Talking Synths, Episode 31: More Ensoniq ESQ-1 Programming Tricks

Talking Synths is a weekly podcast where Syntaur's Sam Mims and Carlos Morales tackle your questions and chat about all manner of synthology. This episode, Sam and Carlos talk more about programming techniques using the Ensoniq ESQ-1.
Synth Wizards Episode 10: • Synth Wizards Episode ...
Enter the mandolin patch (MANDLN) on your ESQ-1 or SQ-80: drive.google.com/file/d/17lmd...
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[@donmakowski71]

Thank you guys for this video! I just got an ESQ-1 and am wrapping my head around it. I am like you Sam and need to understand it in my mind as I experiment with it.

[@graxjpg]

I can’t wait to visit some day soon. Cheers from San Antonio!

[@shawnaebbeson7882]

I did not have a lot of experience with the ESQ1 and SQ-80, but my initial foray into Ensoniq was the VFX-SD. I learned everything about that synth, as well as the SQ1/2/R series. I know I have commented on other videos about my Ensoniq synth ownership, but I will say again that I have a VFX, a VFX-SD and two SQR+/32 units. In the early days with the VFX-SD, I was more interested in trying to get emulations of acoustic instruments as close as possible, but in the alst 10 years or so, I have gone into more pad sounds and moving patches on thise synths. I will say that I have hard a VERY hard time finding ANY keyboard, even today, that has as good of an Oboe sound as the VFX 'Double Reed' patch. I remember the Clarinet sound being quite good too. I also really like the additional drum waves that the VFX-SD added over the original VFX drums. My favorite patches from the VFX-SD: Merlin (called Mystic on the SQ1/2/R) Double Reed (called Bassoon on the SQ1/2/R) Wood-Flute (called Flute on the SQ1/2/R) Lead Sax (works great with the Patch Select buttons) There are so many more, including many that I have made myself, that use the Transwaves, and have a lot of motion in them. I have considered getting the ESQ1 or SQ-80 just to see what kind of pads I could create... I remember your patches from the Transoniq Hacker. You guys are wonderful and I hope to take a vacation (playing keys during the vacation at different nursing homes) and take a visit to your new facility :)

[@iamelohym]

Been knowing Syntaur for quite some eons now. Traveling back in time to meet in the future.🌠

[@markpeters284]

Great series this. The ESQ1 was the first brand new poly synth I purchased when it first came out in 1986, to go with my Roland Juno 6 and SH1. It was my mainstay live and for sequencing for the next 12 years until it ended up in the studio. I used to love programming sounds using velocity as a modulator which give some very expressive sounds. The original memory battery lasted well over 20 years unlike my Wavestation A/D which didn’t even last 4 years. In its later years gigging I did have to carry a screwdriver and tube of superglue as I occasionally would break off the key stops which meant that key would flick up and stick up which made it very tricky to play. Still with only 4 screws to pop the lid and glue the bit back on, we weren’t stopped for long. Always look forward to new videos from you guys, keep up the good work.

[@capancrunch2426]

Hi fellas, Suzuki came out with a digital piano that looks like a baby grand, over time the keys stick badly cuz they swell over the years so in order to fix it you need to take the keyboard out and remove a set of rods that hold the keys together after thinning out the spacers its nearly impossible to put the same rods back in because of the shift spacing so there Is a kit out their that was made for this specific procedure that a few folks really need to get there key bed back to normal again

[@synthfellow]

Great video! Thank you!

[@bobbycastaneda9091]

Great video! I have both the ESQ-1 and the SQ-80. Awesome synths!

[@photonspark]

Hi Bobby, Im interested in getting either the ESQ1 or the S80. If you use the same patch on both, have you ever noticed a slight difference between the two? Someone said the ESQ1 sounds a bit more gritty/analog? On the ESQ1, can you save patches to a programmable cartridge? Or is the SQ80 better for external saving of patches due to its floppy drive? I don't really need after touch of SQ80 keyboard, which of the two has best feeling keyboard in your opinion? Thanks🙂

[@synthsei]

@@photonspark Hi Photonspark, I'm sure you will hear from Bobby soon. I will just say in the meantime that I also, have an ESQ1 and SQ80 and both are great! The main differences of the SQ80 might not matter, as much to you. You said you don't need the after-touch and the floppy drive is fairly obsolete nowadays. Tone wise, they are very similar, but I haven't A/B'd the same sound on both yet. And some will say the ESQ1 can sound slightly warmer, I don't have a comment on that part yet. However, I will say the SQ80 has more waveforms about 75 vs. around 33 (off the top of my head). Also, the floppy drive can be retrofitted with an aftermarket SD drive Floppy Disk emulator. I will probably do this shortly to mine. I have seen for both extended cartridges being sold. Meaning, they have fit multiple 40 bank sounds inside one cartridge with a rotary dial to select different banks on the cartridge. So you have a ton of storage that way, in theory. Also, if you use a computer as well, you can send system exclusive messages to the computer and save your sequences and patches that way on both keyboards, as well. Lastly, I do prefer the feel of the keyboard on the ESQ1 slightly more and it's not as noisy. Meaning old SQ80's make a clacking sound, when the pads for the after-touch is worn out. All in all, they are both great. I would say, you should get whichever one you can find in good shape and at a good price. You will find it's usually cheaper and easier to get an ESQ1 for less money. I hope this helps answer your question.

