http://teanegro.blogspot.com/ Ensoniq ESQ-1 demonstration

[perspeeks]

the 1:36 bit sounds like "Fuck You" by Ceelo Green, to me. Awesome.

[TheFatherlongLegs]

how did you record this? the sound quality is GREAT! the program/hardware you used would be awesome to know!

[MrFirstandonly]

I love my esq1, Ya got some pretty good stuff here.

try mine

[pierceforrest]

wow, nice drum patches - don't know how you got those snappy snares. Mine always come out mushy - I just figured the envelopes weren't fast enough.

Great chiptunes too.

I'm going to have to step up my programming



[pierceforrest]

wow, nice drum patches - don't know how you got those snappy snares. Mine always come out mushy - I just figured the envelopes weren't fast enough.

Great chiptunes too.

[pierceforrest]

wow, nice drum patches - don't know how you got those snappy snares. Mine always come out mushy - I just figured the envelopes weren't fast enough

[lilghosties]

did you craft all of these sounds?? they're amazing!

[MrKeyboarder100]

Wonderful sound! I like the drums!

[schmittwilli]

From 2:45 it sounds like a C64 sid chip. The other stuff is authentic 80´ synth stuff.

I love it.

[Tri3Dr]

@schmittwilli

You obviously have read it's history where is told that same designer was behind both devices -and let that have influence on your opinion.

I have had HardSID quattro and MSSIAH C64 synths which use actual SID chip and ESQ-1 and i found no similarities in sound. I guess that no one buys this for SID emulator though.. . .

[TheMindOfPat]

I agree with both 1) the ESQ-1 is a great and underrated synth, and 2) if you get one, don't expect the factory presets to give you this kind of sound out of the box. :) I got mine in 1993 after lusting for one 5+ years. They can have it when they pry it from my cold dead hands. ;)

[dr3tri]

@TheMindOfPat

Men come with different taste. I think it's hugely overrated. Owned it once and sold it quicly away.

It needed every possible trick to be done to fatten sound and results were hardly mediocre. It was thin and dull. Almost incapable to form bass frequencies. It was really that bad. If you think that i don't know what i am talking about i have to say that i have owned something between 20-30 different synths and many of them more than once.. and made electronic music since 1993.

[TheMindOfPat]

@dr3tri

I agree it's thin and digital. The sample set breaks are also obvious.  But for ~$200, you get some nice now-lo-fi sounds, and a simple, fully multitimbral "real time" (vs step) sequencer. Not bad for 1986.

Why would I question you knowing what you're talking about...? As you just said, everyone's taste is different. If you want guts (and have the money) by all means, get an OB-X :)

I don't see how the ESQ1 could be "overrated" since it's barely "rated" at all, but just my $0.02.

[909955847736]

@dr3tri said "thin and dull" and "Almost incapable to form bass frequencies". - You are not describing an Ensoniq synth, you are describing your own programming abilities. I recommend get the Technosis patches to hear some of the biggest and bassiest sounds to come out of ANY synth, and some subsonic effects that will shake the room if you have big speakers. These 3 oscillators per voice give me the fattest sounds of any of my synths. But then I've been making electronic music since the 70s.

[Tri3Dr]

@909955847736

Ppl.tend to love synths they own. Pretty common syndrom. I have learned to be objective what comes to synths. Earlier i also used to like ensoniq's and bought ESQ-1 because i loved everything they made. Or actually EPS16+, ASR10 and DP4 processors.

I have also made electronic music couple decades soon and i don't concider my self beginner anymore.. owned approx 30 synths in this years.

[Tri3Dr]

@909955847736

ESQ-1 has weak oscillators and it needed all those sound fattening tricks to get even decent sound out of it. You know, detuning OSC's etc.

I suppose that lovers of this synth are that people who get attached to all things they own.

Younger i had so burning synth fever that i even dreamed about them.. like wandering through mysterious 2nd hand stores and finding marvellous analogue gear with huge number of knobs! =P

It's not good to let motions blur your mind. Just not wise.

