeper. :)

[@MIDERA]

I agree :)

[@alessandrogolinelli3185]

Veramente molto bello 💥

[@MIDERA]

Thanks!

[@erik_gerhard]

Man that curtis filter rocks against those kilobyte waveforms 🤘 People complain about the reverb, but forget that onboard effects (other than chorus and MIDI delay) were more or less nonexistent at the time this thing was released. Like the DX7, EPS classic, the Junos, and Korg Poly's, this thing was *made* for external effect units (and sounds great with em!)

[@MIDERA]

Yeah, they’re for sure something special. And yeah, I just don’t get it because I’m not reviewing a new synth and not getting paid to review my own gear, but I want to hear it the way I want to hear it. If my reaction was how I heard it, but someone listening hears it a different way (without reverb) it might be weird to hear my reaction. I get that reverb “makes it better” but I have played some synths that even reverb couldn’t save. Thanks!

[@thepanicroommastering2062]

Thanks for the Video. You said ‚maybe this Video is useless‘. I think every video has something to offer for someone 😌 Keep on going ✌️

[@MIDERA]

Thanks! I've made a few of these now, I guess I'll see whether they're interesting. If nothing else, it's fun just talking to myself lol.

[@thesrabbit]

Sounds nice indeed. You definitely get on with the Ensoniq UI quickly. I think I’d get frustrated with it. Synths aside, I have a strange urge to go f around with Reed’s buckets.

[@MIDERA]

Reed's frickin bucket... sigh. hah, yeah, thanks. It's a cool synth. The UI definitely would take some warming up to!

[@PatternRecognitionMusic]

I had an ESQ-M for a long time, eventually sold it but it was a real powerhouse of a synth once you wrapped your head around it. A few years ago, I picked up an ESQ-1 but never really bonded with it again, IDK why. Wound up letting it go.

[@MIDERA]

Interesting. What was better about the ESQ-M?

[@PatternRecognitionMusic]

@@MIDERA it wasn't so much that it was better, since the synth engine is the same under the hood; I think it was more to do with my being in a different place musically.

[@alphabeets]

It is indeed a great classic synth. But please note that there are no effects in this synth. The nice reverb he added, adds a lot…

[@MIDERA]

And to clarify further - you do not need to be wealthy (I am not) to achieve that reverb effect. I spent $30 on that VST that was used. It is often and usually on sale from Eventide. I don't play these synths dry. But I know people seem pretty bothered by the fact that I did use it. There are tons of good videos without its use - such that I think any reasonable person could easily wander over to those videos and watch a dry recording of the synth. That just wasn't (and often is not) the purpose of my videos. It was my first impression, and my first impressions often use FX. Thanks for the comment.

[@MusicallyMrM]

I still have mine esq-1.... Bought it new in 1986 and aside from upgrading to system 3.50, and changing the battery I've never had a problem with it in all those years. I've watched your 55 minutes and I can tell you you just scratched the surface of sound programming on the Esq 1. I even know the answers to some of the questions you were asking as far as why the DCA didn't work or this didn't work but it wouldn't be any fun if I told you. Experiment with it and find a manual you won't be disappointed. One of the best synths of that era and it opened up a lot of technological doors that the new stuff is using today. 😎

[@Cavemaaaan]

Hello Midera :) I have a critical note for you!!! Your ESQ-1 is booting up and saying that the internal battery voltage is low. You need to address that right away. If the battery voltage fall any further, you will lose the internal sound patches and the diplay will only show "BRASS 1" in all of the internal sound patch slots like mine does. I just bought my ESQ-1 last Thursday (10-10-24) at a local pawn shop. I wondered how to pull up different sounds and I discovered that my internal battery voltage fell too low and all of the presets were lost other than the BRASS 1. I jury-rigged a 3v button cell battery across the old battery and then clipped out the old Varta 3v 1/2AA battery but it was already too late. I now have to find an original cartridge that came with the ESQ-1 when new to re-install the default factory patches. I'm gonna call Syntaur tomorrow and see what my options are outside of eBay and a $300 Program Cartridge from Italy which, I'm sure is nice but, OUCH!!! Save the Internal Patches!!! DG

[@Johnsormani]

You have an old firmware, probably 2.0. Newer firmware ( last official version is 3,5) has a full sound set

[@simonkormendy849]

If they're going to reissue any more synths, they really should reissue both the Ensoniq ESQ1 and the SD1, they were actually really good sounding hybrid synths.

[@MIDERA]

I'm not sure who would reissue it since Ensoniq isn't in business anymore. Doesn't seem like something Behringer would make since it's got a lot of digital stuff going on.

[@Ambientnauts]

Rad rundown. It was a first date! I like how you gave your first impressions on what shined the most to you. The detuning and layering possibilities while paired with the Blackhole effect could take it into a territory that CZ's are known for excelling at. What role do you see it fulfilling in your own creations?

[@MIDERA]

Ha, yeah it was like a first date. Fun to explore something in real time and discover what it excels at (or fails at). Thanks!

[@dubstationzero4908]

Holy Buckets Mideraman . WHAM BOOM POW

[@MIDERA]

lol. Yes.

[@swanofnutella4734]

I guess so many Ensoniq synths have a good reputation for a reason. Except for the Fizmo. The one I want. ...For the memes.