[@mrlionel1965]

I have had my ESQ1 for years. I never really got into programming. I just played the loaded stuff. Please do more of these. Love the mandolin patch!

[@Abruzzo333]

That's sacrilege. You've never even edited the preset sounds?! Synthesizer like the ESQ-1 are made for getting into them and making you're own distinct sounds. The presets on most synths are mediocre at best. The real magic starts to happen when you make something you're own. At least change some of the oscillators waveforms and maybe mess with their individual pitches and the filter.

[@mrlionel1965]

@@Abruzzo333 I have edited plenty of sounds on my ESQ1 over the 25 years I have owned it, I just never did it a lot. Me personally, the patches I have work great with the music we play.

[@michaelnc4450]

Thanks for the great post!

[@resynthesizer4565]

Syntaur ! My favorite go to when I need parts. Love my ESQ-1. Quickly becoming my favorite. Required a bit of work, but it was worth the time.

[@resynthesizer4565]

That reminds me, I need to buy the key bushing kit for the EPS.

[@mixn5919]

that's so sweet the mandolin patch was inspired by Sam's grandfather :')

[@rcom9880]

The EPS came out around the same time as the KORG M1 and I bought the EPS instead of the M1 for the EPS sampling function. So I missed out on one of the best selling synths of all time!

[@_P_M_]

Same here. Plus I had to spring for the 4xRAM upgrade. Looking back, the M1 was probably the better choice for me. I knew nothing.

[@keykrazy]

Another fella here who went with the EPS (and 4x expander + SCSI) back in 1991. I don't regret that choice at all! After doing the usual toilet flushes and spinning coins and such, I started sampling things like my alto saxophone and my friend's viola -- that, combined with going to my local music store and copying all the EPS diskettes they had in the store got me a nice set of sounds to work from. The best part of this was that I was using sounds that were a lot more "organic" compared to what others were using (thanks to all the A/D ~ D/A and 13- to 16-bit conversions or whatnot that happened within the machine -- i.e., not at all dissimilar to how a Fairlight CMI "colors" whatever sounds are sampled and played back from *that* machine.) Moreover, 37-ish synths later and I've yet to find a sequencer that's more intuitive to me then the EPS's is/was...

[@rcom9880]

@@keykrazy Cool! Thanks for the comment

[@rcom9880]

@@_P_M_ Same here. Live and learn.

[@graxjpg]

Ensoniq synths have a similar charm to me as the old Kustom amplifier company. Quite unique!

[@6581punk]

They were ex-Commodore engineers who left to start a business. The DOC chip in the ESQ-1, Mirage, SQ80 was the realisation of the ideas Bob Yannes had at Commodore and tried to get working for the Commodore 64 but didn't have enough time.

[@graxjpg]

@@6581punk very cool!! Both companies also have a wonderfully interesting history.

[@pardonmysandwich6943]

That double button zero shortcut works on the SQ80 as well 👍

[@CrisBlyth]

I’d love to visit !!

[@rogergarriga3917]

Would be super cool if you showed up how to make patches on SQ8L too

[@SparklesofGold]

Can you add the patreon link in the description? thanks for another great vid

[@Syntaur]

Patreon link: patreon.com/synthwizards

[@SparklesofGold]

@@Syntaur that was fast!!! Thank you. going to jump in on a Tier!

[@Syntaur]

@@SparklesofGold No problem! Thank you for the support!

[@tonelab]

Fantastic sound synth that old thing 🤓

[@6581punk]

It's like a budget cut down PPG Wave. There's a comparison video of PPG vs ESQ-1 on youtube. But the ESQ can sound a lot more dirty and lofi.

[@6581punk]

Here's the video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqS7onese8iXlZo

[@FLH3official]

Nice video. Guys who love EPS can't be totaly bad. 💾 But you should get a vertical camera, to show the keyboard and what's on its display.

[@Denvermorgan2000]

The ESQ one is much better than DX7

[@shawnaebbeson7882]

The FM synthesizers have such a unique character to them and they are certainly relevant in a lot of differen types of music. With that said, I do prefer Ensoniq over just about everything else. They are my favorite synth, with Korg being right behind Ensoniq...

[@CrisBlyth]

no Fairlight parts ? ;)

[@graphene1487]

Love that Willy Wonka reference 😃❤️

[@jakelawson1]

From mypianosolutions.com: Ace Rod Kit The "ACE" rod fixes sticky keys on most Suzuki Digital Pianos and other brand models such as Behringer, Samick. Our Advanced Coat Engineered rods are made with a coated special polyester sleeve that offers lasting durability.

[@dmonster808]

Heartbreak also was my friend gave me a red sound darkstar and i wanted to mod it with the vocoder chip and he was joking saying he had it in his car and stopped to get food at a store and they broke in his car and stole it, well he was kidding but then someone broke in my house and really stole it!!!!!

[@mathumphreys]

If I had of seen this video a couple of years ago I probably wouldn't have sold my ESQ1. I wish I still had it. 😞

[@scotmcfox8908]

BANJO sounds??? Errr what about...SYNTH sounds? BANJOTAR? Just get the Banjo out...jeez