[invisibletenants]

@Tri3Dr It sounds fairly fat to me, but even if fatness isn't it's strength, you can't beat the feature/value ratio. And if it's not fat enough for you, then TURN UP THE BASE :P

[SpaceIntruderDetecto]

All of this came from the ESQ-1? I don't recall it sounding this good . I have an ESQ-1 from 86 and ESQ -m ,in storage. I need to go dig those bad boys out . Great demo tracks. I still can't believe this is all ESQ -1 those drum sounds way to good

[weatherkop]

wow it just gets better and better. Like cylob meets bochumwelt

[2009European]

I had buy one, a huge synthesizer !

[drifter7508]

Great demo! You made me buy this toy!

Check out my latest video for a whole song with the ESQ-1. Love this synth!

Best buy in a long time.

[Real1ty]

I MUST HAVE IT!!! Bidding on ebay now.

I think this just gave me a keygasm.

[loren108]

cool man

[990racle]

Just got one. Presets are crap, I'm gonna have to learn how to program this thing well!

[loren108]

get a midi librarian there are free ones on the web, I use a librarian/patch editor midiquest 10, I joined a bunch of esq1 yahoo groups and downloads loads of sysex dumps

[armalyte]

at the 3 min mark, it sounds like a sid chip tune..impressive pallette of sounds.

[catchreboot]

thank you for this good demo

[modeselekt]

how does it compare to the dx-7?

[teanegro]

dx-7 just suxx!

[dr3tri]

@teanegro

Less than ESQ. -And i was Ensoniq lover before getting ESQ-1.

[Tri3Dr]

@teanegro

Yeah, right.

[Tri3Dr]

@teanegro

No, FM synths are great! Especially because many of us are full of that analogue hype that has last couple decades already.

[mediawasteland]

Doesnt compare, The DX-7 is a strictly digital synth with one of the most foreign horribler editing systems ever thought up "Frequency Modulation" Synthesis. The ESQ-1 is by many considered one of the greatest Hybrid synths ever made and by most synth players that know about it its considered the most underated synths ever. Ive owned 3 and not much out there really compares. Ignore the presets though they do no justice at all. Do they ever though?..

[tekkentool]

DX's aren't that hard to fucking program.

[dr3tri]

@mediawasteland

a. i though digital vs. analog debat died couple decades ago.. Sounds like you're saying that this synth is automatically better than that another one because this have more analog technology implemented. Gimme a break!

b. FM is easy but different and which really matters is that those are capable to produce sounds that analogs can't.

c. People really should make difference between digital synths with SYNTHESIS and those that make use of samples.

d. ESQ's are over rated.

[Tri3Dr]

@mediawasteland

OR you could say that DX7 has real 6 OP FM synthesis instead of static sampled waveforms in ESQ-1.

[gridsleep]

@mediawasteland Quite true. The only difference between a Moog Voyager and an ESQ-1 is the latter has DCOs and 8 voices and can build on analog and/or digital and/or sample sound patterns. If you get an external controller then the ESQ-1 is just as hands-on as the Moog with all the other benefits, but the ESQ-1 interface is about the easiest it can be, under the circumstance. Basically, it's kind of like having eight Minimoog Voyagers running in tandem. Oh, and am I going to get shouted down

[Tri3Dr]

@modeselekt

DX7 has real 6OP FM-synthesis instead of static sampled waveforms in ESQ-1.

ESQ-1 has sweet analog filters that make it more desirable to all those those analogue wannabies.

If you have interest to dive deeply to world of programming your synth (and skills) you might like DX7.

In other hand there is said to be lots of DX7 users who use just presets and sounds shared with large user community.

I prefer TX81Z and TQ5 better than DX7. 4-OP but more parameters.

[invisibletenants]

@Tri3Dr I am confused - I thought the ESQ1/SQ80 had a mix of real analog, digitally sampled and digitally created waveforms, at least that's what I read in every review, even in their manuals? So.. what is what?