[@MIDERA]

I thought the Fizmo was sought after and is very expensive. I've never wanted one myself because it was too much money and because I recall it had an incomplete OS.

[@swanofnutella4734]

@@MIDERA Even it's enthusiasts know it's weird/fussy/abstruse, compared to other Ensoniq's which users tend to seem to walk away from reporting mostly enjoyable experiences. Fizmos are averaging 2.5k, compared to PEKs which have been meandering from 2.7k to 3.5k over the last year. T.T (I read somewhere you can buy Ensoniq X and get card Y for it, and you'll essentially have near enough to a Fizmo for a much more reasonable price. Sorry I don't remember the specs.)

[@Johnsormani]

@@swanofnutella4734MR rack with expansion card will get you close

[@willswitchcraft]

interesting.....personally, I would have preferred to hear it dry, with no added ext fx, but it's a great and informative video........cool upload.

[@MIDERA]

Sure - I feel like those videos already exist, and it’s just not how I like to experience a synth.

[@willswitchcraft]

Understood

[@John-e4p1x]

33:45 wow. WOW. Whoa...

[@MIDERA]

:)

[@abrokenframe82]

Not only are your videos always sonically interesting, I love your voice over in this one. Hope your neighbour now appreciates you saving his pots! This synth sounds gorgeous through the Black hole, a true sound track synth. So will you be keeping this and getting rid of the P10?

[@MIDERA]

Those synths are sooooo different. Don’t think the P10 is going anywhere! Thanks, didn’t think anyone would like the voice over.

[@sergemassa2937]

Hi midera, i'm the first to see your vidéo....

[@MIDERA]

Awesome, thanks!

[@iSirTaki]

best synth, but i think u need more reverb 😆

[@MIDERA]

I think I have the perfect amount of reverb. Great synth.

[@nagchumpalot]

Wouldn’t mind hearing it a bit without a ton of reverb😅. Good video though.

[@MIDERA]

Yeah, you're not the only one. Guess I'm gonna need disclaimers up front because I'm never going to make my videos without FX, because I play them how I like to hear them. If I were getting paid to do reviews of gear, then for sure I wouldn't include it. Thanks.

[@joshuahelmeke]

1:30 😱 WEE! WEE! WEE! WEE! 😱

[@MIDERA]

Lol

[@brianhoffman3091]

You can zero out a value by pressing the up and down buttons simultaneously, instead of trying to finesse the slider.

[@Johnsormani]

Yes. And they forgot to copy that in the sq80

[@Dartagnan65]

ESQ-1 is the $h!t!

[@Dartagnan65]

Also, I'm laughing at you trying to figure it out. It's really simple in it's own way. I love my ESQ

[@Dartagnan65]

Oh, the keybed on the metal case is SO dumb! You have to replace the ENTIRE keybed to fix ONE broken key! - So don't break a key!

[@MIDERA]

@@Dartagnan65 Yeah - it makes sense now - but for not having used it ever, I think anything can be a head-scratcher! It's really a great synth though! Didn't know that about the keybed. Yikes!

[@XPJV]

Did you forget that today is 2024 and not 1994...

[@MIDERA]

I guess I did.

[@Elluvis72]

This why a hate digital synhs. Menus are for restaurants.

[@MIDERA]

That's such an odd take. I have some digital synths that have barely any menus (System 8, Virus TI, Prophet 12). Then there are lots of analog synths with lots of menus (Matrix 6/1000, JX-3P, JX-8P, Alpha Juno some Akai synths)... I agree that the ESQ1 with potentiometers/encoders would be much better, but the UI isn't that bad on this thing. It didn't really take me that long to get around on this.

[@ShallRemainUnknown]

Yes, as has been said, ESQ1 HAS NO MENUS! One of the very best UIs, makes perfect use of 10 softkeys above/below display, and dedicated buttons to change pages.

[@John-e4p1x]

this sounds almost as good as.............. an ... accelerator..

[@MIDERA]

I think they’re really different. Hard to say what’s better.

[@John-e4p1x]

@@MIDERA Cmon midera... stop taunting us.... give the people what they want.... you on the accelerator playing pads and reverb... SERIOUSLY!!!

[@MIDERA]

@@John-e4p1x I didn't think anyone wanted that... hell, I'm not sure anyone wants what I do in the first place!

[@RoyChartier]

...oh it is running thru an Eventide reverb...that's why it sounds great...

[@MIDERA]

👍

[@Joedoriamusic]

"So that's all the different sounds...and other things..." No. Not in the slightest. You haven't learned enough to call this a first impression and this is certainly not a "walkthrough". Bailing on the sequencer as well? Your loss. This video should be titled: 'I turned on a classic synthesizer given to me free for the first time and I have no idea what the reverb mix knob is or does'. Other gems: " Snappiness!!!" "The ENVs are nothing special" "It's not the quickest synth to work with". "It's best feature is the 'sync' "Ya know what? I just realized I don't know how to change patches. Oh. The camera turned off. Bye" I'm sorry but this is disservice and full of misinformation.

[@MIDERA]

K

[@simonkormendy849]

If they're going to reissue any more synths, they really should reissue both the Ensoniq ESQ1 and the SD1, they were actually really good sounding hybrid synths.

[@MIDERA]

I feel like the Ambika is the most current embodiment of the ESQ1... but the ESQ might sound a tad better IMO. Both great though.

[@alphabeets]

Arturia released a soft synth version…