[Tri3Dr]

@modeselekt

FM-synthesis is totally different animal. As analogue synths and hybrids like ESQ-1 has subtractive synthesis, FM is additive.

[chilistein]

awesome and full sounding clips, totally 80ties, that analog filter gives a lot of punch

[Microsloth]

It's easy to program once you get used to it, but there are no knobs to twist on the front panel.

[gardnerbm]

Other synths are capable of these great sounds, but what makes the ESQ1 stand out is that its actually easy to program it, no menus to dig thru.

[hairballvomit]

good sound in 2:24- 2:42.. and 4:31 to 4:44..

[monosound81]

you can do drums on it too eh?

[990racle]

Everyone, be sure to add &fmt=18 to the end of the url! ;D

This reminds me a lot of sonic the hedgehog music.

[velomicro]

Sonic The Hedgehog would have been FM synthesis, such as the Yamaha DX-7 or DX-100. :) I do love the old Sega sound.

[brwest16]

So what sort of synthesis is this (esq-1)? Is it subractive?

[velomicro]

I think it's analog, but I'm not completely sure. :) it'd be lovely to own one of these things. I think the soundchip in this was designed by the same guy who made the SID chip for C64's.

[FredF78]

I believe it's architecture is DCO and VCF

[Biopharmer]

DX forever

YM2612 is the mega drive chip

[nogginj]

best clip on youtube. amazing sounds.

[sajko7]

AMAZING! I love the C64/SID style sound @ 2:42... I wonder how can I create this type of song on mine...

[velomicro]

if you like C64 stuff buy yourself an old C64 (if you don't have one) and get MSSIAH. ;) very nice for SID stuff.

[Biopharmer]

is it out already?

Damn, i gotta get it

[psychozombiedeadboy]

wow this make's me want to sell my sq-80

[clubrivo]

best demo ever!! can i buy these patches somewhere? dont sell your sq-80, you can import esq-1 patches into it, its same thing and even more.

[123synthland]

really nice tracks on a great but generally under appreciated piece of gear. thanks for sharing.

[BigBendFishing]

teanagro - the guy from whom I'm about to buy an ESQ-1 thanks you for this demo. YouTube is such an awesome tool when it comes to synth shopping, and this is one of the best demos I've seen of the wide range of capabilities. Top Notch and thank you for helping me make an informed decision!

P.S. - I like the Grandmaster Flash style at 1:15

[cthulufunk]

Best demo, really shows all that the Ensoniqs are capable of, from retro analog poly to SID MOS chip style stuff. Impressed by your punchy basses, I always had trouble getting synth basses I liked out of it.

[juno6]

excellent.

[2miktzu]

I've just bought an old used ESQ-1 in very good conditions...and I like it.

But have you used some optional cartridges in your demo?

If yes,I don't understand if into the cartridge are only patches or also new others PCM waves.

And do you know where I can find old ESQ-1 cartridges?

Thanks.

(ESQ-1 rulez !!!)

[Pardessus]

Proud longtime ESQ1 owner here :3

great demo!

[derekaggs11]

I just bought an SQ-80. It has some built-in PCD drum sounds, but frankly, I like your synth drums much better! I should be able to do everything with the SQ-80 that you've done here with the ESQ-1, correct?

[teanegro]

Yes, you can do everything with SQ80 that is done here with ESQ-1.

[kenny888stsk]

wow this is really cool. i just got an esq-1 a month ago. im just now figuring out how to use everything, since its like my first synthesizer that iv ever owned.

[tomajoc]

wow, that was great

[civ1002]

very cool demo - you got some other tracks people hear?

[AlainHubert]

Great demo! From 2:42 to 3:20 you can actually hear where this synth came from! It's the brainchild of Bob Yannes, creator of the famous SID sound chip in the Commodore 64, who later founded Ensoniq.

[xxxogchris]

wow!cool!I gotta have this!

[sauermusicDE]

The ESQ-1 is a very versatile instrument. It has a lot of really typical 80's-Sounds (even more than a DX-